Gathering Guardians

"I'm fine as well."

Ark: <Okay then, off we go!>

*He runs towards the woods*

"Perhaps I haven't decided if I want to stick with it or not."

*She turns a page.*

*Max pulls out the same magic book he had earlier and starts reading it, staying silent.*

Zazak<I see. Most Ronso say there's no value to speaking like humans. They say you waste time, that things be better said with less words. "We board Shoopuff" is same as "We...are going...to board the Shoopuff," after all. I disagree. I think human speech is knowledge, & no knowledge is meaningless. Same goes for Al Bhed.>

~Max has learned Osmose!~
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*As they're walking through the forest, they are approached by 2 armored, helmeted men. Luna leans over to Zephyr & whispers.*

"(Crusaders.)"

1<We just thought to warn you that we have a Fiend cornered up ahead.>

2<It is a large, powerful plant Fiend that we've dubbed "Lord Ochu." It has a lot of nasty tricks up its tentacles, like earthquakes & sleep toxin. So far, we've been unable to defeat it, usually retreating when it runs away.>

1<We won't stop you from fighting it, if you so choose, but we would recommend taking the long way around the jungle.>

*The pair do the hand-circle prayer & walk away.*

"I'd hate to leave them with this beast...but Valefor is critically wounded, & I have to get to the Temple before she can be healed. We may or may not run into more Fiends in the jungle, as well."

*Ark copies the circle prayer*

Ark: <Bnyeca pa du Yevon!>

*He giggles and turns to Zephyr and Luna*

Ark: <I didn't swear. Promise. Also, we should totally fight the nasty-nasty!>

Zephyr does as well, "One of these days you're going to have to explain this all to me. My head is still a little foggy... I still have no clue what happened to me out in that desert."

"Okay."

Max: (This spell... I think I understand it...)

*Confidence grows on Max's face and his eyes widen a bit.*

Zazak<Just thought I'd give input.>

*Ackbar walks towards them.*

Ackbar<Shoopuff is back. We go now.>
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"I'll try. It's the Yevonite prayer we're doing, by the way."

*She glances apprehensively at the mound of earth behind the Crusaders. It resembles a tree with an open gullet full of water & 2 long, thorny tendrils. It's actually snoring slightly.*

"Do you think we should...?"

"We could always try putting it into a deeper sleep and killing it that way."

*Max puts his book away and starts walking towards the Shoopuff.*

*He facepalms, staring at Luna*

Ark: <Duh.>

*He turns around and looks at the monster*

Ark: <...A deeper sleep? Better idea: I got a handy grenade from one of those crab things.>

"About time. All this knowledge was making my head spin."

*Syrona picks up her things and heads to the shoopuff*

"I somehow doubt a grenade will finish it off for good. The last Fiend we battled survived Valefor's Energy Ray. I'd feel a lot better if we had some fire attacks."
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*Once everyone's aboard the veranda on the Shoopuff's back, the beast begins to wade through the water.*

Zazak<I read that Shoopuff never seen eating. Is that true?>

Hypello<Yesh it ish. Shome shay it eatsh tiny thingshsh in the watersh.>

"Then lets leave it for now."

Ark: <Psh, Valefor can cast Thunder, she might know some Fire spells too. Besides, you stick a grenade into its mouth and you see if it doesn't go 'boom'! Aw, c'mon, let's kill it.>

"Alright...alright, we'll do it. Who wants to attack it first?"

Ark: <Me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me! Choose me!>

"Jeeze Ark, someone's trigger happy."

*Lord Ochu has one shuddering, tremendous heave, rising to its roots. It quivers a bit, then turns to "face" them directly, as if sensing them.*

"I guess we took too long to make up our minds."

*It lashes its tentacles out, aiming at Ark & Zephyr.*

*Ark rolls aside and dashes towards the monster, leaping into the air and throwing the grenade at its mouth thing*

"Tiny things?"

*Syrona leans over to look into the water*

"Hm... Zazak, how much longer to Luca?"

Zephyr blocks and then parries the tentacle away, "Tch"

Zazak<Some scholars believe Shoopuff eats animals in water too small for the eye to see. Luca not that far now. We have a few more roads to travel, but Crusaders say they're clear. We'll be there in less than an hour.>
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*The grenade explodes inside its mouth, but Lord Ochu largely weathers the blast, suffering only some damage to one of his leaves. It then stomps the ground, sending a shock through Zephyr's & Luna's legs.*