Me: School… killing… me……… (collapses)
Everyone else: YESS!
Me: HAH! I was kidding!
Everyone else: (grumbles)
Thank you reviewers! Glad you liked the last chapter! Geez, how long has it been… three weeks? A month? Sorry for the delay. My computer got a virus on it and it spread to an external hard drive. Unbeknownst to me, I put that hard drive into my laptop! GAH! I was afraid I lost all my stories! THAT WAS SCARY! Took several years off my life… haha…
To CloudLov3r: My first flame! Yay!… though it doesn't mean as much coming from someone who rarely says anything good… but hey! More reviews for me!
Disclaimer: I don't own any characters originally in the game. But I do own everything else so nyah!
Final Fantasy – Exile
Chapter 8 – Attack
The building shook and dust fell from the ceiling. This was followed shortly by screams and shouts.
"What the hell is going on!" One general shouted rushing to the demolished guard station.
"We don't know, sir!" A private ran up beside him and saluted. "There was an explosion a while ago."
"Tell me something I don't know!" He roared.
"Sir!" A special tasks officer approached him.
"What is it?"
"We found this in there." He held up the burnt bits of a package. "There was also this strange letter. It was intact."
The letter was undamaged. It was written in English. It said as follows.
"Look above you. Cheers!" after that was a smiley face plus the purple head of some beast breathing fire.
"What the…" the general muttered.
He looked up. All he could see was sky… but if it had been found in the building…
"Everybody get out!" He yelled to the men inside the rubble.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
(Moments before)
Inside, the soldiers were looking around for anything that might lead to who set the bomb.
"Hey, I think I found something…" one soldier held up a small scrap of black fabric.
"Where did you get that?" The others crowded around to look at the peculiar material.
"It fluttered down." The first soldier said. "From up… there…"
The words died in his throat as he saw what was 'up there.' At least a dozen, maybe more, blocks of C4 were strapped together. The room fell silent and they could hear a faint beeping. The general was yelling something…
………………………………………………………………………………………………
The next few seconds passed sluggishly. A bright, white light seemed to erupt from the destroyed windows. A soft beeping that had not been heard over the commotion was now a long continuous drone. The special tasks soldiers half turned to look at their commanding general. And then, an explosion. The remains of the building were incinerated. Everyone still inside was instantly killed. The shock wave sped forward like a tsunami and hit the general and all the other soldiers who were milling around. All that was left of the guard house was a black piece of charred concrete. In a couple minutes, the shock wave had passed and the survivors staggered up.
"Anyone alive?" The general called out.
Several more people sat up.
"Gods… who in their right minds would do this?"
"I don't know…" the general stared at the destruction.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
(Moments before the first and second blast)
Galian had asked several people about the guard within the office. He needed to know more about him before acting.
"He is an evil man…" an old lady said. "He arrested my son for possessing a sword."
Galian looked confused.
"But I thought it was allowed?"
"Times change, child…"
"Do you know where he is?"
"They probably took him into the dungeons…"
"Okay, we'll look for him then."
"But what are you intending to do…?"
"You won't tell anyone will you?"
"No…"
"Some of our friends were falsely accused of crimes. It's all Lord Envy's work. We're going to go find them."
"Good luck, boy!" The old lady shooed him on.
Galian stepped outside. He looked casually to the right. By a side gate, he saw the signal and flashed his back. They were ready. He paused slightly to adjust the timer on his C-4 to five seconds. He wanted each blast to be good. Acquiring the materials for these bombs had been extremely difficult. He clicked the small button and let it fly. It hit the guard squarely in the head. Galian chuckled as the guard bent to examine the strange object. The building exploded, a relatively minor explosion to the one coming, but a big one nonetheless. He paused again, waiting for the heat to dissipate a bit. Then he rushed in to the destroyed guardhouse. He quickly tied several more C-4's to the ceiling. A bit of his shirt tore on a piece of rubble but he ignored it and left a small note on the ground. He left just as the first soldiers arrived. He watched as they panicked and ran around frantically trying to find evidence of him. One of them held up a small piece of cloth.
"Uh oh…" he muttered.
Luckily, his three minute timer had just ran out. A second explosion ripped through the area, more deadly than the first. Galian crouched slightly as giant winds rushed past his hiding area. Bits of rubble shot out like cannonballs, killing several soldiers on the ground. The buildings shook as the brunt of the blast hit them. Then, silence. A cry from someone off in the distance, witnessing the explosion from afar. Then, complete chaos. Soldiers started shouting, the general was ordering people around, people were gathering and yelling for explanations.
'Time to go…' Galian thought.
"Hey!" Some guy shouted. "That guy looks suspicious!"
Everyone turned to stare at Galian, who had just stood up. A cricket chirruped in the background.
"Um… Hi, everybody… I uh… have an aunt who is… in the… uh… hospital… and uh… GOTTA GO!" He took off running.
In about three seconds, every available soldier was chasing after Galian. It was noisy as he dashed through the streets and the citizens made way for the swarm of officials.
"Get him!"
"Damn… they better get going!" Galian muttered and continued to run.
He turned slightly to stick his tongue out at the general. His face became a lovely shade of red.
"STOP HIM!" The general roared. "ANYONE WHO CAPTURES HIM GETS A REBIRTHING!"
Instantly, everyone that had been in the Holy city long enough turned and followed chase. This just about tripled the number of people chasing Galian.
"OH SHIT!" He shouted as he pumped his legs, urging them to go faster.
In about half a second, things had dropped from bad to worse.
'Me and my freakin' big mouth!' He thought feverishly as he started to pant slightly.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
(Flashback!) (Yes, this scene change thing is getting confusing… bear with me)
"Galian, you're a genius."
"What…?" Galian looked up to see everyone grinning at him. "Oh… no…"
Five, brutally painful minutess later…
"NNOOO! I don't wanna be a decoy!" Galian writhed around, trying to free himself from the bonds.
"Okay. So, what should we do then?"
"Once we have a diversion, we can sneak into the House without much trouble." Sephiroth said, completely ignoring Galian.
"We need a good distraction, and something even an idiot could operate." Gigas said.
"I'M NOT AN IDIOT!"
"How about a bomb?" Takari said. "Simple, loud distraction. Hell, it may even cause some people to be killed."
"Good idea. But where are we going to get the supplies for the bombs."
"Let's ask Galian." Takari turned.
"I REFUSE TO TELL YOU ANYTHING!"
Takari squatted down in front of him.
"Really now? Not even if I get you a date with that princess?"
"Really!" Galian sat up.
"Sure."
Ironically, Galian didn't notice Takari's crossed fingers at his side. He told them every item to its exact proportion. In a short amount of time, they had gone to the shops selling different substances they needed. Once they finished the twenty C4 packages, Takari turned to Galian.
"Good job, oh genius pyromaniac."
"Sure, so when do I get that date?"
"What date?"
"You promised me that you would set a date up between me and that Wutain girl!"
"Did I now?"
"Um… Yeah!"
Takari held up a hand and crossed two fingers.
"WHAT! Takari! You cheap bastard! GAH! When I get out of this, I'm gonna put arsenic in everything you eat!"
"Now, now… calm down." Takari said. "You get the honor of setting off the bombs."
"HELL NO! I REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ELSE FOR YOU!"
Sephiroth then strode over.
"Well, if that's the case, I say we strap the bombs onto him and leave him at that guard station."
"Wait! Wait!"
"Oh, yes." Gigas said. "That would take care of two problems…"
"OKAY! I be your freakin' decoy!" Galian said with some reluctance.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
(Present Time)
And now, he was being chased by, quite literally, half of the people in the Holy City. He was starting to regret ever having spoken.
'Next time, I'll keep my comments to myself!'
Suddenly, an arm shot out of an alleyway and grabbed him.
"GAH! Let me go!"
"Quiet you!" A voice hissed in his ear.
He turned to see a lady. He recognized her as the Wutain girl's mother.
"Oh, hello."
"In here!" She opened a hidden door and the two rushed in.
She closed the door just as several people turned the corner.
"Keep going! He must be around here!" Galian heard them yell.
He sighed and sank down onto the floor of the hidden room, panting.
"Here." She said, handing him a flask of water.
"Thanks…" he muttered, gulping graciously at the cool liquid.
"You were really brave out there." She said, smiling at me.
"I was running for my life… of course it seemed brave." He said sheepishly.
"Ha…" she laughed quietly. "So modest. I wonder how they're doing…"
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Chaos dashed through the deserted corridors with Sephiroth, Gigas, and Takari close on his tail.
"Chaos! Slow down!" Takari shouted as they continued to race through the corridors.
Chaos paid no heed as he rushed up to a familiar door. He kicked the door open. Envy was standing there, nonchalantly staring at them.
"Where are they, ENVY!" Chaos shouted.
He smiled coldly, and raised a hand. Chaos dodged out of the way just as a ball of dark energy blasted the doorway.
"Dammit!" Gigas cursed and leaped out of the way of the falling rubble.
Envy pointed his hand at Chaos again and fired off another spell.
"He's toying with us!" Takari shouted.
Hearing this, Chaos's anger grew.
"Damn you, Envy! Where are they!"
He laughed as he continued to fire off spells. Dust filled the room, causing it to become hazy. His laughter was cut short as he felt all connection lost from his arm. He paused, confused. He tried to move his fingers. Nothing happened. As the dust cleared, he glanced at his right arm. All he saw was a bloody stump. A cry erupted from his throat as he saw his arm twitching on the ground in a pool of its own blood. Chaos dragged him up, with his free hand. The other was clutched on his saber, which he had used just moments ago.
"WHERE ARE THEY!" He screamed in Envy's face.
"Go fuck yourself!" Envy cursed. "I'll never tell a demon like you!"
"Allow me." Gigas said.
He grabbed Envy by the throat.
"Where are they?" He asked kindly, fist tightening around his throat.
"Go to hell, you bastard!" Envy shouted, spittle flying from his mouth.
"That's not nice…" Gigas wiped the spit away.
Envy's left hand had healed his severed arm. His newly healed right arm raised to strike at Gigas. Another snip sounded the air. This time, Takari held his katana skillfully as the newly healed arm was once again cut off. Takari whisked to the other side and did the same with his left arm. Envy screamed in pain.
"That is quite the drawback, huh?" Chaos sneered. "Having only the ability to use your right hand to conjure spells… Now. I shall ask you again. Where. Are. They?"
"Allow me to repeat myself!" Envy shouted, eyes wide with pain and fury. "GO. FUCK. YOURSELF!"
Chaos smiled slightly.
"Is that so?" He snapped his fingers.
Gigas, who was still clutching Envy by the throat, let off a charge of electricity. A high voltage shock for two seconds. Not enough to knock him unconscious, but enough to set ever one of Envy's nerves on fire. He screamed in pain. Gigas clutched harder, cutting off all noise from Envy.
"Where are they?"
"I don't know!"
Another sizzle, another scream.
"Where are they?"
"GUARDS!"
Sizzle. Scream.
"They're busy chasing Galian. Where are Sera, Vincent, Cloud, and Tifa?"
Envy stayed silent. Gigas was about to shock Envy again when Chaos stopped him.
"What?" Gigas asked.
"I had a feeling something like this would happen." He brought out a syringe. "I'm sure you're familiar with sulfur monoxide?"
"W-what!" Envy shouted, looking at the black liquid fearfully.
"You wouldn't want this injected into you, now would you?"
"I… ah…"
"Ah, well." Chaos drew closer with the syringe.
"Wait!"
Chaos continued to walk closer.
"Yes?"
"They're in the dungeons!"
"Good." Chaos injected contents of the syringe into Envy's arm.
They tied him up and dragged him away, his screams echoing throughout the House of Legends as the chemicals ate away at his blood.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
After going down several flights of steps, they came across a long stretch of cells. They continued down them before finding Cloud and Tifa.
"You two okay?" Sephiroth asked as he slashed through the bars.
"Yes, how did you get here?" Tifa asked.
Gigas held up the twitching form of Envy.
"Pitiful…" Cloud spat.
"Where are Vincent and Sera?" Chaos kicked Envy.
He jerked his head slightly, unable to point. Chaos walked to the next cell over. He brought out his saber and shattered the bars. Sera looked up as did Vincent.
"Chaos!" She ran over to hug him.
"What took you so long?" Vincent asked.
"We had minor setbacks… some people are quite adamant with their information…"
"Ah."
"Well." Chaos said, clapping his hands together. "All that's left is to turn this bastard in."
"Hey!"
Chaos paused.
"Is someone there?" The voice called out again.
"Who is it?" Chaos called back.
"Over here!" An arm waved out of a cell.
Chaos walked over. In the cell, was a man. He had short, brown hair and a slightly unshaven beard. He was wearing normal clothes suggesting he had been detained outside of the House of Legends. His movements were, no matter how tired, controlled, a sure sign of a powerful fighter.
"How did you come to be in here?" Chaos asked as the party drew closer.
"That bastard took me here just because I was bringing a sword to one of the Generals!" He pointed at Envy.
"Is that so?" Chaos broke open the cell bars. "What is your name?"
The man walked out.
"I am Jacob. Please, let me join your team as thanks. Come with me. It'll only be a while. I'll just retrieve the sword Envy took."
They returned upstairs to the main hall. A quick detour led them to a side chamber where guards kept confiscated weapons. There weren't many, but one stood out from the rest. A bright silver sheath lay on a shelf, it's hilt encrusted with gems. The guard was intricately woven from metal in a beautiful design. The handle fit in his hand perfectly as he drew it to check on its condition. The metal blade glinted in the light.
"I had worked so long on this…" he muttered. "It's practically unbreakable."
They continued into the hear of the House of Legends. Once again, they approached the place where Sephiroth had been detained. Jacob, Tifa, and Cloud stayed a ways back as the rest surrounded Envy in case he tried something. Chaos approached the door. There was no name plate on the door, just a blank piece of metal. The door was also made of a different material than the others. It seemed to shimmer and faze in and out of focus. Chaos raised a tentative hand to knock. It was solid enough and gave off a rich sound. There was a faint noise from within and, after a while, the door was opened.
"Yes?" The lady said.
No words could describe the beauty of this lady. Her platinum silver hair glowed in the dim light as it cascaded down past her shoulders like water. Her eyes were sinner's eyes, rapidly shifting, unlike Sera. It would appear that she could see what was happening throughout the whole Planet and was affected by it. She wore silver robes and held a staff that was engraved with ancient runes long forgotten. She stared at the group in mild curiosity.
"Yes?" She repeated, and Sera could hear a hint of fatigue in her voice.
"This man is conspiring to kill you." Chaos said simply.
"Is that so?"
"Yes, Milady." Chaos bowed.
"And what do you have to say in your defense, sir?" She looked coldly at him.
Time seemed to stop as he began to speak.
"I say…"
Sera noticed he had drawn something on the ground with a hand that hadn't been there a while ago! Nobody noticed it or the symbol he had drawn.
"YOU CAN BURN IN HELL!" He shouted, slapping his hand down on the symbol.
Time moved sluggishly. The Creator's eyes widened in shock. She couldn't do anything about the spell, being caught off guard. Sera yelled as three long steel spears shot out of the ground.
"Look out!" She shouted, leaping into the path of the spears.
Vincent watched as the steel entered her body. There was a spray of blood as she fell to the ground, the spears, still stuck firmly in her. She coughed and a splatter of blood appeared on the stone floor. Everyone shouted in anger and brought their weapons out. Chaos and Takari slashed from each side, causing a V shaped cut. Sephiroth's masamune slashed through Envy's midriff. Gigas let off a blast of lightning. The room was filled with the smell of burning flesh. And last, Vincent cocked his Death Penalty and shot Envy in the head. Envy was still grinning a crooked smile as his head jerked back in a spray of blood.
"Oh, Lucifer…" he said in a sing-song voice. "I'm back…"
A sudden flame engulfed Envy and he vanished without a trace. Vincent rushed to Sera. He lifted her gently into his lap.
"Sera…" he whispered.
"Sorry… Vincent…" she muttered and went limp.
Chaos gave a strangled cry and threw his saber at the wall, where it imbedded itself to the hilt. Takari, Gigas, and Sephiroth bowed their heads respectively. Vincent sat there, tears flowing unashamedly down his face. Tifa had both hands covering her mouth and Cloud stood there, staring in shock. The Creator approached him.
"She can still be saved…" she said, placing a hand on Vincent's shoulder.
Everyone was instantly alert.
"How." He said.
It was not a question, but a demand.
"I can keep her from going to Hell for twenty-four hours. You have exactly that much time. You must get the white materia to heal her. It is your only hope."
Vincent stood up after setting her gently on the ground.
"How do I get back to the Planet?"
"I'm coming." Chaos said, face grim.
The Creator chanted several words. Vincent and Chaos vanished. She then knelt down next to the fallen Fate. She made the wounds heal and the spears vanish, but the girl stayed still. The Creator sat down, a small sphere enveloping Sera.
"It is all up to you now…" she said sadly.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Me: AHH! (Dodges tomatoes, rotten food, and chairs) I didn't mean it!
Readers: BOO!
Me: AH! (Dodges piano) I DEMAND TO KNOW WHO THREW THAT!
Readers: KILL HIM!
Me: NOO! But seriously! Things will get better! Soon! WAIT!
Readers: FINE!
Me: Once again, some reviews would be appreciated. Also, can you guess what's gonna happen in the next couple chapters? Five to ten reviews and I'll start working on the next chapter RIGHT NOW!