Cuore was unable to stop smiling as she made her way back from leaving Scarmiglione with most of the other lost Eidolons. They had been as shocked as they suspected they would be, but they were also cheerful.
She rarely saw them that way; even Barbariccia had cracked a genuine smile.
But Cuore knew she needed sleep, so she bid them farewell for the night, promising to research more tomorrow and telling them they needed to busy themselves with settling into the Feymarch.
She wouldn't break her promise. They would be free before Asura's deadline.
Cuore noted with some worry that her parents were absent from the home they'd been given to rest in while here. She hoped they weren't getting into too much trouble.
She wasn't expecting, however, to find a familiar face sitting there waiting for her. Siren rose from one of the corner chairs, a hesitant smile on her painted lips, and nodded to her when she entered.
"Hello." the blonde Eidolons greeted softly. Her voice was as wispy as ever, Cuore noted, remembering their singing lessons from not so long ago.
She tipped her head to one side, "Siren, what are you doing here?"
Siren hesitated, fingers nervously playing with a few strands of her long hair, "I…wanted to talk to you…"
It wasn't hard to figure out the topic she wanted to discuss, and Cuore sighed with a nod, walking further into the home and sitting on the edge of one of the beds.
"Is this about your sister?" she asked.
Siren nodded and sat back in her former seat, hands still twisting her hair around so tightly it looked painful. She looked very much like Barbariccia; they shared the same slender form, same hair, same facial structure and same taste in clothing. But Siren looked younger and far more saccharine then her sadistic sister.
There was an awkward pause that finally the Eidolon broke, voice so quiet Cuore leaned forward to hear her better.
"My sister…I…haven't seen her for a long time…" Siren dropped her gaze, "Is she…I…"
Cuore frowned, not sure what the other woman was truly asking when finally she decided to steer the conversation in another direction, "Tell me about Barbariccia."
Siren glanced at her, "Don't you have her memories?"
No accusation, just a question.
Cuore nodded, "But tell me how you see her."
Siren blinked, and a slow, uneasy smile graced her lips, "I…see her as the strongest being I've ever met. But I…feel like she is overprotective of me to the point where she keeps herself away from me, too."
"Have you seen her at all?" Cuore asked, fairly certain she already knew the answer.
Siren sadly shook her head, "No."
"I know she said she didn't want to get your hopes up,"
The blonde Eidolon looked up at Cuore, "But you…are going to free them, aren't you?"
"I'm going to try my best. I promised I would." she replied with another nod.
Siren bit her lip, "My sister has trouble trusting others. She's been through so much that she is jaded about the world, about humans and even her own kind. It's not her fault, though, please understand that."
Cuore waited patiently, hoping the Eidolon would elaborate on Barbariccia's past. Even though she had her memories, she tried not to access them too readily. It still felt like an intrusion of some sort, like she was no better than Zeromus.
Luckily, the story continued without prompting and as always, the musical Siren's words sounded melodious and peaceful, despite the darkness she spoke of.
"Barbariccia was always a little…mocking, don't get me wrong, but I remember my sister before she became so…cynical. She was part of the Elite Element Guard."
Here Siren paused and smiled, "They were the best, you know. Everyone wanted to be them, to be as good as they were. They embodied the elements that make up all worlds, so it's natural that the king and queen would task them with such an honor to guard the Feymarch and everyone in it. The four of them were admired and worked hard to keep us safe…"
She closed her piercing blue eyes, "Back then it was also an honor to be bonded with a summoner. To make that connection, that bond, that life-changing link with another being…it was supposed to be joyous. Barbariccia was the last of the Element Guard to accept a summoner, and when she did, she told me she regretted it."
Here Cuore's brow furrowed, "Why?"
"Because, he summoned her for petty conflicts, abused her power, used her to get ahead in life. There was nothing honorable about being summoned by someone like him. She changed after that, slowly but surely. It wasn't long after that…" Siren trailed off and closed her eyes.
Cuore sighed sadly and leaned forward to clasp her friend's hand, "I know what happened. She was separated and imprisoned."
Siren nodded, "I haven't seen her since. The last time we talked, she made me promise never to bond with a summoner."
Cuore sighed again, "It makes sense. In her mind, she must blame her summoner for being trapped as well as everything else…"
"But, you're going to get her out, aren't you?" Siren pleaded, squeezing her hand, "They say you're the one that's going to fix everything."
Cuore wanted to reassure the Eidolon that yes, everything was going to be fine, but she couldn't bring herself too. She didn't want to make a promise she couldn't keep.
"Siren, you shouldn't put such stock in prophecies."
They both turned towards the door where Barbariccia stood, scowling, with her arms crossed over her chest, "They tend to disappoint you, just like people."
Siren brightened, despite the reprimand and leapt to her feet, "Sister!"
"Don't." Barbariccia said, holding up a hand, "I don't want you to think that anything has changed."
Her face fell, "But, when the destined one frees all of you then everything can go back to normal. You can stay here and-"
The archfiend of wind laughed sharply, "Destined one? Please, she's as lost as the rest of us."
Cuore bristled, "Hey! Destined or not, I made a promise. I will keep it!"
"Promises are meant to be broken." Barbariccia muttered, only to have Siren reach a hand towards her, "Dear sister, please, I-"
Cuore was surprised when the empress of the four winds smacked her younger sister's hand away with a snarl, "Stop it Siren! Don't you get it?! Freedom is a lie, promises are meant to be broken, and even if everything works out nothing will ever be the same! We are a taint among the untarnished and holy realm of the Feymarch. Asura thinks as much, anyway."
Siren's eyes filled with tears and Barbariccia looked away, glaring at a wall, "You are better off if you just accept that things will always be horrible and dark. It's time you lost your innocence."
Choking on a sob, Siren fled from the house, golden hair streaming out behind her. Cuore was shocked by the outcome but was rattled from her surprise by the loud slam of the door.
She stood and hurried to follow the Eidolon in hopes of comforting her, but Barbariccia grabbed her arm as she passed in a vice-like grip.
"Don't."
"Let me go." Cuore demanded, twisting her arm.
Barbariccia glared at her and did as she was told, reminding the teal haired teen that she was forced to do whatever she asked of her. "You enjoy bossing us around, don't you?"
Cuore shook her head, "No, I don't. I always wanted to be a summoner and now I don't. I don't want that kind of power."
She snorted, unconvinced.
Cuore frowned, "Why are you pushing your sister away? I know how long it's been since you've seen her. I don't understand. I love my brother so much, I could never hurt him like this."
Barbariccia turned around, lips twisting to a cruel smirk, "You could never hurt him?" she repeated, laughing, "As I recall, you nearly ran him through."
Cuore flinched, "T-that was different,"
"Was it?"
She glared at her, "Stop pushing me away, too!"
"Stop telling me what to do!" Barbariccia snapped, gesturing wildly with her arm.
Cuore sighed heavily, "We're not so different, you and I." She snorted again, turning away, but Cuore was not deterred, "No, Barb, listen to me. I know it's easier to push people away. You think it's making things better but it isn't. You've made mistakes, so have I. We have to learn from them and move on. You've given up hope and no one can live without hope."
"Don't lecture me, Maenad!" Barbariccia said, glaring over her shoulder, "Don't pretend to know what my life was like, what I was forced to do."
Cuore held her gaze unwavering, "But I do know. Your summoner, you saved his life and made the mistake of bonding with him."
She tensed as the story continued, "He made you kill four people that owed him money. He flaunted your power, summoned you out for irrelevant disputes. His actions disgraced you with the other Eidolons, with…your teammates."
Cuore wasn't expecting to be backed against a wall by the archfiend of wind, trapped when Barbariccia slammed a hand against the wall next to her.
Cuore was quite a bit shorter then her, and she swallowed uneasily, not really in fear for her life but still tense.
"I knew what he was," she hissed, baring her teeth, "I could see his black, hardened heart but I wanted a summoner so bad I let him use my name. I let him use me for all those terrible things."
Cuore blinked, hearing her nails scrap against the wooden wall as Barbariccia's hand tightened to a fist, "He called me his, and in the end, he wasn't even strong enough to protect me during the ritual."
"And now you hate everyone." Cuore muttered, still holding her gaze, "You learned that hate, and now you cling to it because deep down your scared to death."
"Don't," Barbariccia said with a tremble of rage. Cuore shook her head, "I told you, we aren't so different. I understand."
The archfiend of wind scoffed and pushed away from the wall, though she still held contempt in her gaze, "What can a Maenad understand about feelings?"
Cuore frowned, "Barbariccia I want to help you. Siren wants to help you. Why do you have to be so…unpleasant? Distancing yourself from others, putting up these barriers, these façades, they don't make things any easier. Not on you, not on those around you…"
"Maenad, do me a favor and waste someone else's time," Barbariccia said, pinning her with a glare, "I don't want your help."
"What do you want?" Cuore asked, pushing herself away from the wall.
Barbariccia's eyes narrowed even more as she walked forward, staring down at the teen and studying her as if appraising her prey.
"What do I want?" she repeated, "I want out of this crystal."
"But why?" Cuore asked, "If you don't want to mend things with your sister, and you don't want to remain here in the Feymarch then what does it matter if you get out or not?"
Her confusion was genuine, as she didn't understand the want and need to be free if nothing was going to change.
She snorted and turned away, "Why ask me the question if you're only going to shoot me down?"
Cuore sighed and touched the archfiend's bare arm, "Barbariccia, I'm asking because I truly want to know and because I want you to understand that I am going to keep my promise."
Barbariccia spun around and gripped Cuore's wrist, nails digging into her skin as she snarled, "The Maenad is going to keep her promise? Is that supposed to make me feel better?"
Cuore frowned, "You hate me, don't you?"
The Eidolon didn't answer, only continued to glare, and Cuore took a deep breath, glancing at her arm, held in the other woman's grasp. It was time to take a risk, to push Barbariccia possibly over the edge. But it had to be done. She'd done plenty to make up for, and she knew that what the Maenads had done reminded the windy summon of her original summoner.
"Barbariccia," she said calmly, "if you want to hurt me, then hurt me."
The Eidolon blinked, and Cuore nodded, "Yes, if you want to take out your anger on me, then do so. You have to listen to me, so consider this an order; if you mean me harm, then go ahead."
Barbariccia hesitated and then snorted, letting her go, "Stupid girl."
Cuore opened her mouth to say something, but suddenly the room spun and she winced, drawing her hands to her chest as pain exploded within her.
"Cuore?" Barbariccia asked warily, giving her a funny look.
She gasped, startled as much as pained, as she realized what was happening. After all, the sensation was familiar, if not unsettling.
She was having a memory relapse.
Images tangled with pain in her mind, leading her down a road of confusion as she tried to sort through all the emotions, but ultimately she lost the tug of war and sighed, fainting.
Voices trembled in and out of her ears, slowly clearing away the haze of forgotten, suppressed, puzzling memories that haunted her.
"…happened." someone said, sounding mildly worried.
"How should I know!" Barbariccia's voice snapped.
Rubicante spoke next, and Cuore felt an accompanying touch along her forehead as he spoke, "You were with her when she collapsed, I would assume you would know."
"Well I don't!"
"And I suppose you don't know about these scratches on her arm either, do you?"
Cuore wanted to tell them she was fine, and that it really wasn't Barbariccia's fault, but she was unable to snap herself out of the dazed lull she'd fallen into. The memories and sensations not her own were still trying to be heard, felt, and seen, and it left her in a limbo state; halfway awake, halfway asleep.
"Are you saying I did this to her?!" Barbariccia nearly shouted.
Another touch, this one on her cheek, but it was Cagnazzo who spoke, "Gee, you tell us. You were with her!"
Barbariccia growled, but Scarmiglione interrupted their argument, "What about Cuore? Will ssshe be alright?"
He sounded concerned, and she could hear Rubicante sigh, "I'm not sure what's wrong with her. She's breathing and she's not really wounded…"
He trailed off but then whispered a second later, "This is our fault, you realize."
"How so?" Cagnazzo's voice asked.
"We contacted her. We drew Zeromus's attentions to her. We reactivated her telepathy." he explained.
Cuore was surprised when none of them argued with his words, but she finally managed to shake the clinging sleepiness and sigh.
"It's no use blaming yourselves…" she mumbled, eyes fluttering open, "We have no way of knowing if Zeromus would have used me anyway."
She sat up with a groan, pressing her hand to her forehead, "I'd forgotten how much fun that was…"
"Are you alright?" Barbariccia asked, setting a hand on her shoulder.
Cuore looked up at her and grinned, "Were you worried?"
She punched her in the shoulder, "If you die, silly girl, I'll never be free."
Cagnazzo frowned, "Heartwarming."
"Shut up turtleface."
"Make me!"
Rubicante sighed and Cuore chuckled, "Stop it you two. It wasn't Barb's fault that I fainted."
She trailed off, eyes glazing, "It was….Zodiark! Where's his crystal?"
Scarmiglione brought it over and knelt down, passing it to her with a worried look. She took it from his hand and caught his eye, smiling, "I'm okay, really."
He nodded and stood, allowing her space to do the same, though when she swayed on her feet, Rubicante reached out to steady her.
She was amused by his overprotective actions, but she said nothing, and then looked around, "Where's…"
"Anima and Midgardsormr went to find your parents." he explained.
Cuore winced, "Great…"
She knew they would be overly worried about her and she wasn't sure she could handle the Eidolons worrying over her safety as well as her parents.
Still, she had something else to do and closed her eyes, whispering, "Keeper of the Precepts, Zodiark I invoke thy name."
An elaborate crest danced through the air, bending the air and the world around it until Zodiark's sealed form shimmered into being in front of them, his wings tucked safety away so they wouldn't brush against the walls.
"Zodiark, you contacted me, why?" she asked, coming to stand in front of him, not missing the way the other Eidolons tensed upon his arrival.
He was, she knew, one of the most powerful Eidolons alive, but not known for his kindness.
He chimed and she sighed, nodded before placing her hand flat against his armored body, bowing her head and closing her eyes, "Tell me."
His memories and knowledge swirled from the depths of her mind, where he'd first entrusted her with them, so long ago when she'd freed him from Mist.
Cuore was surprised then, and even now, that he trusted so much as to impart his wisdom to her, but as he tried to shape these thoughts, she winced, having trouble deciphering what he was trying to tell her.
But then she could see the visions take form, as if words and she nodded, eyes snapping open, "Mutable matter? Antimatter? Metamorphosis?"
He chimed and she grinned, "I understand!"
Cuore turned to face the others, smile still in place, "Zodiark knows how to bring Leviathan back, and he's shared that knowledge with me."
They exchanged a glance, and Barbariccia crossed her arms, "Can you do that?"
Cuore nodded, "I believe so. The trouble will be convincing Asura to let me try."
They all mumbled their agreements, but any further conversation was interrupted by Cuore's parents coming in with the last two Eidolons on their heels.
It took a few minutes to convince them she was fine, but finally they settled down and she explained that she believed she knew how to bring Leviathan back into physical form.
"Really?" Rydia asked, blinking, "How?"
Cuore paused, and then explained sheepishly, "It…would be too complicated to explain."
Her parents exchanged a glance and she grinned, "Sorry."
"Well," Edge commented, "speaking of complicated things to explain, Phoenix is being very secretive, and then she says things that just plain confuse everyone around her."
Cuore blinked, "You saw her?"
This news surprised her; she had thought the undying light was still resting.
Rydia nodded, "Yes, I believe she is actually on her way here. Perhaps we can have her explain everything then?"
Cuore frowned, "I think we should, I have things to ask her as well."
They didn't have to wait long for Phoenix to arrive, and Cuore took a moment to carefully study her, still concerned over her health. Unlike when an Eidolon was bonded to a summoner and used their power and energy to manifest, Phoenix was using her own soul.
It had been a direct pull on her core to bring Cuore back to life, and then to send the darkened spirits to rest on Ordeals.
That kind of strain would leave scars, although invisible, on the Eidolon; no matter how powerful she was.
She gazed around the room and Rydia grinned at her, "We were waiting for you. We were hoping you might shed light on some things…"
Phoenix smiled, "I suppose I do have explaining to do, don't I?"
Cuore nodded, perching on the edge of the table in the room, "Yes, you do. I am very curious, Phoenix. I have very few memories from you."
The Eidolon nodded and glanced aside as she spoke, "This tale, my tale, is a lengthy one, and to fully comprehend it, we will need to start at the beginning."
"The beginning of what?" Cuore asked, tipping her head to one side.
Phoenix smiled, "Of the Eidolons. Destined one, do you know how we came to be?"
When she shook her head, her golden gaze shifted to Rydia, "Do you, High Summoner?"
Rydia slowly shook her head, "Not entirely. I know…theories. I know…they were here before the Lunarians came to our planet…"
Phoenix bowed her head in acknowledgment of that statement, and then began to speak, her voice falling into the gentle, yet powerful, tone Cuore had gotten used to hearing from her.
"Yes, we were here long before the Lunarians came here, long before their home was destroyed. We've been called many things; Phantoms of magic, Espers, spirits, sacred beasts…but we chose the name Eidolons for a reason."
Cuore couldn't help but interrupt; "Eidolon, a ghostly form of a figure, an idealized image of somebody or something."
Phoenix smiled at her rather than be angry by her speaking. "Yes, a fine way to describe living magic. For that is what we are; the embodiment of spells and magic and elements given form and life. You see, the magic you cast now is magic the Lunarians taught you, but before that, there was another type of magic. A feral sort of quickening that certain individuals could call upon and use and wield. This kind of magic was a manipulation of the elements themselves, and, after a time, that magic grew aware. It…evolved, it was given a voice, a consciousness. That realization lead to our creation."
Cuore's eyes widened, "You're literally a spell!"
Phoenix laughed, "Yes, we are all spells, spoken into existence by ancient summoners, before they held that title. We chose forms, created a world for ourselves. Those that were more heavily attuned to magic knew us. That is why, to this day, summoners are always accomplished mages as well."
"Living spells?" Rydia repeated, sounding thoughtful, "That…"
"The incarnation of the smoldering coals at the base of every raging fire; Inferno." Rubicante muttered, drawing a few looks his way. He shrugged and Cuore grinned at him with a nod, though she wasn't sure anyone else in the room understood quite what he meant.
She knew because she had his memories, that he was referencing a certain spell he had taught to her parents. Evidently, his spell.
Phoenix's expression turned wistful, "For a time, we stayed apart from the growing world, but then we realized that we are nothing alone, so we sought out those that had first given us life and let them call on us again, though differently now. Our forms had changed, and so had the world."
"So you did create the Feymarch, then?" Edge asked.
She nodded, "Yes, we did. We each used a little piece of ourselves to shape a world of magic, just like we were shaped."
Rydia nodded, "I suppose that makes sense…"
"We didn't bond to summoners the way they do now, either," Phoenix continued, this time frowning as though something bothered her. "There were no tests, no trials, no proving your worth…Those that were able to use the deeper forms of magic could call out to us, and, if we deemed them worthy at that point in time, by looking into their heart, we answered. One Eidolon each, bonded for the rest of their lives."
"Caetuna wasss attacked by undead fiendsss on a cliff and cried out for help. I anssswered." Scarmiglione explained, "We were then sssummoner and Eidolon. I had given her my name by coming to her aid."
Phoenix glanced at Rydia, "I believe you did the same, did you not?"
The green haired woman shifted uncomfortably, "I…once summoned without really thinking…after Mist was destroyed. I was angry, and scared to death…"
Phoenix grinned, "And again, at sea."
Rydia winced, "I…well, yes."
Edge chuckled, not really sounding amused, "So we didn't really have to fight Leviathan, did we?"
Rydia flashed a sheepish grin, "How was I supposed to know all this?"
"As High Summoner," he retorted, crossing his arms, "Obviously. I nearly got eaten in that fight, you know."
"You did not."
"I did too!"
She sighed and rolled her eyes, but Cuore was already curious about something else and braced her hands on the end of the table so she could lean forward, towards her parents, "Mom, why did you summon Leviathan on the ocean? I know the first time you were mad and fearful, but…"
Rydia paused before she averted her gaze, "I was scared then, too."
"Why?" Edge asked, giving her a funny look.
She sighed and closed her eyes, "Because at the time Zemus was taunting me and I…didn't know what else to do. I cried out for someone to help me, and that must have triggered a summoning."
Cuore's eyes widened, "Wait, what?"
"I second our daughter; what?" Edge complained, sitting up and giving Rydia a look, "Why am I just now hearing about this?"
She fidgeted and shrugged, "It wasn't that big of a deal…I was just little and scared…No one knows…" Rydia looked up, "I didn't…I mean, I didn't want to summon anything, I just…I was frightened."
Phoenix nodded, "Leviathan sensed your fear and knew that the Eidolons couldn't afford for you to fall into darkness, not when you were the last summoner alive. Who else is suited to rescue you on the high seas then the lord of oceans himself?"
"Oh, I'm sure Asura was pissed about that one…" Edge muttered, rolling his eyes.
Rydia looked uncomfortable, but Phoenix was already speaking again, gesturing softly with one of her hands. "I believe Leo did much the same recently."
Cuore returned her attention to the summon, "That would make sense."
"Yeah, because I was under the impression you started with chocobo and then moved up. Not started with Alexander." Edge commented.
Phoenix nodded, "Leo was fearful, but also had a strong desire to help, and that led him to call out, consciously or not, and let Alexander make the choice to bond with him and be summoned forth, despite Leo's age and inability. Your son is remarkably gifted."
Rydia smiled shyly, but Edge nodded, "Our kids are pretty much awesome."
Cuore rolled her eyes, amused, and Phoenix laughed softly, "I would expect nothing less."
The teal haired teen frowned, "This still doesn't fully explain everything, and why did Eidolons start testing summoners?"
"I would assume because of the ritual used to separate them." the Eidolon woman explained, "It was a dark time, when the world was torn apart by war, when summoners, who were in each kingdom rather than isolated, were forced to send their Eidolons into battle with one another. It tore your world, and ours, apart. They finally made an agreement to no longer fight."
Cuore knew this part of the story from her memories, "And that's why the Eidolons were extracted from their summoners. They were viewed as the ultimate weapon; any kingdom that had one on their side would have the upper hand."
Phoenix nodded sadly, "Yes. I suspect it was because of this…unfavorable set of events that summoners receded from the world and kept themselves apart after that."
Rydia looked thoughtful, "That would make sense…though, what happened to the summoners who the Eidolons were extracted from?"
Cuore shuddered, "If the process didn't kill them, then they went mad."
Rydia closed her eyes, "It is unsettling to lose your Eidolons…"
Cuore bit her lip, knowing what her mother was thinking about. She couldn't help but feel guilty. It was the Maenads that had caused her that pain; turning the Eidolons to stone, drawing their powers out of statues and using their names without permission to devastate the world.
"Hey, can I ask you something?" Edge said, addressing Phoenix.
She nodded, "Of course."
"Why does our crest have you on it?" he asked, direct as always.
She laughed, and then shrugged, "I was getting to that part, actually. You could say I was Eblan's protector and symbol in those days. There's a reason it's known as the 'castle that always rises from the ashes'".
"I always wondered about that name," Edge admitted.
Rydia, depression overridden by curiosity, looked up, "Who was your summoner?"
"Geraldine."
There was a long pause, and Cuore couldn't help but giggle, even as Phoenix looked puzzled, "I'm surprised you don't already know this,"
Both parents gave different excuses;
"I married in," Rydia remarked.
"History was…never really my thing." Edge commented.
Phoenix looked unmoved.
Cuore, still amused, grinned and nodded, "I want to hear this, please, continue."
Phoenix sighed, though her expression was decidedly nostalgic, "Geraldine was my friend as well as my caller. She was heavily devoted to protecting her kingdom, even at the cost of her life. I allowed her to cheat death three times over the course of our partnership, not to mention the countless others she asked me to rescue."
Her eyes narrowed, "Asura claimed I was meddling to heavily in the human world by using my powers to bring her back when, by all rights, she should have died. We had an intense argument over it, but in the end, who was I to disagree with my queen?"
Cuore found herself falling into a few of Phoenix's memories, though they were still hazy she spoke up, "You warned Geraldine, but she still took risks."
Phoenix chuckled, "Time and time again. It was a battle at the Tower of Babil that finally killed her, though not in the blaze of glory I think she was hoping for. No, an extraction spell to try and obtain me is what finished her off."
Rydia frowned, "But you were down in the catacombs, so…"
"The opposing group still lost that day, even if our castle was laid waste and Geraldine's life stolen, and I…well, I was lost as well." Phoenix explained, gaze sad, though she glanced up and frowned, "Not that my time was restful. My name was sporadically invoked over the next few centuries. With limited success, of course."
Edge paused, "Oh, one of those might have been me…"
"Six to seven years ago? The Tower of Babil?" Phoenix asked pointedly.
He grinned, "Yeah, that was us. Though, to be fair, we didn't know you were…you know, an Eidolon…and that you were under our castle…"
She frowned, though Cuore could tell she was hardly angry, and she proved that when she shrugged it off and continued to talk.
"At least you had need to call me. Ifrit was pretty close to roasting you all."
Rydia glanced at her husband, "I think Izayoi told me this story…"
"I think Izayoi needs to stop telling you things." he retorted.
Cuore was confused, and still overly curious, so she turned to her parents, "But, what's the connection between names?"
"How should I know?" Edge said, shrugging again.
Phoenix hummed for a moment, "I'm not sure either. Geraldine did have children, but she wasn't royalty, and I'm not sure how the name became a surname rather than a first name."
"Oh, that throne's been passed around dozens of times," he replied, waving dismissively, "Though I have to admit I've never heard of this Geraldine."
Rydia was staring out the window, "I think…there's a book in the library with a listing of all summoners…that might be fun to look at."
Cuore nodded, "What about back home?"
"Most records were lost in the fire, though," he said, pausing, "we could still check."
Phoenix smiled, "Regardless of whether or not she is connected to any of you, I am glad that it was you, Cuore, who are trying to set things right."
Cuore felt uneasy with the Eidolon's attention being directed solely at her and she averted her gaze, "I will do my best."
"Yes, I know you will." she said quietly, smiling.
Cuore stared at her, pondering the tone of voice the Eidolon used, trying to uncover it's hidden meanings. Phoenix was such a cryptic, mysterious creature though there was nothing untrustworthy in her countenance.
"Walk with me, won't you?" Phoenix asked after a moment, holding at her hand, "I would like to speak with you. Alone."
Cuore nodded slowly, anxious, and slid from the table she'd been sitting on, purposely keeping her movements measured.
There was something crackling in the air that she didn't like, something in Phoenix's gaze that told her this talk would be one of the soul wrenching ones.
They left the safety of the Eidolons and her family behind and began their walk along the Feymarch's street. Cuore glanced at Phoenix, marveling at her proud stance and at the soft, half-smile on her lips.
She was acting like she knew something no one else did.
Cuore chewed on her lip and glanced to her other side, eyes wandering over the buildings as they passed by, waiting for the silence to be broken.
"Bahamut went to the moon for the same reason the Lunarians went to sleep." Phoenix commented, out of the blue.
Cuore raised an eyebrow and turned back to her, "To wait for humanity to evolve?"
The Eidolon laughed softly, "Maybe not exactly the same, then, but yes. To wait. To wait for a time when things wouldn't be so complicated."
"He will be waiting a long time." Cuore pointed out dryly.
Phoenix laughed again, shooting her a look out of the corner of her eye, "Perhaps, though I think by giving his name to High Summoner Rydia he's forfeited his own ideals a little."
Cuore shrugged, not really sure why they were discussing Bahamut, though she noticed the way her expression sharpened to a contemplative one.
"He invited me to go with him,"
"To the moon?" she asked to clarify.
Phoenix nodded, "Yes. We are…too influential, in some ways, for this world."
"You didn't want to leave?" Cuore asked, tipping her head to one side.
The Eidolon beside her smiled sadly, "I did, but I had promised many things to Geraldine. I am a creature of my word above all else."
The teen hesitated, and then asked, "Do you…regret that you didn't go?"
"No."
It was a simple answer, but she had no reason to doubt it so nodded, satisfied.
Phoenix looked her over, "Cuore, you remind me very much of my long lost summoner. Tell me something; what do you make of the past?"
Cuore paused, both in though and her steps, and finally her brow furrowed, "I…don't understand the question."
Phoenix laughed once more, but somehow it didn't sound mocking. "People speak so often of being bound by fate," she explained, walking airily down the street. "They say that they have no choice, that their destiny is already set, yet…"
The Eidolon smiled slowly as Cuore caught up to her, falling back into step as they rounded a corner and descended a staircase. "Fate, destiny, chance…they speak of the future, something that is always changing, something that is fluid. Shifting, varying…"
Cuore glanced up at her and she continued, "What truly holds us back, chains us in place, what really guides our steps is the past. The past is like a long shadow, casting darkness into the light of the future, shading the possibilities of what could be. The past can block our imagination, and when that happens, our hope is stolen."
Phoenix paused in her steps, "Does that make sense to you, destined one?"
"I…think so," Cuore whispered, eyes downcast, "If we let it, the past can shape our futures into something we don't want, something ugly and dark."
"Yes."
She blinked and glanced up, "But…it can also teach us something,"
Phoenix smiled and nodded her head once, "So it can."
Cuore frowned, "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because you are very much bound by the past, and I wish that wasn't so." she said, sighing, "Things have happened, and it isn't necessarily your duty to fix them."
"Even if I can?" Cuore challenged, stopping once more on the street, one hand on her hip.
Phoenix swirled around gracefully to lock gazes with her, and wordlessly prompted Cuore to continue.
"The past is sometimes dark, but not always. The things that we can change for the better, we should. If I have to ability to do something about it, why wouldn't I?"
Deciding to try her hand at a 'metaphor', she shrugged, "It would be like…watching someone drown even though you could save them."
She frowned, "Metaphors are inaccurate…"
The Eidolon nodded, "So they are."
Cuore blinked, considering the before-mentioned question and finally gave a straight answer, finally understanding what Phoenix wanted to know.
"I believe the past is an event that has already happened. Nothing more, nothing less."
Phoenix replied with another question; "And the future?"
"Is an event that has yet to happen. Nothing more, nothing less." Cuore answered, shrugging.
Phoenix stared at her a moment and then smiled slowly, "A good answer, destined one."
They began to walk again and Cuore continued to think on the words recently spoken, letting her mind work through the cycle of logic it usually did, trying to process different possibilities, different outcomes for the present.
Phoenix once again drew her attention with another question, "Do you know why Asura fears you so?"
Cuore frowned, not fond of this topic, "Because I'm a Maenad."
"No," the undying light disagreed with a shake of her head, "She hides her fear with anger towards your creation, but trust me, it is fear."
Cuore was disturbed by this news, "Fear of what?"
"Your magic." Phoenix said simply, glancing at her sharply, "Asura knows what I do as well. The magic you command is the same as the spells we came from. At its core, your magic is no different than us. You have the potential to rip the fabric of the Feymarch apart with it, or strengthen our realm without end. In time, your spell casting my give rise to another form of magic not unlike us."
Cuore stared at her, shocked and Phoenix shrugged, "Who can say? The future is, after all, an event that hasn't yet happened."
She moved passed and Cuore began to chew her lip again, not sure she wanted that much influence or power. For all the Maenad's abilities, she wished she didn't have the potential for so much.
Still, it explained why Asura didn't like her suddenly, why she tossed her aside after her stay here, in the Feymarch. She must have sensed the similarities in magic.
It also explained why the Eidolons could teach her to control these spells and no one else could. They understood it, felt it, lived it.
Cuore sighed and shook her head, running to catch up to the Eidolon who was heading towards the library.
"Why are we going here?" she asked once she had caught up.
"I believe you know how to bring Leviathan back, do you not?"
She winced, "Yes, but I…"
Phoenix smiled at her, "I will wait here. Asura has no fondness for me, either, so perhaps it would be better if only one of us saw her at a time."
Cuore peered at her, "What happened between you two?"
"A disagreement. We both have trouble letting go of grudges. It's in the past." Phoenix replied cryptically.
Cuore frowned, "Imprecise."
"I prefer the term vague." she teased coyly.
Cuore sighed and rolled her eyes, but for reasons even she didn't understand, entered the library and hurried to the lair beneath, steeling herself for the coming visit.
But for all of Asura's rough, cold and taciturn disposition, her husband was still nothing but vapors of magic at the moment, and her world was crumbling around her.
She had to be stressed out.
At least, that's what Cuore told herself so she wouldn't change her mind as she climbed down the stairs and entered the dimly lit room below, in the depths of the Feymarch.
Asura was kneeling in the center, head bowed and eyes closed, though her expression shifted to a scowl, "I believe one of my terms of you being allowed to stay here was no visits."
Cuore swallowed and nodded, despite that the queen couldn't see her. "Yes, I know, but I…believe I can bring Leviathan back."
Asura's gaze snapped up and she looked anything but happy, but Cuore continued, stepping off the last stair, "Besides, I think I owe you an apology."
The queen just continued to stare at her, golden gaze calculating and unmoved by her words. Cuore had expected, even with Asura's aloof personality, to see a spark of…something in her eyes.
But she was still, quiet, and merely waiting.
Cuore swallowed once more, and this time it wasn't just her saliva, it was her pride too. With a deep breath she knelt down, not giving herself time to reconsider the action and spoke in a clear, decisive voice.
"I don't just owe an apology for bringing the lost ones back without warning, but also as I am the last of my kind I feel like I should tell you how completely and unreservedly sorry I am for what the Maenads, my sisters, my kind, did to you and the other Eidolons. There is nothing I can ever do to make up for those crimes, but I ask that you at least allow me to try."
Asura said nothing and Cuore inwardly winced, uncomfortable with the idea of apologizing for something that really wasn't her fault. But still, her prickly feelings on the subject did prove she was more human than most people thought.
Surely this was pride and vanity run wild.
There was a rustle of fabric and Cuore felt a long finger touch and lift her chin, forcing her to look Asura in the eye, though the queen was still a few inches taller, even kneeling.
She studied her eyes and then smiled ruefully, "What an interesting creature you are, Cuore. And as I first observed in Mist when I met you, how very much like your mother."
Cuore smiled at that, and felt a spark of surprise when the queen whispered, "Now then, how shall we bring Levi back?"
"It was something Zodiark told me. He said that matter is mutable…well, it would take me a long time to explain, but needless to say, I believe I can…reconstruct him, in a way."
Cuore nodded to the room around them, "He's here, after all, just woven into the fabric of your reality. But I think I can draw him out, create that image, that solid form of magic as we know him."
Asura exhaled, "You make it sound simple."
"It is." she replied, "But I need…your help. I need to see him as you remember him."
Asura stiffened and Cuore winced, "I know, it's not a pleasant idea for me to…have access to your mind, and your memories, but…"
The Eidolon queen grasped her hand and closed her eyes, "No, it is not a pleasant thought, but it must be done. Do what you must."
Cuore closed her eyes and carefully reached out to tap Asura's mind, drawing out the thought at the surface, the only one she needed. It wasn't nearly as complex as Cuore thought. It was no different than drawing Scarmiglione's true shape out, forming the magic back together.
After all, this form was the one it was most used to taking so it was only a matter of projecting Asura's memories of the king outward, into the room and letting the spell transfigure.
The Feymarch was, most definitely, a composition of all the Eidolons; elements swirled and danced and sang to each other, weaving together a dense, complex and beautiful veil of pure magic. Each piece of the melody was its own song, drawing her attention in a dozen different directions at once.
But, using Asura's memories as a guide, she focused on just the particles that spoke of water, of rolling waves and churning tides. She listened and heard the tune that was Leviathan's and his alone, the song that was his essence, his spell.
His soul.
There was a whoosh and then they were both splattered with salt water as Leviathan literally fell from…somewhere and crashed into the middle of the room in his Eidolon form.
Asura untangled her hands from Cuore's and was up in a flash, racing over as the king shimmered and returned to his human avatar in reply to her calling his name.
Cuore grinned and then swayed sideways on her knees, catching herself before she fell on her face. "I didn't think that would take that much out of me…"
The king and queen were embracing as she staggered to her feet, wary of the way the room was spinning and trying to steady her uneven breathing.
Asura actually giggled across the room and Cuore raised an eyebrow, slightly worried.
But all too soon, she glanced over her shoulder and her face switched to an unfriendly expression, "You may go."
"You're welcome." Cuore muttered under her breath, suppressing an eye roll but nevertheless turning to leave. She did, however, send a quick wave to Leviathan before leaving.
She didn't make it far and collapsed on the top of the stairs just as she entered the library.
Luckily, Phoenix had been waiting and knelt beside her, resting a hand on her shoulder, "Well done, destined one."
"Tell me that when I don't feel ready to throw up." she groaned, squeezing her eyes shut.
Phoenix chuckled, "It takes a lot out of someone to compress that much magic,"
Cuore didn't reply, but she let the Eidolon lull her into a sleep with a brush of fingertips across her forehead and a whispered, "Rest."
The Maenads were blind to the beauty of the world around them.
Pale fingers tapped the forehead of an Eidolon turned to stone by the blue haired maiden, and with the physical contact came a rush of magical energy.
This was the core, the soul of the Eidolon trapped. Their voice sang the song all Eidolons did, but each was different slightly, singling that part of the Eidolon that was their soul.
But the Maenad ignored the sweet song, the lovely tune of their voices as they resonated magical elements. No, she was too focused on her task to even make note of the true essence of these beings.
Instead, she drew the soul of the creature forcefully from their statue, breaking that song and halting the magical movement.
Cuore sat up, startled, and then moaned and rubbed a circular pattern on her temples, hoping to relieve her headache.
Carbuncle, curled against her and upset with being woken, made an unhappy sound and pushed his forepaws into her leg before rolling back up in a ball.
She shot him a pained, yet amused look before she tried to ignore her latest dream.
But then she remember something.
Something the Maenads knew.
Something they could do.
Her eyes widened and she whispered out loud, "I know how to free them!"
Author's Note: Plot! Asura is so tri-polar...she needs meds...
Well, pretty much tying up some loose ends here, but there will be two more chapters to finish out the story. I've set a goal for myself to have LaF completed by the end of April, and I think it's a do-able goal.
I know there's a lot in this one, but I have very little to say as an A/N...Hopefully no one is rioting with all the non-cannon-ness abounding in this chapter...hehe...