Chapter 13: The Morning Meeting\ Items against Geo-Stigma Revealed #1: A Elixir of Music
'Artifacts have been scattered, awaiting the worthy soul to obtain them from their wakes against a venomous poison. Hidden away in a house of music, only the worthy one in song shall obtain its qualities....'
*The Pilgrims are gathering and the marching band, the marching band's howling, Compassion is the flag a righteous man, a righteous man will hold*---From Your Favorite Enemies's 'The Messenger', 'Chaos', and 'Cosmos' from Dissidia Final Fantasy OST. (Lyrics).
The morning sky lit up with hues and colors of orange, light blue, and small tints of red to pink. The disc of a sun rose from its horizon position, lighting the sky up with its brilliant light. A few more hours pass, and everyone began to stir from their beds. Karin was the first to wake up.
"Guuuhhh...What a night..." she yawned. As if on cue, Koko wakes up and shakes herself awake, fluttering her feathers in the process. Koko then turns to Karin and gives her a 'Good Morning' peck. "Awww...Thank you, Koko..." said Karin, giving the female Chocobo a 'Good Morning' hug.
The chicks immediately woke up and went to wake the others still in bed. The first of the chicks went inside the lab where the Onion Knight was working, asleep from exhaustion with his head on his arms, still wearing the knight-like helmet on his head. The chick climbs up the cabinet drawers that it opened and used it as a ladder to get to the still slumbering youth, determined to wake him up. It makes it on the desk and waddles its way to the Onion Knight, lightly poking its head in between his arms and head and lightly pecks him awake. He begins to move, but in response moves away from the source of the nuisance and went to lay his head down, but there wasn't anymore desks near him and he immediately falls out of his chair onto the floor, jolting him awake fully.
"Gah ya...What the..??" The youth said as he halfly rose himself up. The chick returns to the floor and approaches the Onion Knight, and pecks him lightly with a heart over its head. "Oh, you...Your lucky your so cute...Alright, I'm up," said the Onion Knight, getting up from the floor. The second of the chicks then went to a dark room with a sword near the stand to the left side of the bed. In the black covered mattress, Cloud was still asleep, til the chick managed to get up on the bed and began lightly pecking the blonde swordsman awake.
"Huh..What the...?" Cloud said as he began to wake up. He then turned to the source of the pecking and saw a Chocobo chick right next to his face.
It peered into Cloud's blue eyes and gave a light peck of affection with a heart over its head. "Awww...Your my alarm clock now?...Alright, I'm getting up," said Cloud. The third chick waddles its way to the next room and the fourth one followed into a room where both Tidus and Yuna occupied. Still asleep in the bed, the two laid side by side. One of the chicks move towards Tidus and hops on him as he laid on his back and began jumping on him in a way of saying 'Get up!'. The fourth got in between the two and begins to peck lightly to wake up Yuna, who slept on her side right next to Tidus.
"Huh? What the...Hey!" Tidus said, spotting the chick jumping on him, "What do you think your doing?" The chick stopped and gave a peck of affection with a heart over its head.
"Aww...Are you my Chocobo alarm clock? Sweet little thing..." said Tidus. Yuna begins to stir as the fourth chick pecked her awake. "Hmmm? What the? Oh, hello..." said Yuna. The chick stopped for a second and with a heart over its head, it gave its affection.
"You little cutie...I'm up..." said Yuna, rising from the bed, "Tidus..Your awake already?"
"Yep..Its all thanks to this amazing alarm clock...Right, little guy?" answered Tidus, lifting the chick up with his left hand. The chick chirped in happiness and flapped its wings.
The fifth accompanied the first and went to another room that was occupied with the SeeD mercenary: Squall Leonhart, while the second and sixth went to wake the thief, Zidane, up. The first chick helps the fifth in teamwork onto the charcoal grey colored covered mattress and went near the slumbering Squall. The first chick, helped by the fifth gets up there as well and both began fluttering their feathers, tickling the mercenary awake.
"Hey...Hey...Cut it out..I'm up, I'm up..Huh?" Squall mumbled as he awoke from his sleep, spotting the chicks near him, "You know..I'm not good with children." The chicks then both gave a peck of affection, accompanied by a heart over their heads. Squall shook his head, then petted them.
The second chick watched the swaying of Zidane's tail as the thief slumbered and tried to catch it with its beak. The sixth chick joined in, trying to snatch Zidane's tail. On their second and third try, the second chick grasps onto the thief's tail and as if by instinct, Zidane 'fishes' the chick to him, showing he was half awake.
"And what do you think your doing?" cooed the genome thief. The sixth walked around to face Zidane and gave him a peck of affection, with a red heart over its head. The second chick accompanied its partner with a heart over its head as well. The third chick and the shy seventh went to the next room to wake the Warrior of Light, while the fourth chick went to wake Terra up.
Everyone else began to wake up on their own, heading down to the hall for breakfast. Tidus then headed to Bartz's room to wake him up, including Lorena. He was followed by Boko.
"Hey, Bartz..Time to get up..--" His thought was cut off when he saw both Bartz and Lorena laying together, like Firion and Karin, but not in the back of a car. "Oh, god...It did not happen! Oh, my god!" said Tidus.
"Keep it up and I will tell this to Yuna myself and watch her smack the left side of your face.." mumbled Bartz. Tidus touches the still visible hand print and hisses in pain. Boko then knocks Tidus onto the floor and chirped, waddling his way to his friend.
"Oh, Boko...I heard you chirping out there..And the rest of the family. What's the big idea, huh?" said Bartz, "I thought we were buddies?" Boko then gave his 'Good Morning' peck and did the exact same thing with Lorena, who then woke up by contact.
"Oh...Good morning, Boko..." said Lorena, petting the Chocobo, "How was your sleep?" Boko chirped and fluttered his feathers. Boko then went to Tidus and pecked at the back of his head.
"Hey! Meanie! Stop that!" said Tidus. Boko then sat on Tidus's back, refusing to get up. "Hey! Big..Meanie--" Bartz immediately starts cackling, holding his stomach from laughing so much.
"Oh, shut up.." said Tidus. "Are you gonna cry? Its exactly how your father says it. Are you gonna cry?" said Bartz, imitating Jecht.
"Don't start mimicking my old man...Boko!" yelled Tidus, "Oh, man..Your heavy!" Boko then pecked at Tidus's head again.
"Hey! I'm not saying your fat," said Tidus. "Ooooohhh....Tidus thinks your fat," said Bartz.
"No I'm not, now get your heavy friend of my back!" said Tidus. "Cry baby..." said Bartz. Tidus has heard this too many times and it all came from his father, Jecht.
"Don't you start it...I had enough of being called that," fumed Tidus. "....cry baby...." muttered Bartz.
"Just get your fat Chocobo off my back!" said Tidus. A pulsing angermark appeared on Boko's head and Tidus was punished with a few pecks on the head. Cloud stood outside, wide eyed.
"Oooooh...Get him, Boko...No one calls you 'fat' and gets away with it," said Lorena. "Who's side are you on?!" cried Tidus, as if he was about to bawl.
"Cry baby!" shouted Bartz, "Okay, Boko...I think you tortured this rising blitzer enough, let's let him go." Boko gets up and as soon as Tidus got up, he starts whining.
"I want Yuna! Yuna!" cried Tidus, walking out the room with his arms out as if he wanted a hug, crying to Yuna. Bartz walks to the door and yells out, "Cry baby!"
"Shut up!...Yuna! A Chocobo sat on me!" whined Tidus. As a sole witness, Cloud kept quiet and walked away, whistling a tune to himself. The chicks then reunited, heading in Cecil's room together. Unknown to the little Chocobos, Karin was watching the scene as she made her way to her father's room. The chicks gathered around the light purple covered mattress where the dark knight\paladin slept.
They begin pecking at him, but soon was halted when Cecil turned to the other side by instinct of getting away from the nuisance. The chicks refused to give up and began pecking at the back of his silver haired head.
"Guhhh...Stop...I need more..Sleep..." mumbled Cecil, shooing the chicks away. Karin walks in and notices the chick's valor and then quieted them. It was her turn to try. Everyone was outside giggling, as if they all know what's about to happen.
"Hey! The enemy's attacking us!" shouted Karin, right near Cecil's face. He immediately wakes up in a panic and amazingly fell out of the bed, front first.
"Gah...What the..?" wondered Cecil as he looked up.
Karin and everyone started laughing at Cecil, as if they were part of the joke; or just witnesses. Cecil was not happy to be tricked like that, but how can he even yell at them? Its not part of his personality, so he gets up quietly, speaking no words.
"Oh, come on...It was just a joke...Lighten up," said Karin, apologizing in the process. "Have you heard a story about a boy who cried wolf?" asked Cecil, breaking his silence, "He keeps it up til they don't believe him anymore, even when he's not kidding in the end." Karin was about to say something, but knew it wouldn't matter, so she remained silent and walked out.
"Gezz, Cecil...She was just playing with you, you can't even take a joke?" asked Tidus.
"Not anymore...I wish I could, but I can't," replied Cecil. "You take things too seriously; like the Warrior of Light," said Tidus,
"Maybe you should have some fun once and a while..Loosen up a bit." Cecil had a sadden look on his face, then a single tear flowed down the left side of his face. The chicks chirped in sadness, worried about the paladin. By watching how the chicks were acting, Tidus sensed something amiss.
"You okay?" he asked. Cecil kept his back turned, then said, "I'm alright...I'll...hmm...I'll just stay here, then," Tidus didn't want to leave, but he had to, so he went to where the others were; without Cecil.
The chicks chirped in sadness and went to follow Tidus, leaving Cecil alone in his room. The Warrior of Light approaches the door enroute to the hall, and notices something amiss with Cecil.
"What is bothering you? Is it about Golbez?" asked the Warrior of Light. "...Why is he doing this again? He's on sides with Chaos, but isn't really on no one's side...Why is he doing this?" Cecil pondered, shedding more tears.
"He maybe on no one's side, but he's on the wrong side..." said the Warrior of Light. "But he's my brother!!" yelled Cecil, but then stopped. He couldn't believe it, he yelled at the Warrior of Light. With both hands over his mouth, he turns away and faces the wall behind him, in shock.
'Oh, god...Did I..Yell at him?? Oh, god I did..' thought Cecil. "Cecil?" said the Warrior of Light.
"I've caused enough damage already..Go on...I'll be fine here..." said Cecil, standing with his back turned to the Warrior of Light. Back in the hall, everyone heard the commotion, shocked of what they heard.
"I think Cecil has issues about his brother...I never did like Golbez," said Bartz. "Me, too. Besides, he's an enemy, and you know what we do to the enemies," said Tidus. Karin ate her food, then said, "They're brothers, they're like family no matter whose side they're on." The group pondered this, then Tidus said, "Well, my old man doesn't count..."
"Oh, come on...The blood of a blitzer runs through both of your veins," said Karin.
"Karin...I think Tidus is serious," said Lorena. Then in front of everyone, Tidus mutters, "...One of these days...I'll show him who's better...That jerk..." Karin couldn't believe it, Tidus actually called Jecht a 'jerk'. Since she played 'Final Fantasy X', she knows why. The Warrior of Light arrives, but Cecil hasn't arrived. Karin was worried. She immediately gets up and asks, "Where is Cecil?" "He's still in his room...He is distressed about the events involving his brother, Golbez," answered the Warrior of Light. Karin knew Cecil was upset, but there was one thing that was making her angry: The Warrior of Light's lack of emotion to the situation. Karin finally snaps.
"Why aren't you trying to help him? Is it not part of your duty as a knight?!" Karin yelled, pushing the Warrior of Light backwards. Everyone panics, hiding behind the tables, but only Yuna and Tifa remained out.
"Oh, snaps! She snapped..." whispered Bartz.
"Why don't you show some compassion!? Isn't that too hard for you!" Karin continued. The Warrior of Light stood in fear, not moving an inch. Lorena rushes to Karin, then pulls her away from the Warrior of Light.
"I think he gets the point, come on, Kar..." said Lorena. Sighing in relief, the Warrior of Light walks on step foward, that is until Koko knocks him backwards back on the floor with both her feet.
"Oooooooohhhh!" everyone 'oh'ed'. "Boko! Koko's gone 'Coco'!" shouted Bartz. Boko rushes to Koko and tries to calm her by grooming her feathers, but she insisted on finishing what Karin started. Koko was about to pounce on the knight, but a familiar spear-like weapon was pointing at her. Koko panics and flees, Boko does the same. Cecil walks in, then asked,
"When will you people learn to stay out of people's affairs? Where's my answer!?" Everyone silenced. Tidus hid under a table,
"Uh...Because we worry about you? Heh he he heh...." Tidus chuckled. Cecil was still peeved. Tidus began to cry like a three year old, "I want my mommy!"
Boko continued to groom Koko. The Onion Knight had a chair in front of him as a shield, hiding himself from an angry paladin. Bartz also hid under the table with Tidus, crying together. The Warrior of Light tried to get out of the room in fear, but the paladin then spoke, "My daughter is right, after all..." The knight stopped in his tracks.
"Why is it hard for you to show compassion? Answer me..." said Cecil. The Warrior of Light doesn't speak. The reason was clear to Cecil, the knight really doesn't have no answer.
"I thought so...Now enough of this quarrel, let's eat," said Cecil, somehow returning to his old self.
"Waaaahhhh!!" cried both Bartz and Tidus. Now all together, everyone ate in peace, and some were afraid that Cecil will snap again. The Onion Knight ate his food quickly, hoping to get a chance to get out of there. Boko ate his share of Gysahl greens, while the other half was to Koko and the chicks. Bartz shakenly takes a sip of water in the glass, spilling a few drops on himself and a baby Chocobo below. It shook the drops away off its feathers and waddles away. Everyone else wasn't afraid like them, but Tidus was even more scared.
"Why is everyone silent?--" Gaahhh!!! I didn't do anything! I swear!" screamed Tidus, instantly dropping the glass of water to the floor, getting a Chocobo chick wet.
The chick shook the water off its feathered and cursed in chirps. "Oh, god, I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" Tidus apologized to the chick. Cecil was confused, "What's his problem?" The Onion Knight accidentally spills some of the water on himself, then said, "He..He got hit by a blitzball in the head too many times...Heh heh heh heh..." Cecil acknowledged this and then took a sip of his water.
"Why are you guys freaking out?" asked Squall, "The only person he'll snap at is the Warrior of Light."
"Calm down, you guys..." muttered Cloud. "I don't wanna get killed, okay?" said Tidus. Cecil heard this, "What'd you say?" Tidus spills some water on himself, then said, "I'm sorry!"
"Sorry for what?" asked Cecil. "I'm sorry for saying that your brother is a jerk! Don't kill me! I've died before and I don't wanna die again!!!" cried Tidus, bawling. Karin slumped her head on the table where her plate was before.
"Hold on...I thought he called his dad a jerk?" asked Lorena. "He did.." said Karin. The Onion Knight finishes his food and gets up to put the plate away, but trips over a Chocobo chick and almost fell, but Cecil catches him and grabs the plate for him. The youth shakes with fear, then breaks down with tears.
"Waahh haahhaaa! Don't hurt me, please! I didn't do anything wrong against you!!" bawled the Onion Knight. Cecil was even more confused.
After a few hours from eating breakfast, Cecil ponders of why that some of the others were afraid of him. Then a thought about his brother pops into his head, then his sadness returns yet again. 'Why are you doing this, Golbez? What is the main reason your doing this?' he thought. It was soon cut off as Boko approached the scene. Boko stopped for a second, then turned around to leave. "Boko...Come here," said Cecil. Boko froze, then walked in reverse to Cecil, afraid if he didn't comply, something bad will happen. Boko chirped in fear.
"Why are you acting like this? You know I wouldn't hurt you," said Cecil, petting the Chocobo's head.
Boko tensed, but then relaxed. After a few minutes, the Warrior of Light walks into his room, til then he heard a voice speak to him in his head. It was the Goddess of Harmony.
'Warrior of Light...' the voice said. "Cosmos? What is it?" said the Warrior of Light.
'There is a message...I want you to tell the others....Listen to these words carefully,' said Cosmos telepathicly. Karin returns to her room to settle down, then noticed something amiss: Her CDs were out and so was her boombox and a pair of headphones.
'What the?' thought Karin. She then turns the corner to the other side of her bed, and spots the Onion Knight wearing the headphones and listening to the music on her CDs. The CD he was listening to at this point was of the soundtrack 'Dissidia Final Fantasy'. The youth bobbed his head to the beat of the playing song, listening to it carefully. Karin approaches the youth and taps his left shoulder, causing him to turn to her and panic.
"Gah! Karin! I'm sorry...I got bored all of a sudden so I....Oh, forget it, I'm going," said the Onion Knight. Koko waddles to the scene and chirps with anger, as if saying 'What are you doing with Karin's CDs?'
"If you wanted to listen to my CDs, you could've just asked," said Karin.
The Onion Knight then thought for a minute, then asked, "Can I?"
"Its always important to ask...Sure you can, but don't scratch any of them or I'll get angry and me and Koko will beat you up, we're girlfriends now, right Koko?" said Karin. Koko chirped in agreement and gives her affection to Karin in Chocobo style. Bartz and Boko remained in the main room near the entrance playing a card game. til they hear Tidus scream out Yuna's name. 'What the?' thought Bartz. He rushes to Tidus's room, and Yuna followed behind. Tidus sits up in the bed, huffing and sweating in fear as if awoken from a nightmare. He quickly examines his torso, then sighed, 'Phew..It was a dream...' thought the blitzer of Zanarkand.
"Tidus!" cried both Bartz and Yuna, arriving in the room together. Tidus immediately gets up and runs to Yuna, holding her tightly in his arms.
"Yuna! I'm glad your alright!" Tidus cried. Yuna was puzzled, "What do you mean? What happened?"
"I just had a bad dream that Seymour took you away from me. I was trying to stop him, but Shuyin used my dad's sword and stabs me through the middle with it...And my old man was watching the whole thing, crying....It was horrible, Yuna, it was horrible!!" Tidus said, crying his eyes out. Yuna tries to calm Tidus down, but the nightmare took its toll on him.
"It was just a dream...Its not real at all..--" "I'm gonna go back...Am I..Am I going to die again?" asked Tidus, cutting off Yuna's sentence.
"No! Your not going back to the Farplane...Just don't think about. Everything will be alright, I promise," said Yuna, assuring Tidus that he wasn't going back to the afterlife of the Farplane.
"Farplane? What's that?" asked Bartz, "You've saying this for awhile, but what is it?"
"In Spira when I used to been a summoner, the Farplane is where all the souls of the departed go after a summoner does a 'Sending'..." Yuna explained.
"So...Its like the afterlife for the dead?" asked Bartz. "Yes, just like that.." answered Yuna, "As you already figured out, Tidus has died before..Once."
"Whoa...Back from the dead...How?" Bartz asked.
"The Fayth...Revived me, because Yuna spended alot of time searching for me and fulfilled an important task for it. The Fayth of Yevon is like a religious group, offering safety from the entity, Sin. The price for this is to leave the machina behind, machines and technology, because they believed Sin was attracted to it. Civilization was at a stand still, but through those times, they needed safety and a sanctuary from the entity," said Tidus.
"How do you know about Sin?" asked Bartz in curiosity. "Because it was 'Sin' that made Zanarkand ruins. It destroyed the city while I was in a middle of a blitzball match. I was sucked up by that thing and I ended up in Spira in someway.." answered Tidus.
Tidus continued, "Rikku and others with her found me. She asked where I came from, and my answer was Zanarkand. She looked at me funny and asked if Sin's toxin was messing with me. Sin's toxin can cause amnesia, and making you say things that might sound true to you, but it might not. I was honest about my answer and she then believed me, but advised me to tell of the toxin story or they'll think I'm crazy." Bartz listened carefully, then said, "Now I get it...I think I know enough to get the picture..--" Before Bartz was about to leave, Tidus grabs his right arm and said, "No...I want you to hear my story...All of it...My story written so far to this point." Bartz has heard this line before, it was mostly from Auron.
"Auron says that, too...I guess you got it from him," said Bartz.
"Then...Sin came back and attacked us after retrieving machina in a type of water ruins and I was lost in the sea. When I arose to the surface near the shores of the Besaid Islands, I met Wakka and the Besaid Aurochs while they were training. I showed them my skill and they were amazed. Wakka asked whose team I played for and I answered back that I played from Zanarkand. He thought I was nuts, so I said that Sin's toxin was messing with me. Then a few moments later, I met her," Tidus said, looking towards Yuna, who was still right next to him.
"You met...Yuna then? Wow..." said Bartz in awe. "As a summoner..Yes. I was also introduced to her other guardians: Kimahri Ronso, Lulu, I already knew Wakka. Soon later, I become one of her guardians. As we journeyed, I found out somethings about the Yevon's religion, a religion that made me sick. I didn't want Yuna to go through this, even a arranged marriage to...Guado," said Tidus.
"You mean Seymour? That's his last name? It sounds funny..What is he?" said Bartz.
"Unfortunately..Guado is Seymour's last name. He is Yevon's Maester, a popular figure in Spira that I first saw in Luca. Yuna just wanted to make Spira happy, but with so many lies behind Yevon, she was miserable underneath," said Tidus.
"You fell in love..With her...You wanted to protect her from the fallacies Yevon created...So..What happened next?" asked Bartz.
"I was just a creation of dreams...Dreams that will soon end. I knew I would fade away to the Farplane as soon as Sin was defeated, so I made Yuna happy without the ways of Yevon and spended as much time as possible with her. We finally reached to our destination, but we found out a couple things at the ruins of Zanarkand: My dad was part of Sin, and the Final Summoning truly cannot defeat Sin, it can, but Sin would always come back a thousand years later," said Tidus.
"Your dad...Was part of Sin? How?" asked Bartz.
"According to Tidus's father, Jecht...He was sacrificed as the Final Aeon to defeat Sin. While he was training at sea, he came into contact with the entity, dooming him for the rest of his life. My father had two guardians with him: Jecht was one of them and Auron is the second. After using an Aeon, divine creatures of yore, against Sin, the inner entity, Yu Yevon will absorb and posses that Aeon. After we permanently rid Spira of Sin...As he predicted, Tidus faded to the Farplane and I spended all the time needed to bring him back," said Yuna.
"Whoa...Now I know the connections between you, Tidus, Jecht, and now Seymour...But there's another guy I don't know about," said Bartz.
"Shuyin....I'm getting there," said Tidus, "According to Yuna, the reason she started looking for me was of a sphere-recording of someone who looked like me. She even fell into the Farplane and met him, but it wasn't me, it was Shuyin. He looks almost like me, but his outfit is different and looks mad. He confused Yuna of someone else, but when he found out the truth, he wasn't happy."
"What did...Shuyin do?" asked Bartz. "He tried to hurt her in rage, but I intercepted and guided her out of the Farplane before Shuyin caused her harm," answered Tidus.
"Shuyin and Seymour are with Jecht in this war, aiming their anger at Tidus with their own reason," said Yuna.
"Oh, boy...That's not good..." As soon as Bartz finished, Cloud walks in and said, "The Warrior of Light has received a message from Cosmos..He wants to tell everyone this." Everyone nodded. As Yuna left and Bartz was close behind, Tidus spoke again, "I'm afraid...Of my nightmare..What if it happens and I go back to the afterlife..Will I come back again?"
"It was just a dream. I have nightmares, too, but they never happen. Its just your nerves playing with your mind..Don't worry," said Bartz.
"I wish I can believe that.." said Tidus. They head towards the main room near the entrance and gathered near the Warrior of Light. Karin and Lorena didn't want to join, but they had to.
"Cosmos has informed me through this message that there are six items that act as ingredients to the antidote against Geo-Stigma. She has scattered them into six different locations of this city and we must find them before the enemy does. If they do, they'll guard it from us and we have to fight for it," said the Warrior of Light.
"Did she give the location of the first of the six?" asked Karin. "She has. It is hidden in a bar that has concerts and...Well, music..--" "Oh! I know that place! I've went by there before one time..Its called...Hold on guys, I need to remember...Uh..Its called 'The Black Lilac'," said Karin, remembering an important detail.
"Black Lilac? Sounds dark," said the Onion Knight.
"Its the only one in this city, so we got off on an easy start. Which group is going first?" asked Karin.
"I have decided that Tidus, Firion, Squall, Onion Knight, Cecil, and Bartz will join you and Lorena...Including Boko.." said the Warrior of Light. Koko fluttered her feathers with stress, but Boko cooes to Koko and both Chocobos rub their beaks together in affection. "Alright..Lets go," said Firion. Everyone gets into the SUV and buckles in, but Cecil was confused.
"I was confused, too..Its like this.." Bartz said, showing Cecil how to work the seatbelt. Boko sat in the back, along with the Onion Knight, Firion, Lorena, and Squall.
"Gesh, is there enough room back there?" asked Tidus. "Its toasty..Other wise its alright..Hi, Boko," said Squall. Boko chirped and laid his head on Squall's left shoulder. The car drove down the road to their destination of one of the ingredients for the cure. On the way, Tidus told the others what he told Bartz and his nightmare from his nap earlier.
"I'm afraid...He could be there...and the other two with my old man...I don't know," said Tidus.
"Dreams aren't real, Tidus. I understand your nightmare is bothering you, but its best to get over it and come back to reality. If Jecht comes near you or tries to hurt you...I'll take that former blitzer down, that's a promise, okay?" said Karin. Tidus smiled, then said, "Thank you..."
"Karin...Keep your eye on the road..We don't want an accident," said Cecil, actting as a concerned parent.
"Hey...I've been driving since I was eighteen...Chill out," said Karin, "Keep this up and you'll be walking..." Everyone started giggling and laughing. "Dad..Calm down..I was kidding. I was just messing with you, simmer down," said Karin. Cecil chuckled to himself, then silenced. Tidus leaned forward to the radio in the car, "Its quiet in here...Is there any music? He pressed the 'On' button and almost immediately the radio turns on, playing on a station that read out '107.5'. It starts playing a rap-based song and everyone was puzzled, including Boko.
"What the? What kind of song is this?" asked Tidus. "What..You never heard of 'The Black Eyed Peas'?" asked Lorena.
"Lorena..He's from Zanarkand..I bet they don't have this kind of music," said Karin. "Whoa...Nice music up there..." said Squall. Boko listened more, then began bobbing his feathered head to the music's beats.
"Uh, oh...Karin, Boko's starting to love this song, look through the rearview mirror," said Lorena. Karin looks through the rearview mirror and spots Boko bobbing his head to the beats.
"Oh, Boko..You like this song?" Karin asked. Boko chirped and cooed, meaning 'Yes'.
The song ends and Lorena comes up with an idea, "Hey, why don't you put that CD in? Maybe they want to listen to the three versions of 'The Messenger'."
"Okay..Hang on, here--" "Let me get that...Just keep driving," said Cecil, looking for the CD. Karin groaned to herself, but had to adjust. "Is this it?" asked Cecil.
"Yup, that's it right there...Put it in," answered Karin. Cecil carefully takes the CD out and tries to figure out how to put it in the CD player built into the car. He then sees an opening wide enough for a disc to go in, so he tried that and the CD went in.
"There we go...Huh? Its not working.." Cecil said in empathy. "That's because you putted it in wrong, try flipping it over. Press the 'Eject' button and flip the CD over," said Karin
Cecil did as Karin instructed and flipped the CD so the artwork on the front was facing up. He puts it back in and the CD player began to work. "Finally...Its working--" "Yeah! Finally!" cried both Bartz and Tidus.
"Oh be quiet!" growled Cecil. Karin then pressed a button with a number on it and the CD went to that track in an instant, playing the first version of 'The Messenger', titled 'Cosmos'.
"Ooooohhh....This sounds good.." said Bartz. Boko chirped in agreement. As they drove to their destination, everyone listened to the song in awe and silence.
"This sounds good...I like this song," said Tidus. The Onion Knight agreed, then Boko chirped to the song, as if singing along to the lyrics. The others joined in, including the driver. Tidus wasn't a good singer, but he tried his heart out, including Firion and Cecil. Squall wasn't heard but everyone knew he was somehow participating. After the song ends, everyone quiets down and made bets about who was a better singer.
"I'm sorry, I know for sure Tidus ain't gonna make the first cut in American Idol..Or 'Zanarkand' Idol," said the Onion Knight, giggling to himself at his own joke.
"Oh, be quiet...I tried, okay?" groaned Tidus, "I don't think they have 'Chocobo' Idol..." Boko groaned in a chirp.
"Your mean! There might be, and Boko will be famous one day...Right Boko?" asked Bartz. Boko chirped in happiness and gives a light peck on the back of his human companion's head. As if by a whim, Cecil started singing one of the parts of the song that was already played and everyone listened carefully. Everyone then began to chant 'Go, go, go...'. After finishing, Firion then said, "We have a winner...Right here in the front seat..." Cecil blushed.
"Dang...He sings better than me..." said Squall.
"You wasn't even trying...." said Bartz. "Don't make me come up there.." growled Squall.
"Don't make me get Boko...Oh, wait..He's right next to you..Get him, buddy!" said Bartz. Boko turns to Squall and hugs him in a tight squeeze, as if 'glomping' him.
"Gah! Okay, you win!...Can't...Breathe..." gasped Squall. "I think he needs air, you can quit squeezing him, now..." said Tidus. Boko lets go. The Chocobo leans forward in between of the last two seats in the back and turns to Tidus and lightly pecks his left shoulder.
"Hello...How's life?" said Tidus, acknowledging Boko's presence. Boko chirps and begins a conversation of his own to Tidus. Despite not knowing what Boko was saying, Tidus listened. Bartz has been around Chocobos for most his life, so he acted as a translator for Tidus. After translating, Tidus understood.
"Life's tough, huh? I bet you have alot to take care of on your plate: Koko and the chicks, Bartz, and doing what Chocobos do," said Tidus. Boko chirped in agreement, then chirped a sentence.
"Boko said, 'If I get a descent job around somewhere...I'll support my family'...That's what he said," said Bartz.
"Awww....What kind of job?" asked Tidus. "Chocobos work now? Oh, gezz..." groaned Firion.
"You think that's bad, Bartz taught Boko how to be more human, like using a door mat, eat at a table, and pull out and in a chair," said Cecil.
"Your kidding?" asked Squall. "Nope, I saw it with my own two eyes..." answered Cecil. Boko chirped his reply.
"Boko said, 'Something I'm good at...Somewhere...'," answered Bartz. Tidus thought for a minute, then said, "How about a day care? I bet your good with children because you got some of your own, will that do?"
Boko chirped in a nod. "Boko answered, 'Oh! I never thought about that! Thank you, Tidus.', " said Bartz.
"Your welcome," said Tidus. "I'm never good with children.." said Squall.
"That's because your a lunk head," said the Onion Knight. "And what's that supposed to mean?" growled Squall.
"Hey! Calm down, Leonhart," said Karin, "Do you want to walk the rest of the way? It'll take longer by foot." Everyone 'Oh'ed', even Boko.
"No..I wanna get there quickly..." answered Squall. "Then try to be nicer..Gesh, what has the SeeD been teaching you?" asked Karin.
"Military training..."' answered Squall. "Then answer me this: What made you want to master a difficult weapon like the Gunblade? Is it through strength, or pure stubborness?" asked Karin. Squall didn't answer. Karin had a feeling that Squall himself didn't know as well.
"I think its both, to be honest..." answered Lorena. Karin nodded in agreement. As they passed a road sign that read out in white full capped letters, 'Garana Ave' and 'Tacona St.' Tidus made a weird comment, "Hey, that sign said something about a taco..."
"A what? Oh, it said 'Tacona St.'...It didn't say anything about a 'taco'," answered Karin.
"Actually...The word, 'Taco' was in it.." said the Onion Knight. "Oh..Good point.." said Karin.
"They named a street after a food? That's weird...Taco...Taco..." said Tidus. "I think somebody needs a taco," said Firion.
"No, I don't want a street, thank you," Tidus replied. The group continued to joke as they traveled down the road, til the Onion Knight caught sight of a building sign that read out: 'The Black Lilac'.
"Hey! I think I see it! Over there!" he shouted out to the group. Karin looks over to the building and said, "That's it, that's our destination right there....Let's go!" Pulling in into the parking lot and found a spot, they realized the building was vacant for some reason.
"That's strange....It should be 'booming' with music and people should be here...What is going on?" Karin wondered.
"Maybe...They're here and the people panicked, or worse..." said Tidus. Karin didn't like the 'Or worse' part and wanted to get in there, but Cecil held her back.
"No...It could be a trap...Let's get in there quietly, that way we can surprise the enemy and avoid a lengthy battle," said Cecil, acting strategic. Everyone proceeded with caution and entered the club. It was well decorated and clean, leaving a good impression for the partiers and customers. It also was a bar, music hall, hotel, and a club to get a bite to eat, some drinks, and have a really good time.
"Whoa....Nice," said Bartz. The Onion Knight carried a type of case with him, which happened to be filled with Karin's CDs. He goes to one of the DJ's CD players and pops one of them in it. Karin was suprised, "You brought my CDs?"
"They might come in handy...Somehow..." said the Onion Knight. The first track plays, and Tidus recognized the song, "Hey...Its that song we heard on the radio...Sweet." Boko nods, and begins to bob his head to the beat.
"Oh, no...Go Boko.." said Bartz, trying not to yell. Cecil looks around, then said, "Maybe I could be wrong...I'll keep an eye out." Karin begins to dance to the beat, but soon ceases, remembering the reason coming here.
"Sorry..." Karin apologizes. After a few minutes of listening to the song tracks, the group splits up to look for where the first ingredient is hidden. Tidus looks around the dance floor for anything suspicious, like hidden floors and panels. No luck yet by far.
"Dang it...Nothing here...I'm glad the enemy isn't here....!!!" Tidus then turns to the left at one of the tables, seeing who was sitting there drinking their drink. Who he saw caused him to panic, for Tidus just caught sight of his father, Jecht. 'Oh, no! My dad's here!!? That means...The enemy really is here!!' thought Tidus. Jecht began to turn to his right and caught sight of Tidus, then smirked to himself, 'So...The kid's here..I guess the other guys are going to like this...'
'Oh, no...He spotted me...I gotta get help!' Tidus said in his mind. "Guys!! I need help!!" Tidus called out.
"Go ahead and call your friends, brat! We've been waiting for you!!" Jecht called out, grabbing his sword. Bartz heard Tidus and made a dash with Boko to the main room, but was intercepted by Exdeath, blocking their path.
"Hold it right there, spineless fools..Your going nowhere, but the void.." said Exdeath. 'No...The enemy was waiting for us?!' thought Bartz. Firion rushes to Tidus, but soon was attacked by a fire spell from the left, knocking him down to the floor. He looks up, seeing who casted the spell: The Emperor.
"Surrender to my rule, rebel, or I will do to you what I did to Fynn," threatened the Emperor. This agitated Firion.
The Onion Knight skids across the floor, holding onto the case to protect the CDs with his life. Squall stood firm in place, then turned to the youth, "You okay?"
"I think so...The CDs are fine..." groaned the Onion Knight. The Cloud of Darkness, accompanied by Ultimecia, made her way to the warriors. "This is such a waste of time..." said Ultimecia.
"They will soon return to nothingness...Of the void," said Cloud of Darkness. Lorena and Karin had their hands full against Golbez, fully recovered from the last bout.
"Golbez...Don't do this..." said Karin.
"I have no choice, young youths...If I don't do as I'm told...Chaos will hurt everyone cherished in my heart, my brother...Even you, my niece..." answered Golbez. Karin couldn't believe this, Golbez doesn't want to hurt her, but has no choice due to Chaos's threats.
"We'll save you! We'll save you, Golbez!" Lorena called out, hoping maybe Cecil heard her. "No...I am far into darkness to be saved...There's nothing for you to do to spare my soul. I was condemned into darkness, forever I will stay in darkness..-"
"That is not true at all, brother!" Cecil called out, as a paladin.
"Karin! Lorena! Go help the others!" Cecil commanded. The two girls ran away from the scene, leaving the two Lunarian brothers alone in battle.
"Cecil...You shouldn't be here...Like the others," said Golbez. Lorena searches for Bartz, and soon sees that Exdeath was gaining the upperhand. Bartz shielded Boko from harm, taking the hits that Boko was supposed to get.
"Spineless worm! I knew you had a weakness all along for that bird," said Exdeath, "Do not panic, you and your friend will soon return to where it all began and ended, together...In the void." Boko chirped in fear, telling Bartz to get out of there and forget about him.
"No, Boko!..I'm not leaving you!" said Bartz, groaning in pain. Exdeath then made one step, til a blast of fire nailed him in the back. His cape caught fire and the 'Void' warrior panicked. Lorena casted 'Firaga' and hitted Exdeath with it.
"You go back to the void! No one needs you, Exdeath!" Lorena cursed. She rushes to Bartz and heals his wounds with her newly required 'Curaga'. Boko was happy Bartz was going to be alright.
"Come on! Lets go!" Lorena said, pulling Bartz to his feet. The three flee the scene, leaving Exdeath to burn. The Onion Knight, Squall, Cecil, Lorena and the two traveling buddies, and Karin rush to Tidus and Firion; to take out the enemies that appeared.
"Looks like everyone gathered...How precious," said Mateus. Exdeath's cape was singed, but the warrior still standed. Each warrior picked their foe. Lorena went with the Onion Knight to look for the hidden ingredient. The battles intensified, each side used as much valor as they could to survive. Tidus tried his best to defend himself against Jecht, but the former blitzer had the advantage.
"What's wrong, kid? Not strong enough to take me? How pitiful!" Jecht teased. He nails Tidus with his gauntlet fist, knocking Tidus into a table. "Are you gonna cry? You cry-baby..." said Jecht.
"Shut up! Stop calling me that!" yelled Tidus. "Quit actting like one, then!" Jecht countered. Just as a few seconds go by, a wooden chair whacks across the back of Jecht's head with such force, he felt it plain and simple.
"Gah! What the??!" Jecht panicked, then turned to who did it: Karin.
"Stay away from him....Or I'll make you hurt," Karin threatened. Jecht chuckled, "You make me hurt? Bah...I like to see you try." Karin wasn't fooling around, so she slaps Jecht across his face, leaving a hand print there.
"Ooooh!! Serves you right!" Tidus called out. This makes the former blitzer angry and Jecht makes a charge with his sword, but Karin rushes to him without one, but relies the next move to her feet.
As Jecht lets out a battle cry, Karin does the same and leap kicks the tan skinned blitzer square in the face with both feet, leaving her shoe prints there as evidence. Jecht flings backwards and falls to the ground on his back, groaning in pain.
"Ooooooooohhhh!!!" Everyone called out that saw that, even Tidus. "Dang! Where'd she learn to do that?" asked Bartz. Boko was clapping his wings.
"Who's a 'Cry-baby', now?" said Tidus. Karin gets off her back and stands up. Golbez turns to Cecil, then said, "She inherited that fighting determination from you..Didn't she, brother?"
"Yep, she did.." said Cecil.
As Karin stood for a few minutes to catch her breath, everyone began to fight again, but a surprise attack was commencing from an attacker. Karin tried to fight off the attack, but when she saw what was around the front of her neck, she knew who it was. In front of her neck was a two bladed kantana, and the only person that wielded it Karin knew was none other than Kadaj.
"Let go!" Karin cried out. "I got you! I got you!" Kadaj said, not letting go. Yazoo and Loz arrive to the battlefield, fighting off the warriors of Cosmos. Loz helpped up Jecht, then asked, "You alright, tough guy?"
"She nailed me really good...Not bad..." answered Jecht, rubbing his face.
Yazoo fired at Lorena and the Onion Knight with his revolver, but thanks to using the environment as a shield, they dodged each fire. Karin tried to knock Kadaj off, but he was too strong for her, that is until three other people showed up to join the battle, but not the bad guys' side. It was Cloud, Auron, and Vincent. Vincent fires at Yazoo, drawing him away from the area with his tri barreled revolver. Auron attacks Loz, drawing him away from Jecht. "Don't think about it...Puppet," Auron threatened. Cloud attacks Kadaj, freeing his grip on Karin.
"Thanks Cloud!" said Karin. Cloud nodded and turned his attention to Kadaj. "Yeah! Big brother came!" said Kadaj. Bartz immediately began to panic.
"No! You shouldn't be here, Cloud!" cried Bartz, "If your here and those three are here, then..." The messege was interrupted by a instant temperature change everyone noticed.
"Is it me, or did it get colder in here?" asked Tidus. Karin has felt this before and this made her panicky. 'No...He's here...' thought Cloud. Everyone turns to the right and walking towards the scene, armed with an over two foot kantana, was Sephiroth, but why did he appear?
"We are so dead..." said Bartz. Sephiroth wasn't interested in the battle, but when he turned to Karin, there was an interest that was hidden away.
Karin panicked, trying to get away from the One Winged Angel's gaze, but everytime she tried, Karin glimpses at Sephiroth and notices a smirk on his face. Unknowingly, a telepathic message was sent to Karin's mind, from Sephiroth himself.
"You know why I'm here...Remember?" the voice said in her head, "You would do anything to live...Remember?" Karin panicked even more.
"Karin run! He's coming after you! Run!" cried Cloud. With no second thoughts, Karin fled up the stairs that held the rooms upstairs at the 'Black Lilac'.
Fleeing from the One Winged Angel, Karin tried to make sure he wasn't following and tried to find a room to hide in. Knowing about Sephiroth, hiding in a room would be a major red flag, and he would find her no matter what. This was a risk Karin was going to take, this was a matter of life and death. Since there were six rooms on the first floor, Karin picked the second room, in case if the One Winged Angel suspected she would be in the further ahead rooms. As soon as she gets in the room, Karin then said to herself, "He's still on that 'Anything' gig...Oh, god..Why can't he just go away..?" Karin then began to hear footsteps outside the door, instantly quieting down enough to figure out who's walking by.
She peers through the keyhole, looking outside the room to see who the person is walking by and as if by instinct, the identity of the figure walking by was revealed to Karin. It was Sephiroth and he was wondering where she went. Silent, she continued to watch til Sephiroth walked out of view. Know that the threat has went by, but was not that dumb to fall for this, Sephiroth could always come back and look around from the beginning. Taking another big risk, she peers into through the keyhole again, making sure the One Winged Angel wasn't around. There was no sign of him. Karin then takes another peek through the keyhole, but when she did, she saw someones' eye looking into it at the same time as her, an eye with a slitted pupil.
"There you are...My dear," said Sephiroth. Karin panicks and flees away from the door, heading towards the bathroom to get out through the window, but she wasn't quick enough. As if teleporting in the room without opening the door, the One Winged Angel grabs her arms and tosses her near the bed, dazed and powerless to fight back.
"There you are....I'm going to finish what I started earlier...Remember what you said? You said you would do anything to live," said Sephiroth. The door opens, revealing Yazoo and Kadaj with ropes in their hands, giggling to themselves as they entered the room.
"No...I was lying...I didn't mean any of it...Please don't.." Karin groaned, trying to find a escape, but her body was too weak to fight him off.
"Are you sure?" cooed Sephiroth. Kadaj and Yazoo grab Karin and put her in the bed on her back. She tried to fight them off, but she was weakened held her down as Kadaj wrapped her wrists and ankles to the bed posts with the rope, making her unable to escape.
"No...Please don't..Let me go.." Karin continued to panic. "What is the matter? He won't bite...Heh heh ehe...Besides, Lord Sephiroth wants to give you something, young one," said Kadaj, playing with Karin's mind.
"Give me what? Despair?" said Karin, tired of the mind games. Kadaj began the giggle, and so did Yazoo.
"You don't know? How cruel you are...Heh heh heh heh..." said Kadaj. It all clicked. The room, being tied to the bed, Sephiroth, it all made sense now to Karin and she had to find a way out, fast. Karin began to struggle out of the ropes, but her strength was all gone, she used it all up when she tried to get away.
"Do not struggle no more...Remember what you said, you'll do anything to live...This is what you must do if you want to survive..Do not be afraid...This could be something you want," said Sephiroth, amazingly keeping his cool the whole time.
Karin wanted to scream, but thought what would happen if she did. Will she get stabbed, or worse, killed. She closed her eyes tightly, pretending to be home playing on her PSP, but the reality was that she wasn't. Sephiroth drew closer, and then leaned to her, as if calming her down.
"Don't be afraid...It won't be so bad...I can read your thoughts..I know what your thinking," cooed the One Winged Angel. He drew closer, as close as a child with a stuffed toy or parent. Karin whimpered in fear, scared of what will happen if she disobeyed. Outside the door, Firion, Bartz, and Boko prepared for the surprise attack. Firion overheard what was going on and wanted to get her out of there. Arming his bow as close to the door as possible, he arms an arrow onto the string. Karin felt the sharp end of Kadaj's sword near her, cutting at the sleeve of her shirt.
"No...Please don't..I'd rather die than this....Don't!!" Karin leaped up with half her body, trying to bite Kadaj. Yazoo pushed her down, aiming the revolver to her head.
"No...Don't...Just kill me...I don't want this, just kill me and get it done and over with," Karin whimpered.
"We don't want that...What would Lord Sephiroth say about that?" said Yazoo.
"He doesn't even care...He lost his soul when he found out he was a product of the JENOVA project..." said Karin, bringing out a point about Sephiroth.
"You are a smart one....Don't fight it...Just give in, and become a part of me as with everything else that dies into the planet...Don't be afraid..Become one of us...Become...Us..," said Sephiroth, tempting Karin. He then leans in, trying to do something, but Karin fights back, moving her head away from his.
"Firion..." said Bartz, trying not to blow their cover. "Few more seconds...Just a couple more..." whispered Firion. Kadaj held Karin's head in place, making sure that she didn't move her head anymore. "No..No...Please, don't.." Karin whimpered. Sephiroth then leaned down to her, as if going to kiss her, but within the middle of it, an arrow pierces through the door and hits Sephiroth's side, knocking him off of the bed.
"Lord Sephiroth!" cried Yazoo and Kadaj. Firion kicks the door open, with his sword out and same with Bartz, they charged in and attacked the group, with Boko chirping and pecking at Yazoo mostly than Kadaj.
"Get Lord Sephiroth and lets get out of here!!" cried Kadaj. The two grabbed their lord and carried him out of the room through a window, but first removing the arrow that was fired from Firion's bow.
"They're gone! That's good...Karin.." said Bartz, then went to her. Boko pecks at the ropes as fast as he could go, and breaks the ropes binding Karin from wrist to ankle. After cutting the ropes, Karin leaps forward, but instead of tackling one of the three, she lands into Firion's arms.
"Its alright..We got rid of them...Its over..." said Firion. Karin sighed in relief, then cried in his arms.
"They're gone...They won't come back again...You better stay here for now, want Boko to stay here with you?" asked Bartz. Karin continued to cry, then Firion said, "I'll stay here with her, Boko, too. We'll be alright." Bartz nodded, then said to Boko, "Keep her safe, buddy. Okay?" Boko nodded as well. Karin held onto Firion, as if she didn't want to let him go.
"What happened? Did something earlier happened that made Sephiroth do that?" asked Firion. Karin then told him about the incident at the park parking lot in her SUV. Firion listened, and fully understood.
"I'm sorry...I'm so sorry," said Firion, holding her in his arms. Boko cuddled up to Karin and tried to calm her by giving her light pecks and nuzzles.
"Oh, Boko...." Karin said, petting him. "I will make sure that One Winged Angel doesn't come near you. If he does...I'll slaughter him, if possible...All the others will find out, but they'll try to help, even Cloud. Let's have Cloud take care of Sephiroth, its destiny's calling for the two of them to battle eachother..It'll get better, don't worry," Firion vowed. Karin wished she could believe that, but for now she smushed her face into Firion, crying til she fell asleep. Down on the main room, Lorena searched the stage til she came across a square-shaped panel near the back of the stage.
"Huh? What's this?" Lorena wondered.
She moves to the panel and lifts it open, revealing a container inside. Auron walked towards the scene, and said, "That's it...That's what we're looking for." Lorena smirked to herself, knowing all too well what it is. After getting the container, both Auron and Lorena turned around to leave the stage, but was caught off guard when Ultimecia and the Cloud of Darkness arrived at the scene.
"No you don't...You are not leaving this stage...Alive," said Ultimecia.
"Prepare to enter the void....You shall return there, very soon.." said the Cloud of Darkness.
Auron was on guard, protecting Lorena at all costs. The Onion Knight needed to distract them, and a weird idea popped into his head. 'I need to distract them...But I don't think I can sing..There's one way to find out,' The youth thought as he quietly ran to the microphone stand and takes it with him. After shortening the stand to his height, the Onion Knight turns the microphone on and speaks into it in front of the speaker he connected it to, seeing if it worked properly.
"Testing...One, one, two...Testing...One, one, two, two..." he said into the mic. It worked alright and he knew he needed to use it.
With each step backwards, Lorena and Auron tried to find a way off the stage, but the two in front of them wouldn't allow that at all costs.
"They're not going to let us go...Now what?" whispered Lorena. The Onion Knight takes the stereos out to the stage and hooks the microphone into one, which was linked with the others by wires and turned the microphone on, beginning to sing something from a song into the mic.
"....The Messenger is standing at the gate....Ready to let go, ready for the crush...," sung the Onion Knight. Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to the stage, gawking at the youth as he started to sing.
"...Too late for whispers, too late for the blush....The past is Mercy when the future's glow...," the youth continued.
"You have got to be kidding..." said Cecil. "....OMG...." said Golbez.
"Are you serious?" said Jecht. Vincent drops his gun and stares at the scene with both crimson eyes staring at the Onion Knight. The Cloud of Darkness and Ultimecia look at one another and then turned to face the youth at the mic, hoping to get rid of him quickly so the racket would cease and go back to what they were doing.
"What the? Where're they going?" Lorena questioned. "They're being drawn away from us...Lets go while they're distracted," said Auron. The two then made a quick dash off the stage with the container. The Onion Knight was starting to panic as he continued the song, backing to the edge of the stage.
"...Kneeling journey dressed in... A cloak of shadows...." stammered the Onion Knight, "...The hunting's grim for the.... innocent eyes. Communion's prey is a cup of sorrows....But faith is colours for...The humbling cries." Drawing ever closer, The Cloud of Darkness and Ultimecia prepared to take out the singing child before them, not knowing that the two they were originally after already left while their back was turned.
"We are growing distasteful of your music...Child..." said the Cloud of Darkness. "Cease with the noise. There is no time for your elegy," said Ultimecia, as she armed herself with bright demonic purple dagger-like spikes. The youth began to panic, there was nowhere left to go and he was going to be killed, that is until Squall made his move, nailing the both of them in one kick.
"Go on! We could use some battle music! Keep singing!" said Squall, tackling down the Cloud of Darkness while grabbing the Time witch's hair to pull her back away from going to the stage. The youth stood there for a minute, then began to sing again, while everyone was fighting in the background.
"...The Spirit is over town, waiting for me to hit the floor, Blooming white sky for the voice of one calling tonight...." The Onion Knight continued. Back in the room, Karin hears the Onion Knight's voice, singing to a song she knew.
"Firion...Is the Onion Knight...Singing?" asked Karin. "It sounds like it....I wonder what those guys are doing down there?" answered Firion, "Go ahead and rest...You've been through enough for one day." Karin nods, then falls back to slumber. Boko cuddles closer to Karin, protecting her from harm with his feathers.
"...Tonight fate is the red crown, the red crown around your door....Time is scattering the seeds of the mourning daylight..." The Onion Knight finished the second version of 'The Messenger' called 'Chaos'. As he finished, so did the battle on both sides. Jecht and the group on sides with Chaos fled the area, knowing all too well that Cosmos won this round.
"This ain't over yet, kid!! We'll get all of you! Every single one of you on Cosmos's side and slaughter you like cattle, including her!" roared Jecht, pointing his rage at Tidus. Somehow, Tidus knew who he was talking about.
"You come near her, I'll kill you myself! Straight through the heart!!" screamed Tidus. "..I like to see you try...Brat.." muttered Jecht, then followed the others.
"Cecil! You have to get to Karin..Something happened and both me, Firion, and Boko had to save her from Yazoo, Kadaj, and Sephiroth...They tied her to the bed with ropes," Bartz informed the paladin\dark knight.
Karin slumbered in Firion's arms, then Cecil rushes to the room where the door was knocked down, heading to Karin like a worry-sick parent.
"Its alright....She's okay now. I nailed Sephiroth in the side with an arrow," said Firion. "Did he?" asked Cecil. Firion already knew why he asked that, then answered, "No...He didn't get that far...Look." Firion shows Cecil that as far as the trio got to was to cut half way up Karin's right sleeve and that was it. Cecil was relieved.
"I made darn sure that didn't happen," Firion said. Karin opened her eyes, seeing Cecil as a dark knight. She was happy he made it and hugged him as she did with Firion. "It's alright now...He won't come near you," said Cecil. Cloud came in and noticed something wasn't right, but thanks to Firion, he understood why.
"Cloud....You need to take out Sephiroth...Now, before he does it again, or I'll kill him myself..." said Firion. "I know...But its the final battle I'm able to take him on. Spare him til then and you won't worry about Sephiroth anymore," answered Cloud, understanding Firion's threat. Bartz told Lorena, and as if on a time limit counter; she rushes to Karin and holds her in her arms.
"Not again....Did you nail that winged freak?" Lorena asked Firion. "Yeah...In the side with an arrow," answered Firion. Lorena was happy, and craddled her friend like a child. As everyone cleaned a bit of the 'Black Lilac', Tidus looks at a cut across the back of his hand and reaches for a napkin, but when he looks at the cut again, he witnesses something odd.
'What the?' thought the blitzer. The cut began to mend on its own, healing up with little effort. The wound disappeared, as if by magic. 'What the? Do I know Curaga, or....?' thought Tidus. The Onion Knight notices Tidus looking at something, then asked, "You okay? What's going on?" Tidus shrugs off the strange event, then sets the napkin back at the counter.
"I'm alright...I thought I saw something.." said Tidus. He grabs the glove from his left hand and puts it back on with a cut on the top. As he approached Auron, the former guardian notices something odd from the beginning.
"Tidus...You cutted the back of your hand...How is it healed so quickly?" Auron asks. "Don't know...Maybe I knew Curaga all of a sudden and I didn't know...To be honest, I don't know," answered Tidus. The guardian was puzzled, but thought about Tidus's possible explanation. Cecil and Firion, along with Boko, carried Karin to the first main floor to the car as everyone left the building, fixed up so no one would know what transpired, including the top first floor.