"Hiyah!"
Another manikin shatters. They'd been running into a lot of them, mostly in sparse numbers, wandering about the landscape, seeming rather lost.
"...You seemed to have fun. Fighting them."
"Hm," His sword de-materializes, "It's not like I like fighting brainless hunks. It's just … easy."
"It looks like hard work," Terra looks about, "Especially since we came here."
Glittering walls of crystal and clashing colors juxtapose, making one feel rather dizzy in Pandemonium. But that was the least of the Knight and Terra's problems.
"Come on! We're close! You can feel it right?"
"..."
"Even if the harder enemies come at us, we've still got the brain they lack! Use that and you'll find the weak points."
"..."
The Knight looks a little hurt at her silence, he'd figured she shared his likening for brain over brawn. Terra avoided talking about fighting, looking around rather skittish. Maybe she was still antsy about the energy they felt ahead?
"We'll find that crystal, no problem..."
He trails off. Terra looks to where he's rooted and past him. Her heart skips a beat.
A fully armored knight in light blue stands obtrusively, blocking their path. He emanates nothingness, but there is a hungering for nil around him; a desire to reduce everything to nothing. Despite his lack of apparent visibility, Terra got the creeping feeling he was looking directly at her.
"So," His voice was gravel, "You've come."
The words were simple, but held the weight of an inherent challenge. Terra can see the Onion Knight tensing and the air grow thicker from tension. Would they have to fight? Her hand glances off the sword hilt. Earlier, she'd also found a dagger within the folds of the sashes on her waist. She didn't even want to start contemplating those.
"...I guess I'll start," At his command, an ornate sword materializes out of thin air and begins snaking about, alive and quivering, "Feel free to come at me together."
The Knight makes a sound with his tongue. It was highly unlikely they'd beat this guy. He oozed impeccable power and an intimidating aura to boot. Not to mention, Terra was in no condition to fight, it seems, and he couldn't possible protect her against an enemy of this caliber. When faced with an enemy you can't beat … Well there's no point then. So he makes the rational decision.
"Oh, but sir," He makes his voice sickly sweet and innocent, "Do you really want to waste your strength on two weaklings like us?"
"What?" Surprise was clear in ExDeath's voice.
"Our strength is no match for yours... You'd be better off finding someone stronger to defeat, don't you think?"
Terra felt rooted by the odd spectacle. Was the Knight … begging for their lives? She'd seen his confidence and courage when he effortlessly seemed to shatter Manikins. But confronted with this enemy, he'd become like a different person... Or was she just beginning to see a new side to him?
Deep, rippling laughter echoes from the suit of armor. ExDeath's stare can be felt narrowing on the two before him. They felt like they were being shrunk.
"I come here to kill time and I find but a woman and a child. Both of you insects..." He bellows amid laughter, "I suppose you bring up a valid point. Neglecting to send some bugs into the Void … is permissible. You may keep your lives today."
He plucks his sword out of the air and holds it as he takes a step towards them. They stiffen, and he knows it. Leisurely, he saunters between and past the two, down the stairs into Crystal World. Before he starts down, he speaks, his words directed at the Onion Knight.
"Beware, however, pawns of Cosmos. The Crystals may neglect you … if you lack the valor worthy."
Terra averts her gaze to the Onion Knight, who doesn't react. ExDeath disappears into a puff of darkness. Terra lets out a sigh, as does the Knight.
"Whew... Well, that got rid of him!" The Knight shakes his head, the plumage ruffles, "And if he didn't leave, we'd have run, right?"
He turns, expecting Terra to laugh. Instead, her eyes cloud with worry, and she looks downcast.
"It's so strange... When you were pleading, he just … let us go."
"Well, what can I say? I avoid fighting enemies stronger than me if I can. I'm not reckless."
"'Lack the valor'..." Terra repeats that, partly to herself. She can tell she was part of the reason they would've lost against the knight. The Knight, however, knows part of it was directed to him.
"Valor isn't charging headfirst into a fruitless battle, it's suicide!" He says, a little defensive, "I'll show you, once we have the crystal!"
He turns, "Now, still feeling that presence?"
"Yes..." Terra closes her eyes, "It's just up ahead..."
"Well, let's go!"
He perambulates off. Terra can hear him mumbling 'Valor, well I've got it, just you wait...' A guilty feeling sits in her chest. She's in no position to tell him he was cowardly in backing down. She couldn't even unsheathe her sword. But still … 'The Crystals neglect those lacking the valor worthy'...
Why did it seem like he was trying to help them?
"Terra?"
Shaking her head just a little, she starts off after him. A dreading growing within her with each step.
"I'm coming..."
…
The Cloud of Darkness floats about restlessly around the dark pillars of the World of Darkness. The two serpentine heads flick out their tongues, tasting the air.
"I know... They're almost here."
Earlier, Kefka had said he had a plan to goad the girl back to Chaos.
"And she's a good girl, all the more too happy to destroy everything..."
"Destruction, destruction..." The Emperor sighs, "That's all I ever hear of your drivel. That and this girl named Terra..."
"She used to be on our side you say. Well, suspicious that you hold memories we don't."
"What's the matter? Everything I've said is true," Kefka sneers at Sephiroth, "Come now, surely one of you are willing to go with me on this."
"All right, I've heard enough," The Cloud had taken up his request merely out of exasperated curiosity, "We'll capture the girl, if it'll make you shut up."
"Ooh, hee hee," He laughed like a maniac in a cage, "Sure you can take them both on?"
"Kefka, you're a fool."
ExDeath intrudes into the conversation. He looks directly at Kefka, sword in hand.
"The girl was absolutely unresponsive, not worth the Void," His sword vanishes, "She had the eyes of a frightened doe, or a placid fish. Not whatever destructive machine you described at all."
"No! She just needs a little push-"
"Enough, Kefka," The Cloud interjected, "We have more than doubts about your faith, but We will go along, just to see for ourselves."
"Don't get your hopes up," ExDeath had said.
And she was getting strangely uppity about the whole ordeal. She'd expected boredom. What fun could one have, after all, with a half-broken toy and some child?
Then again, Kefka had another gimmick up his sleeve. He'd said something of the Puppeteer's Wheel and the Cloud just ought to "sit back and enjoy the show" once the two made their journey here.
The Cloud smiles toothily. That Kefka was a scheming bastard.
The serpents perk up. The have arrived. The Cloud quickly makes a dark veil around her, allowing her to remain undetected and to watch whatever show that clown had planned.
…
"Huh."
The Onion Knight looks about the empty World of Darkness. Dark wisps of energy bounce about and spiral around the intimidating pillars. There are no Manikins about, which is odd.
"This is it..." Terra breathes a little, as though afraid, "This is the source."
"Well, then this is where the Crystal is."
He takes a step deeper into the dark hall. All at once, Terra's instinct explodes. Get away, get away, get away...!
Her throat runs dry and her hands are stricken in movement. What's happening? It feels … like there's a tinny noise in her head. A voice, omnipotent and commanding telling her, "Destroy, destroy, destroy..."
"What... What's happening?!"
The Knight turns to see Terra cringing in pain, her hands wrapped about her arms.
"Terra?!"
"This voice – Who are you... NOOOOO!"
It was like a taut string, drawn tight and dripping, suddenly snapped. Terra felt it snap. Her mind was suddenly detached and wiped blank. She couldn't think or feel anything. There was only that feeling that resided in her body. That command … DESTROY!
"AAAAAAAAHHH!"
