Chapter 10 - Thunder Plains
Tara and Gian paused at the exit of Guadosalam and took in the incredibly gloomy view the Gandalf Thunder Plains. They saw an endless desert-like expanse covered by a dark sky that was punctuated with constant lightning bolts and thunder claps.
"I don't think I care for this place too much," Tara remarked.
"It was once much worse." Gian replied. "See those towers over there? Those were built by an Al Bhed named Bilghen a long time ago. Those towers absorb a lot of the lightning strikes. Without them, it's... well... travel at your own risk."
"That's amazing work, for sure!"
The guardian continued to explain. "It's a shame that Bilghen never really got to see the finished product. As he completed the last tower, he was killed by a lightning strike."
"That's terrible!" the summoner exclaimed. "So why is this called the Gandalf Thunder Plains?"
"It was named after High Summoner Gandalf. He defeated Sin some 400 years or so ago. He's also known for banishing the Cactaur from Djose to here - where he imprisoned them into stone, so they could no longer terrorize the people. High Summoner Gandalf is also known for the huge scar in the Calm Lands. It was said that scar was created during his battle with Sin. You'll see that when we get there."
Tara took in all the information that Gian offered, but she could not take her eyes off the desolate view of the Thunder Plains.
"Gian, this looks really creepy. Do we really have to go there?"
"I'm afraid so. It's the only way to get to the Macalania Woods. Don't worry. As long as we stay on the main path, we should be fine."
"Well, now you tell me!" Tara was standing about 15 yards off the path, trying to get a better view of the horizon. A large fanged beast emerged from one of the caves, headed directly for the summoner.
"Tara!" the guardian shouted. He drew his sword and began to rush in front of Tara, but the beast was much faster.
Tara raised her staff. "Blizzaga!" Several large pointed icicles rained down upon the beast. The center icicle found its mark and impaled the creature, which then disintegrated into pyreflies. She hurriedly ran back towards the path, where she stood - staring at her staff with a confused look on her face.
"Something wrong?" the guardian asked.
"I'm not sure," came the reply. "Let me try again." She moved back into the open field, away from the path in an attempt to draw out another fiend.
"Tara! Get back here! Are you crazy?"
A gruesome flying beast charged the summoner. Tara raised her staff once again. "Thundaga!" The creature was fried by the most powerful lightning strike either of them had ever seen.
"One more," the summoner spoke. A fearsome snake-like creature emerged - a creature larger than anything the pair had encountered so far. Tara raised her staff once more. "I hope this one works... Flare!" The creature was enveloped in a fiery molten lava mass, incinerating it on the spot. Tara returned to the path where Gian was waiting.
"Gian, I just cast three very high level spells - one right after another. And I'm not even a little bit tired! I should be wiped out considering how much magic I just cast. Wait! It makes sense now!"
"What makes sense?"
"Gian, you're going to think I'm nuts. When we were in the Farplane, and I was talking to your mother, she actually smiled at me. Something happened to my staff and now... I don't even know if I'm making any sense at all. It's like... magic doesn't take anywhere near as much out of me now, as it did before! Also, even though my black magic seems to be much stronger, I still can't cast any white magic. If I try, it doesn't have any effect."
"Well, that's why you have me," the guardian laughed. "White magic is all I got! Cure and heal spells are about all I'm good for. I've also never heard of Farplane resident displaying emotional traits before either. I guess there are still wonders in this world."
"Well, it's not just the staff or the magic. I feel stronger now, in general. Much moreso than when we first started."
The guardian smiled. "Of course you do. And so do I. That's the point of the pilgrimage. To prepare yourself - mind, body, and soul - for the challenge of Sin. As we progress, we'll grow even stronger, I'm sure. And if we find a little gift or two along the way, then that's all the better!"
The pair began to make their way down the path. Tara clung to Gian's hand tightly, jumping every time the thunder clapped. About halfway through the trip, they saw a woman standing by one of the towers.
"Hello, Lady Tara." the woman spoke.
"Do I know you?" the summoner replied.
"No, but I've been waiting for you. My name is Belgemine. I provide aid to summoners on their pilgrimage."
"Well, it's nice to meet you Belgemine. What are you doing out here?"
"I had hoped to meet you on the way to the Moonflow," Belgemine stated, "but it seems the Al Bhed had other plans."
"I see. So how can we help you?"
Belgemine smiled. "It is I who can help you. With my training, a young summoner such as yourself just might be able to defeat Sin. I propose a contest. Your aeons against mine. A friendly contest, of course. If you cannot defeat me, you've no hope of defeating Sin."
"Okay, I accept."
Gian seemed concerned. "Tara, are you sure this is a good idea?"
"I think it will be alright, Gian. I'm ready."
"Very well, allow me to heal your aeons first." Belgemine raised her staff and cast a healing spell which brought Tara's aeons up to full strength. "Shall we begin?" Belgemine began her summoning ritual and called forth her version of Ixion.
Tara performed her own summoning ritual, calling for Ifrit. Ixion struck the first blow, ramming Ifrit with his horn. Ifrit responded with a flying tackle and double hammer-fist. Ixion then rained down lightning bolts that stunned Ifrit momentarily. Angered, Ifrit roared and spewed forth a terrifying beam of pure molten energy that ran right through Ixion. Ixion slumped down to its knees, and dissolved into pyreflies.
"Stop," Belgemine spoke. "That is enough."
"Thank you for the contest, Lady Belgemine."
"You are welcome, my dear." Belgemine smiled. "Indeed you are powerful. Much more powerful than I would have imagined."
Tara returned Belgemine's smile. "And I feel you too are more powerful than that. At any rate, you'll probably defeat Sin before I can."
"I cannot," Begemine's face turned to one of sadness. "Or I should say... I could not." Belgemine allowed herself to temporarily become transparent, revealing her true nature.
"You're an unsent?" Gian questioned.
"Yes. But do not send me just yet. I still have more that I wish to teach you, Lady Tara." Belgemine handed Tara a small pouch. "Your prize," Belgemine offered. "Go on, take it." Tara opened the pouch to reveal a gold medallion, similar to Gian's. However, the star pattern was different, and the inscription was different as well.
Perseus
"Wait!" the summoner exclaimed after examining the medallion. "Gian has a medallion like this as well. Please tell me, what are they for?"
Belgemine smiled once again. "I could tell you, but you are meant to discover this on your own. I will tell you though, that it does represent something very powerful, something that will surely aid you in your battle against Sin. If and when you are meant for this kind of power, all will become clear. I look forward to meeting you again. Until next time, Lady Tara."
"Until next time, Lady Belgemine." The older summoner began to make her way back towards Guadosalam.
Tara looked back towards Gian. "I tell you, Gian, I am dying to know what these things are supposed to be for."
"Don't look at me." the guardian quipped. "You know as much as I do about them. However, with both yours and mine, it seems like something is supposed to fit inside them. When we find those pieces, if we find them, maybe it will make sense then?"
"I hope you're right. But for now..." Tara placed the medallion around her neck.
"See, now you're special too!" Tara looked over at Gian to find him smirking at her. She playfully punched him in the arm.
The guardian laughed. "Shall we continue?"
The pair resumed their path down the Thunder Plains when Gian stopped. He saw something that instantly put a smile upon his face.
"What is it?" the summoner inquired.
The guardian shook his head and chuckled. "That Rin, he's everywhere! Look, a new Travel Agency. Do you know what this means?"
"It means we can get out from this place for a while, I'm hoping..."
"It means there's coffee!" the guardian exclaimed.
Tara burst out laughing. "What am I going to do with you?"
"I could think of a few things!"
Tara looked back at Gian in shock, to find that she had just become the recipient of another one of the guardian's smirks. She walked up to him and kissed him. After the guardian returned her kiss, she remarked "You know, I could use some coffee too."
"Ahh, Lady Tara and Sir Gian, welcome!" Rin waved the pair over towards the new building. "And how goes your journey?"
"Really, Rin, you can drop the Lady and Sir stuff, we're friends!" the summoner exlaimed as she hugged the shopkeeper.
"As you wish, and how is Gian?" The shopkeeper extended his hand which the guardian shook.
The guardian smiled. "Gian is ready for some you-know-what!"
"It's all ready for you, please come in. Oh, and Alyssa said for me to tell you hello as well!"
"Ah yes, how is she?" the guardian asked.
"She is doing wonderfully. I have her working on a special project. I can't tell you what it is, as it is a surprise. I am sure you will run into her again along your pilgrimage."
The three sat down to enjoy some fresh coffee and discussed everything that had happened on their journey so far. After sharing a wonderful dinner prepared by Rin, Tara and Gian retired to their room at the back of the agency building.
"Better rest up." the guardian spoke, "we're only halfway through the Thunder Plains. And I have a feeling we aren't leaving until we're tested once again."
Gian laid down upon his bed and was out instantly. Tara laughed while looking towards the other bed that was in the room. "By all means, don't wait for me."
Several hours later, Gian awoke to find Tara curled upon him.
"I'm not sure this tiny little bed was meant for two," the guardian remarked, amusedly.
Tara smiled. "So it's a little cozy. Got a problem with that?"
"Nope!" Gian replied as he kissed Tara once again.
The pair resumed their trek down the Thunder Plains after enjoying breakfast and coffee prepared by Rin. They had almost reached the exit of the Thunder Plains when they noticed something standing in their way. A terrifying giant made of black iron armor.
"Here's a little present for you, Sir Gian! Enjoy!" exclaimed the Al Bhed commander who had tried to take Tara back on the road outside the Moonflow. Moments later, the Al Bhed was gone.
The giant stirred to life and drew a sword as large as the Travel Agency building. The ground shook as the giant advanced upon the pair. It swung the large sword downward toward the guardian who had rolled out of the way just in time.
Tara completed her summoning ritual, calling for Valefor. The silver bird-like aeon's energy ray momentarily stunned the giant long enough for Gian to attempt a sword strike upon the giant's knee. The guardian was bewildered when his sword simply bounced off the giant's armor, apparently inflicting no damage at all.
"This is not good!" the guardian exclaimed, as he rolled out of the way of the giant's sword once more.
Valefor flew straight at the giant and hit it right in the face. The giant turned its attention towards the aeon, and swatted it back towards one of the lightning towers. Valefor slumped to the ground, defeated.
The giant then backhanded Tara as well, knocking her unconscious. "Tara!" the guardian screamed. The guardian rammed his sword in between the black iron armor plating sections which prompted an extremely load roar from the beast. Gian then hurriedly darted in between the giant's legs. The time it took for the giant to reorient itself gave the guardian the time he needed to cast a Cura spell, bringing Tara back into the fight.
Noting that she was close to a lightning tower, the summoner raised her staff. "Waterga!" A torrential flood rained down upon the giant, stopping its advance. She quickly made her way back behind the tower where she was joined by Gian.
The guardian hurriedly sorted through some of the gems he had purchased at the shop in Guadosalam. "Some of these gems I've never seen before. This one is called "Armor Break." Maybe it will do the trick?"
"Here it comes!" screamed the summoner. Tara took the gem and hurled it towards the giant. An explosion halted the giant's advance once again, while the guardian ran toward it and attempted another sword strike. To his surprise, he managed to knock the giant backwards for the first time.
"Tara, it worked!" the guardian exclaimed. He managed to avoid another strike from the giant's sword. He aimed his next strike at the hand that was holding the gigantic weapon. The guardian's blade sliced through the giant's wrist, and the sword loudly clanged to the ground. "Keep it coming, Tara!"
Tara performed another summoning ritual, calling for Ifrit. The fiery beast flew at the giant with a flying tackle. The giant swung his other fist downwards toward the aeon who was pushed out of the way at the last instant by Gian.
Enraged, Ifrit roared and spewed forth another molten fire rush that enveloped the giant. The giant roared loudly as the guardian ran his sword right through its midsection, executing his signature sword maneuver.
The giant roared once more and fell to its knees, then face first onto the grounds of the Thunder Plains. A moment later, the giant dissolved into pyreflies.
An exhausted Gian gently chucked the aeon on the chest as a "thank you" gesture. The aeon rumbled and disappeared into a cloud of black smoke. He sat down at the base of the lightning tower and pulled Tara into his arms, where they stayed to rest for a few moments.
"Those damn Al Bhed, what is their problem?" he asked, while an equally exhausted Tara laid her head upon his chest, saying nothing.
After resting for a while at the base of the lightning tower, Tara looked towards the edge of the Thunder Plains. "Is that the exit?"
"Yes." the guardian replied. "And the sooner we get out of here, the better."
Gian stood, and helped Tara to her feet. The pair slowly began to make their way towards the exit of the Thunder Plains. Upon crossing the exit, they both took in the much calmer view of the Macalania Woods.