Necromancy For Fun And Profit.
An Epic Quest sequel.
A/N: Yay! The not-so-long awaited sequel!
Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate SG-1 nor Atlantis, I also do not own Final Fantasy Ten or Ten-Two. Oh, I also do not own any of the other series that may have cameos within this fic.
I do however, own all the characters you do not recognize. I would name them, but there are far too many of them. Also, Xander, Tara, Skye, Souron, Kayden, Becca, Batalax and Nysa are based off of real people, but I do not own them, except for Nysa, who is me.
Chapter Nine.
Darkness of the heart
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It was later that night, both girls sat on the upstairs deck of Batalax's home with their legs dangling below. The water below was still, save for a gentle lapping against the cliff. The night was as clear as the day had been, and the stars were bright enough that they required no light in order to see. It was like a blanket of stars twinkling just for them. The stars reflected off the water adding to the calming atmosphere of the night.
"I'm sorry." Nysa and Batalax said simultaneously. They chanced a look at one another before laughing quietly.
"No. Really. I'm sorry I had to kill it. I think... I got the feeling it was hurt. I don't know if it was something in the water, or from the harpoons on the boat it... But, I did my best to make it's death quick."
"I know." Batalax said. "I'm sorry for getting mad... I just, I worry about you Nysa. You're in charge of a pretty freakin large military. Military leaders tend to go power crazy if there is no one higher than them... and you've been so different since the others left. You've been so much more quiet, and no offense, but when did you get as cunning and ambitious as you are? You were always a go with the flow type of person, who never really cared about anything strongly enough to do something abut it."
"I'm not going to let it go to my head, B. I just... Honestly? I have no idea what I'm doing. Half of the things I've done, I've made up on the spot. The other half are things I've stolen from other cultures, and just prayed to whatever higher powers there are that it wouldn't backfire. I think it's been complete luck that everything in my faction has turned out as well as it has."
This made Ophelia laugh, "Nysa, you're a thief. Professionally. It's almost expected for you to steal stuff and make stuff up spontaneously. It's what thieves do. Most of what I've done has been thought out to the point that it makes my brain hurt, but again, I'm a mage. Thinking is kinda in the job description." Batalax leaned over so she was looking down at the dark water below, "What I really want to know, is when did we become so stereotypical? You and I were always the ones that hated labels, and now, we've actually become like... the epitome of labels. Everything that a thief is supposed to be, you are. Everything that a Black Mage is supposed to be... I am."
"We're so much more than that though..." Nysa said thoughtfully.
"Yeah. But no one else really knows that."
"Luzzu does. So does Yuna, Paine and Rikku. Well, for the most part, Paine and Rikku honestly don't know much, but they have to have some suspisions."
"We're not like normal people, even on Spira."
Nysa sighed deeply, "I miss being normal... Anonymous. Someone who could walk down the street and not be noticed."
Batalax laughed, "How can you miss something you never had? Cause no offense, but you've never been normal. You were the kinda person people couldn't help but see, you were kinda eccentric, after all. I'll admit, not many people knew who you were... but that didn't mean they didn't notice you. I remember once day, you came to school wearing bright red pants and a neon yellow tank top. Truthfully, there was something about you that was really intimidating, even back then. It's like... you knew who you were, and you didn't have to prove anything to anyone. I think that pissed a lot of people off."
"Bah! I was always perfectly normal! It was everyone else who was strange. But hey, you weren't exactly the most normal person ether B. That's why I was drawn to you on the first day of school in grade ten. You sat behind me in homeroom, and I didn't recognize you, so I knew you had to be new--"
"You stole my schedule." Batalax deadpanned. "You took it right out of my hands without even introducing yourself. Then you said we had a bunch of classes together, and that you would be showing me around. I thought you were going to murder me or something!"
"....I gave it back." Nysa said sheepishly.
"Did all of your friendships start with you stealing something from them?"
"...I prefer to call it borrowing."
They looked at each other and burst out laughing.
"B... I'm glad you stayed. I couldn't have done this with out you."
Yeah. You could have, She thought, but said the opposite, "you're right. You'd be lost without the great Ophelia Batalax Vanaid! Politician Extraordinare!"
"There, there, Goon. That ego of yours gets any bigger, and you're going to overbalance and fall of the deck." Nysa said completely deadpan.
WHACK.
Nysa winced and rubbed her head where Batalax had just hit her with Tikki George. "What the hell was that for!"
"Hehe." Batalax laughed. "I challenge you to a murder off!"
"...A murder off?" Nysa replied blankly, still rubbing her head.
"Yeah!" Batalax raised a fist energetically and George Tikki disappeared. "I say we go to the Omega Ruins, and have a competition to see how many more fiends we can kill than each other!"
"....." Nysa stared at Batalax as if she was crazy, but slowly a smirk began to form on her face. "You're on."
"Tomorrow, first thing then." Batalax assured.
"Tomorrow it is." Nysa confirmed.
Both girls sat on the deck for another hour in silence, just watching the water below. Both lost in their thoughts.
---
"Ultima!"
Nysa darted forward and opened a chest while Batalax had the fiend distracted. "Yeah!" She cheered, "Mega Potion!" She jumped back on silent feet and moved past the battle to find her next fiend. She ignored Batalax's outraged accusations of her stealing the mage's mega potion. It's not like Batalax would have been able to get the chest open any ways.
Batalax glared darkly in Nysa's direction and walked right through where the fiend had been moments before. She had a score to settle.
"Majokage?"
"Pause the game Nysa! I got a call!" Batalax shouted across the cavern.
"Baralai, what can I do for you?"
"Where are you?" his voice was faint and slightly crackly, making Batalax believe she had a bad signal here in the ruins.
"I'm on a mission with the Koorikage." Batalax replied honestly.
"She's there too? Gippal has been trying to get a hold of her."
"Oh." Batalax saw a burst of pireflies and ten saw Nysa walked towards her. "Gippal's been trying to call you." she turned her attention back to the com sphere, "What is it you need us for? What we're doing isn't too important, I'm sure we can cut it short."
"There is the Anniversary Dinner tonight. Starting in around two hours."
"I apologize, Baralai. With the last three days as busy as they have been, it completely slipped my mind. We're on our way."
"Right."
The com went dead and Batalax sighed. She looked over the cave and gave a barely noticeable wince. They were just outside of Omega's resting place, meaning that it would take them a good hour to get back outside the caves to their ship, and from there, it would be another hour boat ride to get to the mainland... and then they had to get from Mushroom Rock Road to Bevelle. "We're going to be pretty freaking late."
"To what?" Nysa asked, slightly out of breath, as she finished off another fiend.
"The Anniversary Dinner, in which the two of us, along with Yuna, are the guests of honor. Meaning we can't really skip it."
"Well damn." Nysa replied. She pulled out two bracelets, slipped one on her wrist and threw the other to Batalax who also put it on without worry. "Guess we're gonna have to have some fun." Nysa murmured, and with a flash, she cast haste and was out of the room.
Batalax followed less than a second after.
They didn't stop until they were at their ship. At the speed they had run, they made it to their ship in fifteen minutes instead of an hour. They were both out of breath and had to stop for a small ether break before continuing onto their ship. It was more of a little motor boat than a ship, but it was theirs and they loved it.
"We need an airship." Batalax complained as she started the ship. She had to be the one to drive, because Nysa had been banned from driving anything. Even Chocobo's.
"Yeah. The Al Bhed have some in the making, but they said it could be another eight months or so before they are ready for the public. The ships aren't going to be anything like the Celcius or Cids ship though, for one, they will be much smaller. Actually, how he described it, it sounded like they would basically be flying cars."
"Awesome." Batalax pulled them out of the rocky reefs she had parked the boat in, and sped the boat up to as fast as it could go once she was far enough away. "Hey Nysa... do you think it's possible to cast haste on the boat?"
Nysa gripped her seat as if she expected Batalax to do as she asked a second later, when she didn't Nysa opened her eyes but didn't release the chair. "I honestly don't see why not, you just have to remember, it may be harder to steer, and your eyes may not be able to keep up with it."
"Eh. That just makes it more funnn!" Batalax cheered and cast haste.
---
Nysa and Batalax stood outside the Bevelle Temple, they were around a half hour late, but both were pleased with the time it had taken them. They shared a look, and as one, they both gave a slight shake of their wrists and activated one of their Dresspheres.
The Dresspheres were mostly the same as they had been in the game, except there were far more of them, as Shinra had started making them much earlier. Nysa had convinced him to turn almost all the spheres they had recorded during the pilgrimage into Dresspheres. Batalax had then asked if he could incorporate some of the outfits to be things they would need, such as swim suits and ball gowns. It made it so that a lot of the time, as soon as they disactivated their sphere they would be in whatever clothing they had put on that morning, which was usually what they wore as Kage.
The Dresspheres made it extremely easy to do things last minute, as like now. They activated their Ball Dresspheres. Both girls outfits changed instantly from their casual fighting clothing, to that of fancy dresses. Like all of the Dresspheres, each different outfit came with different powers and skills. The Ball Dresspheres came with the ability to dance, along with a side effect that it made people want to subconsciously protect them, as if they were royalty.
They walked into the Temple, Batalax in her purple ball gown, and Nysa in her green one.
Gippal noticed them immediately and looked extremely relieved, as did Baralai. They took this time to study the people in the room, to see who had shown up. Batalax met eyes with her husband and they both started to make their way to one another, while Nysa set out in the opposite direction to seek out Yuna. The Chiryooshakage was also in her Ball Dressphere, though hers was pink. All of their Dresspheres had their headbands incorporated somehow, weather it be as a bandanna, a headband, a belt, or a leg band. The only Dresspheres that didn't have their forehead protectors, were the Dresspheres that were made for them to go undercover.
"Luzzu..." Batalax murmured as her redheaded knight held a hand out for her.
They started to dance and Batalax couldn't help but hold on to him. They both led such busy lives, her as the Majokage, and he as the captain of the ANBU squad. It made it so that even though they were married, they didn't see each other half as much as they would have liked.
"How was the murder off?" Luzzu asked quietly. He looked amused, which made Batalax pout. She liked the name she had given their hunting game.
"It wasn't fun at all." Batalax huffed childishly with a pout. If her arms hadn't been wrapped around his neck, he bet she would have crossed them and stomped her feet.
"Nysa won, then?" Luzzu replied with a small quirk of the lips. He honestly wasn't that surprised; in the last year, Nysa had constantly been fighting, as well as teaching other how to fight. Where's Batalax had been sitting in a library going through book after book. The Mage had gotten a lot stronger mentally, while the thief had gotten a lot stronger physically. He chanced a glance over at the third Kage's direction, out of all three of them, Yuna was the one who had improved the most. She had been getting combat lessens from him and the other ANBU for months. She also hadn't needed much mental growth, as she was one of the most mature people he had ever met.
---
"I'm going to go get some fresh air." Nysa said quietly to Rikku.
"Okay! Want me to come?"
"Nah. In fact... I think you should go ask Gippal to dance with you."
Rikku made a disgusted face, but did as Nysa said anyway. Nysa smiled cheerfully and weaved her way through the crowds. She was stopped what must have been a million times, by well wishers and random FORCE members who wanted to know if she needed any back up as she left the building. Nysa smiled prettily at them and declined while inwardly cursing the Ball Dressphere. She hated people thinking she needed to be protected.
Once she made it outside, she let her smile fall. She walked slowly through the Bevelle gardens, and couldn't help but let some of her awe show on her face. She had never been to the gardens before, even though Batalax had raved about them every once and a while.
"Pretty..." she murmured. She let her hands graze some of the leaves on each side as she walked, they were covered in tiny drops of water from the rain the night before. Besaid hadn't gotten the storm, but apparently this part of the county had. Nysa lifted her dress slightly so she wouldn't step on it, and walked further into the garden. It was dark, and the sky was cloudy. The wind blew the small wisps of hair that had fallen out of her fancy updo, and she couldn't help but let a small smile grace her face.
She was about to move towards the center fountain, when a flash of something black caught her eye. She turned quickly in that direction only to see nothing. Normally, a person would let it go at that, and figure it had been a trick of the light. Nysa wasn't most people. She moved towards where she had saw it.
"The Darkness isn't safe for little girls." A voice said from behind her. Even though she was absolutely positive that moments before she had been the only person in the garden.
Nysa spun on her heal and her eyes widened. It was a boy, taller than her, but most likely around fourteen or fifteen years of age. He had white, almost silver hair, wore a yellow shirt with blue poofy pants that became tighter around his ankles. It wasn't his clothing that made her surprised, or even his looks, it was the fact that she knew who he was. He was named Riku. A character from the Kingdom Hearts video games.
Nysa's mind spun in circles about what this could mean. Just him being here opened up so many possibilities. Kingdom Hearts was crossed into almost all the final fantasy games, along with a good portion of the Disney worlds. Did that mean all of those worlds existed? It made sense that the other Final Fantasy worlds would exist, because this one did. But she had already decided they were most likely in the Pegasus Galaxy, so that meant the Stargate worlds existed too... Just how big was this universe? ...And where did she and Batalax fit into it all?
"I'm not a little girl." Nysa said defiantly. Of course, this Dressphere had the tendency to make people believe she was.
"You have to come with me."
Now Nysa was confused. What would Rikku want with her of all people? From his outfit, she was guessing it was still during the first game when he was helping Maleficent collect the seven princesses of... oh crap.
"No-nonono! You've got it all wrong. You're supposed to say please." Nysa said patronizingly and put both hands on her hips, she looked at him sternly. It didn't show on her face, but her mind was racing.
A dark portal appeared behind him and Nysa took an instinctual step back to get a better look at it. If she could learn to do something like that... she would never be late for anything ever again! And she wouldn't have to walk everywhere! "I'll go with you!" She said, and then quickly added with a apologetic shrug, "on one condition. You teach me how to make those portals, because you have no idea how much energy those things would save me!"
Riku looked confused. "You wouldn't be able to work it. You're too... pure." he said the last word distastefully.
Nysa couldn't help it. She laughed, hard. "Blondie-bear, I'm the Koorikage of Spira. Pure isn't even in my vocabulary. If your looking for someone pure, you got the wrong Kage by a long shot. I mean, just this morning, I was involved in a Murder off, which was basically a race to see who could kill more people in a certain amount of time." Nysa took a fearless step forward, and her next word came out in a whisper, "And you know what? ...I won." Okay, so technically, Fiends weren't people any more... but they had been at one time.
Riku was starting to look even more confused, even a bit hesitant.
"By the way, kid. You're going about everything the wrong way. If you're going to kidnap someone, you need to be sneaky. First, you gotta offer them candy... and you can't let them know anything is happening until after you have already captured them." Nysa took another step forward which caused the kid to step back. When she spoke, it was as if she was a different person. Her voice was like ice as she allowed the part of her that is Shiva to leak out. "if you led the Heartless to my world..." her eyes narrowed, "there is no where... no where, that you will be able to hide from me. Do you understand me? Kid?"
"You're not who I'm looking for." Riku said suddenly, and for some reason, he seemed nervous.
"No. I'm not." Nysa confirmed. "I know who you are. I know who your friends are, and I know your enemies. Don't make me an enemy. I know you have good intentions for what you are doing, but you are going about it the wrong way."
"You know nothing!" He said hotly. His hands clenched into firsts and his eyes narrowed.
"Just answer me one thing, kid. When Maleficent gives Kairi back her heart... or shall I say... if, she gives her back her heart. Will you really be able to look into Kairi's eyes, or even Sora's, with the knowledge of what you have done?"
She was silent for a moment to let him digest what she had said, before she added flippantly with a half shrug, "I'd be able to. But I'm also a cold hearted bitch a good portion of the time." Nysa looked at his dark portal, "Choose wisely."
Riku gave a curt nod and was about to step back into the portal, Nysa was looking at the portal with an intense look of concentration on her face, Batalax would kill her. Gippal would kill her. Hell, even Yuna would kill her. Nysa wasn't one to turn her back on opportunities though, and there was no time to go and get them, by then, the kid could be gone. Besides, it was her who was in charge of defense. She had to do this.
"The Heartless..." he said with a sigh, "They know where your world is now. I'm sorry." he looked kind of afraid about what she would do to him, and it was only then that she realized that she was still calling on the killing intent of Shiva.
She had figured as much. That was why she was so curious about his portals. She would need to find Sora, so that he could lock the keyhole of this world. The Heartless would stop coming then. She hoped.
"Do you know where the Keyblade Master is?"
"Sora is in Traverse Town with his new friends." The blond said the words new friends like it left a bitter taste in his mouth.
"How about you and I make a deal, kid. You bring Sora here, and I wont kill you... or your friends?" she was bluffing, but he didn't need to know that. Not to mention that her bluff could easily turn into the truth, if he caused her people to be hurt.
"He wont come with me."
"Take me to him."
Riku looked like he was going to object when Nysa gripped his arm using full strength, she ignored his wince, and said calmly, "It wasn't a question. If my people die... so do yours."
"Fine."
Nysa activated her com sphere with her right hand while keeping her left hand tight around Riku's wrist. "Gippal."
"Ya?"
"Something big has come up. Have the Jonin split up and patrol the main roads, that includes the Zanarkand Jonin. Have the Chunnin split up and protect the cities, and have the Genin split up and protect the villages. Get the White Mages to put protection spells on all populated areas immediately, and keep the population calm. This is not a drill. The things you will be fighting are called Heartless. They are hard to kill, and they come in many shapes, You will know them when you see them, they look very different from fiends. They use magic, and brute strength. Tell everyone to be careful. Oh, and have the ANBU sent to the Zanarkand City Dome as soon as you can. There is only one person who can stop them from destroying Spira, and I am going to bring him here. I'll be back as soon as I can. Koorikage out."
"Let's go kid."
---
Nysa giggled slightly as she came out of the portal. That was more fun than overdosing on Ethers! She followed Riku through the empty streets, and enjoyed the click clack sound her high heals made on the pavement. She was tempted to change out of her Dressphere, but figured that it may actually work in her advantage, Sora was never one to turn down a damsel in distress, after all.
The Town was a lot bigger than it was in the game, and it took them a good three hours of walking before they made it to the third district. Nysa got the feeling that Riku was trying to punish her for threatening his friends. Unfortunately for him, high heals had never hurt her feet.
"This is it." He said coldly. They were standing in front of huge doors that had a large number three engraved on them. Travers Town was much colder than Bevelle this time of year, and the night breeze was causing Riku to shiver slightly, even if he was trying hard not to show it. Nysa felt slightly bad, threatening to kill a kid, or to go after his friends... but her people came first.
"I assume you are waiting here?" she asked quietly.
He just nodded.
"You had better be here when I get back kid." she muttered darkly.
"He stays in the third house on the left, when he is in town."
Nysa shot the kid a half smile, the first one he had seen since meeting her, and pushed open the heavy doors as if they were lighter than air.
Nysa thought it was slightly spooky how the entire town seemed abandoned, and yet every house's lights were on, and people would watch her from behind their curtains, as if they thought she would try and kill them or something. She walked past the first two houses and stood in front of the third house for half a second before knocking. There was no time to be nervous when her people were in danger.
The door was opened by a man she recognized as Squall Leonheart. Better known as Leon. He stood a good foot and a half taller than her, had short dark hair, and had a jagged scar across his face. He wore black leather pants, a white tank top, with a dark fur lined jacket over top. He also had his hand on his gunblade.
"............"
Not the talkative type? Good. Neither was she. "I'm looking for Sora."
He moved aside as if to allow her access into the house, and she moved past him without a second thought. Sora was sitting at the table and he looked nearly identical to how he did in the game. Spiky brown hair, big yellow shoes, bright blue eyes, and a really strange red and white outfit. He looked up at her as she entered the room, and his eyes widened. Apparently he didn't expect to see an pretty girl in a ball gown appear in his kitchen.
"A friend of yours tried to kidnap me." Nysa said immediately, "He mistook me for a princess of heart, and in doing so, opened my world up to the Heartless. I need your help to seal the keyhole."
Sora stood immediately, "Riku?"
Nysa stayed silent but gave a half nod. "He's waiting outside, and is ...willing to take you to my world."
Sora looked like he was about to run outside when two more... figures, walked into the room. Donald Duck, and Goofy. Nysa turned away to examine the rest of the room, afraid that she would start laughing. There was no way she would be able to take a talking duck and dog seriously.
Nysa leaned against the wall, while the three junior heroes talked it out. She glanced at Leon, who was watching her very carefully.
Nysa sighed and pushed away from the wall, tired of them arguing. "Look, your king isn't on my planet. I can say that in all honestly, as he would have been noticed, and I would have heard about it. So if you're not going to help, just say so, and I'll go find someone who actually cares if thousands of people die." Nysa made her way to the door and hid a smile as Sora followed her, along with his two furry friends.
As soon as they left the warmth of the house, Heartless appeared everywhere, and Nysa got her first close up look. They were adorable! Sora didn't seem to think so. His keyblade was in his hands instantly, and he was moving faster than the normal eye could follow. Nysa watched his every move, and was impressed. His style was completely improvisation. It was rare to find someone with instincts so good they didn't need practice or skill behind their fighting.
She was also quick to notice that he wasn't that high of a level yet, meaning it wasn't that far into the game. Also, he didn't seem to have the float ability yet, so he hadn't gone to the Peter Pan world. He was starting to get overwhelmed, as were his two team mates. Nysa sighed.
"Hey! Heartless!" she called out. Sora's eyes widened as she brought herself to their attention. She ignored him and focused on trying out the only attack this Dressphere had. "Ball Room Blitz!" She called out.
The attack was almost faster than they eye could see. It allowed her to literally dance around her foes, and as soon as the attack was started, a dagger had appeared in each hand, so as she spun and twirled around the adorable Heartless, they were all cut into pieces. She came to a dizzying stop a minute later and had to steady herself against a building. "Whoa... that was fun. Kudos Shinra, you've done it again. Yevon, that kid is a genius."
The three people she was traveling with were watching her with their jaws dropped. She ignored them and looked at the glowing orbs on the ground, "Ooh! Munny!" as she picked it up, she noticed that it immediately turned to Gil. She shrugged it off and pocketed it. "Come on, people, we got a planet to save."
---
"Thundaja!" Batalax cried out, towards a large dragon like Heartless. She panted lightly and dodged a slash from what looked like a ninja Heartless. "where'd they come from?" she asked rhetorically.
"I don't know." Yuna replied softly, "But we will stop them!" her lips set into a stubborn line that Batalax was starting to realize was the younger girls resolve face. "Pot Shot!" she called out as she fired another round of bullets toward the Heartless.
On the other side of the garden, Gippal was issuing orders to the Chunnin that had been stationed in Bevelle. Random Blitzball players who had showed up to the dinner were using the flying Heartless as target practice.
Batalax thought the entire thing looked like mass chaos. The Heartless kept appearing out of nowhere, which really threw the FORCE out of whack, as when fighting fiends, they could see them long before they attacked.
"The cities have been warded."
Batalax ducked behind a large plant, slightly our of breath, "Thank you, Baralai. Tell the hospitals to be on guard, they may be getting a lot of patients by the end of the night."
"Yes Majokage."
The com sphere went dead almost as fast as it had activated, and Batalax went immediately back into battle.
"Chiryooshakage! The League is in position, what do you wish us to do?"
"Keep the population calm. Do not let any civilians leave the towns or cities." Yuna replied promptly to Nooj. She let loose another clip into the nearest Heartless.
"Yes Chiryooshakage."
Yuna sighed and used her trigger happy ability. They had been fighting for over three hours, and still, the swarms of Heartless had neither backed down, nor stopped appearing.
The main focus point of them seemed to be in the Bevelle garden, so that is where the Kage, and a good portion of the Jonin and Chunnin had gathered. Yuna figured it had something to do with Nysa, as she had been in the garden before the attack had began.
"Fall back! Fall back!" Gippal could be heard shouting over the chaos of battle.
Batalax and Yuna looked in the direction he was in only to gasp. The Heartless had merged with what looked like a Spheromorph. The shared a look, "Everyone, into the Temple!"
The FORCE, along with any others who had been helping, took off into the Temple, leaving only seven people left in the clearing. Three ANBU, who had insisted on staying to help protect their leaders, the two Kage, and the Sannin; Gippal. The Spheromorph Heartless was around six times the size of a normal Spheromorph.
"What do we know people?" Gippal shouted out.
"It's an elemental." Yuna said with wide eyes. "We fought one on the pilgrimage, and it nearly killed us."
"We fought one too." Batalax said, "It was just after our pilgrimage had started. I was actually unconscious for most of the battle. Xander, Nysa, and Tara, did most of the fighting, but it was doable."
The ANBU were suddenly off in a flash. They pulled the two Kage and the Sannin out of the way of the Heartless's press attack.
Batalax smiled at the ANBU with the fox mask, knowing him to be Luzzu. "Okay, that's it." Batalax said. She dusted her dress off and gave her wrist a small shake. Her outfit changed into the one she had worn for the pilgrimage. It was the Black Mage Dressphere. She didn't actually need to use it for Black Magic, but it amplified all of her attacks, which would come in handy.
"Scan!" Yuna cast. She nodded afer a moment, "Everyone! Use your highest level Fire spells at the same time!" she shook her wrist and her Dressphere changed to that of Black Mage as well.
"Firaga!" Batalax cast.
At the same time, Yuna, Gippal, and two of the three ANBU, cast their highest level fire magic.
"Scan!" Yuna cast. "Everyone! Use your highest level Water spells at the same time!"
They all cast water at the same time, and then had to dodge again as the Heartless let loose a bunch of attacks of it's own.
---
"This isn't Bevelle!" Nysa cursed slightly.
"I do not have full control over the Darkness.." Riku explained.
Sora glared slightly as the blond said this, but he said nothing. "Do you have any idea where the keyhole would be?"
Nysa closed her eyes for a moment. "No." she replied, "But if I had to wager a guess, I would say that it is in Zanarkand. It's where the key to everything has been. I sent some of my troops there, they're waiting for us."
"Then let's go!" Sora said.
"It's not that easy, kid." Nysa walked to the edge of the cliff overlooking the Calm Lands. The entire Calm Lands were black, there were so many Heartless. Nysa paid them no mind, and instead locked her eyes on the place she knew her sisters shop to be. There was no way her sister would be able to fight off that many Heartless. "Damn it."
Sora's eyes were wide, as were Riku's. Heartless usually didn't swarm to worlds like this, at least not in such large groups. Nysa knew why they did though. The Fiends. They were all people at one time... and all that was left in their hearts was darkness. Spira would be like a feeding ground for the Heartless. "Damn it!" she repeated, louder this time.
She glanced at her four companions, and then down at the Calm Lands. Her eyes narrowed, and her fists clenched, there was no way they would be able to make it to the Gagazet warp. She raised her right hand and activated her com sphere, "Brother."
"Yeaaahhhhhhhh?"
"I need a pick up. Remiem Cliff. Immediately."
"New Course! Calm Lands! YEA HA!"
"If possible, bring the other two Kage."
"YUNAAAAAAAA!"
Nysa winced and rubbed her ears as the com went dead. She turned her eyes back to the Calm Lands below and wondered how many she would be able to take out with Ice Storm. It was dark outside, and even the clouds looked angry. It was going to storm, she could feel it in the air. A storm would only help her magic. But she couldn't risk it, there could still be people down there.
"Gawsh... there's so many..."
Nysa sent a dark look at Riku, and was pleased when a guilty look crossed his face. "A... friend, is picking us up. He will take us to Zanarkand. Please remember, while you are here, you are my responsibility. If I say jump, you say how high, got it? Even without the Heartless, the place we are going to is not safe. It hasn't been for over a thousand years."
"Okay." Sora replied. He looked as if he wanted to say more, but seemed to understand that she was not in the mood to talk. Instead, he, Goofy, and Donald stood and quietly talked to one another while watching the Heartless below. Riku was also watching them, but his face was blank of all emotion. Nysa refused to look at them and instead stood with her arms wrapped around herself and her eyes closed. She had only been in charge of defense for a year, and already, she was in way over her head. She didn't think she could do this.
It was less than a half hour later, when the Celcius appeared above them. Brother didn't even bother to have them climb aboard, instead choosing to warp them straight to the bridge. Nysa didn't hesitate before jumping over the railing and free falling ten feet before landing on the floor below. She didn't even pause as she made her way to the map and set in their course. The four people with her were slower, and they took the stairs.
"Zanarkand?! During BAD GUYS TAKING OVER?! NO! Bad plan."
"Brother..." Nysa narrowed her eyes and took a half step forward.
"Okay. Right! Buddy! We go to Zanarkand! New Course! YEEEEAAHHH!"
"This will be an interesting death." Buddy replied, completely deadpan.
"Where are the other Kage?" Nysa asked quietly. Her voice sounded angry, even to her own ears, and she shot another glare at the kid who was responsible for this entire thing. Riku refused to meet anyones eyes. Honestly, Nysa was glad he felt bad, he may have just sentenced her entire planet to their deaths. Selfishly, Nysa was mostly worried about her sister.
"Battle. Heartless and Spherimorph mix. Looked messy, so we didn't interfere."
"Okay." Nysa murmured, "What about Rikku and Paine?"
"Rikku is on the deck, firing spells down at the Heartless, and Paine is in the Bevelle Hospital, helping out using her White Mage Dressphere."
"Thanks Buddy. We'll be up on the deck. Give us a shout when we get close."
"No problem, Lady Nysa."
"Riku is right here." Sora said as they stood in the elevator. Nysa stopped them at the cabin level so she could buy some ethers, feeling she would have a need for them.
"Yeah. I'm talking about a different Rikku. She is a year or two older than you guys." Nysa said shortly.
"What is your name?"
Nysa looked slightly startled before her emotionless mask settled in once again, "Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot. I'm used to everyone knowing who I am..." she gave a soft laugh, "My name is Nysa Croft. I'm the Koorikage of Spira."
"Koorikage?" the duck asked.
"I'm the leader of this planets Military. I am basically the Planets protector." Some protector she was...
"Definitely not a princess..." Riku murmured.
"Hello Barkeep." Nysa said politely to the Hypello in charge of the ships store. She was always super polite to them, as their entire race still had a bit of a grudge against her for asking what it was like being blue. Really, if she had known it was that taboo, she would have never said anything. She had even apologized, but none of them would listen to her.
"Mish Nysha, Whash can eyh do for yoush?"
"Fifty ethers, twenty phoenix downs, and ten elixirs."
"That whill come to 60500 Gilsh."
Rip off. She thought, but smiled politely and handed him the money anyways. She turned to her four companions, "Do the four of you need anything? It's on me."
They all got a couple potions and ethers, but apparently, they couldn't keep as many on them as she could, as their item pouches didn't hold as much. Even then, they had to keep most of it in a backpack, as their pockets were not break proof. They had to learn to be careful before they could carry any in their clothing pockets, and even then, they could only carry around ten.
"Come, let us go to the deck of the ship." Nysa glanced down at her outfit and winced, she had forgotten she was still wearing it. "Just give me a sec..." she shook her Dressphere charm bracelet and her outfit changed back into what she had been wearing during the murder off. Camouflage pants, a black, thigh length, short sleeved, tunic, black knee length combat boots, and yellow fingerless gloves, along with her yellow item pouches strapped to her legs. Her goggles were around her neck and her forehead protector was tied around her upper left thigh. "Much better."
---
"Thunder! Thunder! Thundara! Thundaja!" A female voice could be heard shouting over the wind. "I aint afraid a no lighting!"
Nysa crept across the ship and lay her hands on Rikku's shoulders, "boo!"
"Gyah!" Rikku overbalanced, and if not for the grip Nysa had on her, would have fallen overboard onto the swarms of Heartless below.
She shot Nysa a glare and put poth hands on her hips, "You coulda killed me!"
"But I didn't." Nysa replied. She gestured to the group behind her, "Rikku, meet Sora, Donald, Goofy.. and uh, Riku."
Rikku waved at the four bemused people, "Hiya!"
"Rikki, how was the situation in Bevelle?"
Rikku's hands clenched into fists, "Disasteriffic! We couldn't ward the Temple, because they had already breached it! I also don't know how long the warding of the cities will last, the spell is still in the experimental stages, after all."
That was another thing they had been working on over the last year, creating new spells, and new parts of the sphere grid. For Nysa and Batalax, the sphere grid wasn't even necessary anymore, as they had learned all they could from it. Batalax kept her Black Mage grid and Assassin grid active so as to keep the information download, and Nysa kept her Thief grid and Alchemy grid going for the same reason, but they didn't actually require them to use the abilities anymore, which was what prompted them to making more grids.
The project was ongoing, and mostly, Nysa had stolen ideas from other things she had seen or played back on Earth. She then gave her input to Ophelia and Yuna, who had their teams put the knowledge into grids. So far, only some of it had worked, as Nysa's knowledge wasn't complete, but they were slowly filling in the gaps of knowledge with experience. The White Mage grid, along with the Black Mage grid, were the ones that had gotten the most updates, as Nysa had stolen spells from all the other things she had seen over the years, but the other grids were still giving them a bit of problems, because even if she wanted to put the knowledge of how to do something onto the grid, in order for the knowledge to be put on, she, or someone else, had to know how to do the ability inside and out. Thus, it was a slow learning process. Batalax was in charge of it for the most part.
"It's not fair. I know." Nysa said softly.
"It's a happy day! We're supposed to be celebrating a year of peace! Sin is dead, and things are supposed to be happy..." Rikku's eyes suddenly widened, "You knew!" she accused, "That's why you started the Academies! You know the peace wouldn't last, and you didn't even warn us!"
"No! Yevon NO!" Nysa defended herself. "I had no idea... The Heartless, everything, it-- it was like Spira was to my Birth World. I didn't know it was real. I started the Academies for the soul reason of protecting the people, because I don't know what is all out there. Rikku, you can't believe for a second that I would keep something this big from the people... from my people?"
"I'm sorry..." Rikku whispered. She then looked up with tears in her eyes and explained why she was so touchy about the situation, when normally, things like this didn't phase her, "My Pops ship was hit by a flying Heartless. It crashed. I couldn't go to the Hospital, so... I don't know..."
"Oh gods..." Nysa murmured, "Cid! No..."
"He can't be dead, Nysa! He can't be! I told him he was a horrible father... we had gotten into another fight, and I had told him I hated him. But I didn't mean it! I don't hate him... and he can't have died thinking I hate him... he couldn't have!"
Nysa closed her eyes. First Shuyin, then the Kraken, and now the Heartless? All in a row? She looked over at Sora who was talking quietly with Donald and Goofy, and then she turned to Riku, who was watching Rikku with a look she couldn't quite decipher. "Cid knows you love him Rikku." Nysa said with the utmost confidence. She opened her eyes and nodded, as if to prove her point.
"...Do you think Becca will be okay?" Rikku changed the subject.
"...No." Nysa replied honestly. "The Calm Lands... There aren't many who could survive that. Becca isn't a warrior. There's no way... even with her Al Bhed body guards... they were outnumbered by thousands. There's no way."
Rikku frowned at the clinical way Nysa said that, even if she agreed with the statement, Rikku had never liked to see people give up hope so easily. "I'm sorry."
"Me too." Nysa replid quietly.
"Who is Becca?" Riku asked. He looked as if he didn't really want to know, but at the same time, needed to know. It was easy to see that the kid was only now realizing just what he had done, and that he was ashamed of himself to the point of loathing.
Nysa didn't answer for a long moment. She watched the passing scenery, and allowed her energy to build up as the air around them got colder and colder the closer to Zanarkand they got. The cold always made her feel energized. Finally, she answered, without taking her eyes off of the passing scenery, "Rebecca Croft... was my sister."
"Is!" Rikku corrected. "You don't know if she--"
"Rikku! I don't even think I could survive that many Heartless."
"We are landing in Zanarkand in five minutes, brace yourselves." Buddy's voice came over Rikku's and Nysa's communicators.
"Roger." Nysa replied coldly.
"Everyone, move over to the railing and hold on. Brothers landings tend to be a bit... rough."
---
"They're breaching the temple walls!"
"Not on my watch." High Priest Halmers said determinedly. He sat on the temple floor and closed his eyes. Yuna recognized what he was doing immediately.
"No... NO!"
"What? What is it?" Batalax ran over at her yell.
"He's doing a ritual of protection. It's the strongest one in existence... but it comes at too high of a price. It kills the person casting it. It was taken off the Sphere gird for that exact reason, so only the older priests even know how to do it anymore."
Batalax swallowed thickly. Normally, this would be the kind of decision that they left up to Nysa. But Nysa wasn't here. Nysa was busy saving them all, again. Batalax was sick of it. She was sick of sitting around, acting helpless. She was High Summoner Ophelia Batalax Vanaid, and she was not helpless! "No. Priest Halmers." She murmured, and they had to strain to hear her. She cleared her throat, and when she spoke again, her voice was louder, "Stand down. I will handle this."
"Ophelia..."
After defeating the Spheromorph, everyone had moved into the temple. The city itself, they had been able to put under wards, but the temple and the area surrounding it had already been breached. Meaning that if they went to the safety of the city... the temple would be lost. There was no way that could happen. "No. Half of our planets history is in the Temple. We can't let it get destroyed. We are the Kage! We can not let this temple be destroyed."
"You're right. I'm going with you."
"No. What I'm about to do... I don't know if I'll be able to control. I don't want to accidentally hurt you, Yuna." Batalax looked over the people in the temple. It was mostly FORCE members, along with the Civilians who had opted to help them instead of returning to the village, such as the blitzball teams, most of New Yevon, and a few of the Youth League. "Do not open the doors once I am out there. That is an order." she locked eyes with Luzzu from across the room and mouthed the words I love you. She then gave everyone in the room a confident smile that she didn't feel, and left the temple.
The doors closed with a final sounding snap behind her and she winced. "Okay...I can do this." she walked till she was a good distance away from the temple, and had to fight off some stray Heartless as she did so. None of them were difficult to beat, as it was always the little ones that showed up first.
Batalax let go. All of the power that she had felt building up for the last year. Power she hadn't touched, because she was afraid of what it meant. Pure power. Pure electricity.
It killed everything. Batalax felt herself turn into something she was sure that she was not. Everything shifted.
---
"Ophelia..." Nysa whispered as she felt an electric charge fill the air. It didn't harm her or those with her, but all of the Heartless in sight were vaporized instantly.
"whoa..." Sora said with wide eyes.
"Keep going. We have to lock the keyhole." Nysa urged, even though every nerve in her body was telling her to get to Ophelia before it was to late. Before everything was ruined. Before she put their rest to an end unintentionally. She shook herself out of her thoughts, unsure of where they were heading.
Rikku's face was clouded over as they walked through the Zanarkand cloister of trials. This was the place where she thought she was going to lose her cousin.
"Halt!" A female voice said. ANBU's second in command, a woman wearing a Seal mask appeared. Nysa knew her to be Lucil, former captain of the Chocobo Knights.
"Good. You made it." Nysa said unemotionally, "Guard the Dome. If you see any heartless or fiends, kill them. They can not get to the lock." She ordered.
"Yes Madam."
"Come. If I'm right, it'll be where the Final Summoning was done." Nysa led the way unflinchingly through the chamber and down the machina elevator. They entered the room right before the chamber and Nysa raised a hand in the universal stop motion, "Nobody move." she suddenly ordered.
"What's going on?" Rikku asked, she looked over at Nysa and could honestly say she was shocked. The older girls eyes were wide and for a split second, completely terrified. "Nysa, what's going on?"
"I've been waiting for you." A cool, monotone voice that Nysa would recognize anywhere, spoke.
Nysa whispered a word that made Rikku's blood run cold, "Seymour."
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