Final Fantasy VIII belongs to Square Enix. This story, characters and new terms are my own creation.
In the emptiness of the darkness, a figure crossed the black marble floor with echoing thuds. This figure was around 8ft in height, had large spike-like wings coming from it's massive backside, and between them was a long braid. The figure walked down the end of the hallway, where there was nothing but a large brick wall. The massive figure frowned. A dead end.
The figure raised a long finger to the wall and began tracing a pattern on it. Almost immediately a violet light began to follow the same pattern, creating a symbol in the middle of the brick wall, lightly illuminating the hallway.
The wall vanished, leading the way into a small circular room. This room had several torches with blue fire, each one was dimly lit, barely noticeable, giving the room an eerie glow. The blue flames brought out the unnaturalness of the figure's skin. Once upon a time, the figure was human, but when she became the ruler of an technologically advanced country, she began experimenting on herself to enhance her powers, altering her original appearance as a price. She hardly looked female; her large muscular torso was nearly identical to that of a man's, she wore a long black skirt with frock, and on her arms were thick arm guards. Her long plait was a blood red color, identical to the color of her eyes.
The large woman walked to the center of the room and noticed that the wall behind her had reappeared, and in its place was a long mirror. She looked at her monstrous reflection and felt disgust towards the creature that looked back at her. Adel looked towards the other end of the room; there was a large glass door with a gothic window frame. It clearly led to another room and Adel stepped forward.
"Leaving so soon?" said a sultry voice.
Adel stopped. "I've no time for games, so show yourself."
"Such a terrible temper." The voice replied.
"Don't play with me." Adel growled. "Show yourself!"
"Really Adel," the voice rasped. "Perhaps that temper of yours is what led to your downfall."
"Enough games!" Adel balled up her fists. "Face me now, coward!"
A large purple orb appeared in front of the mirror, and from it stepped the curvy figure of a woman.
This woman wore a skin tight satin red gown with a plunging neck line. This barely covered an area that wasn't meant to be seen; it exposed her neck, her torso and her abdomen, partially obscuring her breasts. A black-fur ruffle went from her neck all the way to her navel. Her skin was pale, although she was covered in many markings of various colors. Her heart shaped face was heavily adorned with makeup, which brought out the golden color of her eyes. Her movements were almost calculated, and even with her demonic appearance, she was undoubtedly graceful. Behind her were a pair of ruffled black wings, they nearly blended with the room if it weren't for the blue fire of the torches. Her bangs, which framed her face, were a silver shade, and in the dimly lit room, they almost glowed.
"You've got some nerve to mock me, Ultimecia." Adel growled.
"I wasn't mocking you," Ultimecia simpered. "I merely pointed out your imperfections."
"As if you did better than me." Adel scoffed.
"I do recall that it was I who set you free from your space tomb." Ultimecia's eyelashes flashed dangerously.
"So that I would meet my death at the hands of children!"
Ultimecia said nothing, but walked past Adel, whose eyes never left her back.
After a moment of silence, Ultimecia was looking over at the glass door, when Adel spoke.
"How is it that we're alive again…?" Her deep voice echoed in the room. She looked down at her thick hands before turning towards the other sorceress.
"She brought us here." Ultimecia replied.
"How?"
"I assume her Ascension granted her the ability." The other shrugged.
"Her Ascension maybe higher than ours, but that does not give her the power of resurrection." Adel pointed out.
"True." Ultimecia nodded. "I am just as curious as you are."
"Curiosity killed the cat." Called an elegant voice.
At once the other two looked at their surroundings looking for the source of the voice.
"There!" Adel pointed at the mirror on the wall.
Another woman stood there before them; she had long thick black hair that fell past her calves, shining brightly in the fire light. Her halter dress was a night shade and had a diamond shaped opening in her chest, exposing her supple cleavage. She wore an ornate shoulder pad on her left shoulder adorned with intricate jewels in the shapes of tears. On her right arm was a bracelet that spiraled down to her wrist. Her black cloak was a royal purple shade, which clashed with her electric violet eyes. Her skin was porcelain shade, and her full lips were a crimson shade. As she moved forward, her beautiful features were more pronounced.
"Greetings, ladies." She said in her elegant voice.
"How did you bring us back?" Adel questioned immediately.
"What sort of greeting is that?" Spoke the new woman.
"We've no time for pleasantries." Ultimecia deadpanned. "So if you please, answer the question."
"All the answers will be given in their due time." The violet-eyed woman said. "Patience is a virtue, after all."
Adel hissed, and Ultimecia crossed her arms.
"Follow me." The new woman walked towards the gothic framed glass door. The other two eyed one another before following.
They walked to a balcony that had a spectacular view. They could see a starless sky, as the clouds blocked everything. All around them they could see that they were in a large castle, and it was as dark as the sky above them. There were statues of demons, angels and gargoyles all over the towers and grounds.
"There." The violet-eyed woman pointed to the courtyard below them. In the center was a large fountain, where an angel held a large urn that gushed out blood rather than water. At the angel's feet was a demon that had its mouth wide open, as if it were drinking the blood. The fountain itself stood on top of a crumbled platform, as if a gazebo had once stood there. All around the fountain were roses, a dark red color, almost black. Further down the fountain was a line of pillars, some were crumbling, but some still stood in their magnificence.
After noticing the pillars, something drew Ultimecia's attention.
In the middle of two beautifully sculpted pillars was the slender figure of a woman chained between the two pillars. Her hair was a beautiful raven shade that was so long it went past her waist, and it covered her face. Her dress was a pale blue shade, it was almost white, and was tied by a sky blue sash at her waist. Even though her face was covered, Adel and Ultimecia recognized her.
"Why is she here?" Ultimecia asked.
The new woman smiled. "My ladies, can you not tell?"
Adel frowned. "Speak clearly, will you? I don't like guessing games."
"Has it truly been that long?" Sighed the elegant one. "You've been dead for many years that you cannot feel another's Ascension?"
Adel's face contorted in anger. "Did I not just say that I don't like guessing games?"
"Impossible…" Ultimecia's voice was barely above a whisper. Her liquid golden eyes widened as she looked at the new woman. "It can't possibly be true!"
"Oh, but it is!" The woman laughed.
"What?" Barked Adel. "What's going on?"
"I believe that I've found Hyne's Chosen."
Adel's eyes widened as she looked from the new woman to the one chained. "HER?!"
"Indeed, her."
Adel shook her head. "How are you so certain!?"
The woman's violet eyes narrowed. "Concentrate, Adel. You can feel her Ascension."
Adel closed her eyes and balled up her hands, while Ultimecia looked down at the woman in chains.
"She really is…?" Ultimecia asked.
"You'll see for yourselves." Her violet eyes twinkled. "When she opens her eyes, in them lie the truth.
You didn't think I'd bring this again, did you? :]
