Chapter 55: Black Mages and Genomes

After arriving at the Black Mage Village, Vivi and I decided to pay a visit to Mr. 288. We found him in his usual spot. He turned to us. He seemed happy. "Michael, Vivi it's good to see you two again. Are the others here as well?"

I spoke. "Yeah, they're all still on the airship though."

Mr. 288 spoke. "Ah, so that was your airship. We were worried that Kuja had returned."

I smiled. "Nope, just us, but this isn't exactly a social call. We need your help."

He nodded. "What is it you need me to do?" Vivi and I told him about the Genomes.

He listened to what we had to say. After telling him everything, he spoke. "Yes, we'll gladly take these Genomes in. It would be our pleasure."

I smiled. "Really, that's great." I turned to Vivi. "Come on, Vivi. Let's go tell the others." He nodded, and we ran off towards the airship which was hovering close to the village.


As soon as we got under the ship, we moved towards the glowing insignia on the ground. Vivi and I both stepped on it. We were teleported inside the Invincible. Zidane was waiting there for us, along with Mikoto. She told me her name a while ago.

Zidane looked at us. "Well…" he paused. We both nodded. He smiled. "Alright, let's get'em into the village." We nodded, and began unloading the Genomes.


Vivi, Zidane, and I led them to the village. The other Black Mages seemed surprised at the new arrivals, but they welcomed them regardless. The Genomes seemed a bit uncomfortable, but I knew that they'd get used to this at some point. After a while, Vivi and I decided to go back to the graveyard and see Mr. 288.

When we were walking towards the cemetery, we noticed a Mikoto walking away from the cemetery, and towards the village. 'Guess Mr. 288 has met one of the new arrivals' I thought. Vivi and I walked into the cemetery.


Mr. 288 turned to us. He seemed even happier. "Ah, you two have returned."

I smiled. "Yeah, so you were talking with one of the Genomes." He nodded.

Vivi spoke. "Thanks for helping us! They were uneasy at first, but I think they'll get along fine."

Mr. 288 nodded. "There's no need to thank me. You've done us all a great service."

Vivi spoke. "It wasn't a big deal...Well, anyway, everything's gonna be okay!" Vivi looked up at me. "I'm gonna go back to the village." I nodded, and he ran back to the village.

I turned to Mr. 288. "Are you sure it's okay for them to stay here?"

Mr. 288 nodded. "Of course it is. So, this was Vivi's idea?"

I nodded. "Yeah he's a smart kid. He wanted the Genomes to start their new lives here. I must say, he picked a good spot."

Mr. 288 nodded in agreement. "We're similar in many ways...maybe we can understand them better, and they might open up to us."

I spoke. "Maybe…Vivi and I were also hoping that if Black Mages and Genomes could get along, then maybe humans and Black Mages can get along, too."

Mr. 288 spoke. "Like you and Vivi."

I smiled. "Yeah, like Vivi and me."

He nodded. "Maybe…anyway, we'll take good care of them. Your friends are our friends."

I smiled. "Thanks." I turned to leave.

Mr. 288 stopped me. "Oh, wait. There's something I need to give you."

I looked at him. "You got something else for me?"

He nodded. "Yes, but the circumstances on how I got it were…odd."

I looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"

Mr. 288 spoke. "well, I had a dream, and in this dream, I was visited by a figure dressed in a white suit and a white cape."

My eyes widened. "Go on."

Mr. 288 spoke. "Well, he gave me this glowing white bracelet, and told me to give it to you when I see you. I thought it was just a dream, but when I woke up, I discovered that the bracelet was clutched in my hand. I believe he called it a 'Holy Bracelet.' Since you're here now I guess I can give you the bracelet." He reached into his pocket and pulled out the bracelet. It indeed glowed with a white light.

He gave the bracelet to me, and I put it on. The words to a spell entered my mind. The spell was called 'Supernova.'

I looked at Mr. 288. "Thanks Mr. 288. You have no idea how lucky you are that you were visited by that person in your dreams."

Mr. 288 looked surprised. "You know who that person was?"

I smiled. "Yes, he's the Angel of Music."

Mr. 288 looked puzzled. "Angel of Music?"

I smiled. "I'll tell you about it another time. Well, I better be going." I turned around, and left the graveyard.


I walked towards the entrance to the village, and approached the item shop. I could hear two voices talking.

"Why do you display these items?" I could tell it was a Genome. I heard someone else speak

"why? For the customers, I think…" the voice paused. I could tell that it was a Black Mage who spoke.

I heard the Genome again. "What are customers?"

I heard the Black Mage speak. "Well, they bring money, and they hand the money over to the shop, and then-" The genome cut him off.

"What is money?"

The Black Mage tried to talk. "Money is, uh…" he obviously couldn't say.

That's when I heard a familiar voice from inside the item shop. "Why you care about small things? World very simple place." I smiled, it was Quina who spoke.

She spoke again. "World only have two things: things you can eat and things you no can eat." I smiled at Quina's logic, and tried not to laugh. I decided to go to the entrance to the village.


When I walked to the clearing, I saw a Genome run past me. A baby Chocobo was chasing him. I smiled, and continued to walk on.

I saw that Dagger and Steiner were talking about something. I decided to listen to them. "Princess, is this what you really wish?"

She turned to him. "What are you talking about?"

Steiner spoke. "Kuja must have done something in the Iifa Tree to cover the world in Mist...do you not think it wise to consult Regent Cid before the final battle?"

Dagger shook her head. "Kuja probably plans on destroying Gaia. If I go to Lindblum now and tell the regent about it, it might cause a panic. I'm sure everyone is apprehensive about the reappearance of the Mist...I need Uncle Cid to protect Lindblum right now."

I spoke. "That's right." They jumped, and looked at me. I smiled. "We're going to have to defeat Kuja on our own."

Dagger nodded, and turned to Steiner. "Even if we go to Lindblum to get equipped, please don't tell Uncle Cid about our plans." Steiner nodded.

That's when Zidane walked into the clearing. "Are we ready?"

Dagger nodded. "Yes, let's go."

"You haven't got a chance" said a female voice.

We turned to the voice, and saw Mikoto. "You saw Kuja's power. He destroyed a world by himself...you don't even have a million in one chance of defeating him...you'll all die." None of us said anything.

The Black Mage that was at the clearing spoke. "Wow! This girl knows lots of difficult words!"

Zidane turned to him. "Doesn't she? She's a bit cynical, but take good care of her, will ya? Her name is Mikoto. She's kinda like my little sister."

Mikoto was shocked. "Wha-" Zidane interrupted her.

"Mikoto! Listen to your big brother and make some friends!"

She turned from him. "H-How silly!" I managed to see the hint of a blush in her cheeks.

Zidane spoke. "We might be desperate insects to Kuja, but I'll show you how powerful we can be."

Steiner spoke. "'Even a fly lives for a day!'"

I shook my head. "That's not what Zidane meant, Steiner."

Zidane spoke. "Let's go to the Iifa Tree! We won't let Kuja have his way!" we nodded, and rounded everyone up. Once that was done we boarded the Invincible, and flew to the Iifa Tree.


When we got close to the Iifa Tree, we noticed a bright purple, pink, and white portal at the top of the tree. I turned to Zidane. "I'm guessing will find Kuja in that portal."

Zidane nodded. "Go for it, Michael. Full speed, ahead." I nodded and increased the speed of the ship.

As soon as we got closer, we saw several shapes emerge from the portal. They were heading straight for us. It wasn't until they got a little closer that we noticed that what was coming at us was a large flock of Silver Dragons.

Zidane cursed. "Damn, look at them all. Do we have any weapons on this ship?"

I shook my head. "Nothing I can think of at the moment, well, except for the eye cannon, and that isn't much. I guess we'll just have to hope that this ship lives up to its name."

The dragons moved in closer. Zidane spoke. "Here they come!" That was when a Silver Dragon flew up to our viewing screen. Before it could do anything, however, it was blasted away by something.

All of us were surprised. That's when there were many other explosions. Someone was firing on the Silver Dragons. We wondered who was shooting them.

That's when we saw an airship fleet emerge from the mist. At the head of the fleet was the Hilda Garde 3. It was Lindblums airship fleet. Suddenly, a voice came over the intercom system.

"All ships clear a path for the Invincible!" It was Cid.

Another voice spoke over the intercom. "Can't let you guys steal the show by yourselves!" It was Baku.

Dagger was surprised. "Uncle Cid? Why...? How did he know to show up here?"

Zidane spoke. "Probably because of Baku... He loves big showdowns!" He turned to me. "Now, lose those dragons, Michael!" I nodded, and sped up.

That's when I saw that a few Silver Dragons had broken off from the rest of the flock, and were pursuing us. They were catching up, and preparing to attack. That was when the Red Rose showed up and threw itself into the dragon's paths. The dragons hit the ship.


The ship shook as the dragons ran into our side. A Pluto Knight walked up to me. "General Beatrix! Our ship is going to burst!"

I wasn't concerned. "Do not fret! Your captain is about to enter Valhalla! You are a Pluto Knight! Now act like one!"

"We all know you came along because you were worried sick about Captain Steiner" said a voice right behind me.

I turned to the person. "Did you say something?" He froze, and said nothing. I nodded. "That's what I thought."


Steiner was surprised. "The Red Rose? Could it be...Beatrix?"

Zidane turned to Steiner. "Quite a woman, you fell in love with!"

He turned to him. "You're one to talk!"

Dagger turned to him. "Wait a minute, Steiner! What did you mean by that?" Steiner said nothing, and retreated from the princess.

Zidane turned to me. "Alright, Michael! Let's bust through!" I nodded. Now, there was nothing standing in our way. As soon as the ship touched the portal, there was a blinding flash of light.


When the light cleared, I noticed that there was a Nova Dragon right outside the ship. It attacked the Invincible with a Shockwave. The attack hit the ship, and most of us fell to our knees from the rocking ship.

I cursed. 'Damn, there's gotta be some way to-' suddenly, I realized something. 'If the Invincible can connect to my mind then maybe…' my thought trailed.

I decided to try it. 'Supernova' I thought. I channeled my power through the ship. That's when I saw a huge beam of light descend onto the dragon. Then there was a huge explosion. When the light from the explosion diminished, we could see that the Nova Dragon was gone.

Vivi turned to me. "Wow, what was that?"

I smiled. "It's a new spell called 'Supernova.'"

Zidane spoke. "Well, it got the job done. Good work, Michael." I smiled.


That's when a huge castle appeared before us. Zidane spoke. "Well, I guess we better get going." We nodded, and left the bridge.

We each went to the teleporter. We each had to go one at a time. After a few seconds, we descended to the world below us. We had entered Memoria.


I have a new spell

Supernova

My most powerful spell. Strangely enough, this is a Black Magic spell. Causes massive holy damage to all enemies. MP cost 100. This is NOT Sephiroth's Super Nova attack.