Chapter Ten

Resistance Is Futile

Bevelle

The High Bridge

Atsuma stared down at the remains of his home city. The others were already back inside the Gummi Ship, ready to go, but he wanted to get one last glance at the city he grew up in. He couldn't believe that his professor did what he did just to learn the art of magic. The frozen city would forever stand as a testament to the madness that humans sink into once their obsession gets out of hand. Atsuma felt his heart break even more so when he thought about Toya and all those things he said. At least something good came out of going into that frozen hell.

Makoto, after firmly slapping his childhood friend, stated that he wanted to leave Bevelle and never go back. The others had been shocked by the man's actions towards Atsuma but they had no time to contemplate it. Ice Golems had invaded the chamber soon after the Queen of Ice left and the group ended up having to fight their way out of there. Despite being frozen Makoto had wasted no time in using his skills to lay waste to the Ice Golems.

His use of two daggers had stunned even Atsuma. The silver haired student had no idea that his friend could fight like that. Whenever he did get into a fight Makoto would usually yell about breaking a nail or getting his hair mussed up. He had cut through three Golems by himself with the help of his Enchantment abilities. Afterwards the party wasted no time in leaving the city behind.

They had to gather more information on the Queen of Ice and her plans but it seemed that the only lead they had was connected to the Emperor of Fire on Kilika Island. It was decided that they would go to Kilika Port and track down the King or maybe this Resistance movement. If they could find the Emperor's Magicore then that would stop his revival permanently. Atsuma sighed deeply then turned and made his way back to the Gummi Ship.

"Are you ok?" Makoto asked when he spotted his friend.

"I'll be fine." Atsuma nodded and a smile graced his features. "So we're going to Kilika right?"

"It's the only lead we have." Baralai said.

"What about your other friend? Do you think he's being controlled?" Tidus asked gently.

"I saw everything and I heard everything when I was in that ice block." Makoto shivered. "Toya would never say those things."

"Ok, we'll help you get him back. We know what it's like to see a friend turn against you." Vincent murmured sadly. He saw Seifer and Reno visibly deflate.

"Let's get going before more Golems turn up." Zell interrupted.

"I've gotta admit Atsuma, you have good taste when it comes to companions." Makoto winked at him.

"Always thinking with your anatomy." Atsuma laughed. It was good to have his friend back again.

"So fill me in on these guys." Makoto asked quickly. "I recognized Baralai. He used to be our Praetor before he vanished. So tell me more about this motley group of yours."

"Well those two, Zell and Tidus, are in a committed relationship so don't even think about flirting with either of them." Atsuma laughed at the innocent expression on Makoto's face.

"What about the blond stud standing over there with red eyes?" the Enchanter grinned.

"The 'stud' is Seifer Almasy and the other guy is Vincent Valentine. "I don't know if they're together or not but they seem pretty close."

"And what about the red head?" Makoto questioned.

"Him?" Atsuma glanced at said red head and a faint blush painted his cheeks. "That's Reno Sinclair."

"Now that's what I call a hottie." Makoto whistled then his violet gaze fell on his quiet friend.

"I suppose he's nice to look at." Atsuma murmured quietly.

"Wait a second..." Makoto stared at his blushing friend before giggling. "You totally have a crush on him!"

"Shut up already!" the silveret hissed.

"The Gods be praised. You've finally found somebody you like!" Makoto clapped his hands.

"I don't have a crush on him!" Atsuma cried indignantly. "Just because he's nice to look at doesn't mean I wanna get into his pants!"

"You can't tell me you haven't at least fantasized about it." Makoto laughed when Atsuma blushed bright red.

"Just drop it ok?" Atsuma pleaded as he approached the others.

"You are so not getting off the hook that easily." Makoto murmured with a wry grin.

"So we're off to Kilika Island now to find the Resistance?" Atsuma asked the group.

"That's the plan." Reno nodded.

"We're all set here." Seifer nodded and Baralai started tapping various buttons to make the ship fly.

They left the ruined city behind and Baralai set in a course for Kilika Island. He explained that there was a heavily wooded area near the port and that he could probably land the ship in there. Atsuma recalled from his studies of Spira that there was a temple within the woods. It was rumours that a Devil Golem lay within.

At this point in his life he would believe anything people told him about Devil Golems. Tidus and Zell were playing tonsil hockey in the back seats of the ship resulting in Seifer making some rather suggestive motions with his fingers. Of course Makoto had a revelation. He could get air sick. The Enchanter spent the majority of the trip begging Baralai to stop already and let him vomit in peace.

"How can a guy who sliced up five Golems without breaking a sweat suddenly get air sick?" Tidus questioned aloud.

"I have a delicate stomach." Makoto moaned painfully.

"I've never had stomach problems before." Atsuma announced proudly.

"That's because you don't have a stomach..." Makoto growled. "You have a black hole in there. I tell you it's not natural!"

"Don't get pissy at me just because you got sick." Atsuma crossed his arms.

"You ate twenty pizza slices in less than five minutes. How in Yevon's name can anyone pull that off without being violently sick?" Makoto cried as another wave of nausea hit him.

"But I won the Golem right?" Atsuma cried in his defence.

"You sound like you had a lot of fun." Reno smirked.

"You should see him when he's really hungry." Makoto shuddered.

"Will you two keep your hands to yourselves for five minutes?" Vincent called to the back when Seifer pointed out that Zell had slipped his hand down his boyfriend's pants.

"Sorry..." Zell said sheepishly. "I can't help it."

"You can screw like bunnies all you want when we get back to civilization." Seifer muttered.

"You're just upset because you're not getting any." Reno remarked.

"It's not my fault that some people are oblivious." Seifer muttered as he cast a longing glance at Vincent.

"What did you say Seifer?" the red eyed man asked. Seifer blushed as he looked away hastily.

"Nothing important Vince." He muttered.

"So Atsuma..." Reno's emerald gaze fixed on the student. "What's Kilika Port like?"

"I've never been there myself to be honest." Atsuma replied. "But I heard that's where the Temple of Fire is located."

"That's where the Emperor is Fire is supposed to slumber." Baralai said sagely.

"Ok why would a king want to unleash another Devil Golem anyway?" Tidus asked.

"He probably thinks he can control it." Zell scoffed.

"Which is insanity because only pure blood Ancients or Sorcerers can control them" Makoto moaned.

"What a minute..." Atsuma raised a hand. "I was going to be transported to Kilika before you guys broke me out."

"Do you think the king wants to use you to control the Devil Golem?" Makoto raised his aching head.

"It sounds logical." Vincent replied.

"We're almost to the port." Baralai announced. Glancing out of the window Seifer caught sight of a large green island with various ships coming into the bays.

"Where can we land?" Tidus pressed his face to the glass.

"There's a plateau over there." Vincent pointed.

"It's near the temple but I think we can use it." Baralai took the Gummi Ship to the woods.

"Will the islanders not see us?" Makoto asked.

"Cid installed a cloaking device before we left." Seifer said but stopped when he saw Atsuma and Makoto's blank expressions. "We can make the ship invisible."

"Cool..." Atsuma's eyes went bright.

"Ok, we're here." Baralai said one the ship was on the ground.

"Where do we go now?" Tidus asked.

"We'll head to Kilika Port. There might be some people from the Resistance there." Baralai answered.

The party left the Gummi Ship behind and made their way off the plateau and into Kilika Woods. It had been a while since he had last been in this place but Baralai could remember the pathway back into the bustling sea side town. The last time he had been here was during a truce sighing between the Al Bhed and the Yevonites.

It was during that meeting Baralai told the Yevonites about his relationship with Gippal. The uproar they had caused had almost resulted in a fight between the warring nations. Baralai made his intentions known. His people could accept that he was in love with an Al Bhed and learn to get along with them or he could step down as Praetor.

He led them through the woods until they emerged onto a pathway along a river bank. The amber eyed healer smiled when he remembered that this pathway would take them back into town. The woods were usually being patrolled by Yevonite guards but the place was unusually deserted.

The woods seemed lifeless somehow. Maybe it had something to do with the Devil Golem buried in the temple nearby. Baralai walked along the pathway until he came to the entrance into the port. There was a small field that ended with a wooden fence. There were no guards around the place. After pushing open the gate Baralai took them into the quiet port.

"It's really quiet." Tidus remarked.

"Caliban must've locked down the island. He doesn't want any Golems getting inside." Baralai murmured.

"Well we can look for the Resistance later. I'm starved." Zell bounced on his heels.

"Oh man, I could murder a few burgers right now." Makoto sighed happily.

"Come on then." Baralai smiled. "I know where we can get something to eat."

"Things are looking up." Atsuma said brightly. They followed the former Praetor along the wooden walkways until they came to a large building with a blue sign above the doorway.

"This is the Azure Gateway. It's a really good place to get some decent food." Baralai pushed open the wooden door.

"It's kinda empty." Zell frowned. There were a few people sitting at the tables and they instantly looked up to see who had come in through the door.

"I'll get some food. You guys stay together." Baralai said as he went to the bar.

"So where do we go now Atsuma?" Makoto questioned.

"We need to find the Resistance first." The fighter replied. When he said this he noticed that three men had gotten up and approached them.

"What do you guys want?" Tidus asked as the men stared at them.

"You're looking for the Resistance? We can help you there." One man smiled. Atsuma glanced at the others then turned back to the men.

"Who are you?" Vincent asked quietly. Zell and Tidus tensed for a fight.

"We heard your friend say your name. If you're the same Atsuma then you can help us. Besides your picture is all over the port." The man answered as he held up a wanted picture of the student.

"What do you mean?" Seifer asked. The man smiled before answering.

"We need him to destroy the Emperor of Fire."

Note-I've got a special treaty for all you guys who have read my Through A Mirror Darkly story. I have completely rewritten the chapters because I didn't like how the original turned out. Here's a summary of my updated version.

When Demyx finds a mirror that takes him into a darker version of his own world he has to rely on the Organization's counterparts to survive. Meanwhile the Dark Lord arrives in Radiant Garden via a magic mirror and he begins his quest to find a cure for a virus that has infected Zexion, his most loyal consort. Leon and his rebellion created the virus in hope that it would destroy Demyx and his imperial heart of his empire. Worlds are about to collide as both men try to find their way back home. For the Dark Lord his choice begins to waver when he crosses paths with Number VI of the Organization. In a world where Zexion is not afflicted with the illness, the Organization as well as Sora and his friends are about to battle an enemy neither of them can stop.

Expect the first chapter tomarrow and till then I send you all hugs and kisses. Love you all guys!