Disclaimer: Do I have to do this? Ok, fine….I doesn't own anything. Happy?
Chapter 5: Encounters
"…and that, as they say, is that," concluded a pretty satisfied Maechen. Turning back, he noticed that his audience was reduce to only Yuna, who was listening attentively, and Tidus, who was already in dreamland. Noticing that Tidus had dozed off, Yuna gave him a sharp jab in the ribs.
"Huh! Oh, it's over? Well that was fast. Thanks for the history lesson anyway," said Tidus, relieved it was over, no that he sat through much of it anyway. He walked off muttering to himself, "Bullshit, pure bullshit."
Then, Maechen noticed three laser dots focusing on Tidus' back. Then, as quick as they appeared, they disappeared. Maechen called out, "Young man!"
Slightly frustrated, Tidus spun around and said, "What?"
"There's something following you. My advice: watch your back and be careful. Very careful," advised Maechen. (Hmmm…perhaps this old man knows more than we know…)
"Whatever…" replied Tidus, before heading off to join the rest of the party.
Maechen rented a chocobo and was traveling along the highroad at his own leisurely pace. Then, perched on one of the many ruins littering the highroad, he noticed a black shroud. It was as tall as a Ronso, but looked as if it was covered in a sort of Machina. Then, it disappeared.
"Perhaps you'd like to hear a story about that creature?" Maechen asked the chocobo.
As if it understood, the chocobo gave a squeal of consent.
"Very well. Long ago, in Zanarkand's Prime (as in about 10000 years ago when Zanarkand was standing), the people of Zanarkand tried to make contact with extra-terrestrial life-forms. They used huge beacons to transmit radio-waves and signals to solar systems far beyond. However, all they did was reveal Spira's location to a race of aliens that were far superior to us both physically and technologically. They had mastered the art of space travel and were as big as the mighty Ronso, perhaps as strong. If they had descended to Spira and started an invasion, we would have been decimated instantly."
Maechen paused for a while, but as if in frustration, the chocobo started to squeak and pout. Maechen gladly continued, "However, they were only interested in sport and every century, they would send a representative to descend to Spira and go hunting. If he succeeded, he would be given great recognition and would be promoted to be a leader. So far, only two men had succeeded in defeating one of these great beings. They are Lord Zaon himself, husband and Guardian to Lady Yunalesca, and another man, whose name has been, sadly, lost to history. However, one fact that we do know is that he was Lady Lenne's Guardian... as we know nothing about them except of their hunting habits, we have named them 'Predators'. And that, as they say, is that."
As if in appreciation, the chocobo gave a squeal of delight.
"Oh! We're there already! Time passes when you're having fun doesn't it?" (Actually…it doesn't take that long…does it?)
A/N: Ah, Rin's Travel Agency…one of those helpful shops that you'll always welcome the sight of. It's like Spira's version of 7-11, or MacDonald's, or…or…Oh yeah! That's the name: Bob's Guns and Nukes
Rin was pacing impatiently around the Travel Agency. He had insisted that the Summoner and her Guardians stayed in the Agency, after all, it had solid stone walls, and the fiend was only after the chocobos. But they had to have an overwhelming sense of justice and poke their noses into that affair. If the Summoner died, he would have more than his usual Highroad fiends to deal with. He'd probably be looking at a frenzied mob of torch-bearing, pitchfork-toting Yevonites.
Then, he glanced out the window and notice an old man clad in green dismounting the chocobo. He scramble to the window, flung it open, and yelled, "Old man! Get away from the chocobo! A Chocobo-Eater is on the loose!"
"Huh! Chocobo-Eater? Oh you mean that big thing? Lady Yuna and her Guardians have taken care of it," Maechen replied calmly.
Stunned, Rin was about to run out and check when Tidus flung open the door and swaggered in arrogantly with the Brotherhood slung over his shoulder, displaying an attitude as if what he'd done was the easiest thing on Earth.
Rin was slightly put off with Tidus' behavior, but soon, it dawned on him that Yuna and her Guardians were truly strong, capable of subduing such a large fiend in a short time. Perhaps Spira does have a hope in Braska's daughter.
"Mr. Rin, where would you like me to leave the chocobo?" asked Maechen.
"Just leave it with me. I'll lead him to the corral," replied Rin.
Suddenly, the chocobo gave a wild shriek and bolted in the opposite direction of the cliff. Rin tried to calm it by shouting or tugging at the reins, but it was no use. Rin lost his grip on the reins and the chocobo fled.
Then, the ground started to rumble slightly.
"Earthquake?" asked Maechen
"No look!" yelled Rin, pointing at the cliff.
Maechen spun around in time to see the Chocobo-Eater climb up the cliff. Once free of the pull of gravity, the fiend opened its immense maw and gave a roar before charging at Rin and Maechen.
Despite the fiend's huge size, it was fast and Rin didn't have a chance to react. The Chocobo-Eater was about to consume him and Maechen when a strange sound was heard, the same sound you'd expect to hear from an Al-Bhed Machina weapon.
When Rin opened his eyes, he noticed that the Chocobo-Eater was just a few feet short of him. But what was more disturbing was that there was a big hole on the fiend's forehead. It was smoking, a clear sign of an energy-based weapon. Its brains were blown out, literally. But what fired the shot?
Rin looked around and noticed a strange black shroud perched on the roof of the Agency, glistening in the sun. Then, as fast and as mysteriously as it appeared, it vanished.
A/N: We're skipping to the aftermath of the Crusaders' screwed-up operation. The reason? No Pred scenes. Yeah...you might be saying something about the Pred appearing in amidst the chaos of the fight, but I like Crusaders. They make good Blitzers (Kyou, Durren, just to name a few). So I shan't go humiliate them any further than they should be. The scene takes off from Djose Temple, Temple dedicated to lightning and the Aeon Ixion.
Tidus stirred from his state of unconsciousness and groaned. The last thing he'd remembered was charging down the beach to the Sin Spawn with the rest of the Crusaders and butchering dozens of them. Then, Sin launched a powerful beam attack and he knew no more.
Looking around, he could tell that this was a temple of Yevon due to the unusually large number of Yevon Symbols around. He was in a sick ward with other battlefield casualties in other beds around him. Painfully, he clambered out of his bed and out of the ward; taking extra care not to arouse any other patients from their slumber.
Upon entering the main hall, he saw Yuna exiting the Chamber of Trials. Then, another Summoner and his two Guardians entered the hall and exchanged greetings with Yuna and the party. The Summoner, a man in his mid-twenties, had his hazel-brown hair tied in a ponytail and was wearing a suit with various shades of indigo, varying from pale to deep-colored. There were several Symbols of Yevon on him, two on each of his sleeves and another in the center of his shirt. His entire suit was decorated with patterns of various shapes and colors.
One of his Guardians, who was quite obviously several years younger, was wearing a yellow vest and had a steel pauldron (shoulder guard) on his right shoulder. He had black boots accompanied with matching grieves and finished off his attire with steel vambraces (bracers). The other looked just over ten and wore little armor, only his usual loose traveling clothing.
After a while, the Summoner entered the Chamber of Trials. It was then when Yuna caught sight of Tidus. Noticing that he was alright, she heaved a sigh of relief and ran over to greet him.
"That was Issaru, son of Ichiga. He was accompanied by his Guardian brothers Maroda and Pacce. He too is on his pilgrimage to Zanarkand and offers you and the rest of the casualties his condolences and blessings," said Yuna.
"That was nice of him," muttered Tidus as Yuna walked off to attend to the wounded.
"He also said that Summoners are going out on pilgrimages and just vanishing," said Auron once Yuna was out of sight, "We better keep on our toes and be careful."
"Yes Sir," muttered Tidus and gave a mock salute.
However, if either of them had been more observant, they would have noticed a strange metallic shroud perched on one of the immense main pillars of the temple.
A/N: Bonus sub-scene with the Predator!
Pacce was feeling restless and could not sleep. He was wandering around the huge temple complex alone. The Chamber of Trials was challenging and when they finally emerged, it was already dark.
Isaru had gone to help Yuna heal the sick and send the dead, while Maroda had gone to help with the clearing of wreckage along the beach and assist with the transportation of medical supplies and other miscellaneous items from Luca and Bevelle, leaving him all by himself.
He entered the main hall and strolled around one of the huge pillars that held the temple up. It was dark and the only light was from the four posts with balls of lightning energy crackling atop them.
All of a sudden, he heard a strange clicking sound coming from atop one of the great beams. He looked up and saw an immense figure that's seemed to be covered in some weird Machina armor. It looked threatening and menacing and was looking straight at him. At him!
Pacce let out a yelp of fright and fled to the residential zone of the temple where he hoped to find an adult to keep him company. Or better still, a bed and a blanket which he could hide under.
A/N: Now we're skipping to the Moonflow, and guess what? Its Rikku time!
Rikku barely managed to drag her limp body onto the bank of the Moonflow and was lying on her back, gasping for breath. That meanie, she thought, to think that I saved saved his ass once and this is what I get? Where is the justice!
Then, she heard a weird 'zing' as though blades were being drawn. A flash of steel sparkled in the sunlight just above her head before being thrust down towards her. Thankfully, her head was small and the Predator's wrist blades struck the ground on either side of her head, but not on it.
Maybe it'll just go away if I pretend to faint, she thought. And she did just that. She fainted.
Dachande had found the human female lying limp on the ground and had attacked her. However, his poor sense of estimation got the better of him and his first attempt failed. He was about to strike at the female a second time when he heard voices and footsteps coming his way.
This human wasn't related to the prey and he would rather skip an unnecessary kill than reveal himself, so he made a break towards the thick undergrowth nearby and did what he did best: disappearing.