Location: Pulse Vestige; 48 hours ago
The Vestige of Pulse was a massive labyrinth of moving platforms, hanging roads and sentient gates. This massive ruin was brought upon Cocoon during the last War of Transgression, as a mere relic from the savage lowerworld of Pulse. Until 13 days ago it had no further meaning.
That's when the Sanctum discovered an enterance that has opened, and within the Vestige, the Pulse-phobic populace discovered what they feared most: a fal'Cie Pulse-born. In their definition, a devil. Before anyone else, a girl entered the Vestige, and was uninvertably turned into a Pulse l'Cie, and as such, she was no more than a devil's familiar to the people.
For most people, anyway. That girl was Serah Farron, sister to Lightning and the fiance to Snow. When the world kept throwing rocks at the Vestige, those two acted otherwise, and invaded the Vestige with the intention of releasing Serah of her curse. Others ended up dragged into this. These others were Sazh, Hope, and Vanille who caused this unintentionally.
All these people assembled at one spot, the very people that will become l'Cie. It was as if destiny itself was turning their tables.
This was the scene:
Lightning kept running through a dark corridor, walls of which kept illuminating the darkness in crimson light with neonic veins running alongside them. She was sweating, hurting, as good as exhausted. But she kept on running, because…
Lightning: "(deep breaths)… Serah… (keeps running) … SERAH!"
Sazh, whom she tagged along, barely kept up with the bold soldier. Because he was trying to attain a similar speed, his run looked a bit odd. (author's comparison: Jack Sparrow on a run)
Sazh: "Oi… Slow down… I can't keep up!"
Lightning: "Then stay behind for all I care!"
Sazh: "I just might… And when I do, I'm gonna pass out."
She reached the end of the tunnel, then the top of a massive stairway, standing right before a massive portal arch that looked exactl like every citizen of Cocoon would describe a temple of Pulse: devoid of life, and devoid of all sense.
There, she finally saw her:
On the ground before her, a young girl was lying. A sister of hers, with almost identical pink hairstyle and gentle sakura-pale skin. It was Serah.
Lightning: "Serah! (runs towards her)"
Before she could reach her, a pair of monsters suddenly stood in her path: two cursed monsters, the Cie'th. They both has an opened l'Cie brand in their chests beating with red light. The one on her left had wings for arms and was named Whight. The one on her right had a massive blue appearance engulfed in stained crystals and was identified as a Ghast. Their voice, it was a howl, a roar that made the very essence of horror.
Lightning did not stop. She pulled her trusted gunblade out.
Lightning: "Out of my way!"
As the Ghast was about to swing it's giant arm at her, she jumped over it and used it as a platform, then stung the beast into the red beating chest with all her might with the bladed edge of her weapon, making the Ghast wail, then colapse as it's light died.
When the Whight tried to attack her, she kicked it in the chest and brought in down, then stike-jumped the creature's chest as well as she landed down.
Sazh: "(out of breath)… Wow… The woman's wild."
Quickly recoiling her gunblade into it's respective scabbard, Lightning approached Serah and lifted her up, looking her in the face all the time. Her sister had her eyes closed.
Lightning: "Serah. Serah! Wake up!"
It was in vain. Serah kept slumbering in her arms. To make things worse, as soon Sazh approached her and investigated Lightning's sister, he made a shocking discovery: there was a wide opened red eye-like symbol on Serah's left arm. He recognized it instantly, but he regretted it just as soon.
Sazh: "That's a… brand of Pulse."
Moments later, a powerful echo streamed the air:
Snow: "Serah!"
Both Lightning and Sazh looked up in order to see where the voice came from. Another platform descended from the ceiling, and Snow was aboard it. Behind him, Vanille and Hope were kindly taking second and third places in the row.
Snow: "Hang in there! (jumps)"
He jumped down to Lightning's level in order to see Serah. Hope and Vanille followed up soon afterwards.
Just as Snow was about to come close to Serah…
Snow: "Serah…"
Lightning: "(paces backwards) Don't touch her!"
Lightning did everything in her power not to let Snow come closer to Serah, whom she was still holding in her arms. If it wasn't for that fact, she would probably do a whole lot more to Snow than simply give him a sinister grudgeful glare.
Snow: "Hey, sis…"
Lightning: "I'm not your sister! How dare you come here after all you did to her!"
Snow: "I came to save her, same as you did!"
Lightning: "How can you save her if you can't even protect her!"
That's when Serah's eyes opened up, slowly, gently, it was like a flower's bloom. She was in a state of frailty, so her voice was quite weak and barely to hear.
Serah: "You both came…"
Realizing her awakening, both of them forgot their arguments and focused on her:
Snow: "Serah…"
Lightning: "Serah…"
Serah: "I knew you'd come. Sis… My hero… you're both here."
Snow: "That's right. I'm here for you."
Lightning: "Thank heavens… I already thought I lost…"
Serah: "You can save us."
Lightning: "What?"
Serah: "Save us all… Save Cocoon…"
Lightning: "Save Cocoon? Was that your Focus?"
Snow: "I'll do it. You'll see, I'll do it, I'll save everyone! I'll protect Cocoon, I promise!"
Lightning couldn't control her own expression in Snow's presence. Anytime she looked at him, she scowled and grumbled. Serah, on the other hand, put on a warm smile on her face.
Serah: "Thank you."
Those were her last words.
That's when her body began to glow, a light that lit the entire interium of the Vestige. Her skin began to sparkle, her eyes twinkled with sparkling dust before closing for good.
The process was frigthening both Light and Snow, and most likely the entire rest of the people assembled there.
By an unnatural force, Serah's body was lifted up and floated in mid air. When she let go of Snow's hand and Lightning's embrace, the surrounding air around her sparkled as well, and a small portion of twinkle matter sharded from her eyes and flew down her cheek, eventually landing in Snow's hand, in the shape of a cobalt-blue crystal.
Lightning: "Serah!"
She was crystalizing, right before her eyes. The light, it was calming, yet provoked shock and despair in her heart. This light, it's all she had left, this light that filled the entire world around her, it was all she could grasp.
Nothing but light. Pain, and light.
Palamecia, present time:
The light that has just swallowed up the group was anything but sacred. It felt like a radiant mass that almost sqeezed the life out of their lungs, way too terrifying to be called sacred. Yet, it bore a golden hue, and was sampled like the sunshine.
And then it stopped.
The group (all the above mentioned, minus Serah, plus Shiro, Fang and now Jihl) opened their eyes, which still ached in contact with the actual spectre of the world, and realized where they've been brought:
To their surprise, they wound up in the very center of the Palamecia bridge. The surrounding audience was composed out of officers and operators of the Palamecia, but the most notable seat was taken by an elderly man in religious robes: Primarch Dysley.
While the other operators and officers looked at the sudden arrived intruders with shock, fear and disgust, Dysley constantly kept up a wide grin, a vile smile like that was his one and only carved expression. He was clearly enjoying the chaos in the situation.
The l'Cie group was still confused.
Hope: "How did we end up here?"
Sazh: "Did someone master a warp spell the last time I blinked by any chance?"
Lightning: "(looks at Shiro) Shiro?"
Shiro: "It wasn't me."
Fang: "It was clearly magic, no tech on this rotten shell has that kind of effect."
They had to stands their battle-stances while observing the new surroundings, so they were clearly caught off guard.
Dysley: "Words came to my ear you wanted an audience with me. Well… (stretches his arms) Here I am. You did well on leading them here, Jihl."
Jihl: "What?"
Dysley: "Child, you cannot do a thing without me knowing it. I also saw your defeat by Shiro's hands, yet you dare to face me in the eyes."
Jihl: "Your Eminence… I can explain…"
Her sentence (and she spoke it with utmost awe) was cut short by Dysley's words.
Dysley: "Why don't you leave, Jihl? Or rather… Take your leave."
And then…
Dysley: "Humans have no business here."
Jihl: "What?"
Shiro: "Humans?"
Lightning: "What does he mean by that?"
Dysley performed a show before the entire audience, a show that would haunt all their eyes for eternity.
He lifted his staff up, and with it, he summoned exactly seven entchanted orbs cycling around the seal on his staff.
The Palamecia personel kept on observing, mumbling amongst each other on what was occuring.
Then, without warning, Dysley pointed the staff towards his subordinates… and released the orbs among them.
The orbs traveled at bullet-speed, and upon contact with their targets, which they all hit…
The victims screamed in pain, and one moment later, their bodies turned into golden dust that vanished in thin air.
Vanille: (gasps)
Snow: „What!"
Sazh: „Was that magic?"
Dysley: „Hahahahaha…"
All Dysley did in response was to continue laughing like a maniac while summoning another series of orbs, sending these after humans around him as well, causing mass panic and, apparently a massacre.
Another seven people perished.
And another.
And another.
The sight was almost unbearable, both men and women slaughtered without mercy by means of unknown magic.
The only people spared were at the center of the room, namely all the transportees, the l'Cie plus Shiro and Jihl. They could only scowl and stand helpless by as Dysley pefromed his deed. Each and ever one of their faces incarnated horror.
Jihl: "Wha… What are you…"
Hope: "He's… Massacring them!"
Vanille: „Stop it… Make it stop!"
Lightning: „This man, he…"
Shiro: „He's a monster!"
Snow: „Stop it! Humans are not yours to use!"
Dysley: „Hahaha, what else does one do with tools?"
To further amplify the state of unnatural forces at work, Dysley stood up, then just floated in mid air until he stood right above all the remaining people and overlooked the entire bridge from mid air.
He shot another array of magical orbs. They eliminated the remaining few residents on the bridge: a pair of armored guards entering the bridge on alert, a whriting operator trying to get off the bridge, a female officer hiding behind one of the consoles, an officer that tripped over a wire, and finally a screaming man, presumably another operator, all of these fell and disintegrated on the moment the mystarious orbs touched them.
The entire bridge emptied out within moments. And Dysley was still hovering above, his staff holding one last orb.
Dysley: „No eyes mortal are allowed to disturb the awakening ritual. Least of all… You."
He pointed the staff at Jihl. Her eyes went blank and she gasped.
Shiro: „Jihl, run!"
Lightning: „She's the only human left!"
Jihl: „Bu… But I…"
Dysley released the final orb.
Shiro and Lightning were both standing before Jihl, trying to somehow intercept the incomming missle.
But Jihl… With her last drop of sanity, she pushed them both aside and paced forward.
Jihl: „Out of the way!"
Saying that this act surprised Shiro and the l'Cie would clearly be an understatement.
With both of them pushed aside, there was no stopping the orb.
And it hit her, pierced right through her heart.
Time stopped. In a state of trance, with her blank eyes and dying breath, Jihl mumbled her last words:
Jihl: „Did I make a mistake? I did my duty…"
Shiro: „Jihl!"
He tried to grasp and reach out to her, but too late: Jihl's body disintegrated into golden dust, and it scattered across the void space.
/opening song: Blue Drops: „Heart no Kakuritsu" („Sora no Otoshimono Forte", 2010)/
(Lightning & co. at the lakeside, with her gazing into the waters…)
Saisho de saigo no Suki
Saisho de saigo no Daisuki
(… she turns to see Shiro standing near her, flipping a card in his hand, then tossing it across the lake…)
Unmei nante nanimo
(… the card shines, flies across the surface, producing waves, then returning to the spot where Lightning is standing…)
Shirazu ni kimeta mirai
(… with a powerful splash, Diamond Dust Dragon arises, freezing the waters and raining glittering dust over the entire cast, before taking up into the sky.)
Da kara
(in the sky, the flying Eidolons Alexander, Bahamut and Shiva Sisters join Diamond Dust in mid-flight; title screens:)
Cold Saga
(characters drawing cards, which come to life before them:)
Kimi ni arigatou
(Kimi ni arigatou)
(Shiro draws Shiva Shield which comes to life; Snow watches and thumbs up)
Konna kanjou ga
(Konna kimochi ga)
(Lightning draws Diamond Dust Unicorn, which comes to life; Sazh, obsering, almost falls down)
Jibun no dokoka ni
(Mienai dokoka ni)
(Hope draws, and the card, Huriboh, comes to life, with Vanille watching…)
Nemutteta nante
(Umareteta nante)
(Vanille hugs and cuddles Huriboh, who blushes while Hope sweatdrops and Fang laughs about it)
Chikyuu o
(a huge humanoid monster emerges from the ground, shattering the earth)
Yusaburu you na
(it takes it's place behind Barthandelus, whom the group has confronted)
Chitei no
(fast blendings of the surroundings: Fifth Ark, Archlyte Steppe, Titan's Throne (with Titan in the shot) and Oerba)
Maguma mitai ni ne
(A white snowmobile-like monster drives over the screen, splashing snow as it goes)
Haato ga me o samasu
(Vanille in a Diamond Dust cosplay, winking, then dancing with a glittering staff)
Kokoro ni hi o tsuketeku
(monsters performing: Ice Battleclaw clawing the scene; Frostland Archfiend breaking massive ice…)
Negai ga ugokidasu
(… Alexander charging a punch; Brinhyldr shooting firebolts; Frostland Knight slashing with it's sword)
Kodou ni deatteku
(… Lightning performing Zantetsuken; Shiro summoning a great forcefield…)
Saisho de saigo no Suki
(Diamond Dust roaring, a bike-monster dissolving into Synchro rings…)
Saisho de saigo no Daisuki
(… surrounding Diamond Dust, transforming it into a greater jet-winged dragon, too illuminated to be told apart;)
Unmei nante nanimo
(Shiro riding King Blizzard, Diamond Dust flying above him, and Lightning on it's shoulders, feeling the wind)
Shirazu ni kimeta mirai
(a Synchro ring opens a portal, leading into warp-space, then overlooking…)
Da kara
(…the world of Pulse.)
Episode 7:Ultimate Deception- The Hungry Terror of Megiddo
Shiro: „No… How could he… (to Dysley) How could you do that to her, your own friend!"
Dysley: „(descends) Friend? Hmhmhm, I have no friends aboard this ship, only tools."
Snow: „You… YOU FREAK! (charges at Dysley) GREAAAAAAAAHHH!"
Lightning: „Snow, wait!"
Snow: „DON'T CALL PEOPLE TOOLS!"
Snow was prepared to punch Dysley in the face, yet this one did not flinch one bit. As soon as Snow deployed his wrathful punch…
It hit… something other than Dysley's face. The fist stopped a few inches in front of Dysley's nose, as it hit a contraption of sorts, like Snow punched an invisible wall. The very next moment, a counterforce rejected Snow and launched him backwards with a cry. He hit hard ground, and other came to get him up.
Vanille: „Snow!"
Hope: „You alright?"
Snow: „Darn it! (looks at Dysley while getting up) How the heck did he just…"
Dysley: „Now that the unwanted are removed from scene our audience might recomence. My dear l'Cie, you did well to come this far."
None of the l'Cie hesitated in pulling out their weapons.
Dysley: "Yet you still deny my authority, as I see."
Sazh: "Authority?"
Fang: "The guy's a nutjob!"
Shiro: "You…"
Saying that, Shiro clenched his fist strongly and trembled, not in fear, but in rage. A strange aura covered his body, and this was not the usual cold emittion that he was famous for. The transparent ripples on his surface were sheer power, condensed and gathering. The l'Cie noticed and they all took one step away from him, with their mouths open in surprise.
Shiro: "You fiend… How dare you… (screams out loud as his aura intensifies) HEAAAAAAAAAAARHHHH!"
Lightning: "Shiro!"
Sazh: "Now he's mad!"
Shiro: "(points at Dysley) You, to whom the people looked up, simply decided to eradicate them without mercy! You, who betrayed their ideals as they followed your every word! You, who simply entooled people's hearts, I cannot and will not forgive you!"
Dysley heard him. He just smiled.
Shiro: "That voice, your name is deception! Face me! Dysley, Ek Daag Ju Ciel!"
Thuder roared in the distance the moment Shiro finished his sentence.
Hope: "Did he just…?"
Sazh: "Huh? Wait, what, what, what did he say?"
Fang: "I believe he just…"
Lightning: "He challenged him. One on one."
Dysley: "(smirks) A bold example what you made, Battle Duelist. I understand your heart, cold of sympathy, is now overboiling with rage. If you wish to make me regret, why not do it with your own means? I accept the challenge. I shall duel you."
Snow: "A duel?"
Vanille: "Is that what this is all about?"
Sazh: "Now, hey, wait a sec, this is no time to play games! We're here to clobber some sense into that emminential head of his, not play poker!"
Lightning: "It's not a game."
Sazh: "I beg your pardon?"
Lightnting: "Ever since Shiro arrived, no duel was ever played for the sake of fun. Right now, Shiro is in his domain, challenging the Primarch to a game of his choice. This dueling… it's his way of fighting. (steps back) Give him some space."
Still spinning heads in confusion, the l'Cie still obeyed, and went to observe the duel from a safe distance behind Shiro's back. It's a good thing they did, because Shiro intended to make it blast!
Dysley: "The stakes: winner keeps the loser's lifeforce. Win, and I'll humbly bow to your request. Lose, and… well, you'll see soon enough."
Shiro: "I will not lose! (lifts his left hand) Duel Disc, set up!"
The device Shiro held on his wrist lit up, then expanded like an umbrella, and each respective slot of a total 5 of them grint along the rim of the device, ultimately forming a classic duel-disc device.
"Duel Disc, Ground mode set. Online state."
Shiro: "I'll make you regret bringing me here, Dysley! (draws 5 cards)"
As for Dysley, no fancy piece of equipment appeared on his side. Istead, something far stranger occured. He swung his staff in front of him, and on this motion, 5 giant, chalkboard-sized holographic cards appeared in front of him. They were only displaying the backs of cards from the l'Cie perspective, and they were also partially transparent, so the group could still see Dysley's ever smirking expression.
Dysley: "Shall we?"
And it began:
Shiro&Dysley: "Duel!"
Shiro: LP: 4000
Dysley: LP: 4000
Sazh: "I don't know much about this Duel master whachamacallit, but I sure hope Shiro woops his royal behind."
Shiro: "I'll take the first turn. Draw! (draws, then reveals a card) And I Normal summon Ice Battleclaw!"
He slaped the card on it's respective slot on the duel disc, causing a monster to appear: it was a tall humanoid of sorts, covered in thick white fur, but his head more likely resembled the beak of a bird, and the hair of the creature's head was so long it looked like a pot of snakes as the hair was coiled together into streaks. It wore some kind of native getups, but the most notable feature was his hand equipment: a pair of giant clawed gauntlets, large enough to hold 2 human skulls each. The arrival looked like a wardance, and after the Battleclaw flipped in the air, it released a warcry in an unknown language and took on a battle-stance. ATK: 1600/ LV4
Shiro: "(reveals another card) Next, because Ice Battleclaw is a non-Tuner Cryonite, I can reduce his level by one, then I Special summon Fairy Ice-Cone from my hand!"
An odd mass was forming in the center of the Battleclaw's chest, loosely resembling growing snow. With a welp of the creature, the mass simply flew out of the chest…
Ice Battleclaw: LV3
… then it spawned more formations: a pair of large, almost cartoonish eyes and a mouth, then the snow formed small wings of sorts where otherwise it's ears belong. Finally, an actual cone and a halo of snow appeared, making the monster look literally like a cute, angelic piece of vanilla ice-cream. It's voice was comparable to Huriboh's. ATK: 100/ LV1
Shiro: "Finally, I use Ice Battleclaw's ability! Once per turn, when I Special summon a monster from my hand, then Ice Battleclaw can make that monster's level become 4."
Releasing another warcry, Battleclaw pointed his giant palm at Fairy Ice-Cone, and shot out four small orbs of light in it's direction. The cute monster's inner light was in this process multiplied four times.
Fairy Ice-Cone: LV4
Hope: "A level 3 monster and a level 4 tuner, that means…"
Lightning: "He's going for it."
Shiro: "I tune my Ice Battleclaw that is now level 3, with my Fairy Ice-Cone that is now level 4!"
Trying to act tough, the cute little tuner put on a game-face, then used it's entire inner strength to dissolve into four Synchro rings. Ice Battleclaw, in a Bruce Lee style, jumped off it's hands and performed a few flips in the air when it trespassed the rings, uniting it's 3 lights with Fairy's 4.
3* + 4* = 7*
Shiro: "Traveling heart will transcend a crystal field of dreams. With sparkling dust, shatter that dream into wake! Synchro summon!"
In the process, the tube of light bursted up, and a familiar shape released a great quantity of sparkling dust.
Shiro: "Rise up, Diamond Dust Dragon!"
In all it's magnificence, Diamond Dust appeared in a flash, roaring it's heart out. ATK: 2300/ LV7
Shiro: "The rules say I can't attack on the first turn of the duel. However, since you accepted the challenge of a Battle Duelist, it means the rules of a Battle Duel apply, and that means if you're unable to stand and perform, you lose by dafault! Diamond Dust Dragon, attack him!"
The dragon shpwed no signs of objection, and executed the order with greatest pleasure. It formed and released a twisting beam of blue energy right in Dysley's direction, the power of which substance could immediately kill an average man.
Dysley did not even flinch.
With a smile, he waved his staff and used it's tip to, literally, smack the attack sideways, causing it to hit a random spot in the room instead, with a powerful explosion.
Sazh: "What?"
Snow: "I don't believe this! He flicked Diamond Dust Dragon's attack like a ping-pong ball!"
Dysley: "Your beast is in need of discipline. Your mind, too, heeds for savage means."
Both Shiro and Diamond Dust Dragon grint their teeth in frustration. Shiro could have known that Dysley would do something like this, after all the other things he did.
Shiro: "If I can't incapacitate you, I'll at least give you a hard time! (picks a card) I activate the Spell card Silver Breeze!"
On activation, Diamond Dust Dragon was suddenly surrounded by an almost invisible glittering twister of winds, to which he roared as power floated in and out of his body.
Shiro: "The monster that is equiped with this Spell gains 500 Attack and Defense points, be he Diamond Dust or any other Cryonite."
Diamond Dust Dragon: ATK: 2800/ DEF: 2600
Shiro: "I set a card face-down and end my turn! (sets) Good, I made a strong start. Diamond Dust Dragon is my heart and soul combined. I meant business the moment I called him out. With him, I can survive effect damage, and with Silver Breeze I made him into a strong monster. Just in case, I have my face-down Shatter Crystal, which can negate his attacks and his monster's abilities."
Dysley: (cackles)
Shiro: "Huh?"
Dysley: "Your existence and attempts to defy destiny has, up till now, been amusing. I thank you for your treat."
Shiro: "What's so funny in our powerful will to refuse fates set to us by others?"
Dysley: "Do you really deem yourself powerful? Then allow me to break the illusion and put some light on the truth you keep denying. In this very turn, you will shamble down in acceptance of the ultimate truth, that nothing can change your fate. My turn."
Dysley's "draw" was in fact a lift of his staff, at which tip another giant transparent card appeared.
Simultaneously, the silver bird from before swept through the air, and entered the bridge like a mechanical pidgeon, startling the l'Cie and making them move aside.
Dysley: "Come to me, my loyal."
Fang: "The hell?"
The bird flew close to Dysley, but it dissolved into dust before reaching him. The dust glimmered across one of the cards floating around him.
Snow: "What was that about?"
Dysley: "(touches one of the cards floating with the tip of his staff) I summon Megiddo Rukh- Menvra the Vision."
Upon contact with his staff, the card suddenly ceased being transparent and became solid. It turned around, and revealed it's image: it was the same bird in a rim of an Effect monster. The next moment, the card flashed, disappeared, and the same bird stood before Dysley now. ATK: 1300/ LV3
Lightning: "What?"
Hope: "That bird is a monster card?"
Sazh: "How the heck did he do that?"
Dysley: "I use the ability of my Megiddo Rukh. When Menvra the Vision is the only monster on my side, I can summon a second 'Megiddo' from my hand to join her side. (taps another card) I special summon Megiddo Troop- Vladis the Prophane."
Once again, the tapped card flipped, then flashed and the monster appeared: this time, it was a warrior, closely resembling an elite Templar of Sanctum, with a large decorated collar, a completely closed helmet and carrying a spear that closely resembled a scepter. ATK: 1600/ LV4
Shiro: "So he not only produces cards on his own, but he can also make them turn real without any IR technology. What kind of other frightening power does he posees?"
Dysley: "You have not yet seen my power. (taps another card) I play the Spell card called Golden Cut. (the card reveals) If exactly 2 different monsters exist on my field and their level difference is precicely 1, this card can be activated and Special summon another monster from my deck that has exactly 1 level more than my strongest monster. (another card shows up before him, and he taps it) Appear, Megiddo Storm- Kalavnika the Roar!"
Again, a giant card flashed, and a monster appeared. It was a lime green variety of a Wyvern beast, mechanized and weaponized with grindrails on it's wings and head, which were charged with electricity. ATK: 2300/ LV5
And so, Diamond Dust Dragon was facing not one, but three monsters of an unknown clan.
Shiro: "Megiddo? I never heard of that archetype before."
Fang: "Hold on, Megiddo… Why does this sound so familiar?"
Vanille: (hangs her head)
Dysley: "In case you are unaware, Megiddo Rukh- Menvra the Vision is a Tuner monster."
Shiro: "What? So you're intending to use these for a…"
Sazh: "A what? Someone fill me in!"
Dysley: "Three, four, five. These numbers are the perfection in motion, and now this perfection shall become your demise. I tune my level 4 Megiddo Troop- Vladis the Prophane, and my level 5 Megiddo Storm- Kalavnika the Roar, with my level 3 Megiddo Rukh- Menvra the Vision!"
/insert music: "Fighting Fate", instrumental/
So he commanded this, both non-Tuners flew up and were followed by the silver bird of prey. Menvra dissolved into 3 Synchro rings. But, other than the usual lime color and static effects of the rim, these were very different: they were completely white, and decorated with what seemed like twisted Pulsian alphabet.
All their lights combined.
3* + 4* + 5* = 12
Shiro: "A level 12 Synchro! There's no telling what might come out!"
Dysley: "(laughing) Silence the cries of the doomed dying souls. And let the world die in piece. Loe, the Day of Wrath is come!"
The burst of light was already blinding…
Dysely: "Synchro summon!"
… and it expanded.
No one besides Dysley, not even Diamond Dust Dragon, could keep their eyes open without covering them with their arms. The light was almost pushing them all aside!
Snow: "What the hell?"
Hope: "This is the most powerful Synchro summon I've ever seen!"
Sazh: "I bet they're seeing this all the way to Pulse!"
Ragnarok
de Dies Irae
l'Cie Pultis. Tuum fatum sequeris. Tuum sanctuarium affligeas
But the light beared a shadow. This shadow was just streaming through the light, like a devilish flame, and it took on the form of a demon, hiding it's visage.
Dysley: "Yes, to silence return, Meggido-End… Land Gigas!"
As he spoke this up, the entire group could hear a breaking screech, like a frightening kitten that was dragged through a tin-foil. It was an awful experience.
And then, when the light finally died, Shiro looked up, and, to his shock, he saw…
Nothing.
Ragnarok
de Dies Irae
l'Cie Pultis. Tuum fatum sequeris. Tuum sanctuarium affligeas.
Dysley's field was completely empty.
Shiro: „What?"
About now, the others opened their eyes as well.
Sazh: "What's wrong? Is it big?"
Snow: "Hold on, what did he summon?"
Lightning: "There's nothing here."
Fang: "Is he pulling our leg or what?"
Dysley, however, did not seem as concerned. In fact, his self confidence boosted up.
Dysley: "Poor are those whose eyes look, but cannot see."
Vanille: "What does that even mean?"
Hope: "Huh? (sees something) GYAAAAAH!"
Vanille: "What's wrong?"
Hope seemed terrified. That expression puts it lightly. He acted like he saw a dark ghost. He immediatelly pointed with his trembling finger at the nearby window.
The others looked out.
They all gasped. Shiro most of it.
Something big… towering… HUGE was moving out there.
Shiro: "What is that?"
Dysley: "Hahahahahahahaha… (points his staff up) Ehahahahahahahahahahaha!"
By releasing a violet beam from the tip of his staff, Dysley performed anothe rmagic trick and literally made the ceiling disappear. This was unfortunate, as the sky was currently cloaked by a huge shadow.
The monster was inormous, at least a hundred times larger than any other creature introduced so far, and possibly the largest in the history of Duel Monsters (perhaps with the exception of the Egyptian God monsters). I was a giant, black humanoid demon with an awful grin anf spikes covering it's entire body. (just so you get a clearer image, it looks like a demonic, armored, black version of the infamous Galactus) In case you missed it's proportions, in comparison, please mind that the Palamecia was currently 10 000 meters above ground. It was on the same level as Land Gigas' hips!
Megiddo-End Land Gigas: ATK: 4000/ LV12
Per somnum aeternum
Numen divinum dictus est
Viator elamentabilis
Shiro: "What is this monster?"
Sazh: "It's the largest thing alive!"
Fang: "Oi, Shiro, get outta there!"
Even Diamond Dust Dragon showed great fear in the presence of the monster's shadow. The grin on the face of the Land Gigas and that on Dysley's head were almost carved equally.
Dysley: "Behold, the wrath whose hunger devours the world."
Land Gigas' perspective was quite large, yet it set it's eyes on one of the nearby airships. Massive laser beams shot out of it's eyes, incinerated the airship in sight and blew it up. The ship started going down with an infernal cloak.
Land Gigas then turned it's head in the other direction and performed the same attack on another ship. The explosion was so massive that nearby jet fighters were incinerated as well.
Among the ships that were grazing the skies was Yaag Rosch, flying his personal modeled jet, the Proudclad.
He could not believe his eyes. He didn't know what terrified him more: the arrival of the giant, or it's destructive power.
Rosch: „What the hell is that? (via intelcom) Heavy aircraft carrier Mysidia, respond!"
There was nothing but snow on the line.
Rosch: „Destroyer airship Deist, respond!"
Again, he got nothing but creeching.
Rosch: „What on earth…?"
He then noticed the Land Gigas aiming it's eyes in his direction. His reaction of shock and fright was rather short. As soon as the beast's eyes lit up, he maneouvered the Proudclad so that it got away from the destructive beam's path, but only narrowly, as the heat from the beam was still warming up the belly of his airship. Behind him, another giant airship exploded in flames as the beams hit it.
Rosch: „Gh… Burmecia too…"
That was the show that Land Gigas delivered. Without mercy, without soul, it's only intention was destruction.
From the Palamecia, the scene was even more frightening.
Sazh: „That… Is SO not a hologram!"
Vanille: „The destruction… It's awful."
Shiro: „No… stop it! Stop killing your own people!"
Dysley, still smirking like a fox, lifted his hand up, and with it, the Gigas' motion halted.
Dysley: „Sympathy brings mankind to ruin, moreover when they show it their enemies. As I promised, in this turn you will witness true power, emblemed as such by the power of this Megiddo-End monster. Megiddo-End land Gigas, your target is over there. Attack Diamond Dust Dragon."
Simple motion of the monster's arm was slow, but powerful. It's hand started to radiate as soon as it pointed it at the Palamecia bridge.
Snow: „Nothing good will come out when this attack hits!"
Lightning: „Shiro! Get out!"
Shiro: „It's okay! It doesn't matter how big or strong it is, this is still a duel. Trap, activate! (the card flips) Shatter Crystal! When this card is activated, I can negate your attack and your monster's effects until the End p…"
Gigas' eyes lit up, and it shot out another beam of destruction, this time pulverizing the flipped trap card.
Shiro: „What? My trap!"
Hope: „He broke it! But how?"
Dysley: „Hahahahahahahahaha…! Traps like that are useless against a Megiddo-End monster."
Shiro: „What?"
Land Gigas' attack just kept charging, shining it's hand up like it was a second sun.
Dysley: „Megiddo-End Land Gigas is uneffected by Trap, Spell or monster effects, and neither can it be defeated in battle. There's even more to it than just that. When Megiddo-End Land Gigas destroys a monster in battle, the total sum of that monster's attack points, and it's defense points will be depleted from your Life points as damage. Diamond Dust Dragon's attack points are 2300, his defense points are 2100, and the difference between our monster's attack power is 1700. The total sum of all these values makes a magnificent amount of 6100, more than enough to defeat you."
Shiro: „(shocked beyond reason) No way… My Trap is useless, and Diamond Dust is completely exposed. This power… impossible…"
Dysley: „Perish along with the world. Battle! Megiddo-End Land Gigas, strike him down with Gaian Demise!"
With the power enough to smash down mountains, the huge monster swung it's fist in a punch motion and sent forward a wave of destructive light. The one and only thing in it's path was Shiro's entire side.
Lighnting: „Shiro!"
It was too late. The wave swallowed everything there. Diamond Dust Dragon, it… it simply vanished as it's entire being disappeared in the blinding wave. This was not light, it was something crushing.
Shiro felt the same pain, the burden of an entire world being slammed from all directions.
Shiro: „!"
Shiro: LP: 0/ LOSER
After the light finally faded, Shiro was seen blown back from his spot. Instead of being thrown all the way to his fellow l'Cie, he hit some kind of invisible wall and remained sharply in the air for under a second before falling down to the ground, broken beyond all reason.
Moments later, Diamond Dust Dragon also got smashed against the same wall and fell down severely injured. It's otherwise clear body was covered in ashes and it's otherwise radiant glow was slowly fading away like a pulse.
Shiro: „Diamond… Dust… (tries to reach out for him)"
The noble creature lifted it's head and released only a whimper, barely having the strength to do this.
Broken, both in body and spirit, Shiro's defeat was a shocking truth to the others.
Hope: „He lost…"
Vanille: „In a single turn."
Sazh: „Such overwhelming power, is that what we're up against?"
Fang: „The poor thing."
Lightning said nothing. She grint her teeth and fought tears from coming as she saw the condition in which both Shiro and Diamond Dust Dragon found themselves in. It was a sad sight. The dragon's breathing was so deep and so slow it sounded like an echoing breeze, and Shiro was barely keeping his eyes open.
And then the finishing touch: he fell down completely, immobile, and a gentle cluster of light exited his being and it gathered like a fog atop of Dysley's staff.
Dysley: „As promised, I shall restrain you of your life force."
Lightning's rage was fueling inside.
Dysley: „You have chosen the wrong side, Shiro, fighting to protect the wretched humans you claim to love. Without our help, death s all you're capable of."
Lightning: „What?"
Dysley: „You saw the fools. Mindless mob drunk on fear of a few l'Cie."
That's when she felt like she's had it. She pulled her gunblade out and sttod forward, pointing the blade at Dysley.
Lightning: „If only they knew it was a l'Cie filling their glasses!"
Dysley was silent for a second, and his expression finally changed from s smirk to a low degree of wondering.
Dysely: „L'Cie? You mean me? (laughs) Oh, child, perish the tough."
Another sky breaking event occured: by magic, Dysley brought himself up and gliding, his staff, now holding Shiro's lifeforce hostage, was held high, and another beam from the Gigas' eyes wrupted at the same tip, awakening the forbidden power.
Dysely: „I am more than that!"
The light consumed him again, this time in a dark form, shattering crystal clouds and creating a mirage of nightmare.
In the flash, the human form of Primarch Dysley vanished.
Ragnarok
de Dies Irae
l'Cie Pultis. Tuum fatum sequeris. Tuum sanctuarium affligeas.
And a new, even more frightening visage slowly came to be.
Saying „surprised" really puts it lightly to describe the group's reaction. They were pushed to the point when they no longer knew of existence.
The voice that spoke sounded like Dysley… but it was much more powerful, metallic and… truth be told, the voice of a devil.
(author's note: in this case, the italics do not represent thoughts, but the metallic voice heard; he won't be doing much thinking anyway)
Dysely?: "I am fal'Cie. My name is Barthandelus: voice of the Sanctum, and Lord-Sovereign of the Cocoon fal'Cie."
A massive construction now stood before the party: a godlike entity with a massive head crowned by a laurel of hanging statueheads, this making up the most of it's body, which was as black as cinder, and with arms put narrowly beneath this construction making it appear like it was crawling.
Barthandelus: "Your kind feared the darkness, so we gave you light. You begged us for the Purge, and did it not come to pass? Now you spurn our counsel? You must learn your place!"
Finally, the fal'Cie, as it were, revealed it's face, the expression of which was almost engraved after Dysley's deadly smirk, combined with a fair amount of ornaments and with mouth full of sharp teeth. It kept talking, but it's mouth never moved in response, only a sinister grin remained.
That was the state of madness.
Sazh: "Primarch was a fal'Cie all along?"
Fang: "I can't believe this!"
Lightning: "You… you bastard! Give Shiro back!"
Regardless of their new enemy's appearance, Lightning charged at Barthandelus with all her might, prepared to carve a new opening in it's devilish face.
The fal'Cie simply put one of it's arms formard, extending his palm, and before Lightning even came close to it, she was blown back by an unseen force, landing on her back, but getting up quickly.
Lightning: "That won't hold me!"
Barthandelus: "I babtist you in ruin."
Ragnarok
de Dies Irae
l'Cie Pultis. Tuum fatum sequeris. Tuum sanctuarium affligeas
Barthandelus then pointed both palms forward, and on his cue, the hanging singing heads on his massive crown opened up their mouths and showered the party with a rain of magical missles. Hope, Snow, Vanille and Sazh were all blown back on impact.
Fang was missed. She charged the enemy.
Fang: "Try and hold me down! I'll get you yet! (jumps up, pointing her spear at Barthandelus) Take this!"
But her attack ended in failure. Without notice, the mountanous Land Gigas in the background shot out another laser beam from it's eyes, the beam, narrow in nature, grazed Fang's knee and caused her to fall with a yow.
Fang: "Aahhh! (falls down, holding her combusted knee) Darn it…!"
Snow: "(getting up) The guy plays dirty!"
Vanille: "We have to get Shiro out of there!"
Shiro was still lying there, who knows whether he was conscious or not. Diamond Dust Dragon was still moving, so at any rate his master must have been alive as well. But as soon as Diamond Dust Dragon tried to get up…
Barthandelus put it's arm up and slammed it on the dragon's back, forcing it down.
When the beast was down, Barthandelus hit it again.
And again.
And again.
Diamond Dust Dragon released a loud welp in pain on each impact. The scene was beyond brutal. It was heart-breaking.
Snow: "Diamond Dust!"
Lightning: "Stop it, you fiend! We're the l'Cie you want, not him!"
Barthandelus simply laughed at their feeble efforts to stay put. It was like Land Gigas laughed along. As the matter of fact, Gigas' face looked like it was carved as a duplicate of Barthandelus' sinister grin.
Sazh: "(gets up) I'll shut that tincan of yours myself! (shoots at Barthandelus)"
Hope: "(gets up, and throws his boomerang) Right, me too!"
Their efforts, as noble as they might have been, meant as good as nothing when their weapons clashed forces with Barthandelus' skin. Bullets simply sparked on impact, barely scratching the surface, and Hope's boomerang bounced off over and over again without the slightest success.
Barthandelus: "Do you still defy my rule? Your weak existence no longer amuses me. Us, who delivered light upon your weak race, will now drown you in light of destruction."
Hope: "Pardon? (his brand lights up)"
Snow: "Last time I checked we're not exactly weak! (his brand as well)"
Sazh: "You just haven't seen us from the ugly side! (brand-up)"
Lighting: "Everyone, we fight together!"
Her brand also lit up. Not only that, but all their Eidolon's seals appeared beneath them. As it faded, a pink, rose-shaped crystal appeared in Lightning's hand.
Lightning: "Odin! (throws the crystal up)"
Snow: "(grabs and breaks the crystal from his brand) Shiva!"
Hope: "(forms his crystal) Alexander! (shatters it as it flies up)"
Sazh: "(crosses his arms forward) I summon… (creates crystal, then throws it up) Bryndilr! (shoots at the crystal)"
As Lightning jumped up, she sliced her crystal in half, causing the glyph within it to blossom. Out of it, the noble Eidolon Odin came out.
Snow's broken crystal created a frozen sphere, at which core two maidens were performing a magical dance.
Hope's crystal created a towering structure of light, which split the heavens and made a giant mechanical construct, which will later become the body of Alexander, to fall from the sky.
Sazh's crstal also created a giant orb, and within, another female Eidolon was waiting.
Finally, Odin grabbed Lightning by the hand, and made her land gently as both of them drew their weapons.
Lightning: "We do this together!"
The icy sphere broke, and the Shiva sisters emerged out, joining at Snow's side.
Snow: "Show 'em how it's done!"
The massive construction fell right next to Hope, and from the dust that was raised, Alexander stood tall and paced towards Hope's opponent.
Hope: "Show no mercy!"
And finally, Brynhildr sprang to life, bursting through the orb of fire like it was the Sun, and by holding her pickaxe, she stood behind Sazh.
Sazh: "Time to get the hotwheels out!"
And so, a line of 4 tall creatures, 4 Eidolons, stood up to engage Barthandelus in battle. Still, their opponent showed no signs of concern.
Barthandelus: "All your powers combined are no match for a fal'Cie like myself. And should you anyhow best me, how do you intend to conquer the mighty Megiddo-End Land Gigas behind me?"
Per somnum aeternum
Numen divinum dictus est
Viator elamentabilis
The huge monster was still towering over the Palamecia, although the duel was already over.
Sazh: „Hey, shouldn't that thing be gone now that the crazy lightshow of cards is over?"
Lightning: „Then Dysley… No, Barthandelus is still fueling the thing somehow."
Snow: „How about we disconnect it then?"
Lightning: „Good idea. Take out the battery fal'Cie, and the monster will vanish."
Barthandelus: „It's futile. Megiddo-End Land Gigas, crush them!"
Land Gigas' eyes lit up again, and a massive beam was fired towards the bridge.
Snow: „As if I'll let that happen! Nix, Styria, cover!"
Before the beam reached them and exploded, the Shiva sisters flew up and, by standing back to back and hand at hand, they produced a powerful freezing wind that created a dome of thick ice over the bridge. The beam shattered the dome into diamond dust, which fell down like snow.
Barthandelus: „Impressive."
Sazh: „Don't get your guard down!"
Barthandelus: „Hm?"
Hope: „Now! Alexander!"
Barthandelus failed to notice that the l'Cie took advantage of the split second in which he was distracted, and ordered their Eidolons to charge. Brynhildr swung her burning pickaxe while alexander charged it's fist and delivered a massive blow, both impacts aimed at Barthandelus' face. The fal'Cie, however, ducked and grabbed both attacks with both respective hands, managing to keep them both away.
Barthandelus: „Behold. This is the power of a fal'Cie."
As powerful as the blows were, barthandelus pushed both Eidolons back like dummies.
Lightning: „No power of gods can match our teamwork! Odin!"
Barthandelus was too late to notice again that the last Eidolon failed to attack him on purpose: Odin picked Fang up by her arm and tossed her up. She made a backflip, then aimed her spear in a jump position at the mechanical entity.
Fang: „Remember me? Wouldn't wanna be you! HAAAAAA!"
With blade full of wrath, Fang dove down like a meteor, and with breaking force, she landed her spear in Barthandelus' face, right between the eyes, until the entire bladed edge of her weapon was submerged into the metallic surface. Fang was still supporting the spear even after it entered the skull.
Fang: „Checkmate!"
But…
Bartandelus: „Hhhhh… Hehahahahahahaha… AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Fang: „What?"
Despite the damage, which was supposed to be fatal, Barthandelus was just laughing it up. He didn't seem damaged at all, and simply swung his head left and right until Fang eventually fell down from him. The spear was still half-way pierced in his face, but this didn't bother him one bit.
Barthandelus: „You thought a deity like myself will get twarted by a scratch like this? This damage is meaningless."
Fang: „No way!"
Vanille: „How can he still be alive?"
Snow: „The impact should have affected him a little!"
By this time, Land Gigas above shot another beam of destruction, breaking another one of Shiva sister's walls of ice. This time, the Eidolons barely withstood the attack, and the shards of ice even hit and temporarily disabled Alexnder and Bryndilhr.
Hope: „Our Eidolons…"
Sazh: „They're all falling."
The team stood right in front of Barthandelus' head… unfortunately.
Barthandelus: „You will taste agony."
Hings kept getting worse: Barthandelus' face literally opened up. Behind it, there was a series of cannon-like tubes, all filling up with energy.
The power was directed at all of them. If shot, it would certainly mean their demise.
They could all but watch in dismay as light inside the tubes got brighter and brighter.
Then, they fired…
There was a great flash…
A mighty explosion filled the bridge.
And, once the dust settled…
They were all fine. Confused, but fine. Lightning was just putting down her arm which she put up in her defense, and glanced at what was ahead of her.
She couldn't believe her eyes.
Efore her, Shiro stood, with one arm up in her guard. He was breathing heavily, and his state was barely any better than the shape he was left in.
In front of him, there was Diamond Dust Dragon, with it's wings spread wide. Smoke kept comming from that direction. It was the only place that got hit by Barthandelus' cannons.
Lightning: „Shiro… You…"
Shiro was breathing heavily, and besides the strength to keep his ground, he barely had any left to lift his head up.
Succumbing to the impact, Diamond Dust Dragon released one last cry, closed it's eyes, and fell down on the ground, becomming a pile of vanishing sparkling dust upon impact, so Barthandelus' ugly face was once again visible.
Upon consealing it's cannons and reforming it's face (still with the spear in it's forehead), the entity kept the same expression as before, but it's voice revealed something was different.
Barthandelus: „What? Your lifeforce was supposed to be drained completely, how do you find the power to stand?"
Shiro: „I am… not done… with you yet. (puts the hand forward) Silver Breeze's… effect… activates. In a duel… when the monster equiped with this card is destroyed… I can select another monster on the field and increase it's strength… by further 1000 points. As a Battle Duelist… I use this ability and give the last of my power to you, Lightning."
Lightning: „What?"
The shining dust that the dragon shattered into surrounded Lightning's body like a cloak, and as she observed the beautiful effect, the dust was absorbed into her skin and gave her a sparkling radinace.
Shiro: „It's the last… of my part."
And then, Shiro started to fall back down.
Lightning: „No, Shiro!"
She was too late to catch him. Shiro was, yet again, unconcious. Lightning made goods of her arm that failed to catch him, and formed it into a fist which she pointed at Barthandelus.
Barthandelus: „Such pitiful sight. I am most disappointed."
Lightning: „How dare you badmouth his efforts… (points her gunblade) A being with power, yet with no ability to understand true strength of our efforts. I'll make you regret your acts!"
That was the beginning of a final assault. Lightning jumped up, towards Barthandelus. The entity tried slapping her aside with one of it's giant arms…
… Buth Lightning was faster. She used the arm as a jumping point and catapulted herselves all the way to the front of Barthandelus' eyes. With all her might, boosted by the radiance bestowed by Silver Breeze, she used her gunblade and slammed it against the spear that was still in the monster's head.
Lightning: „HAAA! (slams)"
The impact was incredible.
Barthandelus: „Uuuhhh… (leans back)"
Not only was the sheer strength of Lightning's attack enough to tilt the fal'Cie back a little, but the attack on the spear made it vibrate and resonate, and as such it started to disturb the creature in whose head it was struck in.
Snow: „Woah…"
Hope: „She damaged him!"
Lightning: „Odin! Lend me your strength!"
Her Eidolon Odin stoood up, and tossed his mighty blade, the Zantetsuken, into Lightning's hands. Despite the size of it, she had perfect control over it, and that's when Odin grabbed Lightning's other arm and helped her jump high up, above Barthandelus.
Lightning: „The storm is here!"
She crossed divided the blade in two smaller ones, and crossed it in front of her. The spot where the blades clased created a spark, and this became larger and larger. Lightning eventually released the gathered energy, and in front of her, it became a massive bolt of silver lightning, which hit the spear, and in turn, it hit Barthandelus, covering it's entire body in electricity.
Barthandelus: „(electrified) GUAAAAAAAAUAAAAAAAHHHHHH!"
The fal'Cie released a loud cry, for the first time revealing the fact it was still prone to pain. It was completely surrounded by silver bolts, which kept showering him like a flood.
The wing-like giant laurel, made of pauldrons and ailettes with hanging heads on them, could not bear the pressure of the force, and they all exploded atop of the fal'Cie's head and fell down in pieces. Barthandelus was now left bald and exposed, still under the influence of the thunderstrike.
Lightning: „Now! Hit 'im wile he's staggered!"
Snow: „No one's arguing! Shiva, take aim!"
Each Eidolon stood up again and prepared a final strike. The Shiva Sisters pinted their left and right respective palm at the fal'Cie, and started gathering a great amount of ice in a seal they created in the air.
Sazh: „Cook 'im! Charge the Muspell Flame, Brynhildr!"
Brynhildr aimed her pickaxe and charged all the cannon tubes atop of it with burning hellfire.
Hope: „Roger! Put him out, Alexander!"
Alexander's attack preparations were most impressive: it's chest opened up slightly, revealing a shining array beneath it, which was now shining up.
Snow: „Take him out with Diamond Dust Twister!"
The Shiva sisters released their wrath in form of a powerful whirlwind full of icy shards, which moved forward like a serpent.
Sazh: „And fire!"
Brynhildr fired her weapon up, and a shower of meteoric fireballs started raining down.
Hope: „Divine Judgement!"
The result of Alexander's charging was: a bright array of lines of light, powerful laser beams that formed together as one, devastating ray.
All 3 attacks, the ice twister, the burning meteors, and the beam of destruction, hit and severely hurt Barthandelus.
Barthandelus: „GEAAAAAAAARHHHHHHHH!"
As the attacks connected, Barthandelus' skin showed signs of melting, and there was a massive explosion, which engulfed it's entire massive body and produced a massive amounts of smoke. Barthandelus' cries were heard no more.
Above, Land Gigas was still looking down as it's body started to turn black and fade away, like a fog that vanished with the light.
Yaag Rosch noticed the same, much to his confusion.
Rosch: „It disappeared? What happened?"
At the bridge, even as the smoke was starting to clear, it was evident that nothing could have survived the explosion. There was nothing left but a little sparkles. Fang's spear that was stuck in Barthandelus' head poped up and landed in front of her feet, which she picked up.
The l'Cie all left out a tiring sigh and hung down in exhaust.
Fang: „Boy… Am glad that's over."
Hope: „Yeah… Almost gave up on that one."
Snow: „But…"
Him, Lightning, and then the rest of them, looked down and observed Shiro's motionless body.
Lightning: „Without him, we might not have made it. And he put the last drop of his strength to make it happen."
Vanille: „You don't think he's…"
Asuming the worst, Vanille almost started to cry. Sazh smiled at her before approaching Shiro.
Sazh: „Relax. This guy's still kickin'. (picks Shiro up and gets his arm up on his shoulder) Hey, a little help here?"
Lightning: „(picks Shiro up as well) He's breathing. He's way to proud to be killed by something like that. He'll make it out just fine."
Snow: „I still can't believe it was a fal'Cie running the Sanctum all along."
Hope: „Then I guess, we've been aiming at the wrong goal all along."
Dysley: „Yes, you indeed were."
Hope: „What!"
Out of the blue, just when the smoke cleared off completely, the most unwanted of sights came true: there stood Dysley, in his human form. By the looks of it, he seemed completely unharmed. In a few seconds, all the beaten up l'Cie still managed to put their battle stances up, except Light and Sazh were unable to do the same as they were both supporting Shiro's body.
Fang: „What? How can this be?"
Sazh: „Guess fal'Cie don't go down as easy as the rest of us."
Dysley: „Ease is not the issue. You have never fought to win, all that mattered to you was to twart my rule and cease all Cocoon fal'Cie existence. Unfortunately, you chose the wrong method."
Lightning: „What?"
Dysley: „Even in defeat, nothing in this world can destroy fal'Cie as powerful as myself. Except for the one and only beast: Ragnarok."
The name spoken was carried by foul tones and plants would fade if spoken into their bloom.
Fang: „Ragnarok? What is Ragnarok? (her brand lights up, painfully) GAH! GHHH!... ghhhh… AAAAhhhh!"
Vanille: „Fang!"
Dysley: „Pitiful l'Cie, you have forgotten your focus. Ragnarok is the beast one of you must become to lay waste upon all of Cocoon. Have you not shared your dream? To fullfil your Focus, one of you must become that monstrosity, defeat Orphan, and destroy Cocoon."
Lightning: „Orphan?"
Dysley: „The very font of Eden's fuels the fal'Cie Eden with strength, and Eden in turn sustains you and the rest of our kind. Destroy Orphan, and the chain reaction brought by this act shall call upon a force such as the world has never seen before. Cocoon will be torn asunder and fall from the sky."
Sazh: „Now wait a sec! Cocoon fal'Cie wanting us to break down Cocoon? Call me stupid, but that doesn't add up."
Vanille: „He's right. And besides, why do more people have to die? You have us, what more do you…"
Dysley: „Indeed. You, my trusted l'Cie stand before me. Interest of a safe society in Cocoon is the goal of the human-filled Sanctum, but us fal'Cie have a greater goal in mind. For that to happen, all you have to do is obey your call and fullfil your Focus."
Fang: „So if we do that… destroy this Orphan, then…"
In a flash, Dysley vanished and reappeared right in front of Fang, and talked into her face.
Dysley: „Your Focus will be fullfiled. One act of sin for an eternity of peace."
As fast as he appeared, Dysley also teleported away as Snow came up and tried to punch him in the face.
Snow: „Like hell are we buying that! Our Focus is to protect Cocoon, not destroy it!"
Dysley: „Oh? Was that confidence I hear? What gave you that ill-placed thought?"
Snow: „Serah. (to everyone) Remember the Vestige? Serah told us to save Cocoon, and then she turned to crystal. Save it! It's all the proof we need, and that's what we're going to do! Serah told us our Focus and wanted us to complete it to…"
Snow's great speech was cut short as Dysley couldn't help but to laugh out loud. This kind of cackle was fit for a fal'Cie wearing human skin as garments, like a wolf toying with sheep.
Dysley: „Allow me to help you see the truth of things. The moment you arrived, your friend already wept crystal tears. That is because her Focus required that you be brought together. The girl did nothing but assemble the tools for a greater design. You have been brought here for one purpose only: Destruction."
Snow ceased breathing the moment he heard that.
Dysley: „Did it never occur to you? Or did you simply refuse to countermeasure the thought?"
Snow started to stare at the floor, gripping his fists and glaring like he's seen a ghost.
Lightning: „Wait… What about him? (looks at Shiro) Shiro was not there when Serah sent us together. He's not even from this world. If it wasn't for me finding him, he wouldn't even…"
Dysley: „(interrupts) The arrival of the Battle Duelist was most fortunate. He will serve as nothing more but a catalyst to the process. The moment Shiro whiterain breathe in Cocoon air was the moment when the ancient power of Megiddo became ours once more. And his lifeforce now in my veins will return to him even greater, and with crushing force it will fortell the rebirth of our world. You are the hammer that smites Cocoon, he is the chisel that makes it occur. Your so called destiny was, and has always been the design of the fal'Cie. The rebirth ritual will thus share more glory. (points at Shiro) Take good care of him, child. His strength will yet be required. (chuckles)"
Lightning: „(grinding her teeth) You rotten…"
She could not find a proper word for it. Nothing she could think of could describe the awful acts Dysley has pulled off, and if what he said was true, he did plenty of it.
Just then, Palamecia was shaken by a mighty explosion. The ship, the bridge included, started to shake violently. The l'Cie barely kept their footing. Dysley, on the other hand, remained perfectly still, like a statue fixed to the floor.
Dysley: „Looks like your audience with me is already over."
He pointed his staff up, and out of the light he produced, the silver owl named Menvra came out.
While in the air, the sun high above beshadowed her and rendered it's shape completely black. And with it, the upcomming process of her transformation.
Dysley: „Run, l'Cie. See how stark reallity is."
Menvra's size simply magnified exponentionally, her shadow and wingspan now completely spread over the entire bridge. The group, struggling to keep still, only saw a massive black shape above them.
And this shadow was just the beginning…
Shiro was having a dream, but it looked so much more like a dark vision. He was motionless, captured in some kind of dark substance, slowly sinking in. The surroundings had all the worst colors: as black as night, as red as blood, as dark as void.
Shiro: „What happened?"
Then, in near distance, he saw someone run across the void space towards him. He recognized her immediatelly:
Shiro: „Lightning?"
But the vision just turned worse. Efore she could get close to him, a massive metallic claw reached out and grabbed her.
The claw belonged to the metallic fal'Cie Barthandelus, his grin ever scary just like his cackle.
Shiro: „No! Save her!"
Like fading hope, before him arrived his Comandee, Diamond Dust Dragon, in order to answer the unspoken call he requested.
The dragon released his Sonic Vortex in Barthandelus' direction, which would hit his head straight on…
But a giant, massive hand appeared before Barthandelus, and like a wall it blocked the attack. Shiro recognized the design and the size of the hand.
Shiro: „Oh no…"
He had to strain his neck and look up, and he saw his worst nightmare: the towering shadow of the Megiddo-End Land Gigas stood above him.
Just as it retracted it's arm, it reached down and grabbed Diamond Dust Dragon, much to it's dismay. Despite the dragon's great size, it fit into the igas' hand like a doll. The Gigas was slowly chocking the noble beast while bringing it closer to it's face.
Shiro: „No, Diamond Dust!"
Barthandelus laughed it out like a maniac. He was holding and squeezing the life out of Lightning, while Land Gigas slowly brought the Dragon in front of it's toothy grin… and opened it's mouth wide.
The dragon could only screech in panic.
Shiro was completely helpless as well.
Shiro: „NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO…!"
Fortunately, that's when he woke up.
He barely had any strength in him, so the sudden wake up occured just with sudden eyelid flaps, without sudden getting up.
He was gasping, as if he held his breath for hours. The air suddenly seemed so precious.
He heard a familiar voice.
Fang: „So, you awake?"
He looked sideways and saw two of his companions leaning against the wall: Sazh and Fang. He later discovered he was lying down leaning against the same wall as well.
Shiro: „Guys… You're okay."
He tried getting up, but his own weight suddenly felt like a great burden. He barely found the strength to move.
Sazh: „Don't strain yourself. Who knows how many lifeforce you have left."
Shiro: „Nonsense, I feel fine. (barely gets up, swaying on the spot and holding his chest) I feel so… So…"
Sazh: „Like hell, I know. We all do. I thought having you back might put a smile back on our faces, but… (sighs) it's not much of a rainbow to us, to be frank."
Shiro: „(remembers) Lightning! Where is she? Is she…?"
Fang: „(pointing sideways) The princess is perfectly healthy… Well, as much as the eye can tell."
Shiro looked in the direction. To his relief, he saw Lightning standing up, gazing in an unknown direction. She was also standing next to King Blizzard, which was a relief as well. Upon looking around, he saw Hope, Vanille and Snow as well, each in their individual spots. At least everyone was alright.
But, by observing the surroundings, Shiro also realized they were not aboard the Palamecia anymore. As the matter of fact, it was a whole different terrain: it looked like some kind of spooky cross between a subway and sewers, but much larger in proportions. Water was leaking and fog was evident in many places, and the dim lights that kept the place visible were only making the place seem duller on each point.
Shiro: „Where are we?"
Sazh: „Somewhere beneath Eden, that's for sure. After you went down, Primarch's little birdie morphed into an airhip and highjacked the lot of us, then flew us all the way here. We were headed for a building in Eden, the capitol of Cocoon, then it just went blank."
Fang: „It looks like a piece of Pulse, in case you're wondering. According to my observations, this might as well be an Ark."
Shiro: „Ark?"
Fang: „It's a complex of Pulse origin. Legends say Arks exist all over the world, and act as weapon storages and training zones for the armies of Pulse. Pulse l'Cie were supposedly broguht here to sharpen their skills and awaken their full power. But that must have been millenia ago. Who knew one would be waiting here on Cocoon, right under Sanctum's nose?"
Shiro: „An ancient bunker? Why here of all places?"
Lightning approached them at that point. So did Vanille and Hope.
Lightning: „Where else for l'Cie to accept their fate? (smiles at him) I kept your D-Wheel along with us. Wasn't of any use to any of us who didn't know how to handle it, but…"
Shiro: „(nods) Thank you. I really appreciate that."
Hope: „At least we're all safe and sound, right?"
No one replied. The silence was almost dead-solid. Finally, after a few seconds:
Shiro: „Everyone… I'm sorry."
Vanille: „Huh?"
Shiro: „I couldn't keep my promise. I wanted to save everyone, keep you all safe, but… (sees his hands shaking) When I was up against that… That Megiddo thing, I… I brought you all in peril. I regret it now, more than ever."
Sazh: „Forgiven, forgotten. We weren't exactly negotiating peace conditions ourseves. We wanted trouble, now we're this deep in it. (puts his hand on a level above his head)"
Shiro: „….. Back on the ship, Dysley… No, Barthandelus… He spoke, didn't he? Even after you defeated him."
Fang: „So you heard it? The whole thing? I thought you were counting starts in Honeyland."
Shiro: „I caught most of it. I understand you must be hating me right now. Me… the 'catalyst' of destruction."
Vanille: „No, you got it wrong. No one's blaming you."
Hope: „What Dysley said kinda made an impact on all of us. I mean… all along we thought we were doing the right thing. But after today… It seems we've been doing quite the opposite. We fell right into a fal'Cie trap."
Lightning: „It's not even the Sanctum we're mad anymore. They're all just puppets used by the fal'Cie strings. And this Ragnarok… It just doesn't add up. Why would a Cocoon fal'Cie want to destroy Cocoon?"
Sazh: „He sure didn't mind explaining all that. 'Here's your Focus on a silver pladder'."
Vanille: „And poor Snow…"
Shiro noticed Snow never moved an inch since he woke up. He kept sitting in the one same spot, staring at an unknown object he was holding in his hand.
Outside of his perspective, you can know the truth: he was staring at Serah's tear crystal. Literally, like he was half dead. He didn't move, he didn't speak, he just kept the crystal in his sight like he was having some kind of mental conversation with it. Obviously, he's been severely traumatized.
Shiro: „Has he been like this for long?"
Fang: „Ever since we left ship. Must have been hard to him. He was the one who made us believe saving Cocoon would fix everything. And when the Primarch spilled the beans and wrote instructions to smash Cocoon instead… his mind instantly froze. I'm worried about his brand. L'Cie who live out a severe mental shock were said to turn into Cie'th at a much faster rate, even when they were just recently branded."
Shiro: „Then he…"
Lightning: „It's been hard on all of us. We've been crushed. The lot of us. And now we're here in the middle of nowhere, stuck on what to do next. Obey, and kill everyone… or refuse, and end up as Cie'th?"
Sazh: „Not to mention that huge Gigas thing Dysley cooked up. If it's a Duel monster we're talking about, Shiro is our only hope, being a duelist and all, and he…"
Another silent minute went by…
Hope: „But he survived. Sure, we're all down, but that only means we can go up from here. Every time we live through a fight, win or lose, we end up stronger. Same goes for Shiro. Barthandelus made a mistake letting him live, because now he can recover and find a way to defeat that Megiddo gun. Hopefully, Ragnarok will die along with it. (to Shiro) Right, Shiro?"
Shiro: „I… (hangs his head) I-I can't."
The lot of them who were present gasped. They didn't know Shiro for that long, but they never heard him say those words.
Fang: „What was that?"
Shiro: „I can't confront Barthandelus again. After today, my actions went only from bad to worse. I never felt a force that powerful."
Lightning: „So you're just giving up?"
Shiro: „You don't understand!"
That was probably the first time Shiro raised his voice at Lightning, too.
Shiro: „Barthandelus… and his Gigas, it's beyond what I can manage, an opponent completely out of my league. I don't… I think I can't…"
A new voice came from the darkness:
?: „Can't do what? Rise up and challenge him again?"
The lot of them looked around in order to see who it was that joined their ranks. Snow, too, managed to lift his head and find a reason to observe.
The stranger came pacing down from the dead subway tunnel.
?: „Are you afraid of your foe… or simply underestimating yourself? Think about it."
The tension grew larger by the moment. Paces were getting louder and louder.
?: "If you give up before the last card has been played, it's like you never tried fighting at all. My records show me a famous duelist from your home world said this once. So why throw the tower now?"
Lightning: „(readying her gunblade) Who's there?"
?: „An envoy of virtue. Both yours… and my own."
That's when the figure finally stepped into the light, and the group could see who it was.
This was a surprise. All of their eyes went wide, and their mouths opened wide in a gasp.
Fang: „Cid?"
Before them stood Cid Raines of the Cavarly.
(to be continued)
BONUS
(a small robot show up, spinning it's head)
Flint: „Comercial alert! Comercial alert! I sense a comercial comming up!"
ChibiVanille: „What's going on?"
Flint: „I'm here to announce the new incomming duel story. Zexal related of the Xyz plain!"
ChibiVanille: „But we're doing a story on the Synchro plain now."
Flint: „Oh? Am I a bit early then?"
ChibiVanille: „What kind of story?"
Flint: „Check this out!"
(the robot's (Flint's) eyes shine forth like a projector, transmitting a comercial on the wall)
/comercial song: „BRAVING" by Kanan/
(a young duelist)
Sky: „My name is Sky Galen. Recently made Numbers Hunter."
(skateboariding over the edge)
Sky: „A bunch of monsters appeared over the world, and they're causing trouble to people posessing them- Numbers cards."
(the robot with the shiny eyes)
Flint: „And I'm Flint- Functional Long Integrity Numbers Tracker."
(transforms into a duel disc)
Flint: „We can capture the Numbers and use them for the better."
(D-Gazer on)
Sky: „When life's worth living, I'm doing it to the end! Sky High!"
(draws; Wind-up Monsters overlay)
Sky: „Let's capture the Numbers together! Xyz summon!"
(Wind-up Zenmaister appears)
Sky: „The brand new short series duel story: 'Number Wars'. Come and join us!"
(an overlay network established)
Sky: „Shine bright and twist all the other lights about! Appear, Number 59!"
(a consealed form resembling a chandelier, it morphs up and becomes a shining Pegasus-like creature with a knighthead)
Flint: „Comming soon!"
(end of comercial)
ChibiVanille: „Toy soldiers are so cute!"
Flint: „But the staff is in a flux. About half the characters we need never showed up!"
ChibiVanille: „Then what do you do?"
Flint: „We're giving out a distress call to all passionate OC makers! Want an OC be a part of the Numbers hunt? PM the author and have a Number assigned. We're looking forward to it, let's all hunt together."
ChibiVanille: „Kawaii! Now, on with Cold Saga. (winks)"
/ending song: Sayaka Saki: "Starting Again" ("Cardfight: Vanguard!", 2011)/
(instrumental opening)
(Sunshine hits the window of the bedroom where Lightning is sleeping in; hitting her face and waking her up; she blinks a few times before getting up)
Ima kasanete iku
CARD no uraniwa,
(she looks out the window, smiling, then at the picture on the desk next to her)
Donna mirai ga
matte iru no ka,
(she picks it up, observing for a moment, before putting it back)
Kotae awase nara
itsudemo dekiru yo,
(in the kitchen, she takes out a bottle of juice, and fills a glass on the table with it)
IMAGINATION
(she's making breakfast, when something passes by her)
koeru POWER,
(she fails to see what it was)
Kinou tsuita uso ni
nigedasanai de,
(in observation, she opens the window, but sees nothing outside)
Ajita wo sou genjitsu ni,
(then notices something on the table where her juice was)
Kaeteku doryoku wo sureba ii,
(she smiles)
Atarashii
kaze ga fuku,
Dare nimo makenai OUR SOUL!
(she approaches the table, picks up the juice…)
Dokomademo
tsunaida te wa hanasanai,
(and slowly paces towards the window, sitting on it's edge while looking outside)
ANYTIME YOU CAN!
EVERYWHERE YOU CAN!
Kono mama chikyuu ni RIDE ON!
(Shiro is outside, smiling up at her and sitting on King Blizzard; he salutes her)
Kanawanai
yumenan kana ito
shoumei shiyou.
(she fixes her hair, then takes a sip from her drink; she looks at it: there was now a pair of icecubes in it)
(the next time)
Fang: "What are you doing here?"
Cid: "Fear is the ultimate enemy of power. Overcome it."
Shiro: "You don't mean…?"
Cid: "My fate was long before decided."
Shiro: "Accel Synchro?"
Lightning: "Trust in each other!"
Snow: "I'll make Serah proud."
Lightning: "You traitor!"
Shiro: "What am I doing wrong?"
Cid: "Out of speed you craft shape. Out of faith, power."
Shiro: "Cid, you're a…"
Shiro: "Next time on Cold Saga, a two episode special: 'Dust of Hope: Accel Synchro' and 'Clear Mind, the Evolution'. With sparkling dust, shatter that dream into wake!"
Card intel:
Ice Battleclaw (EARTH/ level 4/ Cryonite-type/ ATK: 1600/ DEF: 1200)- Once per turn, if you Special summon a monster(s) from your hand, you can make that monster(s) level become 4 until the End phase. They can't be used as Xyz material. If this card attacks a face-up Defense position monster, you can have this card's ATK become 1000 during Damage step only to change that monster to face-up Attack position.
Fairy Ice-Cone (LIGHT/ level 1/ Tuner/ Cryonite-type/ ATK: 100/ DEF: 300)- If you control a face-up non-Tuner Cryonite-type monster, you can target it while this card is in your hand. Reduce the targeted monster's level by 1 and Special summon this card (from the hand).
Silver Breeze (Spell, Equip)- Equip only to a Cryonite-type monster or "Diamond Dust Dragon". The equiped monster gains 500 ATK and DEF. If this face-up card is sent from the field to the Graveyard, select 1 face-up monster on the field and increase it's ATK by 1000 until the End phase.
Megiddo Rukh – Menvra the Vision (LIGHT/ level 3/ Tuner/ Winged Beast-type/ ATK: 1300/ DEF: 0)- During your Main phase, if this is the only monster you control, you can Special summon 1 level 4 or lower "Megiddo" monster from your hand. This card cannot be used as Synchro material, except for the Synchro summon of a "Megiddo-End" monster.
Megiddo Troop – Vladis the Prophane (DARK/ level 4/ Warrior-type/ ATK: 1600/ DEF: 0)- If this card attacks, you can discard 1 "Megiddo" monster from your hand. If you do this, this card is not destroyed by that battle, and it is changed to Defense position after damage calculation. If this card is destroyed by battle, Special summon 1 monster discarded by this effect in Defense position.
Golden Cut (Spell, Normal)- If you control exactly 2 monsters whose difference in levels is exactly 1, Special summon 1 monster from your deck whose level by by 1 higher than the highest level of the monsters you control. That monster cannot attack during this turn.
Megiddo Storm – Kalavnika the Roar (DARK/ level 5/ Thunder-type/ ATK: 2300/ DEF: 1000)- If this card is used as Synchro material for the Synchro summon of a "Megiddo-End" monster, you can negate the activation and the effect of a Spell or Trap card and destroy it. This effect can only be used once while the summoned monster is face-up.
Megiddo-End Land Gigas (Synchro/ DARK/ level 12/ Fiend-type/ ATK: 4000/ DEF: 4000)- 1 "Megiddo" Tuner + 2 "Megiddo" non-Tuner monsters
- If your opponent controls a level 10 or higher monster, this card's effects are negated. This card cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects. If this card destroys a monster by battle, inflict damage to your opponent equal to the sum of thedestroyed monster's original ATK and DEF.
(this episode only effect)- If your opponent controls a level 12 monster, this card's effects are negated. This card cannot be destroyed by battle and it is uneffected by your opponent's card effects. If this card destroys a monster by battle, inflict damage to your opponent equal to the sum of thedestroyed monster's original ATK and DEF.
