Chapter 13: Another Monster and Conde Petit!

            They had been walking for a day now, heading toward Conde Petit. They were on the Mountain Pass, on the root where they could clearly see the Iifa Tree.

            "Wow, it's gigantic!" Miranda said amazed.

            "Bigger than I imagined," Chris agreed.

            Freya shouldered her spear. "Well, lets keep moving. Monsters are still about."

            "You wouldn't even think there were any monsters before," Eiko commented. "They're mostly gone now."

            "I know what you mean," Mikoto said. "We didn't even encounter one monster so far."

            "Great, now we'll probably meet up with one," Kuja said as they reached firm land. "Nice going, sis."

            At that moment, a loud rumbling was coming toward them. Everyone went into battle stance, prepared for whatever came at them.

            "I wonder what's it's going to be," Chris said as the rumbling became louder testing Zidane's Ultima Weapon to make sure he had locked it together properly.

            "We'll soon find out!" Miranda said, her deadly sword drawn, the blade glinting in the sun.

            After a moment, they were startled to find themselves facing a gigantic five-headed beast, with a scorpion's tail, six legs, each with deadly claws, and wings. The center head had a massive rhino looking horn. It was charging at them in full force.

            "Get out of the way!" Kristin yelled as she picked up Vivi and rolled to one side.

            Everyone scattered, the monster narrowly missing them by a hair's width. It turned around sharply and made a fearsome roar.

Miranda stood up and faced it. "You want a fight?! You got one!" she yelled out.

"Miranda, what do you think you're doing?" Chris said as he stood next her, watching as the monster headed back toward them.

"Well, we got to get rid of it," Miranda said calmly. "Freya, Fratley! You guys know what to do!"

"Right!" they said as they jumped high into the air to power up their attack.

"Kristin, Eiko, get ready to summon or heal any of us."

"Gotcha!" they nodded.

"Vivi, try each of your strongest spells. Except Doomesday!" she quickly added.

"Rats…okay!"

"Mikoto, Kuja, you guys also try a spell. Get rid of the heads and we'll be done!"

"What are we going to do?" Chris asked her.

She gave him a fierce smile. "We get to slice, dice, and mutilate that thing."

Chris looked at her shocked. What the? She's never acted like that before!

The monster loomed closer, the horn pointing straight at the group. It didn't even flinch when Freya's and Fratley's spears hit it.

"This guy is going to be tough," Kristin said worriedly.

"Don't worry," Kuja said, giving her a reassuring smile. "We've handled tougher enemies."

Kristin nearly fainted from his dazzling smile. (oh yuck! .) Eiko quickly pinched her and Kristin snapped back into reality.

"Vivi! Now!" Miranda yelled as the monster was 30 feet away from them and closing.

"Uh…FIRAGA! BLIZZAGA! THUNDAGA!" Vivi yelled as he cast out each spell.

The monster grunted in surprise as it was first burned, then frozen, and then electrocuted. It still kept going though, blood dripping down its legs and sides. Freya and Fratley powered up their spears again and threw them forcefully into the beast.

Miranda glanced at Chris. "Lets take out the far right and far left heads. Ready?"

"Ready," Chris grimly replied.

They ran on each side and sliced off the two heads. The monster roared in pain while the heads still wriggled on the ground. They seemed to try to attach themselves back to the body.  

            "Oh, gross!" Kristin said as one of them wriggled by her feet.

            Miranda wiped some blood from her cheek. "Get used to it. Two down, three more to go!"

            "FLARE STAR!" Kuja and Mikoto yelled.

            The monster yelled in pain again. The right head tossed about limply as it continued to run on it's remaining three legs at the group.

            "Summon your eidolon, Kristin!" Eiko said.

            "Um…okay…" Kristin said shakily. She took a deep breath. "MIDNIGHT FLAME!!!"

            Everyone was suddenly surrounded in darkness as Night Fire appeared from the sky. It flew toward the monster and stopped in front of it, its wings spread wide. They watched in amazement as it rose above the monster and opened its mouth to emit a gigantic blast of flame. The monster screeched in pain, the burnt flesh scent filled the air. It collapsed onto the ground, writhing for a moment, and then became still. Night Fire flew toward Kristin and nudged her lovingly. Kristin smiled and stroked its head fondly. He faded away, and everything returned back to normal.

            Miranda gave a sigh of relief. "Glad that's over…" she said as she turned away.

            "Look out!!" Chris yelled as he knocked her onto the side.

            "What was that for??" Miranda yelled angrily.

            "I just saved your life that's all!" Chris yelled back.

            Miranda blinked, stunned. "What?"

            "Take a look over there," Chris said and pointed to where to where the horn now stood quivering in a rock. A rock that was behind a large boulder with a gigantic hole in it.

            Miranda gazed wide eyed at it. "Oh my gosh…I could have been…"

            Chris got up and dusted himself off. "Yea, and that wouldn't be good now would it?"

            Miranda jumped up and gave him a big hug. "Thank you Chris!! Thank you!!"

            Chris just stood there startled, not knowing what to do.

            Kristin watched them for a moment and then started to snicker. Eiko and the rest started to join in.

            They looked at the group who had now had their backs toward them, trying to hide their faces. Then they looked at each other.

"What's so funny?" Miranda asked them

Everyone fell anime style. (hehe…. *runs off*) Chris and Miranda looked at them blankly, shrugged, and turned around.

"I swear, there's something wrong with them," Chris commented.

"You and me both," Miranda agreed. She looked down at herself. "Yuck! I'm covered in monster guts! Lets get moving to Conde Petit and cleaned off and have a good rest."

The group walked up to them and they pressed onward, Miranda walking a little ahead of the rest.

"Boy, that was quite exciting, don't you think, Vivi?" Eiko asked him.

Vivi clutched his stomach. "Urp…I think I'm going to be s-sick…"

Chris walked up to him. "You okay, buddy?"

Vivi gave him a weak smile (…he does have a mouth doesn't he? .). "Yea…I-I think so…"

Chris lifted him onto his shoulders. "You look a little tired. You can have a free ride for the rest of the way. Or until I get tired."

"Th-thanks Chris."

Eiko looked at Chris. Hm…I can see why Miranda likes him. "What about me? When do I get a piggy back ride? W-whoa!!" she yelled as she felt herself being lifted from the ground.

Miranda grinned at her as she placed Eiko on her shoulders. "Surprised you, huh?"

Eiko giggled. "Yay! But this time…don't go running off like you did at the castle."

"I won't," she reassured her.

"How'd you get back here? You were way up there a minute ago," Chris said.

"I was wondering how things were going back here with all the slowpokes."

Eiko glanced back. "We're not the ones lagging behind. It's those two love birds back there," she pointed.

They turned around, and sure enough, Kristin and Kuja were several feet behind them, laughing at something or other. (so sue me .)

Kristin laughed. "How old is Kuja by the way, Eiko?"

Eiko thought for a moment. "Uh…you know…I really don't know. Since Zidane is 17 this year, and Kuja is older…early 20's maybe?"

"Whoa…wait a second! Zidane's marrying Garnet at the age of 17???" Chris said incredulously.

Eiko looked at him blankly. "Yea? What's the problem?"

"Isn't that kinda young?" Miranda asked.

Vivi shrugged. "Maybe where you guys came from, but it doesn't really matter in Gaia. Yea, usually people get married in their late 20's early 30's, but who's to stop them?"

"How about Steiner?" Chris suggested smirking.

Eiko laughed. "He's tried, believe it or not."

Miranda almost fell down laughing as she remembered something. "Hey, Vivi…didn't you have to get married to Quina to pass through Conde Petit?"

Vivi stuck out his tongue in disgust. "Bleh! Was that strange! I could have been wed to a guy! But being that we have no idea what gender Quina is, I had to! Bleh!!!"

"Poor Vivi," Mikoto said as she came up to them. "Is this all you guys have been talking about?"

"No, well…sorta…" Miranda answered.

Eiko looked left and right. "Where'd Freya and Fratley go?"

"The went to scout ahead," Mikoto answered and glanced back. "Well, at least we have the rear well protected."

"Hey, Mikoto, how old is Kuja?" Chris asked.

"Hm…" She thought for a moment. "Lets see…he'll be turning 21 next year. Why do you ask?" (actually I have no clue how old he is, so bear with me for the story's sake! Particularly Kristin's .)

"Just wondering," Miranda said. "Makin' sure he's not too old for Kristin."

"Ahh…"

"He acts older, though," Eiko said thoughtfully.

"He was raised wrong," Chris said.

"No kidding!! After that thing he wore!" Mikoto shuddered. "Gah!"

They saw Freya and Fratley up ahead talking to the gnomes of Conde Petit. They raced the rest of the way, Vivi and Eiko cheering their carriers on. They ended in a tie.

"Another…tie?" Miranda said breathless.

"Seems…that way…" Chris panted.

"Rally-ho!" one of the gnomes greeted them.

"Rally-ho!" they answered back.

"Ah dinnae suppose ye would like tae stay the night wi' us, would ye lassie?"

So that's how they sound like… "If you don't mind," Miranda replied.

They followed the gnomes to the inn section of Conde Petit. "This'll be where ye can stay the night. Ah 'ope ye enjoy ye stay here."

"Thanks," Eiko said, still on Miranda's shoulders.

Miranda looked up at her. "Don't you think you should get off now?"

"Bombs away!" she yelled as she jumped off Miranda's shoulders and onto a bed. "Wow, these beds are springy," she said as she bounced on them.

Vivi climbed off Chris. "That looks fun! Let me try!" He soon joined her and they started having a bouncing contest.

Mikoto started for the door. "Would anyone like to help me stock up on supplies?"

Miranda and Chris immediately ran to her. "We do!"

Kristin grabbed Kuja's arm. "Lets take a walk around the place. I'd like to see how Conde Petit really looks like."

Kuja looked at her and smiled. "I've never really been here either. So lets go on exploring."

They walked out the door while Mikoto, Miranda, and Chris walked in the opposite direction to where the item shop was.

"Rally-ho!" the shop keeper greeted them.

"Rally-ho," the answered back.

" 'Ow may ah be of service tae ye?" he asked them.

"Um…could you sell us some hi-potions and phoenix downs?" Mikoto asked.

"Ah'd be glad tae, lassie," he said as he rummaged around the counter. "Aha! 'Ere we are! We're 'aving a special sale today. Would ye be interested?"

"Um…sure," Mikoto said.

"Buy 20 'i-potions, get 10 ethers for 'alf-price."

"Hm…that total or each?" Miranda asked.

"Total."

"Alright!" Chris said.

" 'Ow many would ye be wantin'?"

"60 hi-potions, and 20 phoenix downs, please," Mikoto said.

The shop keeper rummaged around again. "Sixty 'i-potions…and twenty phoenix downs…and thirty ethers…"

Mikoto took out a bag containing gil and placed it on the counter. "How much would that be?"

"Tha'll be…1,721 gil." (not sure if that's right…but it'll have to do!)

Mikoto produced the exact amount and the shop keeper gave them the bag containing their purchase. Miranda took out a hi-potion and looked at it in awe. "Wow…these look a whole lot different than in the game."

"And these are real feathers," Chris said as he picked up a phoenix down.

Mikoto looked at them. "You've never seen potions or phoenix downs before? You must have come from a strange world…"

It was getting dark, so they headed back to the inn. The others were still there, except Kristin and Kuja.

"Wonder where those two are," Miranda said.

"Probably lost," Chris said.

"We did not get lost!" Kristin said defiantly as she and Kuja entered.

Fratley gave them a sly glance. "Where were you two anyway?"

"Taking a little expedition around Conde Petit," Kuja answered.

Everyone exchanged glances. "Suuuuure…"

Miranda yawned and flopped onto one of the beds. "Mmm…these beds are comfy…I'm beat."

"Shouldn't you take a bath first?" Kristin said.

Miranda looked at herself. "Oh yea…forgot about that. Where are the bathrooms anyway?"

"Down the 'all on the left. Ye cannae miss it," a passing gnome said.
            Miranda shrugged. "That works." She headed in the direction, and in a few minutes, cam back cleaned and refreshed. She yawned again. "I don't know about you guys…but I'm going to bed. Night."

"Night," they replied.

After everyone cleaned themselves off, they, too, went to sleep, unaware of what was yet to come.

Author's note: Haven't written in while! Thanks to the Redwall books, I at least got the gist of how those gnomes talk. I'm not sure if it's still right…but this is the only chapter that has them talking (hopefully!). I hope y'all are likin' it, so keep reviewing!