Duelist of Dawn: Oh yeah, I have returned! Yet no one else is here to bask in the ambience of the new chapter with except the readers. Oh well, since everybody else has came in, I'll have to wait until new characters show up. So I'll thank all my loyal readers for review and telling me what they liked! I may have disappointing news….there won't be any battles on this chapter, but it'll come back full circle in the next one. Also, Aerith the Evenstar gave me an idea from a review she made in the first chapter, if you like it make sure to leave her some props as well!
Now as we all know, I don't own Final Fantasy 9, I own my SI or OC Ronald Harris. Now that this is done, let's start this chapter!
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Chapter 8:
Welcome to Lindblum!
(Linblum Territory- Approaching Lindblum Castle)
We all watched in all as Dagger rides the cargo ship through Lindblum's Falcon's Gate. It was even bigger than South Gate, glad we didn't need any clearance. Once inside, it was like a grand sight: from outside, Lindblum seemed like the whole castle, but inside, there was a big city around us. I hoped to explore it later since we went straight into the castle's airship dock.
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(Lindblum- Grand Castle)
As we all disembark the run-down cargo ship, everyone was in awe of the inside of the castle.
"Wow! This castle is huge!" Vivi exclaimed. "It's even bigger than Alexandria Castle!"
"Yeah." Zidane agreed. "They don't call it Lindblum Grand Castle to nothing."
"An indoor airship dock! This is truly amazing...!" Steiner said, impressed by the castle interior. "Even Her Majesty's Red Rose would easily fit in here."
"You could fit an entire army of airships in here!" I exclaimed, looking around castle. But out of all of us looking around, Dagger didn't look all that impressed, but see still seemed happy to be here. Zidane was the first to notice.
"...Dagger, you don't look too impressed. Have you been here before?" He asked her.
"Yes, I came here a few times when I was little..." Dagger said, and then looked down. "I haven't been here since my father passed away."
"Wow, it must have been rough." I said to her. We then saw three strangely dressed guards coming towards us. Two of them wore white hoods with bronze mouth guards, blue armor with emblems on the front, tan pants and bronze boots. The one leading them wore the same except most of the gear was sliver, possibly an elite guard. They all held spears in their right hands.
"Here comes the welcome committee." Zidane said bluntly.
"Hooray." I added also in blunt tone. The guards took notice of the airship we came in with.
"That's a really old airship." The lead guard said inspecting the cargo ship. "Who are you and what business do you have here in the Grand Castle?" He asks. Dagger steps forward and bows slightly.
"Greetings." She says, using her royal tone. "I am Princess Garnet Til Alexandros. I humbly request an audience with Regent Cid." The lead guard looked at her like she grew a second head.
"You must be kidding!" He exclaimed. "No member of the royal family, let alone a princess, would ever ride in such a shabby
airship." He then turned to the rest of us. "And look at the company you're keeping."
"Have you looked in the mirror lately?" I mouthed off.
"How dare you accuse the princess of lying!?" Steiner yelled, getting in the guard's face. "The princess was forced to come here under extreme circumstances!"
"Then show me some kind of proof of your royal heritage." The guard said stepping out of Steiner's personal space.
"Very well..." Dagger says and removes the crystal pendant she wore around her neck and shows her it to the guard. The guard looks over the pendant.
"This pendant... Is it a Falcon Claw!?" He thought out loud, before looking it over again. "...No. The shape is a little different." He then turns to the other two guards. "Call Minister Artania!"
"Yes sir!" The guards say as they leave to retrieve the person in question. Steiner then looks at Zidane, narrowing his eyes.
"If you weren't such a filthy-looking oaf, they would not be suspicious of us!" He retorts.
"Hey, I'm not the idiot with the loud voice, and the dirty, rusty armor." Zidane counters.
"WHAT!!!?" Steiner bellowed and it was right in my ears too which set me off.
"SHUT UP!!!!" I shouted at knight, frightening him a bit. Just then, an elderly man in priest's robes appears in the hallway and meets the elite guard halfway.
"What is going on?" He asks the guard.
"Sir, we have unknown visitors who wish to see the regent." He informs the minister and points to Dagger. "And one of them is carrying a pendant that looks like a Falcon Claw." The minister looks at Dagger and gasps, and then looks back to the guard.
"You are dismissed. I'll talk care of this." He said.
"Yes, sir!" The guards salute then leaves us. Dagger then runs to Artania and gives a big hug which he returns.
"Uncle Artania!" She says happily as she releases the hug.
"It's good to see you, Princess." He says. "Please follow me. The regent is waiting." He then walks towards the hallway with all of us following behind. Dagger looked puzzled at Artania's comment.
"Something wrong?" I ask her, shaking her from her thoughts.
"He said my uncle was expecting me." She said. "But how?" We both started to walk down the hallway, side-by-side as the castle guards greeted us.
"Well, you did want to see him." I said.
"Yes, but I never sent any word or letter informing him of my coming arrival." She said, looking worried. We then reached the others inside of an elevator lift. The minister closes the door and it starts to ascend to a higher level.
"I wonder how many floors are in this castle." I pondered, which Artania explained.
"Lindblum Castle has three levels, all connected by this lift." He answering my thoughts and further explaining the floors. "From the base level, which lies below the Mist, you can take a trolley to the harbor and the back gate. Ships hardly arrive at the harbor anymore since travel by air has become so popular. The Mist poses great danger, so we've sealed off everything. Just above the Base Level is the Mid Level, the floor we just came from. You can ride the air cab from the Mid Level to go to town. The Upper Level contains the royal chambers and conference room. Access to that level is restricted, because the regent himself resides there."
"Hey, Dagger, what's Regent Cid like?" I asked Dagger.
"Yeah, I lived in Lindblum for a while, but I've never met him." Zidane added.
"Regent Cid is very wise." She informed us. "He always thinks ahead. He may seem a bit odd at times, but he is very dependable. He and my father were best friends..." She then had a wondering look. "...I wonder if he will listen to what I have to say..." She muttered.
"Don't worry. We're not leaving until he does." Zidane said.
"Well, we did come all this way. Might as well try to grab his attention." I added.
"We will arrive at the Upper Level shortly." Artania announced. Soon after the lift reached the upper level as we walked to the throne located up a flight of stairs.
"Please wait for us outside." Artaina said to Zidane, Vivi, and I. We all nodded as they went through the doors leading to the throne room.
"Well, nothing else left to do." Zidane shrugged as he lean against the wall next to doors.
"You'll think the Regent will listen to Dagger?" Vivi asked me and Zidane.
"Don't worry, Vivi." I said quelling his worries. "If he's really a true family member to Dagger, he'll listen."
"OG...!!! OGLOP!!!" We all jumped as we hear Steiner yelling again.
"Does he ever stop busting his vocal cords?" I wondered out loud.
"Forget it, man!" Zidane shouted at me. "The Regent could be in trouble." He dashed in with Vivi and me tailing him. We slowed down before the door ready to pounce in there but for some reason, I couldn't sense any threat. We just listened into the conversation.
"Sire!" We all heard Artania shout.
"What!?" We hear a voice full of authority shout next. It must have been the Regent due to being addressed as 'Sire.'
"Wh...!?" The next voice was Dagger's, but for some reason, she sounded confused. Zidane decided it was time we all walked in.
"Dagger, what's wrong?" Zidane asked. Why aren't you talking to--"He then turned to the throne on it. "GEEZ! That's an oglop!" Vivi then stepped in front of Zidane.
"Wow... Even the oglops are big in Lindblum." Vivi exclaimed. I was confused at everyone's behavior.
"Oglop?" I asked, and then got in front of Zidane to see what everyone else was seeing and found… "WHOA! It's a bug with a moustache!" I saw a little bug about the size of the average human baby with a large, white moustache on its face. And it was sitting on throne! I calmed down a bit. "Well, at least it's not a Carve Spider." I heard Zidane snicker and turned to him with an angry glare.
"What is the meaning of this!? How dare you greet the princess like this!?" Steiner shouted as he advanced toward the bug, with me restraining him in a full nelson. "Get that repulsive bug off the throne immediately, and call the regent!"
Artania came over to him and tried calm him down. "Please, settle down! You ARE before the regent!"
"Huh!?" I said looking at priest. Steiner used this chance to break my hold on him and shout some more.
"What!? Enough of your nonsense!" He said.
"Steiner, stand down." Dagger said, effectively getting Steiner out of his rant. I can't understand how she doesn't without wanting to throw him off a cliff. She then looks closer at the oglop. "I remember that moustache. Is that really you, Uncle Cid?"
"Yes. Greetings, all gwok." The bug answered with this strange sound in his voice. "I am Cid Fabool, Regent of Lindblum. I knew it was you--I recognized your pendant's description; it's so much like my 'Falcon Claw.' I'm delighted to see you again, Garnet. You have truly gwok become a fine lady. I, on the other hand..." Artaina came to finish his words.
"Allow me to explain." He began. "About six months ago, someone snuck into the castle and attacked the regent in his sleep. Unfortunately, we were too late... The regent had been transformed into an oglop, and his wife, Lady Hilda, was abducted."
Dagger gasped. "My goodness..."
"Whoever pulled this off had to be highly skilled, like me." Zidane said.
"Hmph! I bet it was you!" Steiner yelled. I whacked Steiner on the head with enough force to keep him awake.
"Step off, Rusty!" I said earning a glare from him.
"That's not possible." Cid interrupted.
"How can you be so sure?" Zidane asked. "Do you know who we are?"
"Of course." The regent answered. "I may be a bug gwok, but I am still the ruler of Lindblum."
"Uncle Cid, I appreciate you seeing me on such short notice." Dagger said gratefully. I desperately need to speak to you about my mother."
Regent Cid gave a small sigh. "That's what I figured. But I'm sure it can wait 'til tomorrow. Why don't you all get some rest for today?" He offered.
"Thank you." Dagger said bowing.
"It is time for lunch. Please follow me." Artaina proceeded to lead us out of the throne room.
"You guys go on ahead." Zidane cut in. "I'll grab some food outside the castle."
"Cool, I'll come with you." I said, confusing the others.
"Why?" Zidane and Dagger asked.
"Yeah, why Ron?" Vivi asked. I turned to the Regent and Artania.
"Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the offer." I said. "But I need to get out more and staying cooped in a castle, just won't do."
"Okay, let's go!" Zidane said.
"Have fun, you guys!" I said following Zidane. We took the lift down to the mid level and reached the air cab docks where the attendant was waiting.
"Good day, gentleman!" He greeted. "Where to?"
"We'll head to the Industrial Disrtict." Zidane said.
"Alright, please step inside." The attendant said. We entered the cab and sat down. The cab suddenly started and zoomed through the area. Before we knew it, we were in the district in question. We stepped out of the cab and walked towards the exit of the station and looked around and stretched our arms.
"That was fast!" I said.
"Yeah, you'll get used to it." Zidane chuckled. "Come on, the café is this way." We walked up some stairs and found ourselves in front of a place called the Dark Café.
"Hey, Zidane why did you want to leave out of there so quickly?" I asked him.
"I can't stand the food at the castle. It's way too high-class for my tastes." He answered. "How can anyone get full on that stuff?" I shrugged my shoulders as he turned around. "The cheap food here is a lot better." He saw the special board. "Today's special is... Soup du Silence. Not bad." He inside with me following. The place inside looks like the pubs you see in TV shows, a bar with stools, small tables around and somewhat dim lighting.
"Yo, Pops. I'll have two of the stupid special." Zidane said to the bartender.
'Stupid?' I thought.
"Who said that!?" The bartender asked and turned around. "Zidane... I figured it was you."
"How've you been?" Zidane asked.
"Alright, I guess...who's your friend?" The bartender asked.
"Oh, this is Ron." Zidane introduced me. "Ron, this is Bobo."
"Pleasure." I said extended my hand to him which he shook.
"Hi." He greeted. "Have a seat, boys. Your soup'll be ready in a minute."
"Do you two mind? You're standing in everyone's way." We turned to see a waitress with long, brown hair in a ponytail, wearing a brown dress, showing off her shoulders.
"Wow..." Was me and Zidane's response. No doubt she was hot, but I'm a little out of her league despite the new look my body has. The waitress then turned to me and develops a slight blush on her cheeks.
"Hi there, handsome." She said in a sultry tone. I looked bewildered and stared looking around me to see if she saw someone. She turned me back around to face her again. "No, I said hi to you. I'm Lilian."
"Uh…R-Ron.." I stuttered. I couldn't believe how I was acting; I've talked to many pretty girls one-on-one, now I'm nervous around this one.
"Would you like a drink?" She said.
"Um, a lemonade, please." I said. "Trying to stay away from alcohol, and stay healthy." Lilian then starts to eye me like a piece of meat.
"I bet you are." She said winking, causing me to blush. "Be right back." She walks away adding some sway in her hips. I then feel an elbow nudging me in the side, Zidane's elbow.
"Sounds like she sweet on you, you sly dog." He said grinning at me.
"H-Hey, hey!" I said, looking embarrassed. "It's nothing like that!"
"Sure it is." He said. "Wait here." Zidane walks over to Lilian, who's finished taking another order. "Hey."
"Hmm, you want a drink?" She asks without the sultry tone. I just go over to the bar and sit down.
"How about you and that guy Ron go out for a cruise on an airship?" Zidane says to the waitress. My eyes suddenly bug out; he's trying to set me up on a date!
"Really!? An airship!? With Ron!?" She exclaims. I slap my hand on my forehead and groan.
"Someone just kill me now." I mutter to my self.
"Woman trouble?" I hear a soft woman's voice to the left of me.
"Big time." I say. "Huh?" I turn in the direction the voice and see a female rat in a worn down red coat with an emblem in front, but not Lindblum's. She also wore a matching red hat over her sliver hair that also covered her eyes, and brown pants and boots.
"He's still a loud mouth." She mutters, and then looks to me. "Watch this." She shouts the next sentence so Zidane could hear it. "Hey, monkey-tail, you're disturbing the other customers."
"What the—" Zidane turned around to see the woman next to me and looks at her tail that has a yellow ribbon over it. "You've got a tail, too, rat-face!" He yelled back.
"Rat-face...After I finish my drink, I'm gonna kick your butt." She said bluntly, finishing her glass. Zidane was about get ready rumble as he began to walk over to bar.
"Hey, Zidane, take it outside." Bobo warned. The rat woman then stepped out of her stool and faced Zidane, which shocked him.
"Long time, Zidane." The rat woman greeted him.
Zidane shook of the stupor he was in and greeted her. "Hey! What's up!?" He then put on a thinking look. "Wait a minute..."
"You forgot my name?" The rat woman said, looking slightly angry at the tailed bandit.
"No, I remember. You're Helga, right?" He asked.
"Wrong."
"...Christine?"
"No!"
Zidane then put on a playful look. "...Oh yeah! You used to live next door to me. How's it going...Ratchel? Man, you've really gotten...big." He said while smirking.
"You nasty little--" The rat woman was about to blow her stack before Zidane cut in.
"Come on. I'm just kiddin'. You know I never forget a pretty girl's name." He said raising his hands in defense.
'He really must think he's player.' I thought. 'First he tries set me up with a woman I hardly met, now he talks to a woman that knows him, but comes up with multiple names for her. That last name plus that comment was hitting below the belt.'
"So, how've you been, Freya?" He asks while pulling up the stool next to me and sits down.
"...Same old Zidane." Freya replies. "But you've changed a bit."
"How so?" He asks raising an eyebrow.
Lilian comes by with the drinks for me and Freya, giving me another wink as she passes by. Freya takes notice.
"Mostly you try to get all girls, now try to set up you friend here?" She explains.
"Speaking of which, why'd you do that, ya maniac!?" I asked him. "If I wanted a date, I would've asked for it!"
"Come on man!" He counters. "I saw you staring at her, you thought she was hot, too!"
"Yeah, but.." I trail off drinking my lemonade. Freya chuckles a bit at our argument.
"Poor guy, anyway what's your name?" She asks.
"Ronald Harris, but just Ron will do." I introduced.
"Freya Crescent." We shake hands and go back to our drinks.
"So, Freya how long has it been since we've seen each other?" Zidane asks catching up.
"About 3 years." She answered.
"Hey, did you ever find out anything about your boyfriend?" He asks again.
"No..." Freya sounded hurt at that; she must really love this person.
"So... What brings you to Lindblum?" I ask, getting away from the touchy subject.
"The Festival of the Hunt. What else? It's a good opportunity to test my skills." She says like it was the obvious answer possible.
"Oh... Well, I'm sure you'll find him someday." Zidane gets back in.
"Aren't you participating in the hunt?" She asks Zidane.
"...Nah. I think I'll pass." Zidane says, passively.
"Lazy bum." Freya mutters. I chuckle at the comment, and then she turns to me. "How about you, Ron?"
I think for a minute before answering. "You know why not?" I answer her.
"Yeah man, you should definitely sign up!" Zidane encouraged and turned to Freya. "This guy will give you a run for your money; he won't even need weapons to rack up the reward."
"Is that so?" Freya said in an interesting tone.
"Yup, nothing but intelligence, agility and my fists here." I replied patting my arms.
"I'll hold you to that." She replied look at my hands. "You may want to get some knew knuckle guards though."
I look at them and see that they are worn out from all the tough fights. "Good point, know any good shops?" I ask.
"There's shops in the business district, plus a synthesis shop." She informs me.
"Great, thanks." I said finishing my drink and receiving my soup and Zidane's.
"...Are you ever gonna go back home, Freya?" Zidane says before taking in some of the soup in his mouth.
"I have no reason to return to Burmecia." She says. "There is nothing there for me anymore."
We spend the rest of our time eating and talking. Afterwards, we pay our bills and part ways, not before Lilian gives me a special goodbye kiss on the cheek, making me blush hard and causing Zidane to crack up. We took the air cab back to the castle to meet up with Vivi who also finished dinner. He told us that Dagger was in her meeting with the Regent and would be staying the night. We also looked to a sign up sheet for the Festival of the Hunt; we already saw Freya's name on their and soon added ours, though for some reason Zidane took longer than normal. Then, Zidane, Vivi and I took the air cab to the Business District and paid for a room in the local inn. We all said our good nights and went to sleep.
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[The next day.]
I woke up out of my bed and started to do my morning rituals: stretches, exercises and finally a good long shower! Being out on the road had me smelling worse than a pen full of dirty pigs. I put on the new clothes I bought back in Dali and wnt back into my room where Zidane and Vivi greeted me.
"Good morning, Ron. Good morning Zidane." Vivi greeted.
"You two are up early." Zidane took notice.
"I thought I get an early start on things." I said.
"Lindblum is a really busy place." Vivi said. "I've never seen this many people before. I wonder where people go when they wanna be alone..."
I chuckle at Vivi's thoughts; you really forget to look past the Black Magic skills and see a little kid, curious about the world around him.
"Cities this big are always full of people, Vivi." I tell him.
"He's right; Lindblum has always been like this. People come here from all over the world. Some of them come here to become airship engineers, sculptors, actors..." Zidane adds.
"Wow..." Vivi thought, making chuckle again.
"I don't even remember why I came here my first time." Zidane continues. "Before I knew it, I was living here with my Tantalus brothers."
"Do they still live here?" Vivi asked.
"Yeah. Our hideout is in the Theater District." Zidane said. "I'm gonna go there right now. Do you guys wanna come along?"
"Um, that's okay. I'm gonna go look around town." Vivi said.
"Ditto." I add in.
"Okay. Then I'll give you guys a little tour." Zidane offered.
"...No, that's okay. I can go by myself." Vivi said walking away.
"Yeah, I'll let my feet take me on the tour." I add in.
"Ohhh...okay... Go find yourself a cute girl Vivi, alright?" Zidane said. "No doubt Ron's got himself some ladies chasing him down."
"That's it; I thought I told to drop it last night!" I said lunging at him. But he dodges by flipping over me and running away, laughing all the way out the inn as I chased him to the air cab station across the street. "You better run!" I added.
I then walk up the street, passing the various buildings that were around. Some were actually tall, three-story houses or some meeting places. I turned to corner and found the market square, street vendors were lined selling various foods and items. One in particular caught my eye, mainly seeing a familiar face there, Steiner.
"Hey there, Steiner!" I told the rusty armored knight. I saw him eating something small and green. "What'cha up to?"
"Oh, good morning, Ron." Steiner greeted. "You have got to try these gyhsal pickles, they are fantastic!" Steiner was really getting into collecting some of the pickles; they were about 30 or 40 of them in a sack he had!
"He's right, step right up young man and try one for free!" An elderly lady said, possibly the pickle vendor. She wore a orange dress with a tan apron, plus a orange bandana on her head.
"Sure why not?" I said. I pick one up and as soon as it reached near my face, the smell of the pickle got into my nose and it was foul! "Whoa, are these supposed to smell like that?" I asked the old woman.
"Yes, the worse they smell, the better they taste!" She replied.
"Well, you got a tasty one!" I said, not entirely sure about it. I finally got to biting and tasting it. And sure enough, I finished the entire thing in two more bites! "These are good! How much?"
"They are 75 gil a piece!" She said, excited she was making another sale.
"I'll take 7 since Mr. Knight over here may possibly want entire cart." I said jokingly as I see Steiner eating away at his stash of pickles.
"525 gil, please." The vendor said. I pulled out the exact amount and handed it to her. She then gave me a small sack of the seven pickles I bought. "Thank you for your patronage, sir!"
"Hey thank you for the snack!" I said raising the sack and walked off further into the market square. At the end were the shops that Freya pointed out to me yesterday. I checked out the synthesis shop first. It was like an old-fashioned blacksmith shop; a furnace was in the back of the place, tools were up against the wall and the lights were out.
"Hello there, how may I help you sir?" I see the clerk greet me, he wore a white shirt with blue overalls. He had blond hair under a blue hat. Plus, I noticed he had a muscular physique; no doubt from all of that work he's done making weapons and armory.
"Hi, I was wondering do you make any knuckle weapons?" I asked showing my bronze knuckles.
"Yeah, we do!" He said. "We actually have made a special weapon called Mythril Trench Knuckles, made from mythril daggers and those bronze knuckles you got there." I was excited to hear about that so I made sure to be prepared.
"I'll be back with items!" I said. I remember reading a story about them; armies use them for close-quarter fighting, right up my alley. Not only they had knuckles guards with four sharp points, it had a knife on the end of it. I ran to the weapons shop and bought a mythril dagger for about 700 gil, and then ran back to the synthesis shop.
"I'm back!" I said holding up the bronze knuckles and mythil daggers and set them on the counter.
"Great all I need is 1800 gil to cover the base." The synthesis maker said. I gave him the amount asked for. "It'll be awhile, so walk around a bit before coming back."
"Cool." I walked out of the shop and headed for the item shop. It seemed like a normal store aside from the various potions and antidotes for ailments, they had bread and juices, too.
"Wow, this nut smells really good. I think I'll buy one..." I heard a familiar voice from behind a food shelf. I walked over to the other side to find……
"Vivi!" The little black mage turned around and saw me waving.
"Hi, Ron." He said walking over to me. "What's up?"
"Oh I'm buying some items for the Festival of the Hunt later on." I explained.
"Wow, there's gonna be a festival!" Vivi jumped up, happily.
"Uh, yeah?" I said not entirely sure if he knows that the Festival is about fighting monsters.
"I've always wanted to see one of those, let's go!" He said running to counter. I walked after him to see a red-headed woman in a white dress manning the register.
"Hi. I wanna buy this." Vivi said to the clerk, holding a small nut.
"Oh, are you friends with the moogles?" The clerk asked.
"Huh?" Vivi asked.
"That item is called a Kupo Nut." She explained. "Kupo Nuts are moogles' favorite food."
"Oh. I didn't know that." He said.
"I think that's the last one... Go ahead, honey. It's on me." She said sweetly.
"Really!? Thank you!" Vivi thanked the woman. "Um, what is this Festival of the Hunt like?"
"Well, we let a bunch of animals loose and..." She tried to explain but Vivi cut her off.
"It sounds like fun! Thank you!" He said as he ran out the door.
"Vivi!" I shouted trying to stop him, but was too late. I just paid for my items and decided to meet up with him later.
"Thank you sir!"She said to me, but then she looked worried. "I don't think that little guy will like the festival. I mean, what's so fun about fighting savage beasts...?" She gasped at what she just said. "Wait a minute! Did I say 'animals' again!?"
"Yes, you did." I said."Don't worry, I'll tell him."
"Thanks, I don't want the little guy getting hurt." She said in a worried tone. I nodded and walked out the door. As soon as I did, I ran over to the synthesis shop and picked up my new weapon. It was a bluish-silver color and the shape was just as I described it earlier, with this I'll have an edge in the hunt. I thanked the maker again before leaving. I was about to head over to the air cab when suddenly….
"Ron!" I heard Vivi run towards me.
"What's the matter?" I asked.
"Look!" He pointed to a shady looking man. He wore an all black outfit and carried a wad of cash in his right hand.
"I see him." I said. "He looks shifty, but what about him?"
"He's the guy who sold me that fake ticket!" He exclaimed. I widen my eyes at the words that came from his mouth.
"That's him!?" I asked him. He nodded. My mind quickly formed a plan on how to get Vivi's money back. "Follow me, Vivi." I said calmly.
"What are you doing?" He asked carefully as we walked to the man.
"Just stay behind and wait 'til I say when, okay?" I tell him. He nods. We soon reached the shady person. "Hi there, good sir."
"Hello, I have a sweet deal for you!" He said in a scratchy voice, he pulled a crystal that had no shine to it. "This crystal will help you grant any wish you want."
'Who does he think he's kidding?' I thought. 'I'll play along before dropping the bomb on 'em.' "Wow, really!" I said in fake excitement.
"Sure, all for just 10,000 gil!" He said grinning. "And just think; you'll get more money but just wishing on this crystal!"
"Hmm, I really don't need it.." I said, playing around with the guy, "..But my friend might." I wave my hand to signal Vivi to come in front of me.
"Hi!" Vivi said. I could feel the warning sign in that guy's head go off as he stared at Vivi then at me.
"OH NO!!!!" He shouted as he tried to run but I cut him off and held him by his ankles. "PLEASE!! Don't hurt me!? I didn't know the kid had a bodyguard!!"
"Now you do." I said shaking him a bit. "Now, you wanna give Vivi a nice refund from the ticket you swindled to him or do you wanna have a very nice, but painful talk in that alley over there."
"All right! All right! Here!" He dropped 5,000 gil on the floor which Vivi collected. I then flipped him right side up and held him by the collar of his shirt.
"Now, you be a good little boy and play nice from now on, okay?" I asked, menacingly. He nodded in a rapid place. "And if you try something like this again, you'll find yourself in a waking, painful nightmare." I placed my trench knife to his face to drive the point. I let go of him. "Now, RUN!" The shady guy ran off crying.
"Thank you, Ron!" He said hugging me. "That was so cool!"
"Hey, I could've let you torch 'em!" I joked which we both had a laugh as we headed to the air cab and went to the castle. As we reached the front gate, a guard stepped. "This way, the Festival of the Hunt is about to start."
Vivi jumped for joy as we were led to the guest room where Steiner, Dagger and Freya were waiting.
"Hey guys!" I greeted them. They all gave they initial greeting to me and Vivi as we sat down.
"You ready to fight?" Freya asked me.
"You know it!" I said, raising my right fist. Freya took notice.
"You got some new weapons for those hands, this will be challenging." She pondered. Vivi then looked scared.
"You have to fight!?' He said.
"Oh yeah." I said, forgetting to explain to Vivi about the festival. "You see the Festival of the Hunt is a….." But I was cut off by another voice…
"Hey, guys. Sorry I'm late." Zidane said, running in.
"Alright, let's begin." The guard said as he read a paper:
= Festival of the Hunt =
Hunters, on your mark! Ferocious beasts swarm about the
castle town! The bigger the catch, the higher the score!
The time limit is 40 minutes. Use air cabs to go to other
districts. Once you lose in a battle, you will be forced to
retire. The winner will be crowned Master Hunter and
receive the hunter's reward.
"What do you wish for your hunter's reward?" The guard asked us.
"I'll go with Gil all the way!" Zidane shouted proudly.
"Me too!" I said.
"I'll take an Add-on." Freya said calmly.
"And you, Mr. Vivi?" The guard asked the black mage.
"WHAT!? I never signed up!" He protested.
"Huh?" I said confused at the proclamation. "How'd he get into the competition, if he never signed up!?"
"I thought you would do pretty well, so I signed you up." Zidane said to Vivi. "Don't worry. With your black magic, it'll be a piece of cake."
"I...I don't know..." Vivi said, getting frightened.
"That was very inconsiderate of you, Zidane." Freya scolded.
"Yeah man, give him a break!" I added in. Of course, Zidane just ignored us.
"Oh!" He suddenly said then whispered something to Vivi, shocking him.
"Me and the princess!?" Vivi blurted out, for everyone to hear.
"SHHH! Keep it down!" Zidane whispered again.
"What was that!?" Steiner shouted. "You just mentioned the princess. What evil deeds are you plotting now!?"
"It's nothing, right, Vivi?" Zidane asked.
"Y-Yeah." Vivi said.
"So, what would you like for your reward?" The guard asked.
"Oh, um... I'll take a Card." Vivi told him.
"Okay. 2 Gils, an Add-on, and...a Card. The festival will begin shortly. You all have different starting points. Hunter Zidane will start in the Theater District, Hunters Freya and Ron will start in the Industrial District, and Hunter Vivi will start in the Business District. As soon as the air cabs reach your starting points, begin the hunt!"
Everyone heads for the air cabs to the areas assigned to them. Me and Freya jump on the one leading to the Industrial District.
"Let's see how strong you really are, Ron." Freya challenged.
"Oh, you'll see!" I said eager to start the competition.
The air cab reached its destination and Freya and I dashed out, ready to hunt…..
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Nice place for a cliffhanger, wouldn't you say? Please Rate and Review!
Next Chapter: The Festival of the Hunt! Don't choke now!