Chapter 14: Monster Number Three
The next morning, the group set off toward the Black Mage Village. Halfway into the forest that surrounded the Village, Kuja thought he saw something fly above them. That wasn't a bird…the shadow was too big. Dragons are not common around here…my silver dragon is at the Iifa Tree, and it would not leave unless I told it to or for some extreme emergency. But I swear I saw something…
"Kuja?"
Kuja blinked and smiled at Kristin. "Hm? What is it my dear?"
Miranda gagged.
Kristin shot her an angry glare and smiled sweetly back at Kuja. "Well you looked like you spaced out or something. Is something troubling you?"
He shook his head. "No no…just thinking…uh…stuff."
"Stuff? That's a new one from you. I would think that you would say something more elaborate or rhetorical," Mikoto commented.
Freya, who was a little ahead of the group, stopped suddenly and moved her spear to signal them to stop.
"What is it Freya?" Fratley asked quietly.
Freya darted him a glance and gave a small nod to her left. Fratley turned his gaze to the left and saw what it was that made her stop. Something was moving in some bushes, and it sounded big.
By now everyone had also noticed the movement and began drawing their weapons. They held their breaths, waiting for whatever was there to come out and attack them.
"What do you think it could be?" Miranda muttered to Chris, who was beside her.
"Beats me," he muttered back. "After all these weird new monsters we encountered so far, you can't expect anything anymore."
Everyone went stock still when the movement stopped. The only things that could be heard were their soft breathing and the wind rustling the leaves. After a brief moment, a loud roar broke the silence. Slowly, the monster emerged from the bushes, revealing its hideous form. One head, eight arms, standing on two legs, three tails, and four sets of wings was what made up this monster. (you figure out the texture and stuff. I'm not botherin' -.-)
"…this is going to be hard…" Miranda said.
"…o yea…" Chris agreed.
"Would have gotten a lot of EXP in the game…" Kristin said.
Miranda shook her head. "Oi…well anyway, we have to get past this monster, right?"
Eiko suddenly hid behind her legs. "W-wrong! Th-there are 2!!"
"What?!" Chris exclaimed.
Vivi hid behind Chris. "L-look be-behind you!!"
Everyone turned around and saw that another monster just like the one in front of them was barring their way of escape.
"Damn…this is going to be hard…" Chris muttered.
"One group take front, the other back?" Miranda suggested.
"Looks like it'll have to be that," Freya said.
"Quick huddle!" Mikoto yelled and everyone surrounded her. The monsters glanced at each other and shrugged. They stood waiting patiently.
"Ok…boy it feels like I'm playing football or something," Kristin commented.
"I know what you mean, but anyway, how should we divide?" Miranda asked.
"Fratley, Mikoto, Eiko, and Kuja, you guys take the front. The rest of us will take the back," Freya said.
"Alright! Break!" Chris said.
They looked at him and then shook their heads and dispersed.
Chris looked at them confused and walked with his group. "What I say?"
"Nothing. Just get ready to fight," Miranda said.
"I'll try and get the head from above," Freya said, as she got ready to jump. "You guys try getting rid of those arms."
"But it can fly!" Kristin exclaimed.
"Well, we'll just have to clip some wings then," Chris said.
Everyone glanced back to see how the other group was doing. They were attacking furiously and the monster was having trouble keeping them at bay. The group turned back at their opponent and went into battle stance.
"Good luck!" Freya yelled as she jumped up to power up her spear.
"FIRAGA!" Vivi yelled as the monster was burned with the fire spell.
"HYAAAAAHHH!!!" Miranda and Chris yelled as they charged at the monster's sides. They dug their blades deep into its sides, making it roar in pain. Freya's spear missed its head by a fraction, but it did take out an arm. Unfortunately, it only made it madder.
"MIDNIGHT FLAME!!" Kristin called out and everyone was surrounded in darkness.
This time, Night Fire seemed to appear in different places at once. This started making the monster confused and it took a step back. Night Fire took the opportunity and appeared from high above. He gave a mighty roar and spiraled down toward the monster. Everyone watched in amazement as Night Fire emitted a gigantic burst of flame that looked frozen, electrified, and fiery. The blast sent the monster back about 60 feet. Night Fire took one last look at his enemy, then turned and flew back up into the sky.
"Yeeaaaahhh!!!!" Kristin yelled. "That's what I thought! O yea!!"
"Um…I wouldn't be too sure about that, Kristin…" Miranda said nervously.
Kristin looked at her and turned back to where the monster was. It seemed to be glowing and growing bigger. The ground started to shake and everyone tried to keep their balance.
"Wh-what's happening?!" Vivi cried.
Chris grabbed him and started to run. "IT'S COMING AFTER US!!!!"
Miranda quickly sheathed her sword and followed after him, as did Kristin and Freya. Mikoto and Eiko had gone to tell the others that they had killed off their monsters when they saw them heading toward them and waved. They stopped when they heard them saying something.
"What do you suppose they are saying?" Mikoto asked.
"Ruh…ruh…what?!" Eiko said.
The next moment they saw what they were trying to say. The monster had grown ten times its original size and was chasing after them, blood flying everywhere.
"RUN!!!!!" they finally heard them say.
Mikoto grabbed Eiko's hand and nearly dragged her back to Kuja and Fratley. "Run!! Run you two for Alexandria's sake, RUN!!!"
Kuja looked up and saw what she meant and took off. Fratley quickly jumped up to a branch and waited concealed in the trees. I'll wait for Freya and the others to come and hear what they have to say.
Back at the other group, Freya was thinking hard. We can't go on running forever, and if we keep running the way we are going, we'll eventually reach the Black Mage Village, and the last thing we need is to have it destroyed. We need to take a turn somewhere and head back out into the open…
They soon reached where Fratley was waiting. He quickly jumped down next to Freya and ran next to her. "So what's up?"
Freya shot him a look. "You very well know what's up."
Miranda had caught up to them. "Well…that thing is above us."
They screeched to a halt and turned to her. "What?!"
Chris soon reached them panting. "Yea. That thing took flight a long time ago. It's now circling above us."
"What about Kuja and the others?" Kristin said as she reached them.
"They went ahead. I don't know where they are now. Most likely at the Black Mage Village by now," Fratley said.
"They could have gone to get help," Freya reasoned. "Well lets backtrack to the open so we can fight better."
The turned, but this time instead of running, they darted from cover to cover, trying to make themselves less obvious.
"So how did you defeat your monster?" Freya asked Fratley.
He shrugged. "Easy. A couple of Mega Flare Stars, Madeen, and the trusty spear, and the battle was over."
Freya shot him another glance. "That's the last time I'm putting Mikoto and Kuja together in a group."
"Well, we're almost out of the forest now," Fratley said as he nodded toward the open desert ahead of them.
"Good. Lets run now," Freya said and broke into a run.
Fratley sighed. "How I manage to keep up with her, I wish I could remember…" He shook his head and followed after her.
Everyone else saw Freya running and also broke into a run.
"More running?" Kristin whined.
"Aw, quit your whinin'," Chris said.
"Hey!"
"Lets just go…" Miranda said and ran away from them.
"Hey wait up!" they yelled after her and ran.
The group soon entered back to the desert, only to find that the monster was already there waiting for them. And of all things, he was drinking tea.
"Would you mind sharing a cup o' tea wi' me, love?" it said in a perfect British accent.
Everyone gaped at it.
It looked at them confused. "Well you don't suppose that I would fight you on an empty stomach now, do you?"
Everyone was still gaping at it.
It sighed. "Very well…" it said as it got up. The monster then turned to them and returned to its hideous look. "Bring it on, then."
Miranda snapped back to reality and drew her sword. She charged at it and leaped high into the air, bringing her sword down with all her might. It roared in pain as three of its arms flew off. It staggered to its side as Miranda turned back ready to strike again.
"You…you chopped off my arms!!!" the monster roared angrily.
Miranda smirked. "So I did. What are you going to do?"
"Do you think she should have said that?" Kristin whispered worriedly to Chris.
"I'm not sure…this is one WEIRD monster that's for sure," he responded.
"Kristin, whatever you do…don't summon Night Fire again, k?" Freya said.
"But…but…" she stuttered.
They suddenly turned back to Miranda and the monster when they heard a scream.
"Miranda!!" Chris yelled when he saw her being held by one of the monster's hands. He ran toward her and jabbed the Ultima Weapon deep into the monster's chest.
"Let me go you stupid monster!!" Miranda was yelling and kicking trying to get free. She looked down and saw Chris stabbing the monster on the left where most of its arms were gone. "Chris! You'll get yourself killed you idiot!!!"
Either he was ignoring her or he just didn't hear her, but he was still going at it like crazy. The monster roared at each stab and Miranda was tossed in every direction.
"I think…I'm going…to be sick…" she said after a little while.
The monster finally lashed its tail at Chris and struck his side, sending him rolling on the ground. Chris struggled to get up.
"Uh…uh…CURAGA!!!" Kristin hastily yelled at Chris and his energy was fully restored.
"Wow! I did it! Yay!" she said as she danced around happily.
Freya, Fratley, and Vivi just stood there.
Even though his energy was restored, Chris was still hurt from the fall. He staggered up and leaned against the Ultima Weapon clutching his side. Miranda…He shook his head and ran back at the monster.
"BLUE LIGHTNING!!" he yelled as he struck the monster deep in the chest. It roared painfully as its internal organs were fried. The hand that held Miranda went limp and she was suspended in air for a few seconds.
"Eep…AAAAAAHHHHH!!!!" she yelled when she felt herself falling. "Gotcha!" Chris said as he caught her in his arms. They looked at each other for a moment before Chris mumbled something and let her down.
Miranda blinked and turned away quickly blushing. He…he save me…It then hit her on what could have happened. If Chris wasn't there for either the fight or the fall…I could have been…killed…Emotions started rushing through her. Or…he could have been…Tears brimmed her eyes as she thought of what could have happened to either of them.
"Hey, Miranda…you okay?" Chris asked.
She quickly wiped her eyes before turning to him and stood there for a moment. "Uh…yea! Yea everything is just fine!" she said suddenly.
"You're not hurt are you?"
"No…" she glanced at his side and noticed blood showing. "Oh…you're hurt!"
Chris winced and smiled. "Nah…I'm fine."
"You are not."
"Yea…I am."
"Are not."
"Are too."
"You are not! And it could have been a lot worse! And it would have been all my fault!" she exclaimed and turned around again.
Does she have to turn around and get overexcited so much? "I'm fine! Look." He walked around her and stood in front of her. "See? Besides, Kristin can heal me right up! Right Kristin?" He turned to where the others were standing, but noticed they were nowhere to be seen. "Uh…guys?"
Miranda looked around. "Odd…where could they have gone?"
Chris shrugged. "Beats me. Well, I guess we should head to the Black Mage Village. Maybe that's where they headed to."
"But they would have told us…"
"Either that, or Kristin is hiding them so we can be 'alone.'" He rolled his eyes.
Miranda laughed. "Yea…"
"…yep…"
They stood there looking at the ground for a moment.
"Well, that's twice you saved my life, Chris," Miranda said.
"I should take a job in the hero business. Oh yea! Here's your sword." He held it out to her.
"Oh thanks," she said as she took it. "Must have fallen when that stupid monster grabbed me. By the way…I don't remember Zidane having Blue Lightning in his Ultima Weapon."
He shrugged. "I have no idea either. But it just came to me like it was natural. I hope I get my own weapon soon. I like Zidane's weapon and all, but it still would be nice to have my own."
"Yea…I have yet to discover this sword's capabilities," she said as she looked at it. The blade shone brilliantly in the sunlight. She sheathed it and started walking. "Well, lets head back now. Maybe they're waiting up ahead in the forest."
"Sounds good to me," he answered and walked beside her in silence.
She turned to Chris. "Well, thanks for saving me again."
"Sure."
They continued walking in awkward silence again.
"So…who do you like?" Chris said.
"Tch…you always ask the same question! And I still don't know a good reason why I should tell you."
"Well I need to know! I have to keep up with everyone's love life you know."
She raised an eyebrow at him. "You do now? And why is that?"
"Because I just do. So there."
She rolled her eyes. "Right…oh, I see the others up ahead."
Freya, Fratley, Vivi, and Kristin were waiting up ahead, Kristin yapping her mouth off as usual. (. heehee) They turned when they heard Miranda and Chris coming and walked toward them.
Kristin leaned toward Miranda. "Weeeeelll?"
Miranda gave her a weird look. "Well what?"
Kristin sighed. "Oh…never mind…" Again they waste a perfect opportunity! I can't work with these people!
"Oh Kristin. Do you mind healing me?" Chris asked.
"Huh? Oh yea sure. CURAGA!"
Chris felt his energy restored and all the aches and pains disappeared. "Aaaahhh…too bad I can't have this everyday…"
Miranda sighed shaking her head. "Oi…"
Author's Note: PHEW! Typed this all in one hour. I say that's pretty good being that I haven't written in a while. I made up that Blue Lightning thing . This is one long chapter. I so tired…*yawns* I needed some inspiration, but nothing really came. *sighs* No Mr. Pibb v.v I can't get any where I live v.v *sighs sadly* oh well…I'll continue on whenever I get to it! Review and see you in Chapter 15! Oh and so I didn't answer any of those questions in Chapter 13…so sue me…figure of speech!! Sheesh…like you could get anything…well my wall scrolls, posters, games, anime, mangas, CD's, computer, keyboard, books…ok I'll stop ^^;;;