I'll Protect You
Back! Hope you guys are enjoying this. I really am starting to like how this is coming together myself, and hopefully it grabs your attentions and keeps them. Thanks for all of the reviews guys, I really enjoy seeing others like my work.
And so here's Chapter 3
Edit: Reformatted and fixed any grammatical errors.
Word Count: 3575
Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing from the Final Fantasy franchise, except for some games and game guides.
Chapter 3: Revelations
Before Barthandelus could even finish speaking, Lightning and Fang unleashed a fury they had yet to unleash on anything before. Gamenern's speed and power complimented the duo's style very well, his knowledge of Fang's tendencies allowing him to recognize Lightning's tendencies as well.
Hope, Vanille and Sazh all began to support the group where possible, slinging all manner of buffs, debuffs, and cures, hoping that the fight against the Fal'Cie was quick. Snow tried to help by slinging his magic at the monster, though it harmlessly bounced of.
Lightning, Fang, and Gamenern had enjoyed little luck as well. Barthandelus had yet to really try, his form grossly different from the one the group fought on the Palamecia. This form was white, his face hidden behind a mask of some sort, his shoulder pauldrons and ailettes missing. Despite this weakened appearance, Barthandelus was anything but weak, his focused magic beams hitting whoever happened to stay still long enough to get hit by them.
"This repetition bores me." Barthandelus said, and with a flash of light, he took a new form; the same as the one on the Palamecia, but with his overall tone being white. Snow was the first to take notice of the newfound dangers of this form, and quickly began to guard the 2 younger members while they, with Sazh, shot spells at the large, indomitable Fal'Cie.
Gamenern then noted the weakness he needed; The neck. Using a gesture that Fang knew all to well, she tried to get the message across to Lightning. The 3 then unleash whatever they had at the Fal'Cie.
Lightning attacked first, her speed allowing her to get her blade to dig into the armor of the monster. She hacked several times, back flipped, then shot it with her gun, lunging again with a fierce uppercut. She came downward with a twirl, then gave a pointblank, driving gunshot to the monster, causing a crack to form near it's neck region.
Sazh caught on. Without any signal, he began to unleash a volley of bullets and magic upon the mark, trying to open it up. Fang and Gamenern constantly swung their weapons at it, trying to build the crack in size. It seemed to grow, but it only angered Barthandelus more. He swung a menacing hand that would've hit Hope and Vanille, had Snow not been guarding them. He deflected the hit effortlessly, then struck at the gash himself, adding to it's growing size.
Hope and Vanille began to unleash whatever magic they had, dealing what they could to the crack. Barthandelus's strength seemed to fade with the crack growing more and more. Lightning and Sazh still unleashed their respective Limits onto to the crack, the size growing until it was the size of Gamenern. "Now!" Was the signal that everyone waited for.
xXxXx
Snow, Fang and Gamenern charged at once. Fang and Snow leaped as high as they could, hitting the crack with all the force they could muster. It shattered it, showing a gaping amount of magic inside. Gamenern then lunged at him, a viscous uppercut sending Barthandelus's right arm away from his body, the arm and 'wings' fading to nothing. Then, after slowing to a stop in a matter of a foot, he struck the open wound with everything behind him, sending a white light throughout the schoolyard.
When the light faded, Barthandelus's body slowly melted away, fading into a light, and seemed to dissipate into a shower of light. Even after the Fal'Cie vanished, no one relaxed. The tension that built was choking the life out of everyone. They didn't know what to expect. Gamenern spoke first, his voice carried on by his hatred for the Fal'Cie.
"Show yourself, coward!"
Dysley showed again, floating inches off the ground. "You call me a coward?" he asked, his voice cynical and angry. "You are the ones abandoning your focus. You would rather become a Cie'th than see your focuses completed, is that it?" Fang's face distorted with rage. She would die before she saw Vanille turn Cie'th. Her grip on her lance tightened to a point that her hand hurt, but she didn't falter, preparing to lunge at the monster.
Then Gamenern saw it, the rukh Menrva. He could tell that Barthandelus was linked to it, so he did what he needed to. Casting a spell he learned from Titan, he bound the bird in a small, magic cage. This rendered Dysley weakened, unable to teleport.
"I've had enough of you, monster." Gamenern spoke, the normally kind voice turning into a dark, menacing tone. "You killed more people than you swore to protect." Gamenern's voice broke after this, struggling to find the words. "You killed my family!"
Fang and Vanille gasped at this. They remembered. Barthandelus came in the night. The attack was swift, silent, deadly. Gamenern, Fang, Vanille. They were orphaned because of this man. Rage built inside of Fang, she wanted to lash out.
"Without your familiar, you're all talk, Barthandelus." Gamenern continued. "You have no powers beyond our own." Lightning's mind clicked. Dysley was vulnerable. Without thought, she charged, gun blade ready to strike down the Fal'Cie.
She was stopped by Dysley forming a crystal of a L'Cie in her way. Serah's. She shifted direction, not wanting to hit the crystal. She shot at herself, 'It's an illusion. Barthandelus enjoys this trickery.' She lunged again, but the man was swift. He took to the air, out of Light's reach. "You're a sick bastard, you know that?" she shouted, her weapon trained on him and his familiar.
"Guys, that's a real crystal." Gamenern said, to the awe of the whole group. "Barthandelus's illusionary powers come from his familiar. Without it, he cannot make a stable illusion." His words sent Snow running to the crystal. "Serah!" he shouted, grabbing his fiancee's hand in his own, not wanting to let go.
Up above, Barthandelus let out a sick, dark laugh. "You humans are much too compassionate. It may be this reason that Ragnarok can only take form inside your bodies." He then looked at the crystallized Farron. "Perhaps, then, I could give you the catalyst for his summoning." the man aimed his staff at the crystal and cast a spell.
xXxXx
Everything went fuzzy, it seemed. A light, brighter than the sun, shone from Serah's crystal. Snow stumbled away, shielding his eyes from the light, as did everyone else. Gamenern still held his grip on the spell binding Menrva. The light faded slowly, as if it was being dimmed by a lack of oxygen. When the light faded completely, the view everyone looked at caused shock to set in, followed by sadness.
The crystal that was once Serah had been shattered, pieces on the ground and Snow's feet. His eyes widening as he saw the result of the Fal'Cie's spell. "Now," Barthandelus said, taunting the group, "Use that anger. Strike down Cocoon."
Gamenern had enough. The spell on Menrva tightened, first twofold, then fivefold, then tenfold. It reached a hundredfold before the creature faded into a small shower of light. Gamenern then hit Barthandelus with a powerful, forceful spell. "Go back to Cocoon, bastard." were the words from Gamenern's mouth as he flung the spell at Barthandelus, forcing the man back to Cocoon in a shower of lights.
Realization hit quick. Lightning's normally emotionless face was contorted with fear, sorrow, anger. Tears that normally never show on Lightning's persona showed, flowing freely from her eyes. She failed. She failed Serah, Snow, herself. It took everything the soldier had to not break down and cry, losing herself to an emotional tornado that hit her like a speeding train.
Snow wasn't as lucky. His knees gave out, his hands, eyes, body trembling uncontrollably. "Serah…?" He asked shakily, realizing now, in front of his eyes, his love was gone. She wasn't coming back He fell to his hands, looking as if he was praying to some god that didn't listen to his pleas. "Serah!" he cried, sobs now taking over, heaving his body with each one.
Vanille had already lost herself to her tears. She tried to form her Prayer Symbol with her hands, but broke down before she did, turning to Fang, burying her face into Fang's body, sobbing quietly, uncontrollably, into the blue silk. Even Fang, who never knew Serah, had to feel some sorrow. She understood that Vanille to her was like Serah to Lightning. Her face, however, was stronger than anyone else's, not once showing her true emotions.
Sazh hung his head and fell to a knee. He murmured a prayer he knew of that was recited when someone was lost. Hope joined him, his head hung down as he spoke. Hope was unfaltering strong through this, though he kept thinking, 'This is it. Barthandelus has won.' He tried to not think of what may happen with the counterattack he knew was coming.
Gamenern then formed the same Prayer Symbol that Vanille was going to, but his thumbs were at a 90 degree angle of his index finger, unlike Vanille's. He began to mutter a chant in the ancient tongues, catching Fang's attention. "What is he..?" She said, looking with intent at the young man.
xXxXx
Inside a dark place, Gamenern was searching for something or someone. Light seemed to shine through some clouds as it revealed to be a darker version of Oerba, exactly where he was right now in the real world. He looked for indications of a presence. When he saw, or rather, heard, a faint noise, he investigated. It lead him to his old orphanage, where he could sense his prize inside.
He stepped in to find a lavender sphere of light, floating with what looked like curiosity, over a picture of Fang and Vanille. "Come, Everyone's waiting." Gamenern spoke to the sphere. It came to him, and when it was close enough, he grabbed it and held it inside him. He reformed the hand sign he used to get to this world, and everything fell away to where and when he was right now.
He then spoke the word "Holy." softly, almost without breath. From his hands, which he formed a cup, the same sphere he had found in the other world was now here. He gathered more energy, using it to try to give the sphere it's destination.
Suddenly, the wind shifted. A vortex began to gather Serah's fragmented crystal, piecing it together like a puzzle. Snow, who looked up at the wind, gaped, as did Lightning and Fang. The crystal seemed to retake the shape of Serah's crystal, though cracks that formed from it's shattering were apparent. "Serah..?" Snow asked, his voice hoarse from the sobs he lost himself to.
The light then darted towards the crystal, bathing it in a lavender light. It blinded everyone, but Lightning and Snow somehow stared through it, in awe. The crystal seemed to mend, but then it faded away. As it did, Serah's body was left, hanging, defying gravity. The crystal faded upwards, releasing the rest of Serah's body from the gemlike prison. When the entire thing had vanished, Serah's limp, but intact body, fell into Snow's arms.
There was a moment of disbelief as Gamenern, tired from the spell, collapsed behind Fang and Vanille. The two didn't notice him; they looked at Snow and Serah, she seemed lifeless but real. Lightning's eyes were more unreadable than ever. The silence seemed to drag on for ages, but finally, a soft, tired voice broke it, reassuring and calming.
"My…hero..?" she spoke, apparently coming from Serah. Snow perked up at this, his grip on his love tightened. "Serah, is it really you?" His voice was weak as tears began to take over once more. Serah gave a light chuckle, as if it was old news. "Of course, silly." her silent laugh heard only by Snow. Lightning's eyes gave a sense of hope as she finally spoke, her voice unusually shaken. "Serah?"
The small redhead turned, her eyes making contact with her older sister's. Serah had a lighthearted smile on her face, while Light had a shaken one. She couldn't believe it. 'Serah's really here. She's alive." The thoughts in Lightning's head faded to nothing as the redhead ran to her sister, a tackling hug hitting her. "Oh, don't cry, Light. You need to be strong." Serah spoke up. Lightning's mind ran rampant with emotions, and the soldier let a smile grace her face, her eyes sparkling with tears. "Serah…"
Fang, however, made an about-face. She looked at the collapsed Gamenern, conscious but weak. "What the hell kinda trick was that, hmm?" She roared, pulling the man to his feet forcibly. Sazh and Hope, both tending to the man, took a large step back. "Fang, I…" Gamenern started, but was interrupted by a fist to his cheek. "Are you toying with us?" Fang's anger seethed, her teeth gritting with rage as the man was sent at the pilot, who scurried quickly to avoid the flying body.
Gamenrn landed with a grunt, his left hand rubbing the cheek where he was blasted. "You really aren't trusting, are you?" he asked, a slight cure spell soothing the heat that was forming from the impact. Snow, Lightning, Serah and Vanille all looked at the pair of Pulsians. "I just saved that girl from a fate worse than death." He didn't mean to sound angry, but he did.
"What was that?" Lightning shot at him, her hand on her gunblade. Gamenern sighed apologetically. "Sorry. Guess I got emotional." He spoke, his words not soothing Light, but made her less wary. "The spell I used was Holy. It can be used to bring someone back from death, but it has a window of opportunity." the man said, standing up and walking towards Fang. "I learned it after I took the Trials." he gazed into the distance, apparently towards Titan's lair.
"I'm sorry that I didn't tell you. I had to rush. I couldn't lose focus while casting the spell because I could've lost her soul. If I hadn't found her soul-" Gamenern continued, looking at Serah with slight sadness, "She wouldn't be able to stay here, in the living world. But her spirit would not pass on to the spirit world. It's a cruel punishment for an unjust fate. If your crystal is shattered," he looked at Fang now, a fiery intensity in his eyes, "You are punished. The Fal'Cie see it as a weakness, a failure. That's why I'm fighting against them."
Serah gave a concerned look to Lightning, who still looked at the young man. Her eyes were unreadable, even to Serah, who knew more about her than anyone ever would. Snow looked thankful, his eyes closing as he said the words. "Thank you, Gamenern." Gamenern gave a nod to the large lug. "Light thanks you too. She just can't articulate it as well." Lightning shot a glance at Snow, a cold look on her face. "Wow. Big words there, Snow. Look into a dictionary lately?" Snow and Serah laughed at the remark, Serah being the one to speak. "There's the Lightning I know." This forced a smile onto Light's face, a rare, genuine smile.
xXxXx
The 8 L'Cie headed back to the orphanage, in need of larger sleeping quarters. This had 6 beds, so two pairs would bunk together. Snow and Serah had been offered the largest of the beds; It was in a room alone, an actual bed in its center. Lightning opposed the notion greatly, but was forced out of it when Fang spoke up, in a slightly annoying but fairly true way. "Don't worry, it's not a very thick wall. You'd hear anything that went on in that room." The flirtatious Oerban walked to the large kitchen, leaving Light shocked and awed. 'Why that little…'
The meal that night was the same stew that they had the previous night, much to Gamenern and Snow's approval, while Sazh and Hope felt their appetites leave them suddenly. "Umm, do you still have any fish?" The young man asked, his face deep in concern. "Sorry, none left!" Was Vanille's perky response. Gamenern dug into his bowl with vigor, Fang following suit. Lightning decided to try to meal; she's had worse, and the emergency rations that she had been living on for nearly 2 weeks made her feel like she'd eat anything. Sazh didn't share this ideal, and slowly, cautiously ate the food.
It was a short night, it seemed. The L'Cie all fell to sleep at various times in the night, Lightning being the last. She enjoyed her lone bed as the others did. Fang and Vanille curled into their cot together, Gamenern taking one with much content. He had slept on rocks with a cloth for a pillow for a week now, his back needed comfort. The snores of Snow rang in the other room, confirming that the engaged couple had fallen asleep, nothing more. Lightning sighed, then drifted into a quiet sleep.
Lightning woke up first, her eyes gazing into the room. They seemed to focus on Fang and Vanille's cot; Fang had her arms around Vanille protectively, sisterly. Even though she knew this, Light felt an unusual knot form in her stomach, a lump forming in her throat. The Oerban's looked so peaceful, so content. She found Fang's sleeping form beautiful, unnerving. Light composed herself. 'You can't be seriously falling for Fang?' she mentally kicked herself. 'You're a soldier. Soldiers don't have relationships with comrades.' she laughed internally at this. 'Fang, a comrade? Maybe in another life.' A smile graced her face, scanning the rest of the room.
Sazh slept soundly with his chocobo chick snoring softly on his cheek. Hope was facing the wall, his steady breathing the only indication he was actually asleep. Gamenern was sprawled out over the cot, his mouth hanging open, a light snore exiting his body with every exhale, and somehow managed to end up with his feet at the headrest of the cot. He gave a slight grunt that pierced the room, thought Lightning didn't flinch.
She stretched lightly as she decided to get up, stepping onto the floor with slender grace, and refitted her boots onto her feet. Her coat was hanging on a rack that was set up outside the room, so she was only wearing her brown sweater-material vest on her upper body. She had just looked up to see Fang, still holding Vanille like when Light woke up, looking at the soldier. A glare reached the soldier's eyes. "What?" she scowled.
"Nothin'. Just admiring the view." A goofy, flirty smile on Fang's face. Lightning made a "Tch." sound, turning away from the warrior woman. "Everyone up!" Lightning then spoke, her voice commanding and strong. Sazh and the chocobo jumped, startled at the woman. "Whoa, easy there." Sazh said groggily, rubbing his eyes, which then gazed out of the window. "It's not even past sunrise yet!" he plopped back down, as if to sleep, but the daggers that came from Light's eyes made him (more like scared him) into complying.
Gamenern groggily stretched himself, looking around. "Hmm, early riser I see." he spoke, sleep still evident on his voice. He glanced at the only person not yet awake; Hope. "Hey kid, get up before the banshee decide to have you for breakfast." Gamenern whispered, and though Lightning didn't hear it, Vanille and Fang did. They stifled their laughs as Hope shot up, horror on his face. Gamenern openly laughed.
xXxXx
Though the group had been prepared for anything ahead of them, they still needed to get to Cocoon. There were absolutely no airships within even a week's walking distance, and, from the stage of their brands, Gamenern stated that they had maybe another 5 days to complete their focuses, and that was the biggest fear they had.
They started to wonder what to do, and that was when Gamenern heard it. It was a voice in his head, low, distant. It sounded at first like a distant thunderstorm. It spoke, "Come, my errant L'Cie. Fulfill your destiny." Gamenern understood what it was; Titan. The same one that he completed the trials of, and that he proved his worth to. He gave a nod, unaware that the other's were watching him.
"Umm, you okay there man?" Sazh asked, a small look of confusion on his face. Gamenern smiled and gave a reaffirming answer. "We go to the Faultwarrens, and take the Titan Trials." Fang scoffed at this, much to everyone's dismay.
"You think that by going away from Cocoon, we will get closer?" her voice was cynical, cold. Vanille gave an annoyed huff at her older sister, looking at her with a "What are you thinking?' look. "Fang…" she said, and the older sighed. "Fine." she couldn't believe she faltered so easily. "Why head to Titan's Lair?" she asked the male Oerban.
"Titan has a reward for whoever completes his trails. Usually, it's some kind of technique or spell. But, he has been known to remove, or at least, whiten out, brands." The groups eyes opened up widely as they heard this. "He is willing to fight against the Fal'Cie wanting to bring the Maker back. Titan cares not for this, only in protecting life that is worthy and destroying that which isn't." he sounded assured, positive that this was the answer they needed.
"It's settled then." Snow said, punching his open hand with some force. "We go to Titan's Lair!"
Yay! Everyone's happy. Well, so it would seem. Kinda cheesy, I know, but writing an emotional scene is hard for me.
Next chapter will be told from a third-person limited view of Sazh and Hope, just because I don't see them having a large role in the story to come. Until then, bye!