UnShaekable (FFXII)

XXX) The Sword of Kings

"What is that thing?!" Vaan cries, diving back and away from the massive metallic creature dragging itself out of a glowing hole in the stone tiles.

"I haven't the slightest clue," Balthier replies, pulling his gun off his back. The spear in my hands suddenly feels unbearably heavy and I frown, rolling my shoulders back in hopes of alleviating the tension. Vaan, too, notices this weight, slashing his dagger through the air.

"Am I the only one feeling this?"

"No," I sigh, wincing as my arms ache in protest to any movement. "Our friend here likely emits a magnetic field."

"Fantastic," Balthier breathes, glancing over his shoulder at Penelo. "Know a spell or two to lend us a hand?"

"I can try," the girl replies, baring her staff as a skimpy shield.

"How's that gun feel, Balthier?" I ask, watching the bizarre iron dragon clamber closer.

"Not terrible."

I break off from the group and rush to the left, my steps slowed by the dragging weight of my weapon. While the creature is distracted, I take the opportunity to use momentum to swing my spear into its rusted back. One of its three eerie human-like faces swoops around its side and nears my own face. I stumble back, Vaan redirecting its attention with a rather hard slash to its metal shell. How long has this freak been down here? Balthier's gun cracks loud and clear without any hesitation. It doesn't affect him then, the lucky #$%^&*.

Jerking away from Penelo's touch, the creature slides into the largest space in the room and spins, balancing on a single, deadly-sharp foot. I hardly have time to react before a dozen swords fly out in all directions. A stinging cut burns my left shoulder, the slash in my shirt causing the material to fall even further off my shoulder. Balthier dives to the right and Vaan to the left. The thief crashes into the pirate, causing them both to clamber to the ground less than gracefully. Penelo manages to escape the damage, but deemed the weakest link, the creature targets her.

Caught between fighting and saving the girl, I glance toward the two young men tangled up on the ground, each reaching for their weapon. Balthier looks far from frustrated, more burning with an irate temper, as he kicks at Vaan, trying to fire a shot that might stop the dragon from beheading the blonde. Penelo blocks a blow with her staff; I throw my weighted spear to the ground and dive toward Balthier. Huffing, I tear the gun from his fingertips.

"Oh, give me that, you incompetent buffoon!" I snap, firing one, two, three shots into the monster's side.

It rears two of its heads, the open iron-cast mouths screaming metallic echoes of pain. Tossing the firearm back to Balthier, I run to rescue my spear. Just as I drag the heavy javelin off the ground, Vaan slashes across the base of a head, chopping it clean off. The iron mask rattles to the ground and rolls to my feet, the creature shuddering and collapsing onto itself.

With a final groan, it falls back into the boiling pit of lava it dragged itself away from to begin with. Screaming, it flails its rusted limbs in the air as it melts away into the liquid rock. Two stone panels slide over the lava and close off the dying dragon below. Without hesitation, I sling my  spear onto my back and scowl at the boys.

"What the #$%^ was that?"

"Ask Vaan," Balthier huffs, adjusting the cuffs on his shirt and twisting a colorful ring on his tanned finger. "I suppose he decided now was the perfect time for a dirt nap."

"I did not!" the younger boy protests, throwing his hands in the air. "You hit me!"

"I did no such thing," Balthier sniffs. "If you had watched where you were—"