CHAPTER 3: WEAPONS

For the first time since Melody had arrived at the black mage village, she slept soundly that night. It didn't last long however, and as she woke up the darkness of the early morning still lingered. She sat up in her bed, closing her eyes. Inside her head the remnants of the dream still lived... the magical blue light of Terra, beckoning her, calling her home...

Angrily she jumped out of bed and left the inn. It was still dark, but life was already beginning in the small village. Not wanting to talk to anyone she remembered what one of the other young genomes had told her about the shop nearby. With determination Melody went through the Black Cat Synthesis shop's door - only a couple of sleeping genomes were there - and climbed the ladder inside. As promised this place had access to the roofs of the nearest houses.

She hoisted herself up on the roof and sat down with a sigh, welcoming the loneliness. The inn and other places were stuffed with genomes, and the mages were already busy building new homes for them. Today some of the genomes were meant to start helping with the effort.

What a special place, she thought, holding out her hand. The early morning breeze moved through her hair, and continued into the deep forest around them. Everything here was so special, so strange - even the air. She lost herself in the sensation for a moment, watching as morning quietly unfolded. The birds of the forest where waking as well, and their song was spreading throughout the area.

What are you doing? She shook her head as if to break the spell and buried it in her knees. Like its really that nice? You almost liked it for a moment.

"Melody, aren't you coming?"

She looked down and saw that it was Mikoto calling out to her once again. Her solitude had already ended. She looked away. "No."

Mikoto was silent for a while. "The black mages could need your help. They are doing it for us."

"No!"

"Melody, I know how you feel. I am just trying to help you."

She shook her head again. "Then do not try any further." There was a pause, but Mikoto didn't leave.

"Melody, this is our home now."

Mikoto's words touched something in Melody, as if hitting a switch.

No. This is not my home.

"I am leaving," Melody then said, and rose to her feet. Mikoto looked at her, puzzled.

"Where are you going? There are not many places to go here."

"No, Mikoto, I am leaving this place... I am..." She thought of the words that Jack had used the day earlier. "I am leaving so that I can travel and explore everything."

Mikoto stared. "I do not know what you are talking about."

"And I will not return." Then she jumped down from the rooftop and left Mikoto there. The genome only stared after her, not knowing what to do.

"Be safe," she then whispered. "And please change your mind and return some day. Who knows, maybe you can help us that way - to understand how to live in this world as Zidane did." She didn't know if Melody had heard her as he looked down at the ground, saddened. Then, not looking after Melody one more time, she walked away to join the other genomes.

Jaileen was packing while Jack sat and watched her, relaxed.

"Why the rush?" he asked, playing with the straw in his mouth. "We just woke up."

"We just ate," she answered in an irritated tone. "We have been up for hours, waiting for nothing. I say that we pack and leave this dead place."

"The trees are just... sick!" Jack stated, waving his hand around. "And I say we're staying. I've got this feeling that she could be important to us."

"Your 'feelings' always get us into danger. Remember the dragon?"

He chuckled. "Yeah. I remember that one... quite an adventure, eh?"

She rose, staring at the sky. "It was madness. We almost got the girl killed!"

"Well, I was right, wasn't I? She did control that dragon after all."

"THAT'S NOT THE POINT!" Jaileen roared, startling the sleeping owls nearby. "Even if she's coming, I want to be gone when she does! It's to dangerous and... and silly!"

Jack smiled and nodded. "Too late, J! Look behind you."

She turned around and saw the tailed girl standing between the trees. Her head turned red with anger as she faced Jack again. He stood up. "You're going too far! And don't EVER call me J again, understand?"

He shrugged and went towards the genome. "Hey, I knew that you would turn up!"

Melody stared at them. She had spent hours in the forest, thinking. If she left, she would end up in a world she knew absolutely nothing about. But then, she also knew she could not stay. She had decided: she was going to the Iifa Tree. She knew that it was on the same continent as she was on, and Jack had said that they would go everywhere. That included the Iifa Tree, and when she got there she would find out what had happened to it. And maybe find her way back to where she belonged.

"I am going with you," she then said. Jack turned towards Jaileen with a grin on his face.

"Can't stop her now, can we?"

Jaileen shook her head and held out her hand towards Melody. "I am sorry about the yelling, it's not your fault. My name is Jaileen, and this is... Jack. Promise me one thing - don't do everything he tells you, right?"

Melody watched the hand. That was what Jack also had done the day before... she took a deep breath, and tried to hold her hand out in the same way. Jaileen took it immediately and shook it, before she let go again as if it were the most normal thing to do in the world. Melody stared confused at her hand. What did it mean?

"Can we leave now?" Jaileen then asked Jack. "You've got what you wanted, so let's get going."

Jack nodded. "Oh, and you. what's your name anyway?"

"Name?" Melody asked, surprised. "Melody."

"Ah, sweet!" he said. "Well, do you know how to fight?"

"I do not fight! I am not a weapon," she replied without hesitation. Jack waved his hands in defense.

"Oh, no! I meant - defend yourself. You know, with a weapon. You'll need it, as there's a lot of monsters out there!"

She looked down. Zidane had brought weapons and destroyed Kuja, they called the black mages weapons, and she had heard that the soldiers carried such items. Surely, fighting was a bad thing? But then, there had been the spider, and the little boy... "No, I do not know how to use a... weapon."

Jack grinned at Jaileen. "Well," he then said thoughtfully, "... you could try this one." He took a long double-edged dagger from his side, and reached it towards Melody. "It fits your size!"

Melody stared at the weapon a long time, before she took it. She tried holding it in her right hand, and watched the sunlight reflect in the blade. Then she swung it from side to side, wondering how he meant that it should protect her. It wasn't alive as the black mages had been. In fact it felt very dead in her hands. Yet the shine of the metal and the sharpness of its edges filled her with a strange sense of awe.

"There you are!" Jack applauded. "Looks like you're learning it! You see, Jaileen? Now we can go on."

They had travelled through the forest for days before they realised that the trees were finally thinning out. Jack sat relieved on a trunk, closing his eyes.

"I'm never going to enter a forest again! I can't even remember what the ocean looks like."

Melody walked a bit further, catching the first glimpse of the desert outside the forest - and the monster. Something big stood few steps away from the treeline, only a silhouette against the sharp sunlight. She narrowed her eyes, and walked a bit closer to see the beast. She saw strong hindlegs like those of the cat she had seen in the village, and wings like those of the owls in the forest - but the head... the beast was still hidden by the sun, but it had ears and a beak. An owl with cat's legs? she thought.

"Hey!" Jack jumped from the trunk and drew his sword. "Melody, be careful!"

Warned by his shouting, Jaileen turned quickly. She also drew her sword as she saw the monster and ran towards Melody. "Get away from there!"

Melody turned against them, surprised by their warnings. Behind her the Griffin rose, its green sparkling eyes staring at Melody and her companions. It stretched its wings and opened its beak in a piercing screech. Melody turned back to face the Griffin and was amazed by its beauty as he sunlight reflected off its feathers. Something hit her hard in the side, and she landed flat on the ground as the griffin's attack failed its goal. She looked up, discovering that it was Jack who had pushed her out of the way.

"Are you mad?" he said as he got up and lifted his sword. "It's a griffin, a monster! I thought you knew - you live here after all."

Melody rose. A monster. Like the Carve Spider at the village. She drew her dagger like Jack had done, but hesitated. A weapon. Suddenly she knew what it meant. I do not want to be a weapon. Why attack something without a reason?

Jaileen ran towards the griffin, but her sword missed its target. The giant bird-lion now stood on its hindlegs using its wings as a weapon. Jack tried to attack it in the side, but the griffin saw him and held out one of its claws. Before anyone could react a magical Aera attack struck him to the ground.

"No!" Jaileen yelled and tried to get to her friend. The griffin swept her away with a claw, and was about to make the finishing blow.

"Jack!" Melody felt herself shouting as she ran towards the monster. The sight of her companions losing the battle had given her reason enough to attack. Without thinking further about her actions she jumped and lunged her dagger against the throat of the griffin. The beast got out of reach in the last minute, but it was obviously startled by this new threat. Melody landed, but did not rest before she rolled forwards and slashed the dagger upwards against the stomach of the monster, like she had done with the spider. With a bleeding wound the griffin tried to retreat backwards, but Melody was quickly standing again. Behind her Jaileen hurried to check on Jack, and she turned to look at them. Jack sat and leaned on his one arm, rubbing his head. Jaileen looked worried as she asked if he was all right.

"Its okay," he answered with an annoyed tone. "Watch out, you!"

Melody nodded and turned against the griffin again. It was about to fly away. "No," she whispered. "You stay here!" She ran after the griffin trying to hit its chest with her dagger. She only wounded the wing as it avoided the attack, but it was enough to slow the griffin. It blew her to the ground with a powerful gust from its healthy wing, and summoned a magical wind to heal itself. Melody was blinded by the sand that flew up around the griffin because of the strong gusts, and didn't see as it slashed out with its sharp claws. When she opened her eyes again the griffin fell to the ground, Jaileens sword buried deep in its side. Jack walked up to them.

"Heh, I thought you didn't know how to use a weapon."

Melody looked up at him, but regretted it immediately. Instead she looked down at the dusty ground.

Jaileen watched Melody closely. "You're something," she said thoughtfully. "And I've got a feeling that we haven't seen it all yet."

"Oh, and thanks for caring when that griffin got me J," Jack started.

"Didn't I tell you not to call me J?"

Melody stared at them, confused.

END OF CHAPTER 3