Fipp: Dammit. Do to internet troubles, my project can't be up this week.
HOPEFULLY next week. Knowing my luck though, never.
Upheaval
Bartz leapt from the top of the building, landing on the ground level. The connected Mage Mashers and the Sword of Kings were in his hands.
Exdeath then appeared in front of him.
"Did you think that would work?" he asked.
Growling, Bartz charged at Exdeath, but the mage let his sword float into the air, and had it charge at Bartz.
The Mime managed to deflect the sword several times, using his own Mimicked weapons, but Exdeath called his sword back, only to shoot it at Bartz.
He tried to defend against it, but the force behind it knocked both weapons from his hands and sent him flying back, crashing to the ground.
Bartz looked up to see Exdeath pointing his blade at him.
The separated Mage Mashers and the Sword of Kings stabbed the ground, before vanishing.
"You'll never defeat me playing around like this," the sorcerer said, chuckling.
Bartz then leaped into the air, flipping backwards, landing a safe distance away, and summoned the Buster Blade.
"This is the first time," he said, summoning Revolver. "I'm serious!" He readied the blades. "Now, showtime!"
Bartz ran towards Exdeath and swung the two blades, but Exdeath summoned a magical seal to block them each time, though it was clear there was some difficulty to successfully block the attacks.
"Here it comes!" Bartz swung down, but Exdeath leaped backwards and into the air.
"You fool!" He vanished.
Bartz jumped down to the lowest level and saw Exdeath standing near the front gates of the castle.
"You shall wander within the Rift forever!" he said, twirling his sword in the air once.
Bartz dismissed his swords and smirked. "That doesn't sound half bad!"
000
Zidane ran along the side of the large crystal pillar. He looked behind him to see Kuja flying not to far behind giving pursuit.
"Let me perform a piece for you," Kuja said, magic glowing in his palms. "It's your requiem!"
He then began to let loose a barrage of magical blasts at Zidane, laughing the whole time.
"You call that music?" Zidane called back.
"Just playing the overture."
"Of course you are!" Zidane turned around and came to a grinding halt. "Now I'm playing, the finale!"
Zidane leaped into the air, spinning the Mage Mashers as he flew right at Kuja.
000
Vaan was tossed back, and crashed into a wall.
He then looked up, and quickly dodged to the side as Vayne crashed a fist where his head was.
The thief then swung his sword at Vayne, but the man only leaped back from the initial strike.
Vaan then ran back at him, and swung at him, but Vayne dodged each strike.
He then quickly reached his hand out and grabbed the sword by the hollow and pulled Vaan towards him, where he planted his fist into Vaan's stomach, and sent him crashing into the wall again.
"Burn in hell, child!"
Vayne then raised his hand into the air, where several, large, magical sword appeared, and with one flick on the arm, they shot out at Vaan.
They exploded upon contact.
"Hn," Vayne said, as smoke filled the area. "It would seem that your own resolve was not strong enough. It has only lead to your defeat."
"Would you stop talking already!" Vayne looked forward to see Vaan walking out of the clearing smoke, his weapon dragging behind him.
"So, you appear ready for another beating?" Vayne asked.
Vaan said nothing, but instead threw his hand out, casting a barrage of Blizzard, Fire and Thunder.
But he did not aim for Vayne, but rather the ground in front of Vayne.
With his vision clouded, by the debris caused by the magic, Vayne was barely able to dodge Vaan as he swung at him, and was forced to jump back at he stabbed at his head.
With Vayne on the run, Vaan swung his sword again, sending a massive whirlwind forward, which exploded into a large blast of light.
"I see you are reluctant to admit defeat," Vayne said, readjusting his stance, having barely avoided the attack.
Vaan grinned and stabbed his sword into the ground, hand on the hilt. "The only one here who will be admitting defeat, is you!"
He then grabbed the Sword of Kings in both hands and held it in front of him.
"And besides, a lead man doesn't loose."
000
"I welcome you," Vayne said, holding his hand out.
Vaan then rushed forward at Vayne, and jumped into the air with the intent to strike him down, but the man jumped to the side, and made to strike at Vaan, but he quickly rolled out of the.
Vayne punched at Vaan, but the latter quickly blocked this, catching the fist in the hollow of his sword. With Vayne trapped, Vaan cast a Thunder spell on him, before striking him with a 1000 Needles.
After being attacked, man jumped back, to avoid another magical attack, this time a Blizzard, and summoned several sword into the air. They quickly flew at Vaan, but he managed to deflect several of them, but one of them managed to get through his defenses and struck him in the back.
With Vaan's attention elsewhere, Vayne had no trouble striking him, where he began a flurry of kicks and punches, before finally slamming him to the ground.
Vayne pulled his fist back, and slammed it down, aiming for Vaan, but he quickly rolled away and jumped up.
He then ran up to Vayne and swung his sword, which was empowered with the force of thunder. After being electrocuted for several moments, he was assaulted with screaming souls.
Vaan was about to ready himself for another attack, but Vayne had summoned more swords to attack him. He wasn't quick enough to dodge, or block them, and as a result, was stabbed through the middle, before the engulfed him in a fiery explosion.
Vaan was tossed into the air by the attack, and was struck by Vayne and sent back to the ground. He then raised his arm and summoned a sword, which was then joined by several more sword, creating a large mace-like weapon.
He flew down, ready to strike Vaan, but the latter quickly jumped out of the way, but was still caught in the explosion and tossed away.
"I implore you to stand down,' Vayne said, trying to find Vaan. "Continuing such a pointless farce will only result in more agony for you."
The smoke from his attack cleared, but was he struck from the back by Vaan's sword, which quickly flew back to its wielder, and saw thrown to the ground.
"It's over for you!"
Vaan swung his sword, summoning up a toxic green miasma around Vayne, before it exploded in a massive violent blast.
000
Vayne collapsed to the ground.
"So, it would seem that you've the will to stand by your resolve," he said, glaring at Vaan.
"Was there any doubt?" Vaan casually asked.
Vayne chuckled. "You seem to pride yourself on that? But how far will that pride take you?"
The air around him turned black and purple, and rippled, taking Vayne away with it as it dissolved away into nothing.
"Sorry, but pride has nothing to do with it," Vaan said aloud. "I'd cast it away too, if it came to it . . ." He left this thought unfinished.
A bright light then showed where Vayne disappeared.
"The Crystal!"
The Crystal that floated in front of him resembled a hand-sized uncut diamond that gave off a soft orange glow. (1)
He walked forward and reached forward to grab it, but it flew out of his grip and towards the exit.
"Hey!" Vaan called, giving chase. "Come back here!"
He followed the Crystal out of the Bahamut, and to another part of the world.
After he rounded a corner of the castle in the sky, he found Bartz and Squall across from him, and Zidane running up the bridge.
"Hey guys!" he waved, catching their attention. He then ran to the bridge to meet them.
'To defend what we hold most dear. I'm willing to give up everything I am for that.'
000
Having let go of his anger and frustration, Vaan has obtained his Crystal and returns to Bartz, Zidane and Squall.
With this newfound strength and power, he vows to use to it defend his comrades, swearing their safety as long as he is able.
He now looks far ahead, far beyond the clouds, seeing the day where not even the sky can limit his future dreams.
000
"I will not let their struggles be wasted," Firion said to Ultimecia and the Emperor. "I will obtain the Crystal, and bring an end to this!"
"Is that truly your will?" the Emperor asked.
"What do you mean?"
"That is why you are weak. You only fight because you are told to. You are nothing but Cosmos's tool." And with that last taunt, both he and the witch vanished.
Firion mulled over the Emperor's words. "Am I, just Cosmos's tool?"
000
Lightning knew exactly where to go.
She walked further into Orphan's Cradle, and towards the silver pool, where Dysely stood with his back to her.
"You came much faster then I thought you would," Dysely said as she approached him.
Lightning stopped and gave the 'man' a hard glare at the back of his head, hoping it would be enough to sear right through.
He then turned around to her, a great sweeping motion with his robes. "Now tell me, are you ready to fulfill your purpose, like the tool you are?"
Lightning continued her glare. "Earlier, you said that we were supposed to destroy this world. Just what did that mean?"
"And why should I tell you?" Galenth laughed, as if she just told a mirthful joke. "You have no right to know anything. You can only be guided by those who are superior than you, should it be to addle by, or act when the time comes.
"And that times has come!" He raised his staff into the air. "The time for this war's climax is about to be reached!"
"From what you're saying, then you're nothing but a tool as well. One of Chaos."
Galenth laughed again. "Is that what you've come to assume? Then again, I should expect no less from someone who is ignorant of their fate, yet at the same time unable to live without it."
Lightning closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. "I'm done."
"Done? Are you done fighting the fact that this world will collapse, and you will be its cause?"
"Yes." She snapped open her eyes and quickly drew her weapon, and pointed it at Galenth. "I'm done listening to you! This world won't collapse! We'll make sure of it!"
"You fancy yourself the hero." There was a loud cry, and Menrva appeared and hovered just above its master. "I shall show you where you belong!"
(1) The Dusk Shard.
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Mrfipp