So I just formally finishing the PS3 version of the game. I'm sorry, Flynn... I do love you, but I feel very wrong about you being there in the end. Rather than just Yuri and Duke talking, Flynn is randomly just standing there the whole time saying nothing. And then bromance fist bump when Yuri finishes talking to Duke. I'm pretty confident that the PS3 version was created due to the Yuri/Flynn fandom that erupted. Like... Flynn, I love you, but you're so random here! Just get back down to the surface where you belong and be proud to call Yuri your friend.
I also have Project X Zone (with Yuri/Estelle) and Radiant Mythology 3 to finish... but I can't stop Rune Factory 4. Dang golden veggies consume my soul, man.
Tales of Vesperia: Lights and Shadows
Chapter 33 – Charred Remnants of the World
Yuri awoke feeling not at all rested and ridiculously heavy. His immediate concern was that he did not recognize the ceiling. Carefully, he sat upright and looked around. He was dressed in light garments but buried under a thick blanket on a large bed. After a quick look around, he determined he was in Zaphias Castle, and as he came to that conclusion, the door to the room opened and Flynn walked in. The knight at first was bewildered to see him awake, and then he sighed in relief.
"You're finally awake," he said, standing beside the bed. "Do you remember what happened?"
"You mean aside from a world-conquering spirit being born and nearly killing Estelle and me?" Yuri retorted, scowling at his friend.
"So you remember the important parts," Flynn replied, calmly. "You collapsed on the way back."
Actually, Yuri did not remember that part. He frowned and looked down at the blanket over his lap, and then he rubbed his head.
"Seems I'm pretty good at that lately," he mumbled, disheveling his own hair before setting dark eyes on his childhood friend. "Is everyone else okay?"
"No one was seriously injured, and Lady Estellise already healed everyone."
"Good."
Yuri exhaled a breath he did not realize he had been holding. He flexed his muscles to ensure he was in working order, and then he tossed the blanket back and slid to the side of the bed. Flynn's expression shifted to one of concern.
"Yuri, I know you're going to go after that thing," he began, dismal. "But please think things through before you do. This isn't an ordinary opponent."
The dark-haired swordsman knew his childhood friend well enough to know that this blatant concern was above and beyond his normal over-protectiveness. Yuri frowned at him, setting a hand on his knee as he set his bare feet on the floor.
"Something happened?"
Flynn swallowed hard and then closed his eyes.
"The crystal was stolen while we were distracted," he explained. "Walls were blown apart and the entire room was destroyed. They didn't even bother sneaking in because there was no one there guarding it."
Words sank in a moment before Yuri sighed, setting his hand on his forehead. This was giving him a headache already and he had only just woken up.
"We were set up," he assumed.
"It seems that way," agreed the commandant of the knights. He again set concerned blue eyes on Yuri, bringing an arm across his chest. "We don't have bodhi blastia anymore. We can't approach this recklessly."
"Where's Estelle?" Yuri asked, ignoring Flynn's unease.
"Yuri, I'm serious!" the blond knight exclaimed, his hands forming fists at his sides. "Don't do anything stupid!"
Yuri met eyes with Flynn seriously for only a brief moment, and then the dark-haired swordsman smirked. Exasperated, the blond knight shook his head and then rubbed his own forehead. Now he had a headache.
"She's down in the lower quarter trying to console Ted," he explained.
"She didn't take it hard?" Yuri said in surprise.
"It's hard to say," responded Flynn, tiredly. "She's too worried about everyone else right now."
Yuri was thankful for that, at least. She had been used again, and this time, the situation did look bleak. If ever there was a time for her to sink into a pit of despair, this was it. Sighing, the young man pushed on the bed a few times before giving Flynn a dirty look.
"How do you guys sleep in a bed like this every night?" he wondered. "It's nothing but fluff!"
"Yuri," Flynn started, his tone serious. His friend looked around the room suspiciously before leering at him again.
"Where are my clothes?"
Flynn sighed and closed his eyes. It was just like him to not take this seriously. Turning, the commandant headed for the door.
"I'll have someone bring your things," he said. Pausing, he met eyes with Yuri one last time. "Please don't do anything reckless."
"I don't plan on dying yet, Flynn," Yuri assured him, offering him a genuine smile.
The blond knight gave a slight nod before turning and exiting the room.
"Now no more crying, Ted."
Yuri entered the inn and found Estelle there. The princess was on her knees in front of Ted, who sat in a chair with his fists on his thighs and tears running down his face. Repede, Hanks, the innkeeper and several others from the lower quarter were also there standing around them. The swordsman paused in the doorway.
"Monsters will find a way to be monsters regardless of who is around them," Estelle explained to the boy, wiping his tears away. "Nothing that happened was your fault at all."
Ted nodded slightly, and then he glanced at Yuri in the doorway. The child stood at once, also causing Estelle to rise and everyone to face the newcomer. Tugging at the front of his shirt and with lower lip quivering, the youngster approached Yuri with eyes cast shamefully to the ground.
"I'm sorry I left the lower quarter and caused trouble for everyone," murmured the boy, and then he winced his eyes shut, his voice rising. "Even though Estelle said it isn't my fault, I should have listened and—"
Yuri set his hand atop the boy's head and gave him a good shaking. He smiled down at Ted, who blinked in bewilderment.
"If Estelle said it, you should listen to her," he informed the boy. "We're just glad you're safe."
Ted, who had finally stopped crying, looked about ready to cry again. All of the lower quarter locals, save Hanks and the innkeeper, approached the door.
"We'll take him home now," said one of the men, giving Yuri a nod.
"Let's go, Ted," said one of the women, putting an arm around the boy's shoulders.
Nodding in agreement, the boy prepared to depart with them. He paused in the doorway after some careful consideration, and then he rushed back inside and threw his arms around Estelle, burying his face into white fabric. With his face hidden, he still managed to shout out to her.
"I'm sorry that I didn't cause this but I was there when I shouldn't have been and I caused you trouble!"
Estelle blinked in surprise and then smiled weakly. She ran her fingers through the boy's hair, fondly, before rubbing small circles on his back. Content, Ted then turned and ran out the door without another word. The others left with him, leaving only Yuri, Estelle, Repede, Hanks, and the innkeeper behind.
"Any word from the spirits?" Yuri asked Estelle.
"Nothing," she replied, shaking her head solemnly.
"That sky sure is somethin'," Hanks commented.
Yuri turned toward the open doorway and gazed outside. Folding his arms across his chest and inspecting the heavens, he had to agree. The sky was dark as night, whirling with black clouds that looked far too unnatural. Leaning against the doorframe, the swordsman sighed.
"We could really use some good news right about now," he muttered.
Armored footsteps caused Yuri to lean out the door and glance down the street. Surprise marked his face as a certain blond knight appeared from out of the darkness. Flynn exchanged looks with Yuri before stepping into the inn. The commandant wrapped an arm over his chest and bowed slightly out of respect before speaking.
"Lady Estellise," he began. "I've come to escort you back to the castle."
"Hm?" Yuri grunted, surprised by the sudden declaration.
"Flynn, I—" Estelle began to protest, but the knight immediately shook his head and smiled weakly, causing her to grow silent.
"I know you want to attend to matters here, and I won't stand in your way," he told her, softly. "But you've been taking care of everyone else since we've returned. You should rest."
"Again?" muttered Yuri, moving himself out of the doorway. He set a hand on his side and scowled at the princess. "Are you trying to go until you collapse again?"
"Again?" Flynn echoed, blue eyes widening.
"Actually, he's right," the innkeeper said to the princess, gently. "You've been running around here taking care of everyone's business but your own."
"You've earned a rest," Hanks assured her.
"I suppose you're right," Estelle finally agreed, sighing.
Because of all of the chaos, she had not realized how tired she was. Flynn smiled warmly at her and offered her his arm. The princess nodded, set her hand on his arm, and then allowed him to guide her toward the door.
"You're not planning on locking me up, are you?" she asked.
The blond only laughed nervously in response to her question, which made Yuri raise an eyebrow.
"He's not denying it," he commented, which in turn earned him a nasty look from his childhood friend.
Shouting outside gave them all pause. As the voice drew closer and the tone of it began sounding more familiar, Yuri frowned and headed toward the door. Flynn released the princess and stepped ahead of her, setting his hand on the hilt of his sword. The two swordsman had not made it far before the source of the commotion became clear.
"Yuri!" yelled a young voice.
"Karol?" Yuri asked.
Sure enough, out of the darkness and directly into the light shining from the open doorway stumbled the young guild leader. Karol collapsed on the ground, breathless, injured, and frantic.
"Karol!" Yuri and Estelle said in unison. The pair immediately moved to his side, and the princess at once focused on healing his wounds.
"Where have you been!?" Karol shouted before anyone could say anything else. The bewildered expressions he received did not silence him. "We sent for you days ago!"
"What are you talking about?" Yuri asked, his face darkening.
"Capua Nor is under attack!" cried the brown-haired teen in desperation. "The guilds and the knights, and even the spirits! They're all fighting, but we're losing!"
"What?" Yuri grimaced, and then he leered at Flynn in shock. "How long have I been sleeping!?"
"Days," Flynn told him, soberly.
"Who is attacking?" Estelle questioned, though she knew the answer.
"A giant monster made out of shadows," Karol explained. He trembled and hung his head, his voice wavering. "We sent Ba'ul to get you… and when you didn't come, Judith and Raven sent me…" Despite his best efforts, the young guild leader began to cry. "They were all really beat up…"
Yuri set his hand on Karol's head before first glancing at Estelle and then looking to Flynn. The commandant of the Imperial Knights spoke before he could.
"I'm bringing the knights," Flynn said, his voice urgent. He immediately began running down the street towards the castle. He shouted at them as he went. "Don't leave without me! I'm coming with you!"
Estelle finished healing Karol's injuries before setting her hands on his back to comfort him. At the same time, she met eyes with Yuri.
"Where is Ba'ul?" she asked, her voice weak.
Swallowing hard and collecting his thoughts, Yuri immediately stood, grabbing Karol's arm and dragging his young comrade to his feet.
"Come on, let's go!" he commanded. "We don't have a lot of time to figure this out."
"Yuri," Karol muttered, still fighting back tears and sobs.
For good measure, Yuri ruffled Karol's hair in a disorderly fashion before grabbing the boy's head and making him look at him.
"Don't make that face," Yuri told him. "Don't underestimate Judy or Raven—they'll be fine until we get there."
Karol nodded, and Estelle finally stood beside him. Yuri glanced between them and then met eyes with Hanks, who stood in the doorway with the innkeeper. Both wore solemn expressions, for they knew precisely what happened next.
"You stay safe," Hanks told them, firmly.
"Yuri!" Flynn called out from the streets above. Along with his voice came the sound of hooves on stone.
Yuri gave his elder a quick nod before looking ahead. Flynn arrived riding a mount while leading another alongside his. Immediately, the blond knight passed the extra set of reigns over to Yuri, who hopped on the knight's steed with ease. Yuri yanked Karol up in front of him, and Flynn pulled Estelle up behind him. Repede crouched down and prepared for the run of his life. The innkeeper stepped out, her expression severe.
"You children come back to us, you understand?" she demanded.
"Yes," Flynn promised, and then he looked to Yuri. "The knights are mobilizing right behind us. Let's go!"
Yuri did not need to be told twice. He snapped the reigns and sent his mount racing out of Zaphias, and Flynn followed close behind.
Capua Nor was in flames. Much of the port town had been reduced to rubble. Looming over its remains was Shadow, his body rising out of the water and towering high. He was laughing menacingly, his voice booming like thunder. Even from a distance, Yuri and company watched as a being made of flames darted through the air around the wicked spirit, blasting him with fireballs and powerful explosions. Shadow, as though swatting away a fly, slashed his three-fingered hand and struck Efreet down, dropping the spirit of fire into a home that immediately exploded upon impact.
Racing through the streets and over debris, Yuri led the others until they were close to the water and the shattered docks and ships that remained there. Leaving their mounts behind, the foursome gathered behind a building and inspected the monster from in hiding.
"How do we defeat something like that?" Flynn muttered.
"The crystals," Estelle began, causing the rest of her team to look at her. She continued, "They hurt him before."
"We don't have any left," Yuri reminded her, brow furrowed. "Besides, that was before he evolved himself."
"The crystals were only behaving like blastia," said Estelle, firm. "I can mimic that."
"You're not doing anything," Yuri snapped at her, startling the others. "Or did you forget that the spirits were thrown out of you? They aren't controlling your energy anymore. If you use your powers, it expends your life!"
"What?" Flynn exclaimed, looking at the princess in shock. "Lady Estellise!"
"We don't have a choice right now! We have to try something!" Estelle retorted, resolute.
She began to step out from behind the building, but Yuri and Flynn both snatched her and restrained her. An argument began to follow but was immediately silenced when Karol cried out and jumped back. Three adults and one dog looked back into the alley, finding a much smaller version of Shadow directly behind them.
"Boo," he hissed.
Yuri smashed his sword into the creature, causing the shadows to melt away into the ground. They fell back and wound up losing their hiding place, standing in plain sight of the monstrosity looming tall over the town. The group armed themselves and rushed ahead instead, facing their foe.
"Did you think to hide from me?" Shadow laughed, twirling dark matter in one hand. "Every bit of darkness on this world answers to me. There is nowhere you can escape."
As they broke into the clearing just in front of the water, Yuri and company found their missing comrades. They froze at the sight of them. Judith was on her stomach on the ground, unmoving. Raven was on one knee, breathless and gripping the blastia that functioned as his heart. He flinched as he looked at them, blood running down across his face. Both were badly injured. And not only were they there; Gnome was collapsed in a crater in the ground, Efreet was pulling himself from rubble, and Undine was flinching as she lingered over Judith, protectively.
"Now that everyone has arrived," Shadow began, jovial. "Let the end begin!"
The spirit of darkness twisted orbs of black energy over his fingertips before he began hurling them down upon the town, forcing the group to scatter. Estelle immediately dashed across the ground and aimed for her wounded allies. She slid beside Raven first and began to heal him.
"I'm good, I'm good," he told her after only a little while. "Go take care of Judith!"
"Right," Estelle agreed.
Meanwhile, Yuri, Flynn, Karol, and Repede aimed at dodging and finding some way to attack amidst the chaos. Frustrated, Karol twirled his massive bag around in an attempt to knock one of the black shadows away—it merely began to devour the bag and creep up toward the boy shouldering it. Karol barely had time to cry out before Flynn snatched the bag and cut it apart, severing it from the teen and leaving it behind on the ground. The knight dragged Karol backwards as his precious item was devoured by darkness, disappearing.
Yuri and Repede stood aside and watched as the bag vanished into the abyss. The dark-haired swordsman then took a step back, grimacing.
"We should probably avoid these things," he commented casually, though his expression was severe.
"Think you can?" bellowed Shadow.
The monster summoned even more orbs of black energy and rained them down upon his foes. Estelle had healed Judith only just enough; the Krityan was up in a flash, snatched a hold of the princess, and lunged aside just in time to avoid one of the orbs as it exploded where she had previously been unconscious.
"Enough," Undine breathed, holding her spear forward and calling forth the ocean to come to her aid. "You will not have your way with this world."
Summoning a massive tidal wave to devour the darkness, the spirit of water then moved forward in a flash, spinning her spear around before slashing in front of her. A tsunami fell down upon Shadow from behind, and Undine shot a sharp spiral of water into the core of his being from in front. The monster sank under the deluge and seemed to disappear.
And then, in a flash, a powerful arm shot forth from the water, and a three-fingered hand slammed down over the top of Undine, crushing her under an immense weight. Not only that, but the tremors created by the force of the blow knocked all of the others to the ground.
"Undine!" Judith cried out as she fell backwards into the remnants of a house.
Shadow pushed off of the ground and raised himself up again, thundering laughter rolling across the skies. Blue lights flickered where he had struck the ground until Undine reappeared, though her shape wavered. She struggled to stay in one piece.
"What can a mere spirit do?" Shadow scoffed. He brought his hands together in front of him, charging a massive black orb of energy and aiming it directly at the spirit of water. "How could you oppose the power of an Entelexeia, a Child of the Full Moon, a thousand human lives, and a spirit all in one mighty being?"
"They will find a way to live," Undine assured him, setting her fierce eyes upon him. She did not waver as he prepared the attack that would undoubtedly destroy her. "You will not succeed."
"No!" Estelle screamed, rising to her feet.
"Spirit of water," uttered Shadow, his voice a menacing hiss. "Drown in my darkness."
Shadow launched his attack. A ray of black energy exploded from the orb in his hands and shot through the sky, aimed directly at the unflinching spirit of water. Undine did not waver in her defiance even as death was imminent. Her expression only changed when pink and white blocked her view of oncoming darkness.
Estelle threw herself between Shadow's lethal attack and Undine.
"I won't let you!" yelled the princess.
Several voices screamed for Estelle, but no one had time to move. Undine gasped at the interference and fell back, stunned.
It was over in a flash.