Ultimecia headed straight for the Rift after spotting the Emperor at her tower.
He did NOT look happy.
There were two explanations: 1. He found out that they had been neglecting Cosmos' warriors for three whole cycles now, or 2. He found out about Rosa. She hoped it was the latter. She had a point of blackmail that she could use to possibly divert some of his anger.
He went straight for her castle, probably after spotting Rosa, and immediately started destroying things, using his bombs to mutilate her tower, starting with the top level. He blasted holes all through the top ledge, then used Flares on the boards down the middle ramp, throwing bits of charred wood and shrapnel.
"Ultimecia," he called, "there's something I would like to discuss with you!" She ended up hiding in the shadows of one of the far lower levels, but after a series of more bangs and yells she realized he wasn't going to relent until he found her. As if to accent her point, right then he screamed, "When I find you, witch. . ."
She got out, teleporting for the Rift.
She strode up to Exdeath. "Let's go. The Emperor's after us."
"After us? Or is it just you he hunts adamantly?" he chuckled. "As of now, your tower is the only place he's target judging from the distant noises."
"He's probably on his way emhere/em. I think he's found out about Rosa." She tried to keep her voice as smooth as possible, but even to her her own voice sounded clipped and tight.
Exdeath picked up on it. "You sound afraid, dear Ultimecia."
"I'm not afraid of him! YOU have good reason to be afraid. He's on his way to destroy ALL of us. Not just me, I can assure you of that."
"Can you? I shall remain here. You can deal with your own misgivings. Do you not remember? YOU gave him her weapon, claiming to have accomplished your task. His rage towards you has no effect on Kefka, or myself. He is your responsibility." He looked over and caught the look of sheer horror on Ultimecia's face before she quickly wiped it away.
She wouldn't let him know how unwilling she was to face the Emperor. It wasn't that she was SCARED, no, she just. . . just. . .
She huffed, stamping her foot defiantly. She knew she couldn't run forever, so facing him with another would be beneficial. She could have scape goats. THEY let Golbez escape with Rosa after all. Suddenly she heard a voice distantly carry to them over the Rift "You cannot run from me, Ultimecia!"
She left the Rift and went to Kefka's tower next. The clown was setting the Magitek pipes around the room on fire so they would explode on the next unfortunate soul that bumped into them.
"Oh, hello, deary," he said without turning around before she could even get a word in. "Running away? From a purple and yellow anger management issue?"
"I'm not running-"
"Oh, reaaalllyyy? Well what do you call AVOIDING him, especially when he has something 'VERY IMPORTANT TO SAY TO YOU?!'" he screamed in imitation of the Emperor's tones.
Well, Kefka wasn't going with her, either. Her only option was to go back to her castle and hopefully weather out the storm, act inconspicuous.
She sighed."No honor amongst any thieves."
"She went a-THAT way," Kefka said. Still, the Emperor put his staff to the clown's back. He froze, then shook his head laughing. "Ummm, didn't you HEAR me? She went-"
The Emperor planted a Thunder Crest under Kefka, and while he was caught twitching and writhing, the Emperor teleported away, taking Kefka with him.
She appeared in what was left of he castle, and almost slipped on some loose rubble. Bits of rock and pieces of broken gears littered the area, preventing her from even walking in some places. The whole bottom half of the bridge lay destroyed on the center platform, a tangle of shattered wood and twisted metal. Whole pieces of ledges were missing, blasted off or part of the littered rock. She went to one o the few unmarred parts of her castle, the little lip of edge around the bottom rim of the ledges, and waited for him to come.
Wouldn't be long.
He caught Kefka and Exdeath. She was the only one left.
And she tried to run! MAYBE he wouldn't be SO mad if she hadn't run-
He considered what he just thought. No, he probably still would've killed her either way.
He followed the sound of denial and went back to the castle he ruined not hours before.
He could sense her. She was here.
Stopping every now and again to investigate a sound, he carefully picked his way through the carnage. He peeked over a hole in the stone and finally found her standing on the ledge. When he teleported to her, she regarded him calmly, though he could clearly see he forced neutrality. It only succeeded in angering him further. He would have taken pleasure in her groveling, or apologizing, or even looking AFRAID. But the look in her eyes, the challenge she presented him with. . .
"She's daring me to harm her. She probably has something planned if I do."
Still, the concept of revenge overwhelmed him, clouding his better judgement. He raised his hand to strike her, and she flinched. He smiled.
"Hello, Ultimecia."
She composed herself. "Hmph! Well I hope you have a good reason for destroying my castle!" she said, crossing her arms.
For a moment they just stared at each other. He set his jaw and continued with his own forced nonchallance, as if he didn't hear her. They were both very good at this game. But he would win.
"Don't I even warrant a hello?"
Her silence made him more overjoyed than anyone could know. The inferno of anger popped, and the embers shifted from unbridled fury to instant euphoria.
Oh, how fun this would be!
"Excellent." He couldn't keep the sadistic smile from crawling up his cheeks. "That makes this a lot easier. . ." He put the sharp tip of his staff to her throat, but her gaze never left his.
"What do you want?" she asked, her tattooed eyebrow raising the slightest bit.
"Oh, I think you know why I'm TERRIBLY UPSET!" he yelled in her face. He pulled her knife from his own belt and waved it in Ultimecia's face. "Remember THIS?! Remember the OWNER of THIS?!"
"The girl? I thought she was dead."
The Emperor snapped.
With a growl of anger he slammed his staff on the ground, and the workings of a Dreary Cell appeared beneath Ultimecia.