As I drew closer to the city of Lindblum, I found that it was much larger than I ever imagined. I entered the city through the "Dragon's Gate" and found myself in a massive bustling metropolis. The city is so large, I feel like an ant compared to the massive buildings and walls that surround me. The streets are filled with activity, filled with crowds of humans and demi-humans each doing their daily business.
The first thing on my mind was to find an inn; usually this wouldn't prove too much trouble, although in this city I found it was easy to get lost. I found myself asking for directions off some of the locals. I eventually found my way to one of the many inns in the city. For the first time on this journey I had do dig into my savings and pay a small fee to stay for the night and for some food. At long last, I can permit myself to rest after a long journey.
For three days Fratley had been travelling now, and he made enormous progress. Fratley was fairly proud of himself for the journey he had made, but he knew it would be a long way before his journey would end.
The next part of the journey in Fratley's plan involved getting an airship ride. It was too mountainous around the area to go by foot and Fratley knew that a chocobo wouldn't able to trek over the mountains in his path. He would travel by air to Alexandria, or the nearby village Dali, whichever was cheaper.
After breakfast, Fratley decided to explore Lindblum and see what the great city had to offer, although his main idea was finding where we could purchase an airship ride. Amazingly, the city streets were even more crowded than they had been the previous evening when Fratley first arrived. Thousands of citizens from places all around Gaia walked on the streets doing business with each other and trading goods. Fratley even managed the spot the odd Burmecian wandering through the city.
After much exploring and a few instances of stopping to ask for directions, Fratley eventually found an air-cab terminal which would take him almost directly to an area where he could ask for an airship ride. He hopped onto the air-cab in the brief interval that the doors opened and joined a rather large crowd of businessmen. He wasn't surprised; the cab was heading for the Industrial District, where he heard that the factories and major businesses of Lindblum were to be found.
Fratley was forced to stand in the crowded and cramped air-cab and he took hold of one of the support bars inside. The doors shut firmly, and Fratley could clearly hear the engines of the air-cab starting up. A jolt nearly sent Fratley flying into someone next to him as the air-cab shot away with a surprisingly fast speed. Fratley clung to the support bar and regained his balance; he wasn't used to this kind of transport.
Everyone else in the cab didn't look fazed; they were clearly used to the movement of the air-cab after using it day after day.
After a minute or so of movement, the air-cab jolted to a halt, nearly sending Fratley sailing into the wall of the cab. The doors swung open and Fratley leapt out of the doors as fast as he could, desperate to get off the wretched air-cab. The majority of the other passengers of the air-cab soon followed him.
"Just how am I going to survive on an airship if I can barely stand a mere air-cab?" Fratley thought to himself as he walked away. He rid his mind of such a thought and focused on finding said airship to take him to his next destination.
After taking some time to look around the district, Fratley saw there were a vast amount of airships owned by the local businesses, many of which were undertaking frequent deliveries to neighbouring lands. Almost certainly there would be one or two making shipments to either Alexandria or Dali, the only question was persuading the owners of the ships to permit him to ride with their delivery. Fratley decided to ask around to see if it were possible. He was directed towards a business which often let their airships be used for taking nobles to foreign towns and cities.
"So you're interesting in getting an airship ride to the Alexandrian Kingdom..." The businessmen said merrily whilst rubbing his hand through his slick black hair.
"Yes." Fratley replied affirmatively.
"Are you sure you've got the money for it?" The businessmen asked looking slightly concerned.
"How much is it?" Fratley inquired.
"Well, our fare to Treno is 8500 gil, the fare to Dali is 9000 gil, and it will cost you 10000 gil if you want to go to Alexandria directly." The businessmen answered firmly.
"T-Ten thousand gil!" Fratley repeated in shock, his face twisted with horror. "And nine thousand just to go to Dali!
"Yes." The businessmen stated.
Fratley's ears fell and he made a heavy sigh. He didn't even have half of the amount required to pay for an airship ride for any one of those destinations. He never thought it would be so expensive.
"I'm sorry, I can't afford that." Fratley said glumly. "I shall just leave now." With that, Fratley turned and left the building.
Fratley didn't know what to do, he had originally planned to get an airship ride to Dali or Alexandria and walk the rest of the way. However, he had nowhere near the amount of gil necessary to purchase an airship ride. After thinking for a while, Fratley found that he had two choices, he could backtrack back into the Burmecian kingdom and travel through North Gate to Alexandria, or he could get a job here and save up the money needed to go on his desired airship ride.
After much consideration, Fratley decided to do the second of the two options. He didn't want to undo all of the work he had done so far and put three days travel to waste. He also thought that if he entered the Burmecian Kingdom again he would be incredibly tempted to return home, and Freya would almost certainly prevent him from leaving again.
During the remaining part of the day, Fratley managed to rent some cheap lodgings where he could stay until he had earned the money he needed and set off to find some form of work. He eventually managed to join the guards in helping to protect the city from local monsters outside the gates. This was ideal for Fratley as it let him get some good training and experience. Not only that, but it paid out some decent gil, enough to keep Fratley going and still leave a fair amount to save for the airship ride.
On the fifth morning since Fratley's arrival, a knock on the door stirred Fratley from his sleep. He quickly rose from his bed and pulled on some clothes to cover himself and answered the door.
He found himself staring at nothing, until he felt something tug at the bottom of his trousers. He looked down to see a moogle looking back at him with a smile, and a letter in the grip of its paw.
"I have a letter for you kupo!" The moogle chirped merrily before lifting itself off the ground with its tiny wings.
"Thank-you." Fratley said before taking the letter out of the moogle's grasp and opening it. As he expected, it was a reply to the letter he sent to General Beatrix.
To Sir Iron-Tail Fratley of Burmecia
I am honoured by your challenge, and that you are making such an effort to travel to our great nation to face me. However, I do not see any reason as to why we should fight, and that my duties to protect the Royal Family would interfere with any time to set aside to fight you. Although I would not want you to waste such a journey, nor do I wish to be impolite. I will see if I can get some time to face you, and I will accept your challenge. I have also heard many tales about your strength; it will be interesting to see if they are true.
Yours truly,
General Beatrix
Fratley decided to get a piece of parchment and a quill and write a suitable response.
To General Beatrix of Alexandria
I am extremely glad that you have decided to accept my challenge. However, my journey has come to a halt for the time-being as I need to earn enough money to pay to travel to Alexandria by air. I will inform you through mognet when I am able to proceed with the rest of my journey, and I hope you can have patience until my arrival.
Yours truly,
Sir Iron-Tail Fratley
Fratley then rolled up the parchment and tied it together before passing it to the moogle.
"Send this reply back to General Beatrix as soon as possible." Fratley stated to the moogle.
"Sure thing kupo!" The moogle answered happily before turning and flying out of the door.
Fratley watched the moogle leave before getting ready for another day of guarding the city gates. As every day passed, Fratley would get more gil, and get closer to the dream of finishing his journey. He knew it would take quite a long time to earn the money he needed.
Disclaimer: Do I really need to do these any more? You guys know I don't own Final Fantasy 9 right?
Author's Rants: A nice, quick update to make up for the slowness of my writing, but none of you seems to be reading this! Please give me a review if you're reading! I'm lonely...