Woo, been an eventful week! Had my birthday on Tuesday, completed college registration of Wednesday, celebrated birthday with movie and minigolf on Thursday…fun time! Well, enjoy the chapter, time to kick this story into overdrive!
Shards of Memory
Chapter 25
A World Without Light
"There are two kinds of light — the glow that illuminates, and the glare that obscures." – James Thurber
"The time is upon us," Mateus whispered. The emperor stood on the roof of the Chaos Shrine, four stone altars rising around him. Behind him at the doorway leading back into the shrine stood Garland, watching intently. Mateus swung his staff through the air and pointed its tip towards the ground. With a pulse of energy a beam of purple light emerged from the tip and struck the ground. The beam fragmented into four and began to trace out a runic pattern along the shrine, archaic letters lighting up along the edges in flashes of dark yellow light. The beams drew out a large-six pointed star, four rings running through and around its points. The entire symbol flashed brightly for a moment as it completed, Mateus standing in its center.
"A grand show," Garland said as the emperor looked over the runic symbol. "I hope the second act is as impressive." Mateus smiled but did not turn.
"I am only warming up," he replied, reaching out his hand. A growth of jagged light violet crystals emerged from the center of the crest, and Mateus placed the tip of his staff in the center, the dark crystal encased on the other end rising into the air. The two raised their heads to the bright purple and black clouds circling overhead. Thunder rumbled within them, the clouds beginning to swirl around each other. The lettering along the edges of the runes began to light up in sequence as the emperor closed his eyes and began to chant. As the letters lit up the violet lines between them lit up in their wake, the rune re-igniting its light.
"Now Garland," Mateus whispered, opening his eyes as he finished changing. Sparks of energy flew from the dark crystal as the rune was entirely lit in gold and purple light. "Behold, my power that surpasses that of the gods, of fate itself!" the emperor looked to the heavens as a large black void of nothingness appeared in the swirling clouds circling overhead. Garland too turned his head upward to witness the emperor's final gambit. A bolt of light struck the staff below, the dark crystal fragmenting the energy into three. Three of the six points of the star drawn into the ground was hit, dark purple and black vortexes forming on them.
"Rise again, my chosen allies," Mateus ordered, taking hold of his staff again and lifting it into the air. "By your pact with me you forfeited your lives for the sake of my grand design, and by your pact with me I keep my word and restore you from oblivion." The vortexes rose higher, several feet tall and almost as wide. Three shadowed silhouettes appeared within them.
"Impressive, for you at least. To equal a feat prior accomplished only by Chaos," Garland admitted. Mateus smiled.
"Who was it you think gifted me this sort of power?" he replied. "Chaos entrusted me to grasp the final victory that has eluded him for eons, and I have done it. I will take my place at the side of the god of discord, and by his hand all shall be mine to rule." The three vortexes closed, the figures within remaining on the points of the star. The emperor turned and smiled, holding out a hand. "Welcome back, my dear."
"You took your time with your promised revival, Mateus," Ultimecia lectured, casually pushing the hand aside as she approached him. "I'd begun to wonder if your plan had failed."
"On the contrary, it has gone more perfectly than I had dared hope at first. You three doubted me, but now you see my triumph first-hand with your rebirth."
"A cunning ploy. My humiliation may yet have been proven worth my time," Kuja said, looking himself over. "Is it just the three of us then?"
"I chose those who I felt I could trust," Mateus said. "The feckless destroyers would find no room for their wanton chaos in my new world. You three, on the other hand, I knew would comply."
"We complied, yes. In exchange for our promised dominion over our worlds." Mateus turned to Sephiroth, crossing his arms before him. "What of that?" Sephiroth asked.
"That will come in time, when we accomplish our final mission - the extermination of the Warriors of Cosmos. Once their light is extinguished, it is done." Mateus lifted his staff as the three reborn warriors moved away from the runes on the ground, the purple and gold vanishing in their wake. Dozens of orbs of light descended from the vortex above and hovered above the ground. One by one they flashed to reveal a Crystelle, forming rows in front of the emperor.
"What folly is this?" Garland asked from behind Mateus. Mateus raised his staff, and the Crystelles kneeled in unison, bowing their heads.
"It seems Chaos has appointed a new general to command his forces," Mateus said. "I cannot fault him for it. He has now seen I make good on my promises. I have done more for him in a single cycle than you have in dozens." Garland let out a low growl. "Do not blame yourself, Garland. A knight is powerful, but no knight can match the strength and cunning of an emperor." Garland turned with a flourish and marched down the steps behind him into the Chaos Shrine, his cape billowing behind him.
"Shall we…persuade him to join us once again?" Ultimecia asked.
"No. He had his chance and squandered it. Even if he were to agree now, he has proven himself unworthy of our trust. It doesn't matter, we no longer need him," Mateus said. "Now, my final gambit." The emperor lifted his staff and turned it, bringing the dark crystal before his eyes. "I did have some assistance acquiring this. So I think it is only fair that my unwitting accomplice receives his just rewards."
Bartz had been the first one to see it, likely since Terra had noticed he had a habit of running off ahead of the ground. He had run ahead over a steep hill, and then run back a moment later to tell them what he had seen. A moment later all five of them reached the hilltop together and beheld Order's Sanctuary.
A wide river, the water clear and crystal blue, bordered Cosmos' sanctum. A thin layer of water washed over the border into the sanctum, the ground there consisting of smooth white stone that almost glowed. Bands of green energy swirled through the air and arced out of the ground. Sheets of white stone rose from the ground at random places, water erupting from their tops and washing down the sides.
"Wow…" Cloud breathed, his eyes wide. Zidane and Terra nodded silently in agreement.
"A realm befitting a goddess," Squall whispered. "Let's go." His words broke the spell the beautiful sight had cast on them, and the other four nodded and started down the hill. A simple flat stone bridge crossed the river into the sanctuary, made out of the same bright white stone as the sanctuary itself. As they crossed it, Terra felt a shiver go up her spine. She felt the energy in the air shift and noticed her companions pause as they too felt what she had felt.
"There is a barrier protecting this place," she said, closing her eyes. "A wall of hallowed light protecting the sanctuary…I've never sensed its equal."
"Probably to keep the bad guys out," Bartz suggested. "Guess we're good then." Terra opened her eyes and knelt down, putting her fingers in the water. Her nail wasn't even fully submerged before she touched the stone, and she pulled her hand back.
"It's warm," she said. "The water is warm here, and the stone…"
"Cosmos is near," Zidane said, looking around the area. "I can feel it."
"Me too," Cloud agreed. "We're almost there. Just a bit more, and we've won."
"Right. No stopping now!" Zidane cheered, breaking into a run. "Race ya there Bartz!" Bartz let out a laugh and gave chase. Squall slapped a hand to his forehead and slowly walked after them. Cloud shrugged and stepped forward, passing by Terra.
"Cloud." Cloud stopped at Terra's voice and turned to see her with her head down.
"What's wrong?" Cloud asked, walking back to her. Terra turned her eyes to the side.
"When we see Cosmos, and hand her the Crystals…we'll restore our worlds… we're going to go home, to our own homes," Terra replied, lifting her head, "but none of us will see each other again, will we?"
"Yeah…I guess so…" Cloud said, thinking for a moment. "I guess…this is our goodbye then." Terra smiled sadly and walked up to him. She leaned forward and gently pressed her lips against his cheek. Cloud's face pinked at the gesture, and she pulled back.
"Goodbye Cloud," she whispered. "And thank you."
"For what?"
"…everything." Terra smiled brighter and walked beside him to continue after Squall. Cloud didn't turn right away, bringing a hand to his cheek, still warm with his blush and her touch. A flash went off behind his eyes, and Cloud shook it away.
"…right, goodbye," he said to himself, turning around. This is what he had fought for, what they had all fought for. The restoring of their worlds, the right to return home…so why did he still feel like something was wrong? The small voice in the back of Cloud's head taunted him, but Cloud ignored it and resumed following his allies.
"This is it. There's no turning back after this," he said under his breath.
"We are here," Golbez said, stopping at a stone bridge and lifting his head to look over the only just-visible barrier stretching overhead. Beyond the barrier stood Order's Sanctuary.
"Nice place," Jecht said behind him. "We gonna go in or should we knock first?"
"The goddess will permit us entry soon. Cosmos is a good goddess, Jecht. She will not forget our pacts."
"Yeah, well, excuse me for not being a blind believer," Jecht shrugged. There was a change in the wind, and Golbez lowered his head. He lifted an arm and watched it pass over the border with a slight ripple in the air.
"And so she keeps her word," Golbez nodded, stepping through the barrier. "Jecht, come quickly. The barrier of light will rise again soon."
"Right," Jecht nodded, following Golbez. The barrier closed again behind them, leaving the two Warriors of Chaos within the sanctuary.
"It has been over two thousand years since the forces of darkness last step foot in this place," Golbez whispered. "We are honored guests indeed."
"I'm not feeling that honored, just bored. Come on, let's get this over with." Jecht continued on ahead, leaving Golbez to eventually follow him. The two headed towards the center of the shrine, a column of swirling green energy floating in the air over a distant throne.
"Hey, we've got company," Bartz called behind them as he and Zidane jogged forward. Squall, Terra and Cloud had already noticed the distant figures standing near the throne up ahead, but they had been too far away to make out specific details. Now closer, they could make out more distinctive features, and Cloud and Terra both began to run as well.
"Terra!" Onion Knight called, running towards her. Terra smiled and knelt down, embracing him.
"You're alright," she laughed. "I thought you'd been captured?"
"Yeah, I was," Onion Knight pulled back and shrugged. "I took a few names, kicked a few asses, got a Crystal, no big deal. All in a day's work for a hero," his expression turned serious. "I heard from Cosmos about the Esper. I'm glad you're doing better."
"In regards to the Esper, the best ever," Terra nodded. Cloud continued beyond them and nodded at three more familiar faces.
"Firion, Cecil…Tidus. Its good to see you," he said, stopping in front of them. The three nodded, Firion smiling.
"Ya know, I was kinda steamed when I found out you ditched us," Tidus grumbled, folding his hands behind his head. "But I'm over it now. Good to see ya made it okay."
"Yeah. Thanks," Cloud said.
"Did you find what you were looking for?" Firion asked. Cloud turned back to Terra, still talking to Onion Knight.
"More than I had hoped," he said. Terra noticed his gaze and smiled up at him.
"This is all of us then." The collected nine warriors turned. Cosmos' throne was a simple curved seat carved out of an outcropping of rock, bands of green energy spiralling overhead. The goddess herself was seated quietly, her eyes closed, hands folded in her lap. This was the first time since first coming here that Cloud had seen her in person, all other times she had only appeared in visions. Beside her throne, leaning against one of two rock outcroppings rising beside it, was a knight in blue and white armor, arms crossed over his chest. Judging from how he was looking over the group, Cloud guessed he was the one who had spoken.
"Nine Crystals are gathered here," the knight said. The group gathered closer around Cosmos, and the goddess opened her eyes. "Present them," the knight ordered. The group looked at each other for a moment, and then did as they were told. Eight hands reached into pockets and clothing folds, emerging holding a shining gemstone. Terra held out her hands and watched as her Crystal manifested from her pendant. She looked over the other eight warriors around her. The Crystals were as a varied in appearance as their owners. A few feet away, Cloud looked down at the Crystal in his hands, and tightened his grip on it.
"Hey, where's yours?" Bartz asked, looking at the knight. The knight turned his head to look down at Cosmos.
"Hikari, we will tell them after," she said gently. Hikari nodded and turned back to the group.
"My Crystal, my path, we are…different, from yours," he said. Cosmos stood up and took a step forward.
"So hey, now we put everything back, right?" Onion Knight said looking up at her. Cosmos shook her head.
"In due time…you are not the only ones we have been waiting for," Cosmos replied. She turned her head to the right, and the group followed suit. Tidus scowled at the two figures approaching and ran forward, dropping his Crystal on the ground.
"YOU!" he snarled, lifting a fist. Jecht lifted a hand and waved, grinning.
"Hiya runt!" he called. Tidus ran up to him and swung his fist. Jecht moved out of the way and wrapped an arm around Tidus' head as Tidus stumbled forward, twisting him in a headlock. "How's my boy doin'?" Jecht laughed, ruffling his hair.
"Let go of me you old bastard!" Tidus yelled, struggling to get free. Jecht let him go and Tidus fell backwards, glaring up at him. "What are you doing here anyway?" Tidus asked.
"Ask him," Jecht said, jerking his head towards Golbez. Golbez turned from them and continued walking, Cecil stepping forward to meet him.
"Brother…why are you here?" Cecil asked, stopping when he was standing between Golbez and the others behind him.
"He is here to receive his promised reward, as is Jecht," Cosmos explained. "Golbez has acted to sabotage the Warriors of Chaos, so we may obtain the Crystals before the divine dragon awakens. For this I shall fulfill his desire, to be reborn into your world with your father's people."
"The Lunarians?" Cecil asked. "This…this is why you allied with Chaos?"
"I was bound to him before this agreement…this is my escape from servitude to the darkness. By this act, I shall redeem myself," Golbez said, walking past Cecil.
"And you? Wait, lemme guess. You're coming back too," Tidus said, getting up in front of Jecht.
"What? You sound disappointed," Jecht smirked. "Yeah, I'm gonna be sticking around this time. Your old man can show you first-hand again how a real ace plays!" Tidus scowled.
"Just…try not to be like this all the time, huh?" he said, smiling slightly. Jecht nodded and slapped a hand on his back. The two walked up to join the others, the group now consisting of twelve.
"By the power of the Crystals, the worlds shall now be restored. But your quest is not yet done. Chaos' chosen general, Garland, must be slain, and the final Crystal reclaimed from him. Once this is done, all shall be as it was before," Cosmos said.
"Why save him for last, can't we go kick his ass now and get it over with?" Tidus asked. Jecht chuckled beside him.
"It doesn't work that way," Hikari said, shaking his head. "His Crystal is the Crystal of my world. My Crystal is different from yours."
"Different how?" Firion asked. Hikari began to answer, when the ground shook. The water underfoot began to buddle, the green energy circling overhead flashing. Cosmos gasped and clutched her chest, swooning forward.
"Cosmos!" Hikari swooped down to catch her, the goddess falling against his shoulder. Blond hair draped over his arm, Cosmos' eyes wide. "What's wrong?"
"I sense…great darkness…" Cosmos whispered. The other warriors looked around as the bright blue sky overhead turned dark, black clouds appearing and blotting out the light. Cosmos turned her head in Hikari's arms to her throne. Behind it, the ground cracked open, a wall of flame erupting into the air. A dark shadow appeared behind the wall, growing and taking shape. Large wings…four arms…a long tail…
"No…this cannot be…" Golbez said, looking up at the flames. With a loud roar, the wall of flame dispersed into the air to reveal the god of discord floating in the air above Cosmos' throne. With a low chuckle, the demon descended to perch on the back of Cosmos' seat of power, the stone cracking under the weight. The clouds overhead grew darker, thunder rumbling within them. The demon reared up to his full height on the throne back, hands held out to the sides. Pupil-less orange eyes blazed brightly above a large, fang-filled mouth.
Chaos had arrived.
"Chaos...impossible!" Hikari protested. The god looked down at him, pointed teeth glowing bright in the low light. Behind Hikari, Terra flinched and brought a hand to her head as words whispered themselves to her inside her brain.
"Quite possible, Champion of Light," the god voice said, amused. Terra looked back up at Chaos. The voice of the god was coming straight into her mind, no actual speech was emerging from his mouth. "Cosmos…how long has it been since we last laid eyes upon each other?" Chaos asked, looking down at his counterpart.
"Eons, Chaos," Cosmos answered, standing up from Hikari's arms. "I have long thought about this day when we would meet again. For better or worse."
"You cannot be here!" Hikari said, standing up beside Cosmos. Chaos turned his head towards him. "The barrier of light protects Order's Sanctuary, you cannot enter it!" Hikari cried.
"You speak truly…and yet, I am here," Chaos laughed, the upper set of arms crossing. "The barrier of light protecting your goddess was lowered for a brief moment…long enough for my darkness to enter and allow me a way to manifest here…"
"No…" Hikari turned to see Golbez step back from Chaos.
"For so long, despite my superior power, the forces of light prevented me from confronting your goddess myself," Chaos continued. "Then, in this cycle, I was made aware of one who might change that. One who would betray me, and seek council with Cosmos. By the advice of Emperor Mateus, this betrayer was allowed to run freely, earning your trust and the trust of your goddess…until at last I could use the darkness in his heart to shatter the barrier of light from the inside…"
"Golbez…you…" Cecil gasped, turning to his brother. Golbez looked back down and held up his hands.
"No!" Golbez cried. "I didn't! Cecil! Please!"
"It was by your treachery, Golbez, that I have arrived here," Chaos said, turning to look at the warlock. "Unwittingly, heedlessly, you followed the emperor's chosen plan perfectly. Now, by your actions, this long cycle of war has come to its final end."
"You are lying!" Golbez shouted, clenching his fist. "I would never let you do this!"
"Did you think that you could outsmart a god? To be allowed to plot and scheme under my nose without detection? You were able to plot against me because I allowed it, that the emperor's plan would derail yours to allow my victory. You fool, it is by the festering darkness of your heart that I called you to my service. You are bound to serve me one way or the other, regardless of if you do it willingly or by force, by conscious decision or as an unwitting pawn. And serve me loyally you have, by allowing me entry to the one place in all the worlds I could not enter alone." Chaos let out another laugh, the sound echoing through Golbez's head. "Despair, Warriors of Cosmos. Look upon the man who has betrayed you all. Golbez, truly you are my most loyal warrior, to deliver me to directly to Cosmos' throne without even knowing it."
"CHAOS!" Golbez roared, rising into the air. He drew back a hand, a dark aura over his arm, and lunged at the god, cape fluttering in the air. Chaos flung out a hand, a wall of invisible energy rippling before him. Golbez stopped dead in the air, his arms forced out to the side.
"I returned your dark powers to you while you were in my service. You and Jecht played your parts well. But it is done. Your task is complete, Golbez. And so, your services are no longer required." Golbez let out a cry of pain as wisps of dark energy began to rise from him. "I release you both from my servitude, and take back my gift. Join with your family, and you may all watch together as I reign over your worlds." Chaos snapped his hand shut, and Golbez's armor vanished in puffs of dark purple smoke. He remained floating, clad in a dark brown kilt and black cloak, his head slumping forward. Chaos lowered his hand, and with a weak groan Golbez collapsed to the ground.
"Brother!" Cecil ran to Golbez's side and knelt down. White hair shifted slightly as Golbez slowly turned his head to look up at Cecil with one violet eye. Cecil looked back up at Chaos as the god looked down at them both.
"And now…for you, Cosmos," Chaos said, turning back to the goddess. "The time has come at last. Even a goddess must face her fate."
"This is not the end, Chaos," Cosmos said defiantly. "Your darkness is great. But light shall always endure, even without me. You will see when I am gone, that your victory is not yet decided. You chose your pawns well this cycle, but I have chosen mine with equal consideration! They will not be defeated so easily!"
"Is that so?" Chaos replied. "Then I shall test their strength, by seeing how well they fight without their goddess to promise them salvation in exchange for victory." Cosmos turned to Hikari.
"Go. Take them from here," she ordered.
"No!" Hikari said, reaching to his back. Sword and shield came forward, the warrior assuming a fighting stance. "Chaos! Fight me! I shall destroy you here and now with my own blade!"
"Count me in too! You want Cosmos, you can go through us!" Zidane agreed, grabbing his daggers. One by one the other heroes readied their weapons. Cecil stood up from Golbez's weakened body and drew his weapon as well. Chaos laughed, tilting his head back.
"Bold words, mortals, but you are foolhardy. You think to challenge the might of a god?" At the last word Chaos whipped out a hand, a wave of energy erupting from his palm. The ten were flung back by the force, landing heavily several feet away. "Your power is nothing, you are not even fit to taste death by my hands! Instead you may watch, powerless, as your goddess is destroyed," Chaos declared. Cosmos turned, locking eyes with Hikari as he slowly climbed to his feet.
"This is the result of the path I have taken," she whispered, closing her eyes. "Your path must continue without me now. Follow your light, and trust in it. The Crystals are my final power. Believe in them."
"Enough of this," Chaos said, rising into the air. He lifted a hand over his head, a glowing white circle appearing in the ground around Cosmos' feet. Cosmos turned back to him and leaned her head back, eyes closed. "Farewell, Cosmos." Hikari pushed himself up and ran forward, hand outstretched.
"Cosmos!"
The circle around her feet vanished as a column of flame burst out of the ground, hiding Cosmos' figure. Hikari skidded to a halt a few feet in front of the flames, eyes wide. The flames roared into the sky, piercing the black clouds overhead and billowing outwards in a mushroom cloud. The ground shook underfoot, the ribbons of green energy circling Cosmos' throne flashing and vanishing. The ten warriors climbed to their feet and watched in horror as the column of fire dispersed, revealing nothing but scorched stone.
"No…she can't…"
Terra wasn't sure which of them had spoken, if it had been her, or if she had imagined the words. Chaos stretched his wings out and landed heavily, Cosmos' throne shattering into rubble under his feet. The stone scattered, Chaos letting out a triumphant roar that shook the air.
"It is done…the war of the gods is ended at last…" Chaos looked over the ten warriors, glancing to the side where Jecht had Golbez to his feet, his arm flung over Jecht's shoulders. With a snort, he turned back to the ten heroes before him. "Warriors of Cosmos…you may bask in the sorrow of defeat a while longer…" Chaos' wings wrapped around him, another column of fire coming out of the ground below him and consuming him. "Savor your final moments in a world of complete darkness…until your light too, meets its end." As the flame pillar vanished a shockwave went out along the ground. The glowing white stone of Order's Sanctuary turned dark as the shockwave spread out. The dark clouds overhead grew thicker, the water springs halting and the water's flow stagnating.
The group of warriors slowly approached Cosmos' broken throne as one. Hikari knelt down, rising with one of the larger pieces in his hands. Cloud turned to the side to see Jecht slowly walk up to them with Golbez. For what seemed like hours, the air was silent save for the gentle whistling of the wind and the distant rumble of the clouds. Cloud noted silently he had heard nothing but the sound of running water before. Besides that, the air was thicker now, heavier and chilling. The white stone's glow was gone, casting all the area in shadow from the dim light peaking through the clouds above.
"…it's cold now…"
Cloud turned to Terra to see her clutching her arm. She had her head down, her lips quivering slightly. Cloud approached her and put a hand over hers.
"When we arrived, it was warm…but now…" she whispered, lifting her head to face Cloud. Cloud nodded, realizing she was right. Whatever warmth and light that had radiated from this place had been extinguished with the goddess living here. Terra lifted her other hand holding her Crystal and brought it closer to her chest. It had always radiated a slight warmth, and she wanted that now.
"Cosmos…you cannot be gone," Hikari said under his breath, running a thumb along the ridge in the stone in his hands. "You cannot be…" Suddenly, Tidus yelled angrily and ran forward, his sword and Crystal falling to the ground as he dropped them. Supporting Golbez's weight Jecht didn't have time to move and was tackled to the ground, Tidus slamming his fists on his chest repeatedly. The other warriors watched silently as Jecht lay on the ground, scowling slightly but not moving to stop his son. Beside them Golbez lay on his knees, a hand on the ground.
"This is all your fault!" Tidus screamed. "You and Golbez did this, you came here, you had her let him in! It's your fault, Chaos got in here because of you!"
"Tidus," Firion said gently, laying a hand on his shoulder. Tidus pushed him away and kept hitting Jecht.
"If you had just died when I beat you this wouldn't have happened, but you two had to try and change things! Is this what you wanted, happy now! You two did this!"
"I know, ya little brat!" Jecht snarled, putting his hands on Tidus' biceps and flinging him off of him. Tidus landed on his stomach and slammed his fists into the ground. "I know," Jecht said more softly, standing up. "I know…"
"Now what do we do?" Zidane asked, looking between the other warriors present.
"I…I don't know," Squall answered, bringing a hand to forehead and clenching his eyes. The hand holding his Crystal gripped it tighter. "I don't know…" Golbez began to rise to his feet, when a shadow fell over him. He looked up to see who it was, then let his head drop back down.
"Do you hate me anew, Cecil?" he asked. Cecil did not reply, simply staring at his brother. "I will not fault you for it if you do," Golbez said, standing. Cecil looked away, not making eye contact.
"We need to continue on," Hikari said at last, looking up from the piece of rubble. All eyes turned to him. "Cosmos…she said we have to continue along our paths. That means we have to keep fighting without her now." Hikari turned to face the majority of his comrades. "We have to find Garland and the Emperor. And claim the final Crystal."
"Have you lost it?" Onion Knight shouted. "Cosmos is dead! What do the Crystals matter anymore?"
"Be calm. We have to believe," Hikari insisted.
"Believe in what?" Tidus snapped. "She's gone! Our worlds are doomed now! What are we supposed to do?"
"I don't know, I'm trying to figure it out," Hikari said, thinking. "This isn't how it is supposed to go, this isn't the way it plays out…she said this would change things but not like this…"
"What are you talking about?" Cloud asked. Hikari turned to him, and the ground shook again. Terra inhaled sharply. Her senses went on full alert, and she looked down at the ground.
"Chaos again?" Firion asked.
"No…I remember this feeling…" Terra gasped. "Run! It's the Void!" At her words the slab of rock holding Cosmo's throne cracked apart and stabbed into the air. Collectively, the ten Warriors of Cosmos turned and began to sprint towards the shrine's borders, Tidus ducking down as he ran to grab his sword and Crystal from the ground.
"Brother, we have to go," Cecil said, holding out a hand. Golbez turned away and pushed him forward.
"Not with me. Go alone," Golbez said bitterly. "I have caused enough pain."
"No, I won't leave you!" Cecil cried. Jecht appeared beside Golbez and shook his head.
"We'll be fine. He said go," Jecht ordered. Cecil hesitated, then turned and followed his companions. The dark grey stone cracked apart with rising intensity, slabs of stone slipping into nothingness. Zidane and Onion Knight were ahead of the rest as they ran. Suddenly, the ground before them dropped away, and the two slowed to a hall. A wide, long strip of earth fell away into the Void. The group turned to see the sanctuary behind them similarly falling away.
"We're trapped," Terra realized, looking around. The Void was spreading faster than before. All around them the rock had fallen away, leaving only a few small patches existing. In all directions was nothing but darkness, too far to jump.
"No, not all of us," Cloud said. "You can fly, go," Terra turned to him and shook her head. "Terra, don't be stupid! Save yourself."
"I'm not leaving you, any of you," she whispered. Cloud looked ready to protest again, but Terra reached out and grabbed his hand, gripping tightly. Cloud looked down, then back up at her and nodded grimly. The slab of rock shook, and began to descend.
"I had always hoped I'd die in the embrace of a beautiful woman…don't suppose I can get a hug Terra?" Zidane joked weakly. Terra looked down at him and forced a smile for his sake.
"No…not yet," Hikari said, shaking his head. "The Crystals, quickly!" He turned and held out his hand. "Join hands with me." One by one hands were clasped over Hikari's, each warrior's free hand still clutching their Crystal.
"What are we doing?" Cloud asked.
"The Crystals still have light…it may be enough…" With all ten hands joined, Hikari placed his free hand over theirs and closed his eyes. The nine Crystals glows, then lit up in a brilliant flash as the stone crumbled away and the pieces fell into oblivion. As the glow subsided and the last piece of stone vanished, the Warriors of Cosmos were gone.
An orb of fire streaked through the sky over fields of ash and molten rock. Tall black spires with red runes carved into their sides dotted the area. The fire curved downwards towards a plateau of stone rising from the lava and slammed into the large throne there. The flames cleared to reveal Chaos, who stretched out his four arms and sat back.
"Welcome back, my lord," Mateus said, bowing his head. Sephiroth, Ultimecia and Kuja stood behind him.
"Your plan is a success, Mateus," Chaos said, clasping his upper set of hands below his chin. "The goddess of harmony is gone. With her dead, I am without equal."
"Indeed. Then the time has come for the second phase," Mateus nodded.
"Second phase?" Sephiroth asked.
"The final remnants of light must be extinguished. The Warriors of Cosmos are still a danger to me. With Cosmos gone, the balance is broken. I shall not risk it tipping back in favor of the light," Chaos explained. "As it is, the light of their Crystals will safeguard them from the rising darkness. Were they to claim the tenth Crystal…they will not be given that chance though."
"This is why I used the crystal of darkness to revive you," Mateus explained, turning around. "This is our final task – to destroy them. With Cosmos gone and the Crystals weak, our power shall be at its peak. It should be easy, for allies of your caliber."
"Indeed. Sephiroth, step forth," Chaos ordered. Sephiroth stepped up before the god, and Chaos held out a hand. An orb of green and violet energy appeared in his grasp. An image appeared to Sephiroth in the orb, and he slowly smiled. "This is my gift to you. The power that I denied you upon your rebirth, I now return. Use it to crush Cloud and Terra, and return with their Crystals."
"At my full power? With this gift of strength?" Sephiroth asked, extending his hand. The orb of energy pulsed and floated into him, an aura appearing over him momentarily. "It will be my pleasure. I have had enough holding back. Cloud Strife shall fall by my hand at last." Sephiroth turned and walked past the emperor to the steps leading down from Chaos' throne.
"You overestimate yourself. Has Cloud not beaten you in single combat before?" Mateus asked. "What makes you think you can prevail now?" Sephiroth closed his eyes and chuckled lowly.
"Yes, he has won before…but not when I have been like this," he whispered. "Watch, Mateus, and behold my full strength."
Terra heard trickling water, and blinked her eyes open. Several feet in front of her was a fountain. Terra sat up and looked around. The other nine Warriors of Cosmos lay unconscious around her, but Golbez and Jecht were gone. They appeared to be inside a large stone temple, inside the main hall if she had to guess. The sides were lined with octagonal columns, large windows streaming bright sunlight into the chamber. The ceiling was set high, chandeliers with a dozen candles each hanging down. The hall was lined with benches and tables, the sides of the hall full of bookshelves stretching high overhead. Suddenly, the memories rushed back, and Terra's eyes went wide.
"Wake up!" Terra cried, jumping to her feet. Squall stirred slightly and Terra ran to him. "Squall!"
"Mm…." Squall opened his eyes a crack. "What is it?"
"We're alive!" Terra said. Squall's eyes opened fully and he sat up.
"We are," he muttered, looking around. Around them their comrades began to stir as well, sitting up slowly.
"It appears my home has some uninvited guests. I wonder, are they heroes, or just some troublesome pests?"
Terra and Squall turned to the source of the new voice. At one end of the temple hall a flight of stairs led up to a doorway. At the top of the stairs stood a small woman in a black and white dress, blond hair tied up in two pigtails. The woman chuckled slightly and put a hand on her hip, the other hand on her chin.
"You lot are about the soundest sleepers ever. Still, you're awake now, so better late than never," she laughed.