Final Fantasy 9-2: Return to Gaia

Rating: PG
Genre: action, RPG.
Setting: Gaia
Note from the authoress: this is important. I have written this in basis to FF9, and it is crossed over with FF 10. It is set a considerable time after FF9, and involves the exploits of 6 characters, and Kuja. The characters will involve elves, well, just because I like elves . While some of the ideas from FF 9 and 10 are used, they are used differently, and I have built a new story around them.

Part 1

Dodging a blow from the Zuu, Tai rolled to the side, regaining his balance before turning and screaming "Fire" at the top of his voice. A small flame flew from the staff in his hand, barely enough to slow the Zuu. It dived at him, claws outstretched, giving a scream of triumph at its victory.

"That's enough," a voice cried out from the side. The Zuu flickered in mid dive, before fading away, its shriek fading to nothing. Tai straightened up, wiping the sweat that ran down his face from his eyes, and pushing his long hair behind his ears, away from his face. He closed his eyes, waiting for his mentor to speak.

"You did it again Tai! You didn't focus your energy before casting the spell. It's not a matter of how loud you shout, you have to concentrate your energy first!" Tai gave a sigh, before opening his eyes and turning to face his mentor.

"I know. I'm sorry sir, but…"

"There is no 'but' Tai. If this was a real battle you'd be history now." His mentor waved his hands over his head, gasping in exasperation. "That's all for today. I can't work like this" Tai's mentor turned on his heel and stalked away from the elf. Tai sat down on the steps of the old school, burying his head in his hands. He knew he needed to concentrate more before casting a spell, but it was hard to force concentration on anything other than the attacker in battle. He heard a giggle just behind him, and sensed someone walk to his side, to sit by him on the step. He knew it was Crysta, another mage at the school. He felt her slip an arm around his shoulders, as she hugged him.

"Don't worry Tai. You'll be fine in the exam." He gave a snort of laughter.

"I can't even defeat a Zuu. What chance am I going to stand against the exam?" Crysta stood, pulling the elf up with her.

"You just need to concentrate. Remember, the monsters are just a sphere-gram. They can't hurt you." Tai smiled, as the two friends walked the familiar route through the school to the canteen. Both friends were students at Understone, a school dedicated solely to the training of mages on Gaia. As well as the never-ending spell casting lessons, the school also taught basic history of mages, and things about the existence of monsters. Students were generally assigned one mentor, who may teach a small group. The same man mentored both Tai and Crysta. Cal Moranis, their mentor, was one of the mentors who demanded perfection from students, and while Crysta was able to cast with ease, Tai found it a lot harder in the heat of battle to concentrate his energy for casting. They were not set against actual monsters, merely sphere-grams, an image of monsters, programmed to act just like the creatures that stalked the land outside towns. Both Crysta and Tai had run away from home, determined to learn the magical arts, earning the name of mage. Their families had been set against it, for hundreds of years ago killing machines were created to use magic. They were named mages because of this ability, and wrought havoc under the command of the Alexandrian queen of the time. This happened long before researchers found that others in this world were gifted with the ability to wield magic, yet still many citizens of Gaia were wary of the mages, as they could not understand the power they had.

Tai found himself thinking about the arguments he had had with his family before he had run away, as he and Crysta entered the canteen. Crysta picked up a Dali pear, a sweet fruit that only grew on the expanses of land near Dali. Tai smiled at this, for he knew from his lessons that Dali had been the place where these "Black Mages" had been manufactured. He picked up a sandwich from the tables set up, jumping ever so slightly as Crysta skipped up behind him and tapped his shoulder.

"Let's eat outside! It's a nice day!" Tai nodded and walked away from the packed canteen of the school, automatically falling in step beside Crysta as they headed to a corner of the old school that they favoured. Crysta curled up next to the pond in the shade of a blossom tree and threw a few crumbs to the fish swimming lazily beneath the surface. Tai pulled himself nimbly up into the lower boughs of the tree, several of the blossoms that grew thickly in its branches falling lightly in Crysta's hair. She shook her head and gazed enviously at Tai sitting comfortably in the branches.

"I wish I could climb like you." Tai laughed t this. She said the same thing every time she saw him climb trees. Because he was an elf, he was nimble, and a good climber by nature. He also knew that Crysta was a good mage because her grandparents had trained as mages, and she had inherited their skill. He twisted himself round so he was lying on the branch.

"I'd willingly trade my nimbleness for your mage skill." Crysta shook her head.

"Never wish to trade your skill. It may save your life one day." Tai grinned at her, knowing inwardly that she was right. It was a pity that the exam tested spell casting abilities rather than spell casting in context with other abilities. He was just about to reply, when a low growling sound, much like thunder, came into his hearing. He sat up swiftly, his face becoming serious immediately. Crysta sensed her friend's sudden wariness, and stood quickly.

"What is it?" she whispered. He extended a hand, motioning her to stay quiet. She stood, listening to the air around her. She heard nothing for a while. She watched Tai, and the elf relaxed slightly, and jumped from the tree. He opened his mouth to tell her what he had heard, but the chance never came. Blasting all other sound from hearing, a mass of explosions suddenly ripped through the air. Both mages felt the searing heat in the air as they turned to face the school buildings. Tai's eyes widened in shock at the sight that greeted them both. The entire building was erupting in a mass of flames, sending thick white smoke over the grounds. Tai glanced at Crysta. She had her hands over her mouth, a look of horror in her eyes. He pulled her back, and behind the blossom tree, out of sight of the building. Trembling she leaned against him for support, eyes closed, trying to will away the awful sight that she had just seen. Shaking, Tai concentrated his energy, before sending a scan out on the area, hoping to see signs that the other mages had escaped the blast. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, and sweeping the area for some sign of life. He felt Crysta take hold of his hand, his eyes flickered open. She gazed at Tai, not needing to ask the question, as he already knew what was on her mind.

"They're all gone. I can't sense any living being." she spoke, her voice barely more than a whisper.

"Try again. There must be one" He hugged her, before rescanning the area. This time he opened his eyes quicker.

"There's something here," he gasped. "It's not a living creature, but it's not a monster either." Crysta's eyes widened. Tai climbed the tree quickly, pulling her up into the branches behind him. He hoped that the blossoms on the tree would be enough to hide them from unwanted attention. His mouth felt dry, and he was shaking, ever so slightly. He could not believe that they had all been killed. As they hid in the tree, he watched the ground. Suddenly he gave a gasp. Crysta looked over in the same direction as him. She too gasped at what she saw, and uttered a small comment.

"Black Mages".

END OF PART 1