Sever All Ties

Chapter Twelve: Progress

Disclaimer: I don't own Radiata Stories or any of the characters in the game; they are the property of the brilliant minds at Square Enix.

Author's Note(s): Words in '…' indicate a thought. Words in "…" indicate spoken words. This story will proceed based on the assumption that Jack has joined Ridley on the path of the non-human. This path would inevitably lead him to face his former friends and allies in combat. It is these fights I will illustrate in this story. Some creative liberties will be taken regarding who they face (i.e. Jack will face opponents in this fic that you don't get to face in the game). I hope you enjoy.

As they followed the hallway into the goblin cemetery, Jack's eyes moved constantly. He and Ridley moved quickly, trying to avoid having to face any of the creatures in the tomb. They were forced to walk single file through the hallway. In front of them, they suddenly saw a pointura. The creature saw them as well, and moved to attack. Stepping forward, Jack brought his sword to bear. He attacked the spider fiercely, pushing it back. It seemed as though he was taking out his anger from their last encounter with a pointura. After several vicious attacks, the creature fell. Jack turned around and nodded to Ridley before continuing to walk forward.

When they entered the next chamber, Jack saw that they would have to fight again. Two goblin phantoms stood in front of them, and the specters immediately moved toward them. Jack, having faced the apparitions before, ran at them. He knew that closing the distance was crucial. They could not be allowed the time to prepare their magic attacks. Further, he knew they relied solely on their magic to attack. Jack attacked the first phantom, trying to force it back. The spirit managed to block his attack, but was also pushed back. Sword strokes rained down on the phantom, which found itself helpless. Finally, the saber's blade hit the phantom's staff, and splintered it. A final slash was all that was needed to finish the creature. As its robes landed in a heap, Jack turned to find Ridley. Behind him, he saw that she was standing next to an identical pile of robes. Looking over, Ridley saw Jack and shrugged.

"How did you…" Jack began.

"It's easy," Ridley answered. "They have some sort of seal on their robes. It looks like a face or something. Just cut it loose."

Upon hearing these words, Jack looked back down at the pile of cloth in front of him. He saw that the glowing blow face was beginning to fade away. Further, when he looked at the one Ridley had faced, he saw that a horizontal slash had severed this part of the robe from the other half. Jack noted this, and decided he would have to try it when they inevitably met more of the phantoms. He gave Ridley a thumbs-up and began walking forward again.

Proceeding through the cemetery, they encountered very little resistance. The hallways weren't difficult to navigate, and there was only one path. Once, bone goblins appeared behind them while they were beset from the front. Dividing their strength, Jack and Ridley were able to face this threat. He faced the pointuras in front of them, and she the goblins behind. Soon, their efforts had brought them to the end of the path, and they entered the deceased goblin's burial chamber.

Walking forward, Jack found that the tomb was closed once again. As they approached the tomb itself, the door slowly jerked into motion. When it had opened all the way, Jack saw the figure of the deceased goblin leader come forth. The spectral figure approached them, and Jack put a hand on his saber's hilt. Ridley unconsciously stepped back, gripping her axe firmly. Finally, the goblin spoke.

"You return," he asked. "You come to steal treasure?"

"Uh, yeah," Jack replied. "We're looking for a book. The History of Goblins. You know where it is?"

"I have," the goblin said. "You not take."

"We need for a goblin," Ridley said. "We told him we'd bring it to him."

"Me not care," Gobblehope IX answered. "You fight for book."

"All right," said Jack. "Let's go."

An instant later, the goblin had faded from view. Jack turned around and stepped back, so that he and Ridley stood back to back. Gobblehope soon appeared in front of Jack. The young swordsman charged ahead, trying to attack the specter. His saber slash cut through the goblin, who slid backward and promptly disappeared again. Right in front of him, the ground began to separate, and a single bony arm reached out. The bone goblin that pulled itself out began walking toward Jack. The creature brandished a long, heavy bone. Jack rushed toward the goblin, warning Ridley to keep her eyes open for the phantasmal leader.

His sword flashing, Jack cut through the first goblin. Whirling, he found another goblin coming out of the ground behind him. More of the undead creatures were coming out of the ground all around them. Jack deflected the attack of a goblin that was coming for him, and counterattacked. Ridley was also fighting. Her vicious axe strokes smashed into multiple goblins at once. Always watching for their leader, the offensive continued. When Gobblehope IX did appear, their attacks shifted, targeting him instead. Coordinating their movements, one attacked the spirit, while the other protected the attacker. Slowly, they were winning.

While Jack was facing a bone goblin, he saw a flash out of the corner of his eye and turned. He barely got his sword into the path of Gobblehope's lightning bolt before it hit him. When a second bolt followed the first, Jack dove out of the way, leaving his opponent to be hit instead. Instantly on his feet, he resumed his attack. Two or three goblins at a time fell before the sweeping strokes of his saber. Ridley's axe was just as effective, cutting into the undead creatures mercilessly. All the while, they watched for the Goblin King. Jack, fighting a bone goblin, suddenly heard Ridley shout.

"Jack," she yelled. "Get down!"

The swordsman ducked. An instant later, he saw Ridley's axe fly past him and into the spectral goblin standing behind him. Ridley's 'Wild Pitch' had dealt a heavy blow to their target. Jack jumped back to his feet, and began attacking Gobblehope fiercely. Their phantasmal adversary began to shower the tomb with his lightning bolts. Many of the electrical blasts destroyed his own allies, but he continued the offensive. Jack and Ridley were forced to move quickly, trying to evade all of these attacks. Seeing this as a sign of his growing vulnerability, Ridley stepped forward to attack.

Harrying the ghostly goblin, she forced him back into a defensive stance. As soon as the goblin disappeared, Jack began running to the other end of the room. He mercilessly cut through the two bone goblins that attempted to block his path, and focused solely on making to the opposite wall. As he neared the far end of the tomb, Gobblehope IX appeared before him. Instantly, Jack's sword was flashed toward the specter. His attacks forced the goblin back, and he disappeared again. Jack looked around, but he did not reappear. Ridley seemed equally perplexed by his disappearance. After several long moments, Jack sheathed his sword. Eventually the goblin materialized before them, holding a book. Jack reached for his sword, but Ridley put a hand on his arm and stopped him. The goblin extended his hand, which held the book.

"You fight well," he said. "You take book."

"Thank you," Ridley said, taking the tome. Walking out of the burial chamber, they heard the sound of the tomb lid sliding shut.

Leaving the cemetery, they encountered no resistance. As if recognizing that their leader had been vanquished, the tomb's inhabitants allowed them to pass unharmed. Jack, however, would not let his guard down, constantly eyeing the creatures to make sure they didn't attack. When they reached the ladder at the end, he sent Ridley and the book up first. He followed quickly, eager to deliver the text and return to Fort Helencia.

Walking back through the Dorse Region, Jack and Ridley talked of their days in the knights. Ridley joked about Jack's encounter with the goblin trio in Earth Valley, and their 'battle' with the goblins while escorting the Dwarven goods. Jack informed her that he had befriended the goblins, and that there was no enmity between them. She smiled at this.

When they returned to Shangri-La, Ridley approached the Journey Pig and prepared to go to the Black Goblin Haven. She was surprised when she saw that Jack had stopped. He was standing not ten feet behind her, with a dazed look on his face. With a sigh, Ridley turned and faced Jack. Then, she began looking around, trying to figure out what he was staring at. Finally, her patience ran out and she asked him.

"What on earth are you looking at," asked Ridley. "We need to deliver this book."

"I know," Jack said. "And I'm not looking at anything."

"Then what were you doing," Ridley asked.

"Thinking," Jack said.

"That can't be good," Ridley said with a grin.

"It's really not," Jack said levelly. "I'm trying to remember."

"Remember what," Ridley asked.

"What the Sediche Region looks like," Jack said sheepishly.

"You're joking," Ridley said flatly.

"No, I'm serious," said Jack. "I really can't remember. I mean, I remember the snow, and the toadstools, but that's about it."

"You can't picture the outside of the Goblin Haven," asked Ridley.

"Sorry, but I'm drawing a blank," Jack said. "I could try to use the Pig anyway, but it's not a good idea if you're not sure where you're going."

"I can't believe this," Ridley groaned. She held her hand out to Jack. "Come on, we don't have time for this."

'It worked,' Jack thought to himself as he took her hand. Euphoria swept over him. He was overjoyed just to hold her hand. Never mind the trick he had employed, and never mind that it had made him look like a fool. He was holding her hand. Jack watched as Ridley's other hand reached out to touch the Journey Pig.

The next instant they were standing outside the Black Goblin Haven in the Sediche Region. A place Jack was very familiar with. They walked inside; greeting the goblins they walked past, and went out the other side. Marco was in his usual place, sitting outside and reading his books. Upon seeing them, and the book they carried, he jumped to his feet.

"Is that the book," he asked anxiously.

"It is," Ridley said, nodding her head.

"May I," Marco asked, stretching his arms out. Ridley handed him the book. He flipped through the pages quickly, stopping occasionally to take a closer look at pictures or diagrams. All the while, his smile grew bigger.

"So is that it," Jack interjected.

"Yes," said Marco, closing the book. "This is it. I can't thank you enough for retrieving it for me. This book is fabulous."

"I don't get it," Jack said. "It can't be that important."

"But it is," Marco exclaimed. "This is the most amazing find in goblin history!"

"If you say so," Jack said. "We'll be going now."

"One moment," Marco said, producing a bag from behind a stack of books. "I will reward you for helping me. You see, I've studied human manners and customs. You performed a service for me, and should be rewarded."

"Thank you," Jack said, taking the bag. Its metallic clank told him that there were dagols inside. He and Ridley walked back through the Goblin Haven, and approached the Journey Pig outside. This time, it was Ridley who stopped short.

"Jack, I have a problem," she said. "Can you help me?"

"That's what I'm here for," he answered. "What is it?"

"I don't remember what Fort Helencia looks like," Ridley said.

"You don't," Jack asked.

"No," Ridley answered. "I can't remember."

"That's terrible," Jack said with a smile. "I guess you'll have to hold my hand."

"I guess so," Ridley said, smiling back. Both smiles grew when their hands met. Jack visualized Fort Helencia, and touched the Journey Pig with his other hand.

Vegeta26: And there you have it. I do apologize for taking so long to update, things have been a little crazy lately. In any case, I hope you all are still enjoying the story. Don't forget to let me know what you think by reviewing. I'd sure appreciate it.

Blue Persuasion: Jack and Ridley's talk was overdue, but that's part of what made it so important to have. They'll work together a lot better when they know what to expect from the other. And believe me, they'll need to work together in the coming days.

: Thanks for the review, and I'm glad you like the story. Hope to hear from you again.