Chap. 14

The Channel magic sphere began to ring, its sound startlingly loud in the sudden silence. The wizard snapped to attention, as did Leon and the Dark men. The four of them started forward as Yuna whispered the name and looked into the sphere. Kieci's face was there, and she looked tense. The girl paid it no heed.

"Call back later!" she whispered harshly and the orb went black. She stuffed it back into her pocket just as the Dark Tidus reached out, grabbed her arm and drug her into the clearing. The wizard watched her with his grin, motioning for the Dark incarnations to step away.

"What is this, little deer?" he questioned, walking to her. Yuna readied her staff and prayed her fear didn't show in her face. "Wandered into the wolves' lair, have we? Fortunate, perhaps. Now I have a messenger to take my warning to the Dragon. Tell her..." his eyes glittered maliciously, "...tell her that the Dark is rising, with Chaos at its side. She will understand. Perhaps." Yuna took half a step back, thankful for the time his talking had bought her. She was ready now, the spell fast in her mind. She began to mouth it, silent, her lips hardly moving in their rapidity. The wizard saw before she was halfway done; her Blizzard spell ricocheted off of his Barrier and hit her full force, blasting her against a tree. Dazed, she crumpled to its base. "Too slow, little deer. Someday you will get faster, although you'll probably be dead by then. Perhaps." The black vortex reappeared, larger this time. "Farewell. Don't forget to pass on my message. Come now," he motioned to the Dark men and Leon, whose eyes did not linger for more than a second on Yuna.

"Why?" the mage demanded of his receding back.

"Because you will fail." He walked into the vortex. Seifer pulled Leon's gunblade free of the tree and followed the others as they all passed through the hole and disappeared. Tidus was the last to leave. Hesitating, he walked over to where Yuna half-laid against the tree. Kneeling, he grabbed her chin in his hands.

"You could blow me to pieces with that staff," he told her, "-and destroy one enemy, yet you don't." His gaze ensnared hers. "Hard to hate me, isn't it? You know I'm not him. You know I would kill you in an instant, without any remorse and yet you don't act. All simply because I look and sound as he does. You are truly weak. It is an advantage I will not forget." He dropped something at her feet and walked through the vortex and it vanished. Her head still spinning, Yuna looked down--Leon's pendant lay on the ground. Lifting it with quivering fingers she hung it around her neck and concealed it beneath her tunic.

"Lady?" The little girl, her eyes red and swollen, approached Yuna. "Are you okay?" The mage plastered on a smile for the child and nodded.

"Yes. I just fell."

"Nuh-uh," she objected, "The bad man pushed you, with his magic. I watched him. He was scary." Yuna pushed herself up, using the tree for support.

"You're right. I--" she cut off when the sound of hoof beats thundered nearby. A moment later and Scout, Aragorn and Auron rode into the clearing. The little girl immediately let out a gleeful cry.

"Sissy!" Scout swung from the saddle, landing and kneeling in time to receive the girl's hug.

"Molly, I'm so glad you're here," she pulled back and examined the girl's face. "Are you okay? Did they hurt you?" Molly shook her auburn head. Scout looked at Yuna. "Where are the Dark men?"

"Gone. Leon too." When Aragorn and Auron looked at her, confused, she hung her head. "He's converted, taken new allies. He's no longer on our side. He left with the Dark and the wizard."

"The what?" Auron questioned. Before she could answer the Channel magic orb began to vibrate again.

"What happened?" Kieci's annoyed voice asked from Yuna's palm. "You cut me short before, and this is urgent."

"So was my situation," Yuna replied, as calmly as she could. It was hard to be civil. "Your call gave away me away to Sephiroth and his fellows. The wizard as well."

"The...! Oh gods, Yuna, I'm so sorry. Are you--did--I--is everyone all right? I didn't know--"

"No apologies necessary. We're all okay. Leon..." she choked, cleared her throat and pressed on. "--Leon has switched sides. He is no longer with us--he went with the wizard."

"I...," Kieci looked angry, "Thanks for breaking it to me gently. A deserter? That's...that's one thing I hadn't planed on. Leon..." she paused. "I can't believe it," her eyes turned hard, "But that's not why I called you. We have a problem...another problem."

"What is it now?" Auron asked. Scout lifted Molly in her arms and joined the semicircle around the Channel magic orb.

"A third group was brought in yesterday. Without my knowledge, I can assure you. Needless to say, a Technician led them into battle today."

"I was led to believe that the Dark's restrictions would prevent such an act," Aragorn said.

"It does. They were beaten horribly. One or more of them may already be dead, and they're prisoners in the castle at Death's Wake." Yuna flinched-- the mage had told them rumors about the castle.

"That's horrible."

"Not a nice place," Scout murmured in agreement. "There's a Dark aura surrounding it for miles all around. It's almost as bad as the Fortress up north."

"Yes, well, I don't know what to do. The other group was assailed last night as well."

"Are they still..?"

"Yes. Not without injuries, mind you. I think Aerith is the only one still in one piece. They'll be fine, but that leaves us lacking in the ally department. With the Weapons still running around and the Dark's power inexplicably growing, I am lost as to our next move."

"That's not all," Yuna said sadly, "The wizard--I assume you've heard of him from the others?--told me...he said to tell you that the Dark grows with Chaos at its side."

"I'd assumed as much," the Dragon whispered. "This wizard...who or whatever he is...he's learned to control it somehow, to send it out in tendrils. What this means, what it will do, I don't know. Nor do I understand how he can do magic at all. But all this is beside the point. My biggest concern right now is freeing that imbecile Tari and the warriors she drug down with her. If there's anything left." Her face vanished from the sphere momentarily. "Sorry, I must go. Something...urgent just came up. Please be careful and stay where you are. Chances are you'll be safe in Oyu." Yuna raised an eyebrow.

"How did you know we were in--"

"--I have sources. Gods all bless." The orb went black.

R&R PLEASE! Thanks to everyone who did!

-K-