They crossed another bridge, entering a cave. Icy air whipped downwards from it’s entrance. The cave wasn’t very long, five minutes later they saw an opening at the top, almost perfectly round, the evening light shining down on them. They stepped out of the cave, snow fell softly as they walked. The ground was hard and bare of any vegetation, all the rocks were the colour of iron. Ten pairs of giant posts, like the remnants of some ancient temple, lined the side of the road as they ascended it’s steep slope.
When they came to the end of them they saw one last pair, further up, topped by a crossbeam. Kimahri stopped, sniffing the air, he turned as a large, yellow furred Ronso dropped from the sky to his right. He hit the ground, staring at them fiercely. They were so intent upon watching him that they didn’t see a wizened old Ronso walking up behind him.
They, suddenly, noticed him, Kirrel buried himself in Buffy’s hair.
“Summoner Yuna and guardians.” He said, Yenke came walking up beside him. “Leave here at once.”
They looked around in shock, the mountains on both sides of the path were littered with Ronso, standing tall and proud, as Spike looked at them Buffy suddenly noticed his face go rigid.
“What’s wrong?”
“Uh, nothing..” He looked pointedly at the old Ronso as he continued to speak.
“Gagazet is Ronso land. The sacred mountain will not bear the footsteps of infidels.”
The yellow furred Ronso growled at them. “Enemy of Yevon is enemy of Ronso. Leave, traitors.” Buffy suddenly recognised him as Biran, the Ronso who had come to taunt/warn them near the Moonflow.
Buffy was worried that they may be forced into combat. Yuna took a stand.
“I have cast aside Yevon, I follow the temple no more.”
The old Ronso, in the garb of a Yevon monk waved his paw. “Then you will die by those words.”
“So be it.” Yuna said. “Yevon has warped the teachings and betrayed us all.”
“Nuthin but a bunch of low down tricksters, eh.” Wakka added.
Tidus waved his hand in the air. “Yeah yeah.”
Rikku then copied him.
“They’re a bunch of narcissistic, murderous poofters.” Spike added, glaring at the two blondes as they continued to wave their hands in unison.
“And they’re hypocrites.” Buffy added. “And badly dressed.”
Biran and the yellow furred Yenke fell into fighting position. “Blasphemers.” Biran growled.
Kimahri ran forward, angrily, standing with a puffed out chest before him, his face, and broken horn aimed at the other Ronso’s face. Buffy would have found it amusing under different circumstances, Kimahri, who was taller than Auron even, only came up to the chest of the other Ronso who towered over him, a foot long horn on his forehead.
“A summoner and her guardians..” The old Ronso, Kelk said musingly.
“Lord Kelk Ronso, if I may..” Lulu started. “Have you not also turned your back on Bevelle?”
“But still you guard Gagazet as a Ronso, not a Maester.” Auron added. “Yuna is much the same.”
The old Ronso made a growling noise, saying something Buffy couldn’t catch. “Let Biran rend them asunder!”
Yenke laughed, talking in his normal, dorky voice. “No escape, not one.”
“No, we will not flee.” Yuna said, shaking her head stubbornly. “We will fight and continue on.”
“You have been labelled a traitor but still you would fight Sin?” Kelk asked. “Lost to the temple, hated by the people, yet you continue your pilgriamage? Everything lost, what do you fight for?”
“I fight for Spira.” Yuna answered, a strength seeming to pour from her, filling everything around her. “The people long for the calm, I can give it to them. It’s all I can give. Defeating Sin, ending pain.. This I can do.”
The green eyed old Ronso shook his head slowly. “Even sacrificing yourself?” He turned, taking several steps away, he stopped and spoke. “Ronso. Let them pass. Summoner Yuna, your will is stronger than steel, tempered steel that even the mightiest Ronso could not hope to bend. Yuna, we bow to your will, now go, the sacred heights of Gagazet welcome you.”
“We thank you.” Yuna bowed. “Though.. We would like to spend one night, with your permission?” She bowed again. “To recover all our strength and go on in the morning.”
“Ronso home, Yuna home. Summoner Yuna and guardians sleep where Ronso sleep, eat what Ronso eat. Be clothed to face the coldest peaks of the sacred mountain.”
“Thankyou.” Yuna bowed again.
They were led to cave like dwellings, heavy doors, covered in pelts swung open to let them in. Inside was a large room, the floor was lined with more furs and it was very warm inside. The Ronso gave them long cloaks, made of leather, the fur still left on, the fur was worn on the inside and the outside was deep blue like Kimahri’s fur. Kimahri didn’t require a cloak, his Ronso fur was made especially for these conditions. Buffy didn’t know if she was imagining it but he seemed fluffier than when they got there.
Spike sniffed his cloak when it was given to him. “Ayishim.” He snorted.
“Who, what?” Buffy asked.
“While I was living with the Al Behd I was feeding off Ayishim blood. They’re like big slow cows, longer fur though.”
“Oh”
They were brought their meal, what appeared to be chicken, normal sized chicken, not giant. Buffy piled her plate up with it, sitting next to Spike as she ate, he, too, ate some, he seemed to like food. He nodded his head.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve had this.”
“You never go to Kentucky?” Buffy asked.
“It’s been a while since they stopped selling Bunny at Kentucky, pet.”
Buffy’s entire face dropped, she stared at her plate as though it were lambs brains.
“Bunny? As in, hoppity, white, fluffy bunny rabbits?” Her green eyes were wide.
“Yeah, or, you know, the Spiran version of it anyway.”
“Oooh.” She looked sick.
“What’s wrong with that, pet?”
“What’s wrong..? they’re bunny’s, people don’t eat bunnies.. and, they’re cute. You don’t eat cute things..”
“I dunno, love.” He gave her a sly look, she grinned, Bunny forgotten.
“We should get as much sleep as possible.” Lulu said. “Tomorrow is going to be a long day.”
The next day they started up the mountain slope, after a ten minute walk they heard a loud voice call out. “Halt.”
“Haven’t you bothered us enough?” Tidus whined.
“Summoner may pass, guardians may pass, Kimahri not pass!” Biran said. “Kimahri shame Ronso brothers, Kimahri forget his birth.”
“Forget his people, forget his mountain. Little Ronso! Weakling Ronso!” Yenke added.
“Mountain hate the weak, hate the small. If you will climb…”
“Then I must prove my strength.” Kimahri finished.
“Think you will win?” Biran jeered. “You not forget who took your horn, never forget.”
“Kimahri never beat brother, Biran, never win.” Yenke added.
“This time I win.” Kimahri said, stepping forward. “I will win!”
“Let me at him.” Buffy said, Spike gently grabbed her arm, pulling her back to him.
“Why you..” Tidus ran forward to attack the two Ronso, Kimahri held out his hand, stopping him.
“This some kind of Ronso thing?” Tidus asked.
“Kimahri problem.” Kimahri answered.
What followed next was the most dazzling display of Samurai skills she had ever seen, accompanied by magic and the occasional annoying taunt from Yenke. The kicks and jumps, dodges and strikes they performed were breathtaking, Kimahri was obviously swifter, dodging many of their blows and raining upon them countless of his own until both Biran and Yenke called out their surrender.
“Strong is Kimahri.” Biran said. “Biran is happy.”
He rose, unsteadily to his feet, making his way up the mountain path. He stopped after several steps, yelling into the sky, his booming voice echoing around their ears. “Sacred Mount Gagazet! I honour the name of strong warrior who defeats Biran. Remember always, Gagazet, that name is Kimahri!”
“Mountain knows Kimahri strong.” Yenke told them. “Kimahri may pass.”
“Summoner!” Biran called. “We Ronso will stop pursuers from temple.”
“Truly?” Yuna asked.
“Penance for breaking Kimahri’s horn, long ago. ”
“We crush enemies following behind.”
“Kimahri crush enemies standing before.” Kimahri answered.
“You are most fortunate, summoner.”
“I thank you.” She said, bowing.
“Ronso will shine your statue brightest.” Yenke said.
Yuna looked sad. “Thankyou. But I fear that no-one will make a statue for a traitor such as I am.”
Biran turned around. “Then Ronso will make.”
“With grand horn on head.” Yenke added.
“That… would be wonderful.” Yuna smiled, bowing, blinking tears from her eyes.
Biran and Yenke left, Yuna stood for a moment, then they walked up the steep mountain path too, coming out on a fairly flat part. They heard a noise to their left. Biran was standing on a ledge high above. “Summoner Yuna!” He called.
“What is it this time?” Tidus asked, rudely.
In answer Biran began to sing. “Ieyui.”
Ronso appeared one by one from all around them, joining the hymn of the fayth. Their mighty voices echoed across the mountainside, a tribute to Yuna.
Buffy smiled, her memory went back to high school, the prom. When she received her ‘class protector’ award, the only acknowledgement she had ever received for her duties as slayer. As the song finished and the Ronso moved aside to let them pass she followed the guardians, head held high.
The path up higher was colder, unprotected by high, rocky walls. The wind whipped past at incredible speeds, throwing snow into their faces, if not for the warm, hooded cloaks they would have frozen to death with no need to worry about the fiery fiends that kept jumping out at them, attempting to engulf them in searing flame.
They came upon a large object, poking out of the ground.
“These mark the graves of summoners and guardians who have perished up here.” Lulu said.
Spike turned around, seeming agitated.
“Spike, what’s wrong?” Buffy said.
He cleared his throat and spoke. “We have to go back. Now.”
“Heh heh, scared?” Tidus asked.
“No.”
”We have no time for this, we must get to Zanarkand.” Auron said.
“Trust me, we have to go back down the mountain now. We can climb it again, that’s fine but we really need to go.”
“I don’t understand.” Rikku said, flapping her arms in front of her.
“The Ronso are in danger.”
“How do you know that?” Lulu asked.
“It’s um, a premonition, I get them sometimes, not often so don’t expect another but I know if we don’t get down this sodding mountain as fast as we can go all the Ronso are screwed.”
“Kimahri trust. Ronso Strong, some things stronger.” Kimahri turned and headed back.
“I.. The Ronso are important to me, I too will return.” Yuna said, running after her.
“Yunie, wait. I’m coming with you.”
“Hey, don’t go without me.” Tidus ran after her.
“If you are wrong you are going to regret it.” Auron said.
“Settle down, gramps, no need to get your knickers in a twist.” Spike said, wondering what Auron thought he was going to do, anyway.
“If you are correct. I pray we are on time.” Lulu said. Buffy turned to Spike, he said one word.
“Seymour.”