Sever All Ties

Chapter Twenty Six: Fire Mountain

Disclaimer: I dont own Radiata Stories or any of the characters in the game; they are the property of the brilliant minds at Square Enix.

Authors 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.

When he reached the other side of the bridge, Jack's wounds became too much for him. Freed from the distractions of battle, and his urgency of purpose, his body finally realized just how tired it was. He collapsed to the ground, and could barely move. Every movement he did make sent shocks of pain coursing through his body. Jack brought forth the stone that Elwen had given him before they parted: the revival stone. Studying its shimmering shape, he only hoped the stone worked as well as she had claimed. When he gently pressed it to his forehead, Jack felt the stone's power wash over him, taking away all of his pain and fatigue. When he got to his feet, the young swordsman felt as though he could accomplish anything. With renewed strength and determination, he resumed his trek down the path and into the Dichett Region. As he hiked, Jack noticed that the ground was very dry. Looking around, he could not tell if the cold rains he had endured while fighting Elwen had even crossed the bridge. The severity of the storm made it seem impossible that there should not be any moisture on the ground, yet it was dry. The only indication that it had rained was the high level of humidity. In addition to the sweltering temperature, the air was also very sultry, causing him to perspire even more. Even worse, it was still fairly early in the morning, which indicated to Jack that it would only get hotter and more humid.

Though he attempted to move quickly, Jack soon found that the terrain itself hindered his progress. The Dichett Region's paths were hewn from the stone itself, and placed anyone who attempted to traverse them directly above a sea of hot lava. The lack of any siding to keep him from falling in, as well as the uneven trail, made Jack slow down and exercise a good deal more caution than he might otherwise have employed. Striding down this path, he encountered a group of fire lizards. These crimson reptiles had bright red flames running down their backs, and were very aggressive. Jack quickly hammered into the creatures with his blaze saber. Utilizing a series of downward strokes and slashes, he was able to fend them off and eliminate them one by one. He had to watch his step, and ensure that he didnt fall off of the path, but soundly defeated the creatures. The narrow pathways actually benefited Jack in his skirmish. The path was uncomfortably narrow, and didnt allow him much room to maneuver, but it also kept the lizards from utilizing their speed and numbers to surround him.

The remainder of his trip through the Dichett Region was rather uneventful. Jack was forced to cross narrow walkways, deal with unsure footing, and molten lava all around; these dangers did not even give him pause. In fact, he barely noticed them. As he made his way closer to Fire Mountain, Jack's mind began to contemplate his current situation. Lost in thoughts and emotions, thinking of the past and present, his mind was beginning to go numb. Several faces stuck out in Jack's mind as he continued toward the inevitable conflict. He thought of the men ahead of him, the ones back at Fort Helencia, and of Ridley. He had different feelings for all of them, just as they all had different feelings for him. It struck Jack as somewhat surprising that the actions of just a few could have such a drastic effect on the lives of so many. The irony was further enhanced by the fact that all of the key players were so close to one another.

'This next battle is going to be tough,' Jack thought to himself. 'If I know Lord Larks, he will have sent his best men on this mission. Which means that General Dynas will be here, and Cross. I don't know about the General, but I'd love nothing more than to take Cross down a few notches. That arrogant jerk needs to be taught a lesson, and I'm going to do it! Then, Lord Parsec and I can go back to Fort Helencia. And I can be with Ridley. I hope youre ready Cross.'

Determined to succeed, Jack finally made his way to Fire Mountain's entrance. The moment Jack stepped inside, he was hit by a rush of hot air. The inside of the Mountain was even hotter than the area surrounding it. The heat was very intense, and Jack knew it would only get worse. Hastening his way down the path, he realized that he was not the only one present. In front of him, many Radiata Knights were battling a group of blood orcs. Though there were fewer orcs, they clearly had an advantage in terms of both size and strength. As such, the humans were having a difficult time staving off the orc assault. Jack's suspicions were confirmed when he saw the uniforms of the knights. Cross Ward's Noire Mouton Brigade were fighting for their lives, struggling to keep the orcs at bay. The sight of these creatures conjured bad memories for Jack. It was the Rose Cochon's second mission, delivering a message to the light elves, and it was when he had failed Ridley.

The blood orc simply refused to fall. Jack, Ridley, and Ganz were hitting it with everything they had, and the beast simply would not fall. How it had made its way so far north was a question they would ponder later, but the effects of its presence were already being felt. Hap, the light elf messenger they were supposed to speak with, was lying unconscious on the ground nearby. Meanwhile, the Rose Cochon Brigade was attempting to beat back the larger, more powerful orc. Jack and Ridley were on opposite sides and Ganz was in front, all three attacking desperately. Their opponent, however, was doing an admirable job of defending against their attacks and striking back with moves of his own. For Jack and Ridley, trainee knights, the battle was proving especially hard. When Jack ducked under a vicious attack from the orc, he struck the creature's arm with his blade. His attack had little effect, and the battle continued. All of the combatants were surprised when Lord Nogueira, the leader of the dark elves, suddenly appeared.

"Lord Nogueira," Ganz cried. "I beg you, stay out of harm's way."

"This is an elf problem," Nogueira said in response. "And we will handle it. We will not be indebted to humans. Please, buy me some time."

As he said these words, the elf's right hand began to glow. All of the combatants resumed their battle with renewed intensity. The three humans changed their attack formation, constantly moving and charging forward. By staggering their attack, they made it difficult for the orc to predict who would attack next, or from where they would strike. However, he soon found an opportunity. Ridley, charging in from the left, suddenly found her opponent staring straight at her. Though she continued her attack, there was fear in the young girl's eyes. Her opponent was much stronger and faster, and landed a devastating blow. His fist connected with Ridley's jaw and knocked her to the ground. Jack, on the opposite side of the orc, immediately began to run to her side.

"Jack, do not break formation," Ganz exclaimed.

"But Ridley," Jack began.

"We must defeat this creature first," said Ganz.

Seeing the seriousness in the eyes of his normally cheerful Captain, Jack had re-entered the battle, enraged and determined to win. He and Ganz had fought valiantly, cutting away at the orc, weakening it. All the while, Lord Nogueira had been preparing his attack. Finally, he called for the two humans to move aside. When his energy ball caught the orc in the chest, it fell to the ground and did not rise. Jack didn't hesitate a moment, but ran to Ridley and knelt by her side. Lying on her back, her golden hair had been invaded by little leaves, sticks, and dirt. The sound of her breathing was almost inaudible, and the rise and fall of her chest were nearly imperceptible. She was pale, as if the life had been drained from her body. She was dying. He had been unable to help her, and she was dying. Worse, there was nothing he could do for her.

Now, Jack saw orcs in front of him. The same creatures that were responsible for that near-death experience were before him. The knights had been defeated, and they were advancing on him. Jack was unfazed. He coolly drew his saber and eyed his opponents. Neither of the two orcs had managed to escape without being injured, and some of their wounds appeared fairly deep. Charging forward, Jack capitalized on this weakness. His sword went to their wounds from previous encounters, seeking to further the work that the knights had begun. When the first orc felt Jack's saber re-trace the initial cut on his leg, he howled in pain. Adding a quick kick for extra emphasis, he turned to face the other orc. Jack's sword met the creature's club, and Jack was momentarily pushed back. He charged again, however, and succeeded in cutting the orc to the ground. The first one had managed to recover, and was charging forward. Sidestepping, Jack avoided the first attack. His counterattack cut down the creature's back, causing it to stumble forward. By the time the orc had steadied himself, Jack had rammed into him and knocked him to the ground. The creature kicked his legs out to keep Jack away as he got to his feet. Jack ran forward again, and his blade blurred as it connected with the orc's flesh. When his opponent made no move to rise, Jack turned and continued to walk toward the heart of the Mountain, where he knew his objective was.

Moments later, Jack found himself closing in on a pair of large, ornately crafted doors. This overly large entrance was guarded by three more members of Cross' Brigade. When he saw them, Jack felt his rage working its way to the surface again. He had attempted to contain it, but was having a hard time. The presence of these men meant that their leader was nearby. And Jack knew exactly where to find him. Closing in on the knights, Jack tightened his grip on his saber. The men in front of him nervously gripped their own weapons, but stood their ground. In fact, they were foolish enough to rush forward and try to attack first. Jack, however, was ready for this. When his sword collided with that of the first man, he immediately fell back. As his opponent charged again, Jack thrust his sword forward; when his opponent blocked this attack, Jack used the momentum to spin past him and cut into the man behind. Now between the remaining two guards, Jack swung his sword furiously and slicing through the two would be defenders. At last, Jack had reached the doors to what could only be the chambers of Parsec, the fire dragon. With a great push, Jack forced the massive doors to open. An intense scene met his eyes.

He was in a huge, vaulted chamber that could only be described as a dragon's lair. All around the walls, treasure was piled high. Huge piles of gold were everywhere; treasure accumulated over the course of many years. Gold coins, bars, and other objects were all present. In addition, there were many precious jewels. And, on a raised dais, there sat an exquisite throne big enough for a dragon. Only three figures were present. An injured Parsec had positioned himself on top of the giant throne. Below, Cross Ward and General Dynas Stone were approaching. Both had drawn their weapons, and looked ready to fight. Above them, Lord Parsec looked down; he had a frustrated look on his face. It was Cross who spoke first.

"Just give up dragon," he sneered. "You're not going to survive this."

"You humans," Parsec growled. "Your arrogance annoys me."

When he had finished these words, Parsec began to glow. An intense yellow light formed all around him and soon engulfed his figure. He began to transform. First, his mouth enlarged, and his teeth grew into the fangs of a dragon. He rocked forward as his legs and arms became the claws of a dragon, and finally, his tail and wings appeared. Now in his true form, Parsec the fire dragon stood before them. Cross and General Dynas were somewhat shocked by this transformation, but appeared ready to fight. Jack's mouth hung open as he stared in awe. The two warriors from Radiata began to close in on the dragon, and Jack knew he had to act. He was unnoticed so far, and meant to take advantage of it. Cautiously he moved up along the side of the wall parallel to Cross and Dynas. Making sure he was still unnoticed, he began biding his time.

"Come dragon, face us," Cross mocked, striding toward Parsec. His sword was held high, and he was ready to strike.

True to his namesake, the fire dragon responded by spewing flames at the advancing warriors. Cross and Dynas were forced to dive to the side to keep from being scorched. However, as Jack watched Parsec's countenance, it became clear that he wasn't as strong as he seemed. Jack could see the hurt that had been inflicted on him already. A deep sword wound was visible on his right side, and the fire dragon was obviously affected by it. He was going to have to keep the attackers at a distance if he hoped to survive. When Cross and Dynas forced themselves to their feet, they stood before the dais once more.

"Surely you can do better," Cross taunted. "Come down here and fight us."

Flames rained down on them once more, and the attackers had to scramble out of the way once more. This attack was longer than the previous one, and Parsec swept the flames toward them, even after they tried to hide themselves. By this time, the dragon's growing fatigue was apparent. He was doing everything he could to keep the aggressors at bay. Jack knew that he would have to intervene if he was going to stop them. When the fire finally ceased, Cross and Dynas rose once more. They began advancing on the dais, and when they finally stopped, they were closer than ever. Dynas was on the right, and Cross stood to his left. Silently, Jack crept up once more, staying parallel to his opponents. Before he could make his move, Cross began to speak.

"What's wrong, all burned out," Cross jeered. "Who's going to help you now, dragon?"

"I will," Jack exclaimed.

Jumping out from his hiding place, he lunged at Cross. As the surprised warrior turned to his left, Jacks fist connected with his jawbone. Cross head jerked back as he flew back and into a pile of riches; Jack immediately drew his saber. The fire dragon was looking at him with a mixture of surprise and relief, while General Dynas' face was unreadable. Whatever surprise he might have felt at seeing the former knight, he masked it well. When Cross got to his feet, there was no doubt as to what he felt. Rage was painted on his face as he brandished his sword.

"Well, look who it is," said Cross. As he spoke, he absently wiped the blood from his lower lip. "The disgraced, failure of a knight shows up here of all places, thinking to help the dragon. How quaint. Couldnt help the human cause so you decided to aid the non-humans, is that it? I suppose thats fitting; degenerate scum has to stick together."

"Shut up," Cross, Jack retorted. "All you need to know is that I'm here, and that you're going down."

"We'll see about that," Cross replied, charging forward.

When his sword collided with Jack's, the man's power was apparent. Jack was barely able to keep from being pushed back by the force of the blow. Their swords connected again and again, each trying to find an opening to strike. Finally, Cross was able to force Jack off balance. Taking advantage of this opportunity, he kicked Jack and knocked him to the ground. Jack quickly scrambled to his feet, and prepared to continue the fight. Cross slammed into him again, using his sword's hilt to knock Jack even further back. However, he stopped by where Jack had landed the first time and picked something up.

"Well, well, what do we have here," he asked. When he held it up, Jack saw a small orb that he had obtained during one of his missions. Parsec's eyes widened at the sight of this. General Dynas stepped forward to examine the stone as well.

"Cross, remember our battle with the first dragon," Dynas advised. "The orbs are the key. Use the orb!"

"You're right, General," Cross stated.

Jack, too, remembered the battle with the earth dragon. He had been powerless to help as the Radiata Knights had engaged and defeated the guardian. Jack had been unable to do anything but watch as they used the first orb to vanquish the earth dragon. He had simply withered away in front of their very eyes. Now, it appeared as if the same fate would belong to the fire dragon.

'Not this time,' Jack thought to himself. 'I made a promise to Ridley. No one else would die. I have to stop them from using that orb.'

When Jack lunged for Cross, the older man launched himself into the air. A step behind, Jack jumped as well, attempting to stop him from using the orb. Cross was too fast, however, and threw the orb. The fire dragon roared in pain as the mystical stone hit him. Then, the entire dais was engulfed in flames. For several long moments, the entire area was obscured by intense flames that caused the three humans to look away. When they receded, there was no trace of Parsec.

Each of the remaining warriors had a different reaction. General Dynas wore a look of relief, and appeared to believe they had gotten off easy. Cross wore a triumphant, arrogant look of victory. His greatness had led them to victory. Jack had fallen to his knees, and an all too familiar emptiness was welling up in his stomach. Once again, he had failed. He had failed the non-humans by allowing one of their leaders to fall. Worse, he had failed Ridley. He had promised her that he would not allow anyone else to die; yet he had done just that. He had failed Ridley again. Jack was so distraught that he barely noticed when Cross and Dynas turned their attention to him.

"Now, where were we," Cross asked. "Ah, yes, now I remember. I was going to kill you for being a traitor."

"I dont think so," Jack replied, getting to his feet.

"You can't hope to succeed against me," Cross began. "You haven't succeeded at anything else. You failed in the knights, and you've failed the non-humans. You failed your sister, too."

"What," Jack exclaimed.

"It's a shame she didn't have a protector when we came to find out what had become of you," Cross stated. "The poor girl was defenseless. Although, she still claims she has no idea what you're up to. But, there are those at the castle who can make people tell what they know."

"You're going to die, Cross," Jack said coldly. "For everything you've done, I'm going to kill you."

"Feel free to try," Cross answered.

Vegeta26: All right, that's it for this one. It took a little bit of work, but I got it done. The next few chapters are going to be action-packed. For those of you that loved the Jack/Elwen battle, tune in for the Jack/Cross bout. And, don't forget to review.

Weasel Debater: Alfred is the ancestor that Alicia talks about during the game. He is also the love that Elwen frequently refers to. Hope that clears it up. Thanks. Also, just curious, how's the debate season going? Are you guys NFL?

Cisqua: Well, it took a little bit, but I did get the updating done. I am looking forward to reading something of yours on Radiata Stories. When it goes up, Ill read. Thanks again for the review.

Leutan Drake: Epic, I like that. I suppose I will keep the epic up. Thanks for the review, and I hope that I'll hear from you again.

Oghma-Marduk: I beat Elwen when I played through the non-human side, though it was my second play through. The dialogue was semi-accurate, with a few of my own little touches thrown in. I thought the chapter flowed really well, and it sounds like you did too. I like to read into things, and develop the story as much as possible. Both Jack and Elwen were still on their feet at the end of the fight, and I intentionally put in the part about Elwen's grip being stronger to show that she wasn't necessarily beaten. Did Jack actually beat her? That's up to you.