Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy X
Chapter 37: A Fimilar Battle (Gagazet part II)
They didn't go very far up, when they were stopped again. Three huge Ronso stood in their way now.
Rikku groaned. "Don't tell me we've gotta fight again!" she said.
Lulu looked around to see the Ronso around them. Something was diffrent about these Ronso. Something that didn't seem threatening.
"What do you want with us now?" She asked curiously. Her eyes glancing breifly around at all of the Ronso.
Suddenly, the Ronso all around them broke out into an off key song. Listeing hard enough Yuna and her guardians vaugely recognized it as the Hymn of teh Fayth. As the song went along it became more recognizable as voices joined in.
Their voices were joined softly by another voice. TIdus seemed to be the only one who could hear it. Maybe it was because the person singing was standing close beside him.
Tidus had never heard Yuna sing before. He was suprised at how well she could sing. The onlu voice that came close to Yuna's voice belonged to a singer who had been his ex-girlfriend's idol back in Zanarkand.
Yuna's voice had a strange effect on Tidus. Her voice warmed the air of the mountains, around Tidus, but it sent that coldness right to Tidus's insides. It felt kind of like having your hand in warm water, and then someone turning on the cold water on the faucet, so that a jet of cold water hit your hand in the warm water, but it doesn't change the temperature of the water around your hand.
When the singing stopped the feeling left Tidus. "The Ronso wish you well on your journey Summoner. " One of the Ronso in front of the said as he and the other three walked past.
Yuna bowed and then walked on down the path.
It wasn't too much longer before they reached a part of the mountain, where a strange pile of rocks stood, along with rusted weapons.
Yuna knelt down to it and bowed.
"What is that?" RIkku and Tidus asked in unison as they looked at the pile of rocks.
"A grave for the summoners and guardians who failed." Auronsaid as he watched Yuna.
"Lots of summoners and guardians die up here you know." Wakkka said crossing his arms.
Yuna got to her feet. She brushed the snow from her skirt and continued up the snowy path.
From far off, Tidus would never have expected Mount Gagazet to have so many ledges. Well atleast so many steep ledges. Looking up the pathit looked like the next ledge were tehy could all walk apart from each other was still a ways up.
It took them thirty minutes to reach this area. A person was standing on this path looking anxiously around.
When he saw Yuna and her guardians, he rushed up to them. " 'Ello there! 'Bout time I got some customers I was starting to think I made a a bad choice choosing to set up shop 'ere. " He said putting one hand on his hip and using the other one to motion around at the surrounding area.
"Youre a merchant?" Yuna asked curiously as she exained the man before her.
The man nodded. "Yup. Name's O'aka the XXIV, but everyone calls me Wantz. Perhaps you've heard of me brother, O'aka the XXIII?" he said in a proud sort of tone.
Yuna nodded. Everyone else nodded in unison with her. They knew O'aka. By the looks of some of their faces they weren't exactly too very much fond of how he went about bussiness.
"Ah. I can see you know him. He is a bit of a cheat with his prices.." Wantz began to say.
Rikku cut in. "A bit! He over charged a group of Al Bhed for Potions and Phoenix Downs and weapons. Almost 200 gil for a regular potion!" She started.
Wantz jumpped back a bit. "I-I was just gonna say..that even though me brother is a bit of a cheat with his prices don't let that put you under the impression that I am. Being his brother and all y'know." He said hurriedly.
"Well, what do you have? We are in need of some items." Yuna said after a bit of sclience.
In the end Yuna bought 18 hi-potions, 6 phoenix downs, and 20 Holy Waters, before they continued up the mountain.Wantz had been right, the prices that he had set were far more reasonable thatn if O'aka had been selling these items to them.
Another thrity minutes later, Yuna and the others reached another grave. This one was so close to the top of the mountain.
As Yuna prayed to it, Auron shook his head sadly. "So close. He came all this way just to fail. Must have been unbearbly tough." He muttered as he looked at the grave.
"He must have become a tough feind. Hopefully we won't have to face him." Wakka said crossing his arms.
Tidus looked over. "What makes you say he's a feind?" He asked. He glanced over to Lulu for the anser.
Lulu was giving him the look that Tidus had become fimilar with that told him he had just asked a stupid queston with an answer he could have guessed on hiw own.
"Many summoners who die up here aren't sent to the Farplane. Why? Becuae who would send them? They die alone."
Once again Yuna got to her feet, brushed the snow off her skirt and looked up the path.
"We should go. We are almost there." She said quietly as she continued up the path. Her guardians following close behind.
When they reached the top they were thankful to find that tit was wide enough for them to spreasd out a bit on. As they walked on Rikku and Tidus slowed their pace down and lingered behind.
Rikku was looking out at the view from the edge of the cliff. She was looking extremely worried.
"Zanarkand is just right behind those rocks you know. I can almost see it." she said quietly pointing to the huge rock formation in close range of the cliff.
Tidus nodded, keeping his distance from Rikku. "I know." was all he could think to say to her.
Rikku just continued speaking with out turning around to look at Tidus. She was tearing up. "Yunie's gonna get the Final Aeon. I can't believe I couldn't think of anything!" What are we gonna do!" she asked.
Tidus shrugged. He didn't know. "It'll be alright, though. We'll do something. We really can't help Yuna until we know more." He said quietly.
He turned around, away from Rikku. He put his hands on his hips and looked up at the path where Yuna and the others had gone.
"It'll all come together when we get to Zanarkand. we'll find something. I know it." He said in a brave, leader-like tone.
Rikku laughed but still didn't turn around. "If you say so." she said.
"You know, you sounded like a true leader just then." She added on.
Tidus crossed his arms. He still spoke to Rikku over his shoulder. "I am a leader. Star-player of the Zanarkand Abes! Didn't I tell you?" He said cherrfully.
Rikku let out a laugh." Ah. I see, guess star-players of Blitzball teams are kind of like leaders." She commented over her shoulder.
Tidus started to walk away. He knew Rikku would catch up eventually. As he walked, he heard a loud scream peirce the air, and echo, when he was a few yards away from Rikku.
He turned around to see Syemour standing there racing him. He had one arm around Rikku's neck, in a headlock. His other hand was covering Rikku's mouth to muffle her screams.
"Ah! So we meet again, Son of Jecht." Seymour said casually as he restrained Rikku, effortlessly. He was acting as if he had just arrived.
"Let her go Seymour or else!" Tidus shouted drawing out his weapon looking ready to attack.
Seymour laughed evilly. "I would be careful if I were you, Tidus. You don't want to harm her. As you see you could miss and kill her..or If you do manage to hurt met..I can do one of two things." He began with an evil smirk.
"I could break her neck, and cause instant death to get rid of filith like her quicklu." He said tightening his grasp around Rikku's neck.
Tidus glared. "Or..I could easily let her go off the edge of the cliff and let her death be painful and prolonged. Either way, she's dead and it's better for Spira." Seymour said as he looked at the cliff behind him.
He let go of Rikku's mouth and waved his hand to the side. "Of course you could take her place. I'd prefer to kill you both...but I supposse I could make a compromise." He said with an evil sneer.
"Yeah? Well...why don't we make a comprimise. How about, you take both mine and Rikku's place in death!" Tidus shouted.
Rikku took the oppertunity to to make an escape. She brought her arms up to her neck as she kicked Seymour hard in a certain area that caused him pain. She then forced Seymour's arms from her neck and slipped out from his grasp and dashed over to Tidus. Tightening her weapon onto her fist as she ran.
"Rikku, run ahead and tell the others!" Tidus said glancing at Rikku.
"What? Are you crazy? I'm not gonna let you fight him alone Tidus!" she said tuning and glancing at Tidus with a glare on her face.
"Just go! Hurry!" Tidud said motioning for Rikku to go.
Rikku nodded reluctantly and then dashed off, leaving Seymour and Tidus alone.
Up ahead on the path the others had stopped to let Rikku and Tidus catch up, when they had realized that the two weren't there.
"Wonder what's taking so long." Auron stated leaning against the side of the path that was a tall mountain wall.
Yuna bit her lip. She was worried about them. She and the others had heard a scream..or at least thought they had. They could be in trouble!
Why are they all just sitting there! Yuna was gettting irritated. Before she could say anything Rikku came around the corner, looking pale and panicked. WHen she got to them she fell to her knees to catch her breath.
"Rikku! What's wrong? Where is Tidus?" Lulu asked as they all rushed over to RIkku.
"Seymour...was following us..he's back, there. I left Tidus with him." Rikku said in a hurried voice trying to catch her breath.
Yuna didn't have to look to the others for their approval on what to do. They all rushed down the path to go help Tidus.
When they arrived it was a bit of a reilf that Seymour had yet to kill Tidus. They were still glaring furiously at each other. When Seymour saw Yuna and the others he smirked.
"Lady Yuna, what a pleasure to it is to see you!" He said calmly in a voice tone that mocked cheerfulness.
Yuna drew out her waeapon. She prepared to send Seymour. Hopefully she would be able to send him this time.
But as Seymour knew that Yuna was about to send him, he decided in an interrupt by saying something.
"Before I leave, I hope you will aloow me to say something to the last Ronso." he said.
When these words left his mouth, he saw Yuna and Kimahri's eyes widen. He began laughing.
"The Ronso were truely a noble and gallant race. They threw themselves at me, trying to stop me. Trying to protect you and your Summoner from me. It was quiet amuzing really, watching them fall to me one after another." He said laughing evilly once again.
Kimahri stummbled backward a bit. "No.." He breathed out in shock. He didn't want to think that he was the last Ronso. He didn't want to think he was alone.
"Lies!" Auron shouted at Seymour. Seymour only laughed.
"Yeah, Kimahri don't believe what that big bully says, it's all lies!" Rikku said in an optimistic voice trying to cheer Kimahri up.
Seymour turned away from them He smirked evilly out at the scenery.
"You could release Kimahri of his pain. Yuna. All you have to do is allow Kimahri to die." He stated off handedly.
Yuna was looking rather confused. What was Seymour saying? What was he plotting? maybe if she let him speak a little more he would give away the reason that he kept coming back. What did Seymour mean by "allow Kimahri to die?" She wondered this as she stared at Seymour.
"Of course, we don't have to let just Kimahri die to release him from his pain. Yuna with your help I will becaome Sin" Seymour said after a breid moment of sclience.
Yuna raised her eyebrow. She still didn't know what she was talking about. How was he going to become sin? Why did he need her so that he could become sin?
"What do you mean?" She asked.
Seymour laughed and turned around. "Ask Sir Auron. He knows exactly what I'm talking about." He said casting a dark look at the raven-haired sixteen year old ledgendary guardian.
Auron only returned this look of darkness to Seymour, he still wasn't over all that Seymour had said the last time that they had run into him.
Seymour glanced over to Tidus. "Once I have become Sin, your father will be freed Tidus. Jecht won't have to suffer any more." He said in a sinister tone of voice with a huge smirk on his face. He turned around away from them.
"SHUT UP!" Tidus shouted in rage as he rushed foreward to attack Seymour.
The most he manged was to push Seymour off the cliff. It was good enough to Tidus to know that Seymour was on his way down to his death. He got back to his feet and started to walk away.
Just as he got away from the cliff an light appeared at the edge of the cliff. A strange feind made it's way, floating from below the cliff to the edge. Seymour wasn't dead, on the way down he transformed into a feind like he had before.
"Pitiful mortals! Your hopes end here and you rmeaningless existances with them!" He said furiously as he floated at the edge of the cliff. He obviously didn't like being pushed off a cliff.
They all drew out their weapons and proceeded into battle. The odd feeling that this battle was going ot be rather similar to the other battle that they had fought earlier was going through them all.
It'd all be the sameexcept that it was in a diffrent location and Seymour looked diffrent. Also, Auron wouldn't be entering the battle in beserk mode.
And so the battle was fought. They were right, it was pretty much the same difficult battle they they had fought before. Only this time Kimahri was the one taking Auron's place under the crazy one.
Hiour passed and finally, much to everyone's joy..it ended. Once Seymour had died in a lovely explosion, Tidus looked over the side of the cliff to make sure no part of Seymour was still around.
Seeing Seymour was definately dead, Tidus let out a sigh of relief. "..and stay down there!" He found himself shouting.
He brushed snow off of him and turned to the others. They were all looking at him oddly. Well, except for Auron who was wearing the usual facial expression he always wore, most of the time.
Uh-oh, he had some explaining to do, he thought as he glanced to all of them!
(Okay...that really could have possbily been written better but..what can I say, It was study hall...and right near lunch when I first wrote this. Anyhow I hope to hear from you on what you think of the chatper! Until next time! (which will be a very short Jechtsphere chapter!)