Fratley quickly found a guard and was taken back to the entrance of the Grand Castle. There, many hunters were handing in their tags to frantic castle guards who were desperate to count them and record the score as quickly as possible. Fratley was then startled by a voice beside him.
"Sir, could you please show me the tags that you have collected?" A guard asked politely, it was the same guard who had just escorted him to the palace.
"Oh, of course." Fratley replied, before fumbling in his pockets for the massive stash of tags he had. "Here you are."
The guard was shocked by the giant collection of tags and began adding them up using a piece of parchment for his calculation. It took a while for the guard to add up the total; once he did the guard could hardly believe it.
"Sir, y-you have scored 175 points..." The guard stated in disbelief. "What is your name?"
"Sir Iron-tail Fratley of Burmecia." Fratley answered.
The guard nodded in response, before heading back to the group of guards and confirming Fratley's score. The guards entered the castle, leaving the group of hunters to mingle and rest after their long trial. The hunters boasted and talked amongst themselves for a few moments before the Regent of Lindblum presented himself, escorted by Master Artania and a collection of guards. A hush quickly filled the group of hunters. Master Artania addressed the crowd first.
"As part of the tradition, the Regent is to give the winner his or her prize in person." Master Artania stated. "Presenting his honour, Regent Cid Fabool the ninth."
"Greetings hunters." Regent Cid began. "This year's festival was an amazing spectacle to watch, and the winning score this year was one of our highest scores to date. With a score of one hundred and seventy five points, the winner of this year's Festival of the Hunt is Sir "Iron-tail" Fratley from Burmecia!"
There was a round of applause from the audience, and Fratley was ushered up to meet the Regent to claim his prize.
"I am honoured that you have travelled such a way to enter this competition." Cid began. "Your high score is truly a sign of your skill. You have earned the title of this year's Master Hunter and the prize of your choice, a ticket to allow you to travel to the city of Alexandria by one of our top-class airships. Here, you deserve it." With that, Cid handed over the Master Hunter title, which was a golden relic almost similar to a cup. Along with that he passed over the airship ticket that Fratley was so desperately after.
"Thank-you very much." Fratley said courteously with a little bow of respect. "Now I may continue my journey through the continent."
"Good luck to you." Cid blessed. "Now, a feast is being prepared in the banquet hall of the castle, if you will follow the guards they will show you the way."
Once Cid had finished he and Master Artania made their way back into the castle, soon the guards were making sure the crowd of hunters made their way to the massive banquet hall and that they didn't lead astray.
The hunters were welcomed with an enormous feast of various meats and delicacies which filled the long, vast tables in the hall. All of the hunters were eager for a meal after the long trial of the hunt, the appetizing scents of the food tantalised them and increased their hunger.
The Regent was at the front of the hall, accompanied by his wife Hilda and Master Artania. When the entire group had entered the hall and the guards had taken their posts the Regent spoke.
"Let the feast begin."
Immediately after this statement had been made the hunters began to gorge themselves on the selection of food around them. Fratley started eating as well, although with more etiquette than a lot of the others in the room. He was grateful for the free meal, although his mind was more focused on the journey ahead. He knew he would have to inform Beatrix that he would arrive in Alexandria and that it would not be long before he faced her in battle.
His train of thought was continually disrupted by fellow hunters congratulating him and asking him how he obtained such a high score.
Eventually the feast came to an end and the group of people began to make their way out of the castle, and many servants entered the hall to clear everything away. Fratley was one of the first to leave the hall, as his appetite was quickly satisfied by the large amount of food and he had quickly become bored with the congratulations and being continually asked about how he won the contest. He also had other things on his mind, mainly the journey ahead.
Fratley made his way back to his lodgings after leaving the castle. He decided to wait until tomorrow to use his airship ticket, as it would give him enough time to pack his things and rest up from the events of the festival.
However, the first thing Fratley decided to do was to look for a moogle. He knew that one was kept in one of the inns he had stayed at when he first arrived at Lindblum. After a little search in the inn, Fratley managed to find the moogle in one of the spare rooms. As he entered, the moogle chirped happily and flew towards him to greet him.
"Hello there, kupo! Can I help you kupo?" The moogle squeaked happily.
"Yes, I would like to send another letter to General Beatrix." Fratley stated in a fairly formal manner.
"Sure thing kupo!" The moogle replied before flying to a nearby desk and picking up some parchment and a quill before returning to the Burmecian.
Fratley took the quill and parchment and began to write.
To General Beatrix of Alexandria
You will recall I wrote to you saying I would have to stay in Lindblum and earn enough money to purchase an airship ride to Alexandria before I could face you. Now, after winning the Festival of the Hunt I have managed to win the airship ticket I need. I will leave Lindblum tomorrow and come to Alexandria. I hope you will inform me of a time where we could fight each other in private and not interfere with your duties as a General as soon as possible.
Yours truly,
Sir Iron-Tail Fratley
Fratley rolled up his finished letter and tied it up before passing it to the moogle who was eagerly waiting to deliver the letter. The moogle picked it up and started flapping his set of small wings.
"Thank-you. You've been a great help to me." Fratley blessed the moogle.
"Think nothing of it kupo!" The moogle answered merrily before flying out of the room.
Fratley left the inn shortly afterwards and continued his way towards his lodgings. Today would be the last day they would be home to him. When he got there, he started packing up his things ready for tomorrow. He spent the rest of the day resting up for the journey ahead.
The following morning came quickly and Fratley rose early, got dressed and ate some breakfast. He picked up all of his belongings and locked up the small set of rooms he had been living in for nearly a year. After returning the key to the landlord he had rented his temporary home from he set off towards the Industrial District where he would get his airship ride.
After a short air-cab ride, which Fratley had gotten used to after using them daily during his long stay in Lindblum, Fratley quickly found the airship business he had been pointed to during his last visit in the district. He was greeted by the same businessman he had met last time.
"Back again eh?" The businessman asked with a grin. "I heard about you winning the festival. Congratulations, that was quite a feat. You brought your ticket?"
Fratley smiled back before flashing his ticket. "Of course."
"Right this way sir." The businessman stated leading Fratley to a small group of nobles who were huddled around a fairly impressive airship.
Fratley had never seen an airship this close before, and he was in awe. The airship had a large, round blue hull and a sizable cab beneath it, with plenty of room for the group of nobles.
The door at the bottom of the airship opened, and a ladder was placed down from the door of the airship so that the passengers could climb up into the airship. The nobles climbed up the ladder a few at a time, but Fratley had the instinct to jump straight into the airship, not bothering with the ladder.
When everyone had climbed aboard and the crew aboard the ship had checked everyone's tickets, the door of the airship was closed. Most of the crew went to the driving cabin of the vehicle and the passengers were lad by one of the crew into an area with seats and plenty of windows to look outside.
Many of the nobles took a seat, but Fratley decided to walk towards one of the windows of the cabin. Many of the nobles looked rather uncomfortable in the presence of the Burmecian who was blocking part of their view, whether that was because he was a Burmecian or that he was wearing scruffy travelling gear compared to their elegant garments was uncertain. Fratley avoided their icy stares and turned his focus to the window.
Fratley's sensitive ears picked up the sound of the loud roar of the engines which were starting up. The propellers of the airship were spinning and all of a sudden a jolt of the airship caused Fratley to lose his balance. When he managed to steady himself, he watched curiously as the ground beneath him became more distant and difficult to see, and was eventually completely covered by the mist that surrounded Lindblum, which was slowly moving away in his view.
The journey had begun once again.
Disclaimer: I don't Final Fantasy 9 or anything in it. If I did, I'd be rich and making a sequel to Final Fantasy 9 for even more money. Plus I'd make it really good, much better than X-2.
Author's Rants: I am curious as to why there are so few people bothering to review this story. I appreciate any constructive comments. Also, I have estimated this story could reach fifty chapters before it is finished, and I am thinking about splitting the story into two halves or shortening it drastically. What does everyone think?
Valdris: I tend to do short chapters but fast updates. That's just my style. I'm glad to see you are enjoying it though.