The First Grimoire: Final Fantasy Tactics A2
Chapter 1: "Of Feathers and Swords"
Blue, blue sky. A grassy glade, surrounded by tall green trees. A tranquil stream snakes it's way through the clearing. A rustle of leaves, and out comes a small, squat bird from the foliage. The fat bird hops through the clearing and halts next to the stream. It dips it's beak into the clear water and takes a long sip. Sluurp.
It's thirst satiated, the stumpy bird turned around and began to return to wherever it came from. A small noise from the thicket of trees spooked it and made it quickly turn around to spot the offender. A large, scaly hand reached out from the dense mass of trees and took hold of a tree trunk with a firm grip. A similarly scaly head followed the hand through the brambles.
"Cid, are you sure this is the area where it was last sighted?" The scaly creature took one step out of the forest and into the glade. His body was every bit like a lizard's, but with several dramatic differences. His body was scaly, tough, and most evidently, extremely muscular. He was clad in simplistic armor, barely enough to protect his arms and torso. In his hand, he carried a large silvery sword, which he used to cleave the underbrush away.
"When have I ever been wrong?" A rough, low voice replied him. From behind the lizard-like creature, came a human-looking man. Although he was slightly smaller than the lizardman, his muscles were just as large and powerful as his. Despite looking every bit a human, there is one single striking aspect of him that sets him apart. His skin was bright, vibrant red.
He moved past the lizardman and headed towards the river. He bent down and examined the riverbank. "See? Tracks of a baby cockatrice. We're on the right track Lynd."
"You're right," The lizardman–Lynd–nodded. He lifted his nose into the air and sniffed. "The tracks are fresh. It must've passed by this way less than five minutes ago."
"Sharp as always." The red man praised him, "Alright, go get Edyal and we'll take a rest here. It can't have gotten far in five minutes."
Lynd turned around and returned into the trees. The other man sat down next to the river and took out a round canteen. He unscrewed the lid and filled it up with fresh river water, and immediately downed half of the canteen in one motion. As soon as he dipped the canteen back to refill it, Lynd reappeared at the fringe of the clearing. He was accompanied by a strange-looking creature wearing black robes and a straw-colored hat. Two large, floppy ears hung out on either side of creature's hat, giving it a dog-like appearance.
"Edyal." The man greeted his companion jovially.
"Cid, how goes the search?" Edyal replied, "Lynd tells me that you've discovered tracks in this clearing."
"Indeed, take a look." Cid gestured towards the small claw-like markings on the bank. "Cockatrices don't move fast, nor far. We should be able to catch up to it."
Edyal nodded and sat down on a flat rock. Lynd took a seat opposite her, propping up his face with his hand. His expression was one of discontent.
"All this work for nothing but measly coin." He complained, "What I wouldn't give to have something more worthwhile."
Cid stopped examining the tracks and replied, "We should count ourselves lucky. 250 Gil isn't too bad of a reward for a job like this."
"Aye, I suppose you're right." He said grudgingly, "But if we were in Camoa, we would be able to get much higher paying jobs."
"I wouldn't think many patrons would place their trust in a clan that only has three bodies in it." Edyal commented.
"Oh, hush woman," Lynd growled, "We're more experienced than half of the clans running around Jylland."
"If that is true, then we ought to think of an actual clan name, no?" She calmly replied back. A smirk was creeping onto her face. "Why don't you try?"
"Erggh..." Lynd struggled to think of a name. Words and thought weren't his strong point. If he had a choice, he'd pick the sword over the quill any day.
"Clan...uh...Gully?" He said after a few minutes of thinking. "Yeah, Clan Gully. Sounds good, huh?" He concluded triumphantly.
"Gully?" Edyal said, "A small trickling stream that runs through muddy gulches? My, my, that is a strange way for you to describe us."
"You..!"
"Enough." Cid cut between their argument with a stern voice. With powerful strides, he planted himself between his two warring clan members and shook his head. "Let's not fight when we're so close to the finish line. If you have a problem with the clan name or anything else about the clan, then talk to me after we capture our mark."
The two of them glared at each other one more time, then looked away. Cid let out a large sigh and grasped the hilt of his sword. Ever since he had recruited these two, they have been jumping at each other's throats any chance they get.
What a hassle. Cid thought, Nu Mous and Bangaas simply just can't get along, can they?
Cid crossed over to the other side of the glade and brushed aside several bushes. He motioned for the other two to follow with his hand and walked straight into the thicket. The two silently bickering teammates quickly followed.
Passing through a thick, leafy path. The group eventually emerged in yet another clearing. However, this clearing didn't have the same peaceful air as the previous one. Notably, the grassy ground was imprinted with tens of hundreds of massive bird claw-shaped marks. Large fragments of eggshells were littered all around the glade, as well as a ridiculous amount of feathers and down. In the center of the entire clearing was an enormous nest. A large feathery mound was protruding from inside it.
"Halt." Commanded Cid, "Don't make any sudden noises."
Lynd and Edyal stood stiffly behind the large red man. Cid took out a small dagger from his belt and held it cautiously in his hand. With a deft motion, he flicked the dagger straight into the center of the nest.
In that instant.
As if the dagger had exploded with the intensity of a sunflare, the entire clearing was filled with brilliant white light. A loud cry – not unlike one of a chicken – pierced the air. Cid covered his eyes with his arm and ducked back into the underbrush.
"Cid! What did you do?" Edyal cried over the din.
"Nothing!" He yelled, "All I did was flick my hunting knife!"
"Doesn't look like just a hunting knife to me!" Lynd grunted as he tried to shield his eyes from the light.
A series of loud stampings and unpleasant sounds of liquid splattering joined the unholy screech. Rocks and various foliage were flying all over the air due to the creature's frenzied panic.
"That Crushatrice is going ballistic!" Lynd yelled, "At this rate, it'll probably start stampeding all over the forest! We've got to incapacitate it somehow!"
"Great plan!" Edyal replied sarcastically, "How about you give us some ideas then?!"
"Not NOW!"
With no intent of being in the center of another argument between the two, Cid quickly unsheathed his sword and prepared to strike. Even if he was blinded, he could still rush and strike a solid blow on the massive monster...probably.
Well, there's no time to nurse my insecurities... Cid thought to himself, All right, let's go.
Without any prior warning, Cid leapt out of the bushes and into the bright light.
"Cid, what in the world are you thinking?!" Despite covering his eyes, Lynd's ears were sharp enough to tell him what Cid has done.
His words didn't reach Cid, all he could think about was the distance between him and the mark. Readying his blade, Cid began to run forward.
His large, powerful feet pounded the ground as he rushed recklessly through the field of feathers and shells. The shrill cry of the Crushatrice filled his hearing, but all it did was boil his blood even more. He could feel his adrenaline pumping, and with that, he urged himself to run faster. Before the cover of the bright light ended.
Cid might not know why his hunting knife exploded into a bright flashbang, but it was an advantage. An advantage could easily turn the tide of a battle. And Cid knew this well.
There, he could see it. A large moving shadow, framed by the light. It was moving erratically, thrashing and crashing in it's own nest. Sounds of eggs shattering and splattering around were mixing into the screech it was emitting. Inwardly, Cid felt a little pity for the unborn chicks, but as of now. It meant nothing to him.
The massive orange and white beast, resembling that of an incredibly overgrown chicken was looming right in Cid's face. He brought up his sword, ready to leave a crimson red mark in his wake.
Right when Cid was going to bring down his blade, the light vanished. Disappeared as fast as it appeared. Feeling vulnerable, Cid halted suddenly and leapt backwards.
"Cid!" Edyal and Lynd were clambering out of the bushes. Both of them still had their eyes closed, no doubt that they were still affected by the flash.
Cid returned his sword back into a neutral position, he had lost his chance to deal a surprise attack. And to prove his point, the Crushatrice had stopped it's confused thrashing.
What a remarkable recovery this beast has. Thought Cid, Too bad this will just make it all the more difficult for us now.
"Cid! Above you!"
Sensing danger, Cid quickly glanced above him. A bright golden beak was heading straight down. Ready to drill straight into the man's red head.
"GRRAAH!" With superhuman reflexes, Cid parried the strike with the flat of his blade. Knocking the beak aside and nearly causing the beast to topple over. With the small opening he just created, he quickly recomposed himself and ran back to his teammates.
"Cid, are you all right?" Edyal had procured a bottle of clear liquid from her bag, and was offering it to him. Cid refused it and pushed her hand away.
"I'm uninjured, save the potion for another time."
Lynd unsheathed his own sword and stood next to Cid. He made a small noise of impatience and grasped his sword with two hands.
"I've been waiting for that light to go away." He said, "Let's slay this beast already!"
"We've lost the benefit of that light," Cid responded. "That Crushatrice knows we're here, and he's angry."
"Why's that?"
Cid lifted up a red finger to point at the nest. It was now strewn with eggshells and the contents inside.
"Damn." Lynd cursed, "I was hoping to get my hands on some of those."
"You'll have to settle for the old feed at the bar, or perhaps you are thinking of eating some roast Crushatrice?"
"It's..."
Suddenly, Lynd took off like a rocket. Rushing straight towards the massive bird. Blade outstretched.
"...not a bad idea!"
The Crushatrice noticed the running lizard and immediately attempted to intercept his path with a vicious kick. Lynd nimbly dodged it with an agility that belies his appearance. He countered the strike with a slash from his sword, leaving a red line on the beast's yellow leg.
"Not bad!" Cid praised. Not one to leave the situation to someone else, Cid tore off towards the injured bird as well.
Not one to wield a sword, Edyal stayed where she was. Instead, she took out a long wooden staff. Placing it in front of her, she began to recite an incantation.
"The roaring beast that devours nature..."
Lynd aimed another slash at the Crushatrice's leg, but the bird had moved at the last second. Causing his sword to swipe air. The Crushatrice retaliated with a swift strike with it's wings. A clawed fist slammed into Lynd's side and caused him to fly a few meters away. Knocking into Cid along the way.
"Gah!"
"Kooh!"
The two warriors tumbled over and rolled back to where they began. Undeterred, Edyal's incantation continued, her staff had begun to levitate in front of her, glowing a bright crimson red.
"...Gather into crimson flame..."
Pushing each other away, the two warriors stood up and began to mount a second charge. Facing each other, both of them nodded and retrieved their weapons.
"...Raze all my enemies into ashes!"
The pair ran towards the bird with wild abandon, blades drawn and ready to swing down at a moment's notice. Right when they reached the Crushatrice however...
"Squaaaaaaawk!"
"Impossible!"
The massive bird had taken flight, an amazing feat given it's massive girth. Both swords missed their targets, and both of the sword-bearers fell over onto the ground. A large shadow was cast upon them both, giving them an ominous feeling.
"Run." Cid said emotionlessly.
Lynd and Cid quickly scrambled up and got to their feet as fast as they could. A loud squawk overhead alerted them that danger was about to befall the two of them if they couldn't get out fast enough.
"...FIRE!"
Edyal had completed her chant. She grabbed her floating staff and pointed the end at the sky. Instantly, the red glow that was covering the wood congregated at the curved end of the staff, and began to radiate intense heat. Edyal spun the staff once and pointed the end at the flying bird. A sudden flash, a sudden burst, and a bright red ball of flames fired out of the end like a cannon.
The fireball impacted the bird as it began to fall onto the two hapless warriors, blowing it off course. The Crushatrice, it's grand white chest now charred charcoal black, landed heavily into the forest, causing what best could be defined as a miniature earthquake.
"Edya-a-a-a-a-al!" Cid felt himself shudder involuntarily from the shockwave, "Nice sa-a-ave!"
"Don't bother thanking me now," Edyal reprimanded, slamming her staff into the ground. "Take it out before it can get it's bearings back!"
"You don't have to tell me that–!" Yelled Lynd as he ran towards the fallen beast. Cid quickly followed behind.
Lynd quickly reached the site of the crash landing. There was the Crushatrice, sitting in it's own little self–created crater. It looked dazed, but relatively uninjured. It's massive body weight had cushioned it's landing.
"Haaargh!" Lynd leapt up about a few meters up into the air and brought down his sword onto the fallen bird's head.
Clang.
"Huh?!" The end result was completely different from what he had expected. The fallen Crushatrice had utilized Hamedo against him, the act of stopping a blade before it strikes. Using it's beak in lieu of hands, Lynd found himself dangling helpless above the bird as it held him up using his own sword. "This–this bird is ridiculous!"
"Lynd!" Cid looked up and saw the spectacle. In any other situation, this would've been a hilarious sight to see, but as of now. It can only be considered horrifying.
The Crushatrice flicked it's beak upwards. The sword–and Lynd–went flying above it, hovering right above the bird's open maw. He was about to become bird feed, and it wasn't going to be pretty.
"Dammit, Lynd! Hang on!" Jumping onto the bird's gut, Cid took out his sword and raised it up to pierce the large bird's gut. Lynd was only inches away from the Crushatrice's beak.
"AAAAAAA–"
Suddenly.
Time froze.
An undulation in space, a bending of laws, and a warping of the air itself.
In the space above the beak, above the prey, above the trees. Something was being deposited.
And just as sudden as it began.
Time began.
"AAAAAAAH!"
"AAAAAAAH!"
"What?!"
In the space of a few seconds, three things had occurred. One, Cid had stopped his plunge, two, the Crushatrice's beak had closed, and three...
"Gah!" Lynd crashed onto the hard soil hard. He bounced off the ground and landed on his back. Right beside him, something else had also landed on the ground.
Cid stared at the two fallen bodies on the ground in amazement. For a second, he had forgotten all about where he was standing. The Crushatrice wasn't too pleased.
"SQUAAAAAAAAAAWK!" It began to thrash about wildly, one of it's wings came dangerously near Cid's head. Judging it to be more prudent to stay off the dangeroud beast, Cid leapt off the landed next to the stranger.
A Hume? Thought Cid as he examined the body, A young one, at that. Did he come from the village?
"G–kack!" Lynd coughed. With difficulty, he picked himself up and leaned on one knee.
"Are you alright, Lynd?" Asked Cid worriedly.
"I'll live..." He craned his neck to look over at the young Hume next to him. "Who is this?"
"No clue, but he saved your life...somehow." Responded Cid, "You'll have to stand down on this fight Lynd. You've lost your weapon and you're heavily injured."
"Ugh...don't think too bad of me then..." He gasped out with the last of his energy. Then collapsed onto the ground, unconscious.
"You just take a rest there." Cid swung out his sword to his side, "I'll take care of this."
With the time that it was given, the Crushatrice had completely recovered. It stood up on it's two legs and glared at the man with killing intent in it's eyes. Lifting it's beak, it spat out Lynd's sword. Cid extended his free hand and grabbed it by the hilt. He stuck it into the ground and immediately rushed forward to engage the gigantic bird.
"Ugh..."
The young boy had awoke. He took his hand and tousled his messy brown hair. As he turned his head to get a better grip of his surroundings, he saw Lynd's unconscious face.
…
…
"AAAAAAAAAGH! IT'S A GIANT LIZARD!"
A/N: Well, the second chapter. What can I say? It's nearly twice as long as the first one. It's almost frightening, really. Some small notes I should make here: Lynd and Cid are both Warrior classes, the default, naturally. Edyal is a black mage, and female. And if you're wondering about that hunting knife, don't worry. All will be explained in due time.