XI. His Last Chance.
With her heart wide open, a pleasant warmth invaded her body as she spent even more time with the white mage. After taking it all out, they walked and sighed tiressly over the lifeless land, realizing that most of that heavy sorrow began to vanish along their words. Even when she thought that talking would make everything worse, it worked completely different from what she predicted.
Resting close to each other upon the soft earth at the mountain's feet, she glanced at him, noticing how he rubbed his shoulders due the cold. Without his guard, she could see more clearly the svelt shape he wore underneath. He looked so fragile that it hurted to think how easily could he break.
Nervously, the warrior maiden sighed. "The moogle won't be coming here anytime soon, I guess. I'm sorry to make you wait here with me."
"I haven't wasted my time in here, you see. Besides, I refuse to leave without my precious bolero, canary." Kuja responded gently as he turned his head at the enourmous arch of the gate nearby. "Southwest, there's a gateway that'd lead us into a trench. If memory doesn't fail me, I've seen another of those vendors bouncing around there."
The elegant way he spoke about the moogles made her grin sweetly underneath, but one small thought made her giggle openly.
"... It's funny."
"What."
"Finding moogles in this sort of place... I knew moogles existed in my world, and by your way to talk, you're familiar with them too. Do they live in your... the place you come from?"
"Sure they do. Most bothersome creatures they were, but can't deny how effective was their role as mail carriers."
"They delivered mail? That's... cute." The single mental image of those fluffy creatures flying around with mail bags just made her heart warm. "In my world, moogles don't even talk... wait... No. Nevermind."
"Though... the ones I knew were... a lot different from these. Must forgive my rudeness, but moogles here they just look ridiculous."
"... I think they're very cute, even though they all seem unreal." she said, twirling her fingers on one curl of her blonde hair. There was one small thought worrying her for a while. "It all feels... like some sort of dream that we cannot wake-up from. Haven't you thought... if there will ever be an ending to this war? You said that we've been fighting for several cycles already. Why is it?"
She heard him swallow to his throat but the expression on his eyes was frigid and controlled. "There will be an end to this dream. I promise you'll see it end soon."
"... There's something you still can't tell me about it, isn't it?" Terra shifted her legs to embrace them against her chest, then gently placed her left cheek on her knees. "Maybe... one day you can tell me."
A grieving look on his eyes but hid it when he brushed the feathers above his head, trying to relieve the shadows on his expression. "I shouldn't." he said. "At least not give to you only the burden of that truth... If I'm to reveal this sentence, all of your comrades should have the right to know."
"Then what are you gonna do? I doubt you'll just go and tell all the Cosmos Warriors what you know." the girl slowly leaned towards him, of course, not violating his personal space. "If you do, it wouldn't be to join us, would it?"
"Silly girl... Of course not. I don't belong in there. I didn't anything deserving of that honorable place."
"Neither did I. But still... I somehow got the chance. You have that opportunity now too."
"I'm not that self-indulgent, dear canary. Even bloodstained, your heart remains pure like snow... Let each man take their proper penance."
Terra didn't warn him, but still went to touch his hand. "I told you to don't speak like that." But he smoothly moved his touched hand back to his lap.
He chuckled flatly and stared at the frozen sky. "Loving Terra, you're trying too hard to save a dead-man. The miracle of knowing your selfness has also shown me the path to my personal hell. Just let me be."
The girl felt her stomach winding inside her and the pressure rised up her lungs. The way he was destroying himself through words made her immensely sick, because it did not just denigrated him but also threw her wishes to the ground.
"I said I'd keep you safe." she replied, her voice grew stronger with confidence. "So please, don't try to knock down my choice."
Kuja seemed to be reflexing when she talked, and then his dark blue orbs turned into her.
"... Who are you really trying to save here, Terra?" he asked in soft tone.
'The past cannot be changed, no matter what I do.' she mentally said to herself. Even now, she tried to hide from herself how much of her mentor she saw on Kuja. Kuja wasn't Kefka, and he'd never be.
"You, of course." Terra answered.
"... As you say, my lady." A subtle smile formed on his lips, but preserving those sullen eyes. "And then who do you love? Who do you protect?"
Love was a difficult word. Even now she wasn't entirely certain. "I want to protect everything I cherish in this life." she said.
"Am I... among everything?" That question sent a pleasant shiver through her back, making it more comfortable to listen such a dull voice.
"... Yes. Because you are my friend. We are friends, Kuja."
"A friend, huh?" He seemed to examinate the word in his mouth, showing an insecure expression upon it. "I've never had a real friend before."
"That's sad. But you see, it's never too late to have one... It's still weird, but it feels good to have people who actually care about you and will support you if you need."
"Indeed it's an odd feeling... but nice nonetheless." His faint smile remained, as if he was accepting how glad he felt. "I have one friend now and it's the very lovely girl who's borrowing my only armor."
"Well, maybe all this time you just needed a friend, someone to put your trust into."
The beautiful man stroke tenderly the feathers growing on his temple. "To be honest, I was afraid of being just a shadow of your broken past, if you forgive my rudeness." He sounded relieved, and Terra followed.
"You're not." she answered.
His silver eyelashes fluttered twice when he placed his gaze on her. "And... what else do friends do besides angsting on each others shoulders, may I ask?"
"Oh." The questions could go even more awkward than this, because though she was blessed with good friendships, there was little intuition about what to do with friends. "I guess we laugh. Sometimes play, if we're on the mood. We share stories and support each other if we have any problems... I'm not sure about everything else..."
And well, that was basically what she had on record. But it was alright, because they both have done all these things.
Kuja sighed and closed his eyes vanishing softly that tender smile of his. She looked how he began to lean his head close to hers, very carefully as if silently was waiting of her approval to his actions. Without saying nothing, she shifted closer to him and allowed his head to rest on her shoulder.
They both stilled like this for some while. Terra vaguely wondered if he felt uncomfortable laying his face's side on the steel pads on the armor's shoulders, but the silence was too perfect. She didn't wish to ruin it, when they were both at such peace. It was rare to be so tranquil, even when there was a great chaos surrounding them.
There was another tingling feeling building up inside her, making her arm move behind Kuja and buried her fingers inside his silver mane, reching out for his neck. He didn't say anything, but just shuddered slightly.
His arms began to respond, one slowly covered her opposite shoulder while other sneaked from behind her and caressed her hip gently and grazing her stomach. The girl just became more confused, not knowing what kind of contact was this, and Kuja's wordless actions weren't helping, because he didn't look sure about what was he doing either. He shifted his hand off her shoulder and lifted his head.
In a slacken way, he began to lay himself upon the elusive ground, languidly guided the girl to lie beside him too. Terra just followed his hands, so she thought it'd be okay to rest her head on his chest and left arm, and gently he trapped her with his white long sleeve. Her hand carelessly touched his tummy for not looking where was she placing it. Slightly embarrassed she got her hand back to her chest. That ephemeral touch hadn't words to be described, because his care skin was too soft and stainless. Kuja did not even notice, but his arm squeezed her harder, embracing her more passionately than today earlier.
Her heart began to go faster, but the beating eventually became more controlled because of the warmth he was sharing with her. They were both so close, but it wasn't hard to breathe, she could even close her eyes and fall asleep between his arms. She felt so safe.
"Cuddling. Is that a normal thing for a friend to do?" his voice whistled on her curls, tickling.
"... Well, yes. I think it is." She shook her shoulders. "Though I don't know about this timing. It'd feel strange though if we hug for longer."
He agreed, so he allowed her to slip away from his embrace, and both got back on their feet but never let her separate farther, as if they were joined together by magnetism. Terra felt how his hands took beneath her face and pulled her towards the charming pale visage of Kuja. The girl didn't know what to do, seeing how was he closing their distance at such a gentle pace.
Then he whispered supple words, his lips almost caressing her chin. "Is it common thing for a friend... to do this?" And then very lightly he pressed his velvet mouth against hers, and closed his eyes. At that second the young maiden felt the transmission of a strange ardor, she felt his smell and his pulse; later he separated from her.
Terra felt confused. "... And what was that?"
"A kiss. Don't you know what kiss is?"
She heard the word before, she saw it written before, but never knew what and how was it like.
"It's a show of affection, isn't it?" the girl mentioned, and made out his low silent laugh. Again, she showed him just how innocent she was, and it made her a little frustrated; so the girl dared and decided to take her face near his again. "Like this?"
She aimed his his jaw's side, but her lips touched the border of his mouth in spite. He smirked at her small try, but ceased to make her feel shamed because it was apparently her first time doing this sort of things.
"I'm sure you could do better, but just leave it like that." His hand caressed Terra's cheek and slided behind her ear, drawing her again close to him, and he placed another gentle kiss on her forehead. "I wouldn't want it other way, my sweet girl."
His warm breath on her head soaked through the rest of her body. The soothing feeling was short lived though.
From afar, her senses detected many familiar presences coming to the spot all at once. Terra lost that small glimpse of joy, but she knew they've got it coming. She made her friends wait for too long.
"... They're coming here." she muttered, parting from his touch.
His eyes became sad and his features stiffened. Would he choose to run now? She wouldn't blame Kuja if he did, after all they've been through. This pain was better to be faced later...
"There's no place to hide, Terra, I told you." he said, discarding her insecurities about his decission. He walked a couple of steps to the direction they were coming from, giving Terra his back. "All I can do is to face them and you know that."
"But... are you ready?"
"I'm not. But this task requires all my courage; I shall give the best of presentations I can assure you."
"And can you face Zidane?"
"If I have to. Though now I understand the reasons I've hated him this morning and days before... I did nothing to earn his forgiveness nor sympathy. I cannot get back my murderous attempts... I'm shaking in daunt right now, bird. I don't even know why can't I control this reaction. It's amusing..."
The girl put her hand on his shoulder and murmured behind his ear. "You don't need to worry, Kuja. I'm here to protect you, just as long as you don't get back. We're going to be together, so it'll be fine."
Somewhere deep inside, Terra wanted to hide behind him, hoping her friends wouldn't be again mad at her. But running wasn't an avaible option: it was now or never, she knew.
Cloud and Zidane weren't alone. Squall, Bartz and the Onion Knight were coming along, this last one made her heart hurry and sick inside because he was the one she wanted to protect the most. The five warriors stopped in silence, watching over the other two mages, and the youngest one of the group stepped one stride closer with deeply concerned eyes.
It was all what the boy didn't wanted to witness. But there he was, and he'd be the one to begin expressing what everyone else didn't want to. They couldn't help but to notice how the girl was wearing also part of the foe's armory to cover her ripped wardrobe.
"Terra, stay away from him. Please." said Onion with wavering voice, heartbroken.
And the thief continued after him, a little less uptight than the kid but still anxious because of Kuja's presence. The moment their gazes met, for an invisible instant the world halted in tension.
"... Are we interrupting something here?" the blonde youth asked boldly turning his eyes on Terra quickly.
"Shut up, Zidane!" Onion replied almost violently to the tailed one. "Terra..."
She stood out in front of Kuja brazenly. "I'm fine, Onion. Everything is fine." her voice picked a stronger tone, but never faltered in tenderness for her beloved friend.
"If everything is fine then, why are you hanging out with the enemy?" Squall questioned within a deep frown, blade resting upon his shoulder. Everyone stiffened at the teen's voice except for the white mage who glared at him coldly.
"Squall, I'm sorry, but I want everyone to understand..."
"Understand what? That you're on his side now?" Zidane tried to stop his friend's threats, but his voice wasn't loud enough. "You're not even aware of what you're doing, are you—?"
"—Let the lady talk first, you prying scamp." Kuja's complaint echoed between the seven of them, managed to set the other young man's mouth silent in one second. Obviously, he didn't like the intromission. But before he could step one foot closer to violence, Zidane stopped him forcefully with his arm.
"Squall!" The thief didn't seem as rough as his comrade, but somehow at the moment they exchanged gazes the taller one consented Zidane's call. Then he returned his attention to her and Kuja. "This is very confusing, guys... care to explain?"
Zidane looked for this to happen, but everyone else around them needed enlightment if she hoped for things to turn out the least horribly possible for Kuja. When she stared at him briefly, he didn't seem as nervous as she was, otherwise he was hiding his emotions too well.
"He's... Kuja is not willing to harm anyone of us. And he also wishes to share some information with the other Cosmos' Warriors."
"Is that true, Kuja?" The young man flipped his blonde tail swiftly side to side arching his eyebrow. Terra swallowed her tongue; this was going to e the first time those two would exchange non-battle words.
"I thought you gentlemen would be more convinced by hearing it from her voice. I was wrong." Kuja said, on purpose aiming his words to everyone and not Zidane directly, but he slowly answered his fellow's eyes. "Why is your face paling, Zidane? Wasn't it you who wished to talk to me the most?"
"Wish to be sure that you won't be sending off more manikins while we're having all a nice chat in here." he replied crossing his arms.
The older mage sighed, concealing a secret grief. "So... the manikins attacked you as well."
"Kuja didn't send them. He saved me from them not long ago by destroying them. Manikins weren't following his orders." Terra added, just to make sure.
"How are you sure you're not making it up?" Bartz interrumpted before his other friend could. "Can you explain us?"
"Do I have another choice? I'm admist a dreadful disadvantage if I were to set you a trap. Six warriors of the Harmony against one of me? Now, that'd be just plain stupid."
"If you didn't send them off, then who did?"
"I have a number of names in mind. Let's say I'm not under friendly terms with most of Chaos' warriors..."
"In other words, you don't know." Zidane assumed.
"Whatever they want it harms your intentions, no?" Squall queried, suspicious as ever. He had good reasons for it.
"Not precisely. But that's quite close." Terra didn't feel good at the other mage getting confident smiling. "What I mean to reveal you is meant not just for you, but for all the Warriors of Cosmos. It is a matter of life and death."
"... So you want to reunite us all in one place? You're planning to kill everyone at the same time with one blow." The gunblader's words froze her blood, but Kuja seemed unaffected. He even brushed tauntingly his feathered silver mane backwards at him.
"Do not adulate me in such a manner, little Squall. I have no intention of changing my diplomatic tactic."
"I should tear a hole through you, right now."
"Stop it, Squall." Almost roughly, the blonde warrior pushed his friend's chest to get him back, he even growled in annoyance but said none else. "Kuja, I get that this is serious stuff, but... how are we supposed to believe you? I'm sorry for this, Terra, but... her words aren't just enough to fill the doubts."
"Yes, for all we know, it'd be easy for someone like you to dispose of everyone if we decided to trust you."
"Bartz, c'mon..."
The discussion got more heated to the point of Terra becoming more scared. They were all arguing about what aspects to judge, the terms of trust, how to deal with Kuja, what to do in case of an assault, even spilled a few nasty words she wasn't supposed to listen. Even the silent Cloud broke in to give his point of view, but it all was summed into the chaos.
"Kuja..." without realizing, she was gripping tighter on his silk sleeves, and he stopped to see her affliction.
The girl watched how the Onion Knight put his big green eyes on her, but was unable to speak out his disturbance. Seeing her so close of Kuja was killing him inside, she knew.
"Indeed, it'd be much better if all the warriors were erradicated right away before reaching out this knowledge, putting it the way I see it." Kuja said in aloof voice. That answer pressed a button on the tailed warrior, making his twist his features into anger.
"Then, what the hell is what you want?" he yelled.
"Just be reasonable, darling brother. If I wanted to murder you with your valuable friends, we wouldn't be having this conversation right now... It is not my fault that your previous battles were so easy. My power is great, and so it is the power of other warriors of discord. You haven't seen them in their true potential until now, and that's the only reason you haven't lost this war yet. Trust me that from here and on... it'll become real pandemonium."
Her heart grew nervous as she heard his speech. Even now, there were so many things Kuja didn't tell her. She wasn't any less shocked by those words than the rest of the group.
"... Then, just say it here and now!" Zidane kept on demanding.
"I need to say it in front of all the warriors." he responded.
"We can give 'em the message. What is it? Tell us now if it's so crucial!"
But at Kuja's selective muteness, Squall intervened. "Forget it, Zidane. This guy is just out for our heads." he gnarled hatefully towards the delicate mage.
His words turned out to be so disheartening that Terra felt her stomach clenching inside her while seeing the other friends looking at each other just to finally stare at Kuja with disbelief.
Even now, she saw the uneasiness showing itself through Kuja's pallid graceful face. And all the shaking he mentioned before, was now more visible than ever.
"... If so you insist... I shall tell you everything you require at once." he spoke, almost losing all of his cool right there. Terra lowered her hand to entwine her fingers with his trembling ones.
"It's alright." she barely moed her lips, her voice lower than the whistle of the tranquil air. "Remember that I'm right here, watching you."
But everyone saw. Everyone heard. A silent commotion spreaded on all the warriors of Cosmos.
"... Then, who's watching him?" The voice of poisonous grace pierced into the circle of warriors, and a column of light appeared beneath the feet on someone; a circle of catastrophic magic was revealed under Cloud's guard, glowing dangerously mighter.
"CLOUD!" their friends screamed, but didn't move fast enough. It was too late to reach him.
Cloud was quickly pushed by a powerful blow, making him fall far on the dusty ground. The spell sat free a calamitous shine after Cloud fell out of the circle. Everyone stared back again at Kuja, who had magical one white sphere returning back to him.
"What a predictable move, Kuja. Do you also owe something to that young man?" Along those words, from a dark haze of feathers, the figure of a woman dressed in scarlet with great black wings appeared before the warriors. She greeted shortly first to the teen of black leathered jacket, and then smirked to Kuja with her malice distilling eyes.
"Ultimecia!" Squall didn't waste a second to go and attack her, but was easily dodged when she vanished in the same manner she appeared.
Terra began to panic. The evil witch was here for Kuja. This was of what he talked about. The girl now feared for his security the most. But they were all alarmed because of being ambushed by a warrior of Chaos and probably a couple of them shocked of how did Kuja save one of their comrades.
But there was a short time to analize the situation. From the sky, spikes of iron began to rain upon them, and without shelter, both Kuja and Terra reacted at the same time to conjure shield spells. Seeing how they worked, Onion Knight copied them to protect himself and Cloud too.
"What's going on here?" Bartz shouted, readying his magical blade. Nobody could see from where was the sorceress attacking them.
The rain stopped momentarily, but Terra didn't cease her protective spell.
"Zidane, take your companions and leave immediately." Kuja said in stern voice, not caring to return his stare for the youth. "This witch's been spying on us."
"... I'll stay with you." Terra replied. After this, it'd be impossible to separate from him to face Ultimecia. And Squall didn't look willling to leave either for his nemesis.
"Protect your friends. I can handle myself." the mage responded, turning his cinder blue eyes to the girl.
She wasn't going to leave. But Kuja was right: her friends needed her. She couldn't get split in two for both sides, while she sworn to protect him her instinct told her to stay along Onion and Zidane and everyone else.
"Uweeh~, what a cute pair of lovebirds." And with the same unexpected way Ultimecia attacked, violent jolts of thunder and fire began to dance everywhere surrounding the warriors. Terra watched with horror how the harlequinn man appeared within an spontaneous cloud of dark smoke. "You make me wanna tear my eyes out!" It was him the last person she wanted to see now.
"Kefka! what are you up to?" The red mage heated her energy flowing wildly through her arms.
"You too? Fine, I won't hold back this time on killing you." Kuja added, defying the clown with same fierce. The rest of the warriors were ready too, expecting Kefka's next move.
"Oh my. Are you threatening me?" he laughed, carelessly scratching his butt.
She didn't want to contemplate how he made fun of them. Along Kuja, she used the Fire spell to begin with the clown. Then it'd be the turn of other to attack Kefka. They could get occupied with Ultimecia later if she appeared, Squall was looking out for her next interference.
But it didn't go as planned. Although she fired the same time Kuja did, something on his spell went off, brusquely altering its course towards Onion and Cloud. She thought something went wrong at last second, and fortunately the other soldiers of Cosmos managed to dodge it on time, but later glaring at the white mage.
Kuja didn't look fine either. His eyes were wide in shock while Kefka crackled crazily at the youngster's attempt. Both Cloud and Onion Knight went to take advantage on Kefka's amusement, while Terra tried to keep Kuja together from such stupor. His magic never failed him like this until now.
Although she wanted to keep her attention on both the battlefield and the mage, she couldn't predict the way that Ultimecia would appear behind them, laughing. "... How imprudent to rebel to your master." she smirked to Kuja, and due shock they couldn't react immediately. Squall did instead, thrusting his blade upon the evil woman, but she easily managed to stop it through the blue iron spears that appeared ascending from the ground. "Our dance will have to wait, Squall. We've got a more important matter to attend."
Along her words, she casted a powerful spell of unknown source that hit the teen and roughly threw him to the ground. AAnd the impression was so big, that Terra left her guard down and didn't see the witch's heavy purple claw that would smack her in the face. The blow made her fall to the ground with a terrible pain flowing on her temples and escaping out her mouth in form of blood.
She felt muddled by the blow, but the only thought remaining untouched was that Kuja was in danger. Her senses made her move quickly, but as soon as she got back on her feet, she realized that she was surrounded by several dozens of sharp stalks on the air.
"Be a good child and don't move from there. Or I may fill your beautiful body with holes. If you wish to die, you may rather your friends to recognize your body, may you not?" said the witch, her dark purple claws rising, ordering her spell to track the girl's every move.
Terra felt trapped. It wasn't as if she was coward, but it'd be foolish to not recognize that there wasn't any chance of getting away of this deathtrap. Besides, the spikes were too close for her to even perform a shielding spell properly. Hadn't no choice but to listen to Ultimecia's warning and be still, watching helplessly whatever they'd do to Kuja.
However, Kuja's solidity was praiseworthy. Having Ultimecia face-to-face didn't seem to sacre him at all. "Are you here to slay me? Don't push your luck, gray hag." he said few inches from her tattoed pale face.
"Fearsome words for some coward you are."
"I don't see you trying to kill me, witch. And I don't advise you to provoke me further." Magic was shimmering on his left hand, but Ultimecia smiled cruelly and raised hers on command of the deadly spikes around Terra. Being counscious that she was in danger, it stopped him from invoking his spell secretly. "Just tell me what you want. You came here to execute me?"
At the same time he finished his answer, Terra heard a tremendous explosion on the side of the field where the rest of her friends were fighting. Most of tyhem were now lying on the ground burned and Kefka just leaping over their bodies with great fun. Terra was horrified, she needed to go and stop Kefka, but if she moved she'd die in vain. Kuja as well, was disquieted by the sight of the warriors defeated, groaning in pain.
"Who said something about slaying kittens? We just came here to retrieve you, my dearest friend." Kefka replied, walking teasingly near the girl and then placing his green bright eyes on the white mage.
Onion Knight slowly started to move again, tha pain of his injuries making it hard to stand up. "... W-what's the matter? All of sudden, they became stronger than last time we fought!" The others were barely breathing, Squall was still uncouncious and Cloud was too, Bartz trembling with hurt and Zidane scarcely rising his head up.
"This is what Kuja had warned us..." said Zidane, grunting because of his agony. He started to drag himself on the ground, seeing how all of sudden the silver haired mage fell on his knees. This too made the warrior maiden get anxious and desperate. "... Bastards!"
Kuja's shoulders were quivering, he seemed to struggle against a force that he couldn't see. "... My... body..." At that moment, Terra abruptly understood with great dread everything. Her own painful memories rised again at the moment Kefka's mental command did effect on the young man.
"Probably wondering why can't you move at will, Kujie-coo?" Kefka asked jeeringly as he walked around him without fear. And suddenly, when the jester stopped aside the wicked enchantress, he gave a rough kick on the youth's chest, making him fall to the ground. Kuja wasn't motionless at all, he could support himself on his arms, but couldn't do anything against the older man. "Well, IT'S ME WHO'S BEEN WONDERING why aren't you all drowsy over the trick. Usually at this point you should be just a slacken doll with no thoughts. It's surprising how fast has the charm weakened."
And again, Kefka abused of his power, trampling on the white mage's back with no compassion. Everyone witnessed this humiliation, and Terra begun to grow sick with frustration, powerless in the situation was driving her mad. Her power was starting to lose itself on her emotions, raging bright on a faint light she concealed lately.
"There's no use to regret now. We'll be able to fix that back at Chaos' domain." Ultimecia announced, not having as much fun as the other warrior of Chaos.
"No! Let him go!" she screamed, and at the same time, before the stalk could get through her, a dangerously powerful blast erupted through her very skin, destroying the magical spikes. This display of magic left everyone atonished, even herself, frightened more than all.
However, it consumed most of her energy and she was barely awake enough to see how were they opening a gate of the Rift and submerging Kuja into that door of darkness.
"Kuja!" It was Zidane who made it running before Terra could, but Kefka's soft spell of fire pushed them with great ease.
They were about to leave. The girl didn't want to give up yet. With shaking legs she walked following the Chaos' warriors, but her pace was so weak that they didn't even bother to stop her.
But then, she saw how did Kuja raised his head and looked at her.
"Terra, don't!" exclaimed, and she fell on her bottom, exhausted, devastated that this was the farthest she could go. "This is fine. It'll be over soon."
Those were the words he said before sinking completely into the gate of blackness along the harpy witch and the jester mage. "Bye-bye!" All the disability she felt punching through her chest while seeing the phantom of her past mocking her again.
His laughter echoed within all her defeated fellows.
The girl wanted to cry. He was captured and she couldn't do anything about it. And Zidane, beside her, creeping on his clothes full of dirt shared her mortification about their loss.
"Damnit... Why did this happen? Why?" he wailed gritting his teeth. "Shoot! WHY?"
Zidane could scream, could regret, he was free of yelling about this bereavement. She was different. It didn't just hurt her, but it destroyed all the confidence she built on herself because of Kuja. Now that he was gone, it was all falling apart.
"I'm... sorry. I coudn't protect you after all."
"... To think we allowed you go to take your perfomance this far, Kuja..." said the Emperor while looking at the younger warrior with disdain as he lied on the gray floor of the shrine's main room, managing to get on his feet while every other Warrior of Chaos put their eyes on him. "You should probably feel lucky of not facing Chaos himself, for none of us shall say a word about this. Rejoice, you won't die here yet."
Ultimecia continued, taking her clawed beastly feet too close of Kuja. "Unless you refuse to willingly cooperate with the our newest scheme, your life shall be forgiven."
The young man had his eyes in blank, giving an equal quantity of hatred to each cretin judging him in that room. But he held a special kind of brutish despise to the man behind the strings that controlled him from the very beginning.
Kuja was still dealing with the fact that his decissions and emotions were dominated by Kefka's hand, and so it fueled his desire of payback. It fed his contempt in burning crimsom.
And Kefka, foolish enough to keep his childish manners, interrupted the other's speech. "... Meh, it's not like he's going to keep his word anyways." The twisted clown stuck out his tongue to the young man. "He's got plenty energy left to give us a good fight here. See?"
Kefka was a destroyer. Destroyed his past, ruined his plans, broke the last of his sanity and with this last drop he demolished the only real chance of gaining redemption. Even now, if Kuja managed to kill all of the Chaos Warriors and the God of Discord, it would be his end. If Chaos died, so would the rest of the warriors he summoned.
But it was a fair price. Cosmos wouldn't have to sacrifice her life, and her chosen warriors would ultimately return to their worlds. They would have the opportunity of accomplishing their dreams. Zidane would go back home to where his loved ones were waiting...
And Terra would be given a destiny again.
If it all meant taking the life of all those demons and his own, he'd do it.
After all, that was the only thing he could do right.
Along this thoughts, a bright red began to flourish and swirl outside his skin and hair, taking form of thousands of scarlet feathers blooming from his body. He almost begun to feel like growing wings spliting his body open, but it wasn't a bad pain. It was like setting his sould free from a thorn that he had buried for long.
The transformation wasn't at its fullest, but it already managed to astonish everyone around. They would feel the threat already, because of the overwhelming magic fusing within his figure.
"Bow down and accept death with open arms, for I am the Grim Reaper." Kuja pronounced, allowing those new feelings vanish his boundaries. "If the end of this conflict comes with our demise, then so be it!"
Kefka, still the only one unimpressed, chuckled and booed at the Angel of Death. Kuja would make him sure to regret that.
"Yay, bring us some nice slaughter, pretty please!"
A/N: Wait, wasn't Cloud wounded last chapter? HE USED A FRIGGING POTION ON THE WAY.
I think it's pretty easy to predict what's soming next... if I weren't the author...
And yes, it's a coincidence I submit this chapter this day (Single Awareness Day, how I like to call it), because I couldn't finish it yesterday.
