Act I : Trial of A Man
Chapter XXV - The Collapsing
~*~
I've been sitting by this bedside for the last two days, almost straight. I would be here the entire time, were it not for my classes. Link has hardly stirred since I started my vigil, only occasionally tossing or turning in his near unconscious sleep. He's as still now as he was that first day, though not nearly as pale. Kadowaki says that he'll make it, that it's almost impossible for him to die now that he has come so far. I still worry, however. How could I not? Seeing him lay here, it's hard to watch and wait like this. . .
He shouldn't be laying here. . .
I haven't been Link's only visitor. Quistis has made numerous trips, but she never stays long. It's almost as if she's hiding something, or trying to at least. I'd say, personally, that she's infatuated with him, but the 'Ice Queen' in love with someone?
Then again, it is said that she was once in love with Squall, or still is. . .
Zell and Rinoa have stopped by occasionally, as well. They acknowledged me somewhat, treating me as though I was a pleasured acquaintance. In reality, that's not true. I don't know them well enough to be an acquaintance.
They almost seem to fuss over Link, or at least, Rinoa does. She tries to boss him into waking, though it never works. She then usually frets, afraid that he'll never awake. Zell usually buts in about this point, telling her that he'll be fine, and that he'll wake up once she yells at his lazy ass enough. She seems to find this remotely funny (I have to admit, it's rather hilarious, when you see them do the whole thing so dramatically), and a light smile forms on her face, every time.
Amusing, but despite the number of times this has happened, Link still remains asleep.
Alica came once, staring at Link before muttering something about how weak he was. I glared at her, and though she didn't seem to notice my sudden anger at her, she did leave rather abruptly.
All in all, it's been rather quiet in here, especially for the last little while. The only one who has come in here over the last couple of hours (well, except me) is Kadowaki, who does a brief, routine check on the young Elf every so often. She's left every time with a somewhat dissatisfied look on her face.
I heard that Link and her got along fairly well, for the fact that he's only been here a short while. Then again, it's hard not to get along with Kadowaki, seeing as how she's rather kind and all. . .
I turn and look at the door. I can see the Doctor milling about as I watch, even now. It seems that she is always busy, working on something or another. I can barely see the clock through the doorway, but I make out what it says, nonetheless. Seven o'clock. Sharp. Kadowaki will be going for one of her breaks now, and will soon be back. She's got a few assistants running about, to tend for the sick while she's gone.
There's about three other injured in the Infirmary today. One received a good whap to the head, which rendered him unconscious for a few hours. One moment, he's training in the Training Center, the next he's stuck in the Infirmary with a good bruise to his temple. Even though he's regained consciousness, Kadowaki wouldn't let him leave. Said that he would need as much rest as he could get, and that she wouldn't let him out until he was ready.
There was, of course, assorted grumbling at that.
The second one was a young girl who managed to catch a serious but somewhat rare strain of the flu. She had a fever and the shakes, but when I asked Kadowaki about it, she said that it would wear off in a few days. She also said that since they were keeping the girl in near quarantine like conditions, there was almost no chance of the flu spreading.
I was glad of that. With Link's weakened condition. . .
The third occupant of this somewhat large facility is a boy I know rather well. His name is Isaac, a small boy with dark black hair and ruddy brown eyes. He's usually wearing a large smile on his face, as he makes silly jokes about people's stupidity. He does, however, have the occasionally good joke.
He wasn't laughing when he came in here, a large spear gash down his back. He was also injured during training, rather badly too. Not as bad as Link, but I thought that I could spare a few minutes from the Elf's bedside to go make sure that Isaac was okay. After all, that was still rather early on, and Link wasn't going to wake up anytime soon.
Isaac had been a mess of blood for such a wound. It did go fairly deep, though it was not very wide. It was made when his opponent finally got ticked off at one to many bar jokes. Apparently, he fed his sparring partner somewhere along the lines of twenty five to thirty jokes, and the other guy just couldn't handle anymore.
I had to yell at the boy for close to half an hour about that mistake. It seems like I'm always yelling at Isaac.
I sigh, looking back to Link's prone form. He lays there still, unmoving, but. . .I move closer. Are his eyes open?
He blinks once, opening his eyes a crack. His eyes seem to be entirely black, probably heavily dilated. The shadow from his eyelids isn't helping, either. I can't tell his irises from his pupils, or from the whites, for that matter. I watch, and he blinks again, weary orbs focusing on me. Or, trying to.
"Link?" I ask gently, my voice almost a whisper. At the sound, he moves his head a little in my direction, but he can't seem to pin point my exact location. I'm more than willing to guess that his sight is blurry.
"Is-Isabel?" He asks, his voice rasping heavily. Almost instinctively, I reach for the glass of water sitting on a table near the bed. I've been waiting for this moment for a while now, preparing for it well. Kadowaki told me to be prepared for when he woke, that he'd probably be hungry and thirsty.
That he might even be delirious.
I shake the thought from my head, grasping the glass and turning back towards Link. He's facing me, his right cheek resting against both his shoulder and the pillow as he watches me, or tries to. I place one hand at the back of his neck, slowly pouring the contents into his mouth. Despite my caution, some of the liquid escapes and trickles out of the corner of his mouth in thin rivulets. Not that it matters, neither of us care. He's too out of it to probably even notice, and I'm too focused on making sure that he's well hydrated.
Once he has drunk his fill, I lay his head back down gently, letting the back of my palm rest on his forehead for one brief moment. He is warm, though not burning with fever. I remove my hand and stare into his eyes. Dark as they are, I can see the delirium that Kadowaki warned me about there, yet, he is not taken in by it. Every few seconds, his eyes do glaze over, but he quickly comes back to himself, as if fighting it.
I smile. He must be trying so hard, in his condition. . .
"What. . .What happened?" He voices weakly, his voice no longer quite as raspy, but still strained.
"You won the fight with the Ruby Dragon," I say lightly, "You're a SeeD now, Link. You're a SeeD. . ." I move a hand through his now clean bangs, watching as the hair falls back down to rest off of his face. He blinks again, slowly, as if trying hard to concentrate. I see the edges of delirium pull again at his consciousness, but again he resists.
My smile widens slightly.
"I. . .I did?" his brow furrows slightly, "I d. . .on't. . .don't remember. . ."
"You won. . .You kicked it's butt into the ground," I state, my smile now a grin. His forehead straightens again, and he attempts at a smile.
"Did I?" I nod, "Good. . ." he clears his throat, with a harsh sounding noise, "good. . .What about-" I start slightly as those normally brilliant blue orbs begin to roll back into his head, leaving his cracked open eyes nearly white for a moment, but he recovers, his eyelids quivering, "-what about. . .others?"
I don't know where he got the idea that someone is injured, at least not out of Squall's group, but I answer anyway, keeping my tone sweet and gentle, "Everyone is fine. Don't worry about it. . .Try to get some sleep. . ."
He tries to fight his oncoming (and much needed) sleep, but it's of no use. He succumbs within moments, his breathing slower and far more lethargic than moments earlier. I watch his form, glad that he woke, and happy that he's resting. As much as I wanted him to wake, it was just a bit of an awkward moment when he finally did.
Now that he is resting. . .Maybe now that I am sure that he'll be alright (seeing him awake made me believe that) I can go back to my dorm, and get some rest. I am sure that he'll be alright. . .but maybe I should wait for Kadowaki to return?
I glance again at the clock. It's almost seven thirty. She should be back soon.
I look at Link, taking in the way his eyes move under their lids. He's dreaming, probably about something unpleasant, by the looks of it. His appearance is tired and strained, his body taxed. He needs this rest. Not that I would deny it to him. . .I wouldn't do something like that to anyone, especially not to Link. . .
I'll stay here, until the Doctor comes. I don't want to chance anything happening to him now. . .
~*~
The edge of my blade hits into the Forbidden, cutting into the chest and all the way through to the spine, the only real weak point on these things. It buckles, falling to the ground, and is immediately replaced by another.
And another.
And another.
Zell and Selphie seem exhausted, and I don't think I look much better. I can't, not after three straight hours of fighting like this. It's beyond a joke, or even being slightly funny now. They just keep coming. There's been no sign of a break since all this began, and I hate to say it, but I'm now beginning to believe that there will be no end to this. . .
At least, no end that I'll live to see. . .
I fall, dodging the attack of a Forbidden, spinning as I go do. I use the momentum to swing and cleave into the monster's spine, aiming my attack right between it's pelvis and it's ribs. The thing falls with a sickening crack, and soon I am again on my feet, dodging and blocking once more.
Can't keep this up much longer. . .
I'm forced to ignore the sweat that forms on my brow, dripping down into my eyes. I can't deal with that right now, there's more important things, though the stinging is hurting my vision. . .Oh well, better blind then dead. . .
There's got to be something else we can do. . .This isn't working. It's not going to work, at all. There's not enough space to summon, and magic seems to be doing little. Selphie heals, me and Zell attacks. That's been the pattern of things, and though anywhere else I'd say that we'd be kicking ass, here it's just a suicide attempt. Useless. Completely futile.
Maybe Squall knew that before he sent us here?
I block an oncoming attack-
No, he wouldn't waste lives like this. . .
-and I counter wildly, knocking the thing's head off-
. . .However, I will not be beaten by some lowly skeletons. . .
-which goes flying into a pile of other Forbiddens, all of which long since dead. Or redead. Whatever.
"Hey, Messenger Girl!" I shout, hoping that she can hear me over the clash of weapons and the explosions from my gunblade.
"Yeah!?"
"Any bright ideas? I could sure use a lifesaver right about now!" I reply, pushing another defeated Forbidden away from me, making sure to check all my blind areas. . .I will not die here. . .
"Uh. . .Not that I can think of. . .Give me some time!"
I nod slowly. . .Time is the one thing we don't have. . .There's got to be something. . .
"Hey guys?!" Zell suddenly shouts, "I think I have an idea!"
"Well, if wonders never cease," I mumble, and telling by the gruff noise that comes from the Martial Artist's direction, so did Zell, "Pray tell, what is your idea, Chicken Wuss?"
"Well. . ."
~*~
A sunrise greets me, brighter than anything I have ever seen before, and one of the most beauteous sights I have ever lain eyes on. . .The grass is thick with dew, cold, wet, and yet somehow refreshing in it's gentle touch. I run through it, through the grass and wildflowers and over hills and through Time itself. . .Running ever forward. . .
I can't quite remember what I'm running from, but I seem to be in no panic, so it worries me not. Maybe I'm running for the simple act of running. Maybe. . .
"Hey, wait up!" a voice shouts through the crisp, morning air in a tone so clean and clear that it sounds almost like it could be singing, "Wait for me!"
I don't even have the Time (or the piece of mind) to turn around before something hits into me, surprising me. I fall to the ground, face first, and a fit of giggles begins above me. I struggle to roll over, and see my attacker (though, for some reason I'm not angry, or wary), but it's a bit hard with the weight on me.
A girl with flowing red hair and sapphire blue eyes sits on my stomach, one hand raised to her mouth as if to stifle her giggles.
I hope it doesn't work.
Malon looks down at me, smiling brightly, "Caught you."
"No, really?" I say, a bit surprised at the slightly caustic tone in my voice. Malon doesn't seem to notice or care.
"Yep! Hehehe, you know what, Fairy Boy?"
I wince slightly. Fairy Boy? No one's called me Fairy Boy. . .Not in a long Time, but. . .why? Why can't I remember?
"No, what?" I answer mindlessly, trying to remember.
"Today's a good day. I finally found you."
That catches my attention. I look up, "What?"
"I finally found you. . .It's been a long Time, hasn't it?" The voice has changed, it is no longer Malon's. Heck, the farm girl isn't even in my sight anymore. . .On the horizon is a dark cloud and a seeping black mist, crawling ever closer to me. . .
My eyes widen, "Who are you?"
"Your every fear. . .Every desire. . .Every unspoken wish. . .They all reside here, Link. . .They are all here. . .All alone, with no where to turn. . ."
I frown. . .The voice is familiar, but from where? It's not Malon's, yet it is female. . .Far more sinister than her voice could ever be. . .
"Where will you go now, Hero? East? West? North, south? Back, forth? It's all up to you. . .Time runs short, Hero. . .Make up your mind now. . ."
My frown darkens. The voice is so familiar, but. . .yet. . .
"Time runs short. . .You afraid yet?"
The voice has suddenly taken on a much more masculine tone. . .
"Danger runs rampant everywhere," I'll never forget that voice. . .Gannondorf, "And here, you cower, afraid, distanced from your home. . .Coward. Your bravado cannot save you. . .not now, not ever. . .Without your all-mighty Triforce to protect you. . .What will you do?"
"I-"
"There is nothing you can do, fool. There's nothing you can do now, just as there was nothing you can do then. Coward. Leaving your homeland to die. . .Pathetic. . ."
The form that steps out of the mist (which has gotten decidedly closer, I realize) is not Gannondorf, or any of his minions. It is only a figure, in a dark robe, its sickeningly orangish hands drooped down by it's side. Its head is bowed, preventing me from seeing who it is. . .But, I have the strangest feeling that I already know. . .If only I could remember. . .
"You have always feared the things you could not prevent, the things that you could not see. . ." The figure takes another step towards me, and the long grass and wildflowers beneath his feet bend and wilt, dying instantly, ". . .There is no hope for you, boy. No hope at all. Those you love will be destroyed while you watch from afar. . . There is nothing you can do. . ."
Another step. . .
"Of course, if you'd rather turn the tables. . ."
"What?"
"Change your place in things. . .Then you wouldn't have to cower in fear, clutching your sword as if it was the only thing between you and death. . ."
Another step. More wilting.
". . .You'd be Death. . .And none could oppose you. . ."
Another step. . .
". . .Change the tide, and never feel loss again. . .It is all within reach. . ."
I shake my head. This isn't right. . .Yet, some part of me wishes so bad that I would reach for that hand offered to me, that scaled hand that looks almost like it has been cooked in chicken fat, telling from the color and shine. . .
"No. . .It's not supposed to-"
"It is, but if you are going to be so stubborn. . .Then DIE!" The hand that was offered to me is suddenly raised, and I find myself scrambling to my feet, running from the bright blue waves that hit the ground where I lay moments before. . .
More wilting. More dying.
And despite the horror of it all, some part of me is actually enjoying all this carnage. . .
~*~
"Okay, we have got to do this just right. . .Zell, Seifer, I'm going to really need your help to pull this off. . ."
I scoff, "Just do your part, and we'll do ours." She nods, and starts summoning. Seconds later, Zell follows. I act as a guard for them, while they pull off the first part of the plan. Selphie is going to really need help to do this, and I am supposed to be the back up. If she fails, then I am supposed to continue.
This had better work. . .
A loud crack of thunder signals Quezacotl's oncoming, same with the loud roar of Ifrit. There's Forbiddens coming from both the upper layers and the lower ones, trying to swarm us. We've got our back to that strange statue (which looks surprisingly like an Elf, but not Link. . .No, this one is way different then Link. . .Maybe I should ask him about it later?), and I fight off the desperate monsters, who seem to know that their doom is at hand.
Ifrit's flaming ball of fire wipes out the stairway to the upper levels, killing off numerous Forbidden while also blocking off their access. Quezacotl takes care of the lower stairway, but unlike Ifrit, it does not disappear instantly. . .
"Come on, move!" I shout, leading the Messenger Girl (who is still concentrating on bringing Quezacotl into our world, and keeping her here) and Zell. The Martial Artist looks somewhat exhausted, but not nearly as bad as Selphie. . .I drag the two of them to the waiting form of Quezatcotl, the thunder bird.
I cast a quick, awe-filled glance upon its form, gazing at its beauty. . .While its head seems to have no beak or eyes or any real features, that only seems to enhance its mystery. It's body is a mix of yellow with green streaks, and some blue. . .It shines in the moonlight, waiting for us quietly. . .small sparks of lightning leap off its back to crackle in the air, but none harm us. Despite it's impatience, it seems Quezacotl has no intention to harm us.
We all quickly hop on to it's back, and on the contact I could swear that I can feel it's disdain, it's anger at being kept on this realm for longer than usual, but it tolerates us with no more than a wince at our touch. As soon as we're all on, the bird flaps its ethereal wings, lifting us off into the night. . .Leaving behind the swarms of Forbidden that infest that tower.
However, just because we're leaving doesn't mean we're done. . .
I glance over at Selphie. . .She's deep in concentration, and looking as if she's about to faint very soon. . .
Maybe, if she can just hold on a little longer. . .
Now, I begin to concentrate, calling upon the strongest power I have ever known. . .While she doesn't respond to me, once Zell's mind comes along and strengthens my plea, then she turns her mind in our direction. The very feeling of her gaze upon us is near maddening, and I wonder how Squall can even manage with her presence in his head. At all, never mind almost constantly. . .
|What dost thou wish of me?| She sighs in our minds, the very force of that one action alone causing me to shake. . .She is powerful, indeed. I would never have believed Squall's descriptions, were I not experiencing it now. . .This being is insanity itself, backed by legions of raw power and might. . .
"We need your help," both Zell's and my voices ring out, together, mentally. I can feel the vague amusement rolling off the powerful Eden in waves. . .All encompassing. . .Controlling. . .She seems to find some form of entertainment in us mortals coming to her for help, though I cannot begin to understand why. . .
|Very well. What dost thou wish for me to descimate?|
"The main support tower. Destroy as much of the tower as possible."
|Fine then. A great destruction it shall be indeed.| Suddenly, her presence is gone from our minds, and I open my eyes to see a sight that I have never even dreamed before.
I'm glad Squall never summoned Eden on me. I would never have been able to survive such an attack. . .Just her apppearence, fading into existence like something that has always been there, but hidden to our eyes, is somewhat frightening. She hovers there, and I take it upon myself to chance gazing at the mighty Eden.
A large white figure appears, floating above the ground, on even level with us now. The form is triangular in shape, and at the front looks like what might be a woman. . .attached to the white behind. . .Almost like some unfinished sculpture. . .The woman is frozen there, her two arms angled as if in offering, her head held high, free of any real details. . .
Then all reality is warped. . .Destruction rains like some apocalypse out of the Tales of Hyne, bright blue fires engulfing the tower and everything around it. . .Meteors fall, the sky darkens. . .Destruction and insanity in it's purest form. . .
And when the air is once again clear of the dust, the tower has fallen. . .
Debris now marks where that great structure once stood, now nothing more than a broken, flaming wreck. There is no way anything could have survived that, and no way anything there would have been able to escape. . .They're all dead now. . .
Eden is gone, and I take a quick glance at Selphie. . .She looks as if she is about to drop dead soon. Maybe, it would be best if we were to land, before our ride were to suddenly give out beneath us. . .
I'll have plenty of time to think on what I just saw. . .But for now, I should probably help out Selphie. . .She looks as if she is about to faint.
And I'm in no mood to drop several hundred feet to my death. . .
~*~
AN : I hope this chapter is at least satisfactory. . .And uh, sorry if I got Eden wrong. . .What she looks like is just a foggy image in my head, and her move is all messed up in my brain, so I decided I might as well make it a bit different. . .Sorry if it's like horrible or something. . .
Chapter XXV - The Collapsing
~*~
I've been sitting by this bedside for the last two days, almost straight. I would be here the entire time, were it not for my classes. Link has hardly stirred since I started my vigil, only occasionally tossing or turning in his near unconscious sleep. He's as still now as he was that first day, though not nearly as pale. Kadowaki says that he'll make it, that it's almost impossible for him to die now that he has come so far. I still worry, however. How could I not? Seeing him lay here, it's hard to watch and wait like this. . .
He shouldn't be laying here. . .
I haven't been Link's only visitor. Quistis has made numerous trips, but she never stays long. It's almost as if she's hiding something, or trying to at least. I'd say, personally, that she's infatuated with him, but the 'Ice Queen' in love with someone?
Then again, it is said that she was once in love with Squall, or still is. . .
Zell and Rinoa have stopped by occasionally, as well. They acknowledged me somewhat, treating me as though I was a pleasured acquaintance. In reality, that's not true. I don't know them well enough to be an acquaintance.
They almost seem to fuss over Link, or at least, Rinoa does. She tries to boss him into waking, though it never works. She then usually frets, afraid that he'll never awake. Zell usually buts in about this point, telling her that he'll be fine, and that he'll wake up once she yells at his lazy ass enough. She seems to find this remotely funny (I have to admit, it's rather hilarious, when you see them do the whole thing so dramatically), and a light smile forms on her face, every time.
Amusing, but despite the number of times this has happened, Link still remains asleep.
Alica came once, staring at Link before muttering something about how weak he was. I glared at her, and though she didn't seem to notice my sudden anger at her, she did leave rather abruptly.
All in all, it's been rather quiet in here, especially for the last little while. The only one who has come in here over the last couple of hours (well, except me) is Kadowaki, who does a brief, routine check on the young Elf every so often. She's left every time with a somewhat dissatisfied look on her face.
I heard that Link and her got along fairly well, for the fact that he's only been here a short while. Then again, it's hard not to get along with Kadowaki, seeing as how she's rather kind and all. . .
I turn and look at the door. I can see the Doctor milling about as I watch, even now. It seems that she is always busy, working on something or another. I can barely see the clock through the doorway, but I make out what it says, nonetheless. Seven o'clock. Sharp. Kadowaki will be going for one of her breaks now, and will soon be back. She's got a few assistants running about, to tend for the sick while she's gone.
There's about three other injured in the Infirmary today. One received a good whap to the head, which rendered him unconscious for a few hours. One moment, he's training in the Training Center, the next he's stuck in the Infirmary with a good bruise to his temple. Even though he's regained consciousness, Kadowaki wouldn't let him leave. Said that he would need as much rest as he could get, and that she wouldn't let him out until he was ready.
There was, of course, assorted grumbling at that.
The second one was a young girl who managed to catch a serious but somewhat rare strain of the flu. She had a fever and the shakes, but when I asked Kadowaki about it, she said that it would wear off in a few days. She also said that since they were keeping the girl in near quarantine like conditions, there was almost no chance of the flu spreading.
I was glad of that. With Link's weakened condition. . .
The third occupant of this somewhat large facility is a boy I know rather well. His name is Isaac, a small boy with dark black hair and ruddy brown eyes. He's usually wearing a large smile on his face, as he makes silly jokes about people's stupidity. He does, however, have the occasionally good joke.
He wasn't laughing when he came in here, a large spear gash down his back. He was also injured during training, rather badly too. Not as bad as Link, but I thought that I could spare a few minutes from the Elf's bedside to go make sure that Isaac was okay. After all, that was still rather early on, and Link wasn't going to wake up anytime soon.
Isaac had been a mess of blood for such a wound. It did go fairly deep, though it was not very wide. It was made when his opponent finally got ticked off at one to many bar jokes. Apparently, he fed his sparring partner somewhere along the lines of twenty five to thirty jokes, and the other guy just couldn't handle anymore.
I had to yell at the boy for close to half an hour about that mistake. It seems like I'm always yelling at Isaac.
I sigh, looking back to Link's prone form. He lays there still, unmoving, but. . .I move closer. Are his eyes open?
He blinks once, opening his eyes a crack. His eyes seem to be entirely black, probably heavily dilated. The shadow from his eyelids isn't helping, either. I can't tell his irises from his pupils, or from the whites, for that matter. I watch, and he blinks again, weary orbs focusing on me. Or, trying to.
"Link?" I ask gently, my voice almost a whisper. At the sound, he moves his head a little in my direction, but he can't seem to pin point my exact location. I'm more than willing to guess that his sight is blurry.
"Is-Isabel?" He asks, his voice rasping heavily. Almost instinctively, I reach for the glass of water sitting on a table near the bed. I've been waiting for this moment for a while now, preparing for it well. Kadowaki told me to be prepared for when he woke, that he'd probably be hungry and thirsty.
That he might even be delirious.
I shake the thought from my head, grasping the glass and turning back towards Link. He's facing me, his right cheek resting against both his shoulder and the pillow as he watches me, or tries to. I place one hand at the back of his neck, slowly pouring the contents into his mouth. Despite my caution, some of the liquid escapes and trickles out of the corner of his mouth in thin rivulets. Not that it matters, neither of us care. He's too out of it to probably even notice, and I'm too focused on making sure that he's well hydrated.
Once he has drunk his fill, I lay his head back down gently, letting the back of my palm rest on his forehead for one brief moment. He is warm, though not burning with fever. I remove my hand and stare into his eyes. Dark as they are, I can see the delirium that Kadowaki warned me about there, yet, he is not taken in by it. Every few seconds, his eyes do glaze over, but he quickly comes back to himself, as if fighting it.
I smile. He must be trying so hard, in his condition. . .
"What. . .What happened?" He voices weakly, his voice no longer quite as raspy, but still strained.
"You won the fight with the Ruby Dragon," I say lightly, "You're a SeeD now, Link. You're a SeeD. . ." I move a hand through his now clean bangs, watching as the hair falls back down to rest off of his face. He blinks again, slowly, as if trying hard to concentrate. I see the edges of delirium pull again at his consciousness, but again he resists.
My smile widens slightly.
"I. . .I did?" his brow furrows slightly, "I d. . .on't. . .don't remember. . ."
"You won. . .You kicked it's butt into the ground," I state, my smile now a grin. His forehead straightens again, and he attempts at a smile.
"Did I?" I nod, "Good. . ." he clears his throat, with a harsh sounding noise, "good. . .What about-" I start slightly as those normally brilliant blue orbs begin to roll back into his head, leaving his cracked open eyes nearly white for a moment, but he recovers, his eyelids quivering, "-what about. . .others?"
I don't know where he got the idea that someone is injured, at least not out of Squall's group, but I answer anyway, keeping my tone sweet and gentle, "Everyone is fine. Don't worry about it. . .Try to get some sleep. . ."
He tries to fight his oncoming (and much needed) sleep, but it's of no use. He succumbs within moments, his breathing slower and far more lethargic than moments earlier. I watch his form, glad that he woke, and happy that he's resting. As much as I wanted him to wake, it was just a bit of an awkward moment when he finally did.
Now that he is resting. . .Maybe now that I am sure that he'll be alright (seeing him awake made me believe that) I can go back to my dorm, and get some rest. I am sure that he'll be alright. . .but maybe I should wait for Kadowaki to return?
I glance again at the clock. It's almost seven thirty. She should be back soon.
I look at Link, taking in the way his eyes move under their lids. He's dreaming, probably about something unpleasant, by the looks of it. His appearance is tired and strained, his body taxed. He needs this rest. Not that I would deny it to him. . .I wouldn't do something like that to anyone, especially not to Link. . .
I'll stay here, until the Doctor comes. I don't want to chance anything happening to him now. . .
~*~
The edge of my blade hits into the Forbidden, cutting into the chest and all the way through to the spine, the only real weak point on these things. It buckles, falling to the ground, and is immediately replaced by another.
And another.
And another.
Zell and Selphie seem exhausted, and I don't think I look much better. I can't, not after three straight hours of fighting like this. It's beyond a joke, or even being slightly funny now. They just keep coming. There's been no sign of a break since all this began, and I hate to say it, but I'm now beginning to believe that there will be no end to this. . .
At least, no end that I'll live to see. . .
I fall, dodging the attack of a Forbidden, spinning as I go do. I use the momentum to swing and cleave into the monster's spine, aiming my attack right between it's pelvis and it's ribs. The thing falls with a sickening crack, and soon I am again on my feet, dodging and blocking once more.
Can't keep this up much longer. . .
I'm forced to ignore the sweat that forms on my brow, dripping down into my eyes. I can't deal with that right now, there's more important things, though the stinging is hurting my vision. . .Oh well, better blind then dead. . .
There's got to be something else we can do. . .This isn't working. It's not going to work, at all. There's not enough space to summon, and magic seems to be doing little. Selphie heals, me and Zell attacks. That's been the pattern of things, and though anywhere else I'd say that we'd be kicking ass, here it's just a suicide attempt. Useless. Completely futile.
Maybe Squall knew that before he sent us here?
I block an oncoming attack-
No, he wouldn't waste lives like this. . .
-and I counter wildly, knocking the thing's head off-
. . .However, I will not be beaten by some lowly skeletons. . .
-which goes flying into a pile of other Forbiddens, all of which long since dead. Or redead. Whatever.
"Hey, Messenger Girl!" I shout, hoping that she can hear me over the clash of weapons and the explosions from my gunblade.
"Yeah!?"
"Any bright ideas? I could sure use a lifesaver right about now!" I reply, pushing another defeated Forbidden away from me, making sure to check all my blind areas. . .I will not die here. . .
"Uh. . .Not that I can think of. . .Give me some time!"
I nod slowly. . .Time is the one thing we don't have. . .There's got to be something. . .
"Hey guys?!" Zell suddenly shouts, "I think I have an idea!"
"Well, if wonders never cease," I mumble, and telling by the gruff noise that comes from the Martial Artist's direction, so did Zell, "Pray tell, what is your idea, Chicken Wuss?"
"Well. . ."
~*~
A sunrise greets me, brighter than anything I have ever seen before, and one of the most beauteous sights I have ever lain eyes on. . .The grass is thick with dew, cold, wet, and yet somehow refreshing in it's gentle touch. I run through it, through the grass and wildflowers and over hills and through Time itself. . .Running ever forward. . .
I can't quite remember what I'm running from, but I seem to be in no panic, so it worries me not. Maybe I'm running for the simple act of running. Maybe. . .
"Hey, wait up!" a voice shouts through the crisp, morning air in a tone so clean and clear that it sounds almost like it could be singing, "Wait for me!"
I don't even have the Time (or the piece of mind) to turn around before something hits into me, surprising me. I fall to the ground, face first, and a fit of giggles begins above me. I struggle to roll over, and see my attacker (though, for some reason I'm not angry, or wary), but it's a bit hard with the weight on me.
A girl with flowing red hair and sapphire blue eyes sits on my stomach, one hand raised to her mouth as if to stifle her giggles.
I hope it doesn't work.
Malon looks down at me, smiling brightly, "Caught you."
"No, really?" I say, a bit surprised at the slightly caustic tone in my voice. Malon doesn't seem to notice or care.
"Yep! Hehehe, you know what, Fairy Boy?"
I wince slightly. Fairy Boy? No one's called me Fairy Boy. . .Not in a long Time, but. . .why? Why can't I remember?
"No, what?" I answer mindlessly, trying to remember.
"Today's a good day. I finally found you."
That catches my attention. I look up, "What?"
"I finally found you. . .It's been a long Time, hasn't it?" The voice has changed, it is no longer Malon's. Heck, the farm girl isn't even in my sight anymore. . .On the horizon is a dark cloud and a seeping black mist, crawling ever closer to me. . .
My eyes widen, "Who are you?"
"Your every fear. . .Every desire. . .Every unspoken wish. . .They all reside here, Link. . .They are all here. . .All alone, with no where to turn. . ."
I frown. . .The voice is familiar, but from where? It's not Malon's, yet it is female. . .Far more sinister than her voice could ever be. . .
"Where will you go now, Hero? East? West? North, south? Back, forth? It's all up to you. . .Time runs short, Hero. . .Make up your mind now. . ."
My frown darkens. The voice is so familiar, but. . .yet. . .
"Time runs short. . .You afraid yet?"
The voice has suddenly taken on a much more masculine tone. . .
"Danger runs rampant everywhere," I'll never forget that voice. . .Gannondorf, "And here, you cower, afraid, distanced from your home. . .Coward. Your bravado cannot save you. . .not now, not ever. . .Without your all-mighty Triforce to protect you. . .What will you do?"
"I-"
"There is nothing you can do, fool. There's nothing you can do now, just as there was nothing you can do then. Coward. Leaving your homeland to die. . .Pathetic. . ."
The form that steps out of the mist (which has gotten decidedly closer, I realize) is not Gannondorf, or any of his minions. It is only a figure, in a dark robe, its sickeningly orangish hands drooped down by it's side. Its head is bowed, preventing me from seeing who it is. . .But, I have the strangest feeling that I already know. . .If only I could remember. . .
"You have always feared the things you could not prevent, the things that you could not see. . ." The figure takes another step towards me, and the long grass and wildflowers beneath his feet bend and wilt, dying instantly, ". . .There is no hope for you, boy. No hope at all. Those you love will be destroyed while you watch from afar. . . There is nothing you can do. . ."
Another step. . .
"Of course, if you'd rather turn the tables. . ."
"What?"
"Change your place in things. . .Then you wouldn't have to cower in fear, clutching your sword as if it was the only thing between you and death. . ."
Another step. More wilting.
". . .You'd be Death. . .And none could oppose you. . ."
Another step. . .
". . .Change the tide, and never feel loss again. . .It is all within reach. . ."
I shake my head. This isn't right. . .Yet, some part of me wishes so bad that I would reach for that hand offered to me, that scaled hand that looks almost like it has been cooked in chicken fat, telling from the color and shine. . .
"No. . .It's not supposed to-"
"It is, but if you are going to be so stubborn. . .Then DIE!" The hand that was offered to me is suddenly raised, and I find myself scrambling to my feet, running from the bright blue waves that hit the ground where I lay moments before. . .
More wilting. More dying.
And despite the horror of it all, some part of me is actually enjoying all this carnage. . .
~*~
"Okay, we have got to do this just right. . .Zell, Seifer, I'm going to really need your help to pull this off. . ."
I scoff, "Just do your part, and we'll do ours." She nods, and starts summoning. Seconds later, Zell follows. I act as a guard for them, while they pull off the first part of the plan. Selphie is going to really need help to do this, and I am supposed to be the back up. If she fails, then I am supposed to continue.
This had better work. . .
A loud crack of thunder signals Quezacotl's oncoming, same with the loud roar of Ifrit. There's Forbiddens coming from both the upper layers and the lower ones, trying to swarm us. We've got our back to that strange statue (which looks surprisingly like an Elf, but not Link. . .No, this one is way different then Link. . .Maybe I should ask him about it later?), and I fight off the desperate monsters, who seem to know that their doom is at hand.
Ifrit's flaming ball of fire wipes out the stairway to the upper levels, killing off numerous Forbidden while also blocking off their access. Quezacotl takes care of the lower stairway, but unlike Ifrit, it does not disappear instantly. . .
"Come on, move!" I shout, leading the Messenger Girl (who is still concentrating on bringing Quezacotl into our world, and keeping her here) and Zell. The Martial Artist looks somewhat exhausted, but not nearly as bad as Selphie. . .I drag the two of them to the waiting form of Quezatcotl, the thunder bird.
I cast a quick, awe-filled glance upon its form, gazing at its beauty. . .While its head seems to have no beak or eyes or any real features, that only seems to enhance its mystery. It's body is a mix of yellow with green streaks, and some blue. . .It shines in the moonlight, waiting for us quietly. . .small sparks of lightning leap off its back to crackle in the air, but none harm us. Despite it's impatience, it seems Quezacotl has no intention to harm us.
We all quickly hop on to it's back, and on the contact I could swear that I can feel it's disdain, it's anger at being kept on this realm for longer than usual, but it tolerates us with no more than a wince at our touch. As soon as we're all on, the bird flaps its ethereal wings, lifting us off into the night. . .Leaving behind the swarms of Forbidden that infest that tower.
However, just because we're leaving doesn't mean we're done. . .
I glance over at Selphie. . .She's deep in concentration, and looking as if she's about to faint very soon. . .
Maybe, if she can just hold on a little longer. . .
Now, I begin to concentrate, calling upon the strongest power I have ever known. . .While she doesn't respond to me, once Zell's mind comes along and strengthens my plea, then she turns her mind in our direction. The very feeling of her gaze upon us is near maddening, and I wonder how Squall can even manage with her presence in his head. At all, never mind almost constantly. . .
|What dost thou wish of me?| She sighs in our minds, the very force of that one action alone causing me to shake. . .She is powerful, indeed. I would never have believed Squall's descriptions, were I not experiencing it now. . .This being is insanity itself, backed by legions of raw power and might. . .
"We need your help," both Zell's and my voices ring out, together, mentally. I can feel the vague amusement rolling off the powerful Eden in waves. . .All encompassing. . .Controlling. . .She seems to find some form of entertainment in us mortals coming to her for help, though I cannot begin to understand why. . .
|Very well. What dost thou wish for me to descimate?|
"The main support tower. Destroy as much of the tower as possible."
|Fine then. A great destruction it shall be indeed.| Suddenly, her presence is gone from our minds, and I open my eyes to see a sight that I have never even dreamed before.
I'm glad Squall never summoned Eden on me. I would never have been able to survive such an attack. . .Just her apppearence, fading into existence like something that has always been there, but hidden to our eyes, is somewhat frightening. She hovers there, and I take it upon myself to chance gazing at the mighty Eden.
A large white figure appears, floating above the ground, on even level with us now. The form is triangular in shape, and at the front looks like what might be a woman. . .attached to the white behind. . .Almost like some unfinished sculpture. . .The woman is frozen there, her two arms angled as if in offering, her head held high, free of any real details. . .
Then all reality is warped. . .Destruction rains like some apocalypse out of the Tales of Hyne, bright blue fires engulfing the tower and everything around it. . .Meteors fall, the sky darkens. . .Destruction and insanity in it's purest form. . .
And when the air is once again clear of the dust, the tower has fallen. . .
Debris now marks where that great structure once stood, now nothing more than a broken, flaming wreck. There is no way anything could have survived that, and no way anything there would have been able to escape. . .They're all dead now. . .
Eden is gone, and I take a quick glance at Selphie. . .She looks as if she is about to drop dead soon. Maybe, it would be best if we were to land, before our ride were to suddenly give out beneath us. . .
I'll have plenty of time to think on what I just saw. . .But for now, I should probably help out Selphie. . .She looks as if she is about to faint.
And I'm in no mood to drop several hundred feet to my death. . .
~*~
AN : I hope this chapter is at least satisfactory. . .And uh, sorry if I got Eden wrong. . .What she looks like is just a foggy image in my head, and her move is all messed up in my brain, so I decided I might as well make it a bit different. . .Sorry if it's like horrible or something. . .