FFX-2: Ties That Bind Fanfic

Chapter 1: Berserker

"I've got you girls!"

They hadn't expected the ambush this soon after penetrating the ruined city, Y.R.P. were caught off guard and even with all their experience and power were about to become fiend food, if not for Him. Reacting with the speed of a Blitz Ace enhanced by the Auto Haste Effect built into his accessories even ambushed He was first to act.

Extending 2 fingers from his free hand, his other hand occupied holding his sword at the ready, he pulled his fingers forward and out and then up toward his brow. "Hastega," he whispered as time seemed to slow down for Y.R.P. but saying they were in fast time was more accurate. The malformed creature looked like a cross between a Corel and a Balivarha and it still had the opening move. It moved to charge the male of the quad-squad and stop his enhancing maneuvers from turning the tide further. He raised his sword to block only to have the beast rear up onto its hind legs to slash his wrist. He dropped his sword from his wounded sword arm and dived to reclaim it. A shooting pain in his arm sent him careening to the floor.

"Shit! I can't, I can't lift my sword. I need Esuna!" he shouted over the din of combat.

"Don't worry, I'll take care a' ya'." Chimed in Rikku as she accessed her Garment Grid and sphere changed to White Mage her skimpy Thief attire dissolving into a humble white robe.

Paine's countenance shifted to a scowl as she sank into the floor. The ground cracked and a pool of lava bubbled up as Dark Knight Paine emerged from the depths of hell "The shadows will swiftly devour you." She stated flatly as she locked gaze with the beast.

Yuna eyes glazed over with rage as she looked at her injured buoy and the rage boiled over "You'll never know what…" Yuna started before the beast struck again charging Yuna this time slashing a deep gash into her flesh as she was sphere changing from Gunner to Berserker. A red cast came over his skin as the other 3 whispered to themselves.

"It's toast!"

"She's gone…"

"…Berserk."

Yuna dropped down to her hands and feet like a beast as the dress set and she raised her head to the sky letting out a blood curdling howl.

"ARRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOO!"

The trio paused for a moment as a shiver ran up their collective spines; Paine was the first to speak…

"That's not normal."

"You never howled?" questioned the Blitz Ace.

"No…"

…But Yuna was first to act. She charged forward in 'all four' toward the beast leaping over it as she slashes it with her fore paws landing deftly on her paws on the other side of the creature. Rikku finished her prayer unleashing a blast of curative energy at their male ally. "Gullwings repair service!" she quipped as He smiled and deftly griped his sword. Charging the beast his sword clenched in his repaired hands he swung with both power and speed right to the beast's side then back flipped to the main group.

Paine drew her blade up between her eyes and locked her gaze with the reeling beast "There's enough Paine to go around." And then cut forth with a 360 degree arc of the sword sending out a wave of dark energy, she winced from the HP loss, the beast winced more. Quickly Rikku changed again to Samurai garb and the 3 warriors attacked in unison with Yuna, the beast collapsed under the assault dissolving into pyre flies.

The other 3 relaxed a touch as they walked over to Yuna who was still tense and in battle posture. He reached down toward her head to comfort her reflexively like a pet by petting her head when Yuna head jerked up, she sniffed the air and bolted ahead on all fours. He reacted rashly by clamping down his hand on her pony tail before it slipped out of his grip and Yuna yelped, but her head did not jerk back as it should. He looked down at his hand and saw he indeed held the tip of the braid in his grip and as Yuna turned her head to look, and growl at him his grip grew slack and he fell on his rear as Yuna bolted off into a new horde of fiends.

"Something's wrong with Yuna!"

"She's just been berserked, we've all be berserked a few times!" chimed in Rikku.

"No, that fiend did something to her. Her pony tail…"

"Yes?" inquired Paine worried.

"I felt something inside it like a bone, like it was a real…tail. And….And it was connected to her back her head didn't jerk it wasn't bound to her head like it should be."

Paine sighed, "Then come on, let's go find her before we loose her."

"Too late!"

The other 2 looked to Rikku as she pointed into the distance, faintly they could make out Yuna deep into the Fiend infested ruins. He jumped to his feet to run after her but Paine kept him at bay.

"Let me go, Yuna! Yuna!" He glared daggers at Paine, she reciprocated.

"Don't get yourself killed, be careful, Rikku keep him stable."

"Paine? You're not coming?"

"I'm going to see if Shinra can shed any light on what could have happened."

The two were silent for a moment longer before they ran after Yuna; Paine turned around and makes a dash for the Airship teleporter (save) sphere.