Draco: What do you guys think of the cover? MS Paint is a bitch about dynamic cuts, I messed up the proportions for Terra's segment four times, and I THINK I've been using the wrong proportions for the Image Manager for ages, but all in all I figure this cover turned out alright! The new Dissidia gave me just the faces I needed!

Want to do another run of XIII, but I've spent way too long on Texts from FFXIII to think that could possibly go well. I also have no idea how my body is going to feel about Command Synergy Battle after playing Bravely Default for so long. Or any game with an ATB gauge. That's probably the biggest reason I haven't been VI-ing. Also, want to play Time and Eternity again, which is similarly going to feel weird after playing Tales of Symphonia. Also also, trying to get Type-0, but my budget is kinda skimpy at the moment, which makes that hard. And finally, I want to play III, but the NES version is very easy to make mistakes on, and the DS version is STUPID amounts of difficult during the late game. No, easy mistakes do NOT equal difficulty, that's just a side effect of an 8-bit interface. I need a new Action Replay because the old one ended up in the rain a year or so ago, but I swear I'm all of 3.5 femtometres from hacking III. Properly, not just "Mognet mails sent" so I can do the sidequests.

Also, I wrote something creepy! If you've got the stomach for an insane memory witch, check out my Night of Infinity! Link's on my profile.

Dissidia Final Fantasy and all related properties © Square Enix.

Sealed Battlegrounds: Demons and a Fiend

"You look rather proud of yourself. What happened?"

Lightning and Gabranth were halfway across the ground floor of the Crystal Tower when Terra and Onion Knight had come through the doors. The boy was wincing slightly - the flash's kick had managed to dent his armour just enough to provide some minor discomfort - and the Esperkin had a wrecked chunk of metal in her hands. At Lightning's question, Terra held out the wrecked mess in her hand. "You can stop worrying about the manikin," she mused.

"Manikin?" Gabranth glanced between them. "What's this you're taking about?"

"I had to make some new gear out of manikin crystals on my first trip through hell," Lightning explained. "When Kefka took it off me, the crystals expanded and turned into a manikin. An actual Fleeting Flash in Etro's armour."

Onion turned to her. "Etro?"

Lightning shook her head. "That's a story I don't have all the pieces of," she insisted. "Something out of my second journey. Long story short, that me was a lot more powerful than this me and the manikin's power scaled accordingly. What's that thing?"

Terra tossed it to her. "That is all that's left of the manikin's weapon," she mused.

"All that's- Oh, that's right," she mused. When the other three turned to her; "I used my Omega Weapon as a base for Overture."

"Sorry's it's wrecked," Terra murmured.

Lightning looked over the hunk of metal carefully. "I think that one came out of a Hauteclaire anyway," she admitted, tossing it aside. "Don't worry about the weapon. What do you mean we don't have to worry about the manikin?"

"I destroyed it," Terra replied.

The flash swore, reaching for her gunblade as she stepped forward with intent to pass the two of them.

Onion moved to get in her way. "Like, utterly and completely," he insisted.

"I tore its legs off, in a shower of fragments, and they just regenerated," Lightning reprimanded.

"She ripped that thing into shards so small it made water look solid," Onion argued.

Lightning winced. "I'd love to know why you have the experience with water that you could possibly say something 'makes water look solid'."

Terra turned to Gabranth. "Is that enough to be rid of a manikin from hell?" she asked the judge.

"The manikin's bodily regeneration is a result of the way these battlegrounds function," he explained. "It is merely an amplified version of the regeneration manikins could perform during the war when pushed to the same limits that would grant you the transformation of your body. If the manikin has been destroyed so thoroughly, there is no risk of it regenerating." He paused for a moment, then added, "Which leaves the question of why you saw fit to call me here."

"I didn't," Terra insisted. "I just needed you ready. Kefka is the only one who really knows about the manikins being in this world, which means that he has to be responsible for that thing acting the way it was. That means he's out of hell. And you told me you were going to put him back in."

Gabranth nodded. "What do you suggest?"

Onion spoke up at this point. "If he knows the manikin got blasted, he'll probably check out where it was. Maybe you could take a position on the Phantom Train and watch for when he shows up. I was thinking me and Terra could do a few rounds of the battlefields on foot and make sure he didn't come out anywhere."

"Very well." The judge stepped past them, making his way to the train.

Lightning had a nervous look on her face. "I know he's a watchdog," she murmured, "but I still don't quite feel convinced that that was enough to get rid of that thing. I'm gonna go talk to the Warrior."

"Makes sense," Onion admitted. "You mind checking take the battlefields in that zone?"

"Chaos Shrine, the Cradle, that Sky Fortress, and Prima Vista," Lightning mused. "I'll set up watches if anyone else is there, but yeah, I can keep an eye out on my way there and back." She turned and took off towards the entrance to the Lunar Subterrane.

Onion turned to Terra. "I'm gonna head to the World of Darkness quick and check on Lucent. You coming?"

Terra sighed. "You know what, I never got that rest after I told her you were hiding out here. Do you might if I sleep for a bit before we get started?"

"Not at all," Onion insisted. "I can guard you."

+x+x+x+

Orphan's Cradle had been repaired when Lighting arrived, which slightly concerned her - her observation about Eden repairing it had been a small joke on her part, and it hadn't been restored when she had passed it on her way to the Phantom Train. She assured herself the battlegrounds wouldn't have called something so powerful and made her way to the Chaos Shrine, finding it empty and undamaged.

The Warrior seemed rather surprised to see Lightning when she arrived, rising from Cosmos' throne as she approached. "Is something the matter?"

"Big time," Lightning confirmed. "We had a manikin on the Phantom Train."

"A what?" Cosmos' knight was on his feet in an instant. "How did it-?"

"Long story," Lightning insisted. "I can explain later. Look, Terra blew the thing up. Is that gonna be enough to deal with it? Onion said the shower 'made water look solid'."

A wince crossed the Warrior's face. "I can sympathize with that," he admitted.

Lightning raised a hand in irritation. "Do all of you fairytales get horrible experiences with water or something?" she demanded. Then, before he could respond; "Whatever. Maybe I just didn't spend enough time on the receiving end of a Waterga. Look, do we still have to worry about the manikin, or not?"

"Not," was the reply. "The only thing that could reconstruct the manikin if it has been damaged to that extent is the power of one of the thrones, at the location of the destruction, in person." The knight sighed. "Now... how did it get here?"

A heavy sigh from Lightning. "That's my fault," she admitted. "When I-"

She was cut off by a dimensional roar, spinning in place and reaching for her Blazefire Saber. The Warrior swore when he saw a distorting ripple of dark force appear in the air above the waters; his shield appeared in his grip, his sword sheathed between handle and plate, when he saw the figure that emerged out the top of that ripple; the gap was gone by the time he landed on the waters.

And when he landed, it was with an insane laugh that echoed across the Sanctuary.

"Oh, does it feel good to be out of there!"

Lightning grit her teeth. "You..."

Blazefire was halfway out its holster when the Warrior held a hand before her, and she turned to him to see his cold glare locked on the harlequin. "Allow me," he insisted.

The voice caused Kefka to turn. He was still missing his shirt, and his zebra tights were covered in cuts; yet the sight of the Warrior only prompted him to grin. "Oh? Haven't you been missing!" Then, glancing around; "And this place - I was wondering when you guys were going to find the way to these thrones! Where's the Goddess?"

"I have to do this," Lightning insisted, her voice taut. "I haven't won against this asshole once. Not properly. You can move in if things get sour, but let me do this, damn it."

Her words caused the knight to turn to her briefly. "You're certain, then?"

Lightning nodded. "I'm certain."

"...Very well." The Warrior stepped back, taking his seat on the throne of Harmony. "My apologies, Kefka, but I will not be your opponent today."

"Whatever," Kefka mused, taking a stance. He looked surprisingly eager for someone who had just come out of hell. "Pick it up, thunder lady!"

Lightning's expression became a fierce glare. "That's it," she muttered to herself, "give me an Edged Carbine."

The weapon in her holster flashed, briefly, and as she drew it the Warrior could see it was a very different weapon than she usually carried. The cold steel edge with its tapered point was gone; the weapon she now held was stained with tactical camouflage, its edge flat-tipped and angular. She braced the sword at her side threateningly, and as Kefka took a fighting stance he saw magic gather in her empty hand - a magic that had only ever appeared in her hands.

"Hell, and then the Rift," Lightning observed. "Let's see how that treated you."

Her hand lashed forward, casting magic in his direction; three small shots of grey-white magic, and then a single larger shot of the same. The harlequin rushed forward, dancing between the smaller spheres as a circle of light ringed Lightning's feet; the separate pacing for the greater cast threw off his timing, and the magic slammed into him, lifted his body off the ground, and then burst, throwing him skyward as Lightning hurled a pair of gales forward. The moment he connected with the waters again, the wind caught him; a small gust to throw him off-guard, and then a cyclone that sent him spinning about, lifting him into the air.

"Now, give me a Gladius."

Her gunblade flashed, still in her grip, and shifted beneath her fingers; when it faded, she had another, different weapon in her hand. The blade, a bright blue, broadened towards the end, with a multi-pronged tip that looked like it would hurt pretty fiercely. She dashed forward as the gales around Kefka began to fade, leaping up to meet him; frost wrapped her blade as she swung it into an uppercut, throwing him into a flip with a chill; then flame danced around the edge as she slammed it across, knocking him into a spin. Liquid flowed on her weapon's surface as she struck him into an earthward flip, and then sparks were driven into his ribs that trapped his body in place.

Light ringed her feet, and she quickly arced into a flip as she lashed her unadorned weapon earthward, slamming him into the waters with all the ferocity she could muster.

Then she landed with a spinning kick, throwing the demonic clown across the waters and towards the throne to the Chaos Shrine.

Her blade flashed again, and she had her Blazefire Saber in her hand as she raised it towards him. "Had enough?"

The clown groaned, looking around. "You're lucky I'm fresh out of hell," he snapped. "I haven't even got my wings back! I swear you're dead the next time I see you!"

He turned around - and tripped over the base of the blackcrystal throne, slamming his nose into the back of the seat. He twisted away from the connection, landing with his stomach on one of the arms, and as he reached up to grip the impact point he was wrapped in the dark light of the Chaos Shrine and vanished.

Lightning smirked, shifting Blazefire to firearm and sliding it into its holster. "Well," she mused, turning to the Warrior, "that worked."

"Indeed it did," he admitted. "Were you aware-"

"I knew he wasn't going to be in top form, if that's what you're asking," Lightning confirmed. "But if I didn't take him down at least once, I was going to do something stupid trying to kick his ass. Like dive again."

The knight turned to her. "You consider that thoughtless?"

Lightning shuddered lightly. "I was lucky enough to get through that the first time," she muttered.

The Warrior sighed. "Now that he is gone, would you explain about that manikin?"

+x+x+x+

"Well, I found the other one..."

The warp that Kefka had gone through from landing on the blackcrystal throne had taken him to the plains of fire surrounding the Edge of Madness. The presence of the Chaos Shrine's seat was his only indication that he wasn't back in hell again; with a rough roll of his shoulders, he started walking up the steps, his clothes reappearing around him - it would take a while before he had his wings back, but just being in the plains of discord was enough to give him enough power to fix his garments. He was quite curious to check if anyone was at this throne - although he doubted there would be any surprise.

Sure enough, when he got to the peak of the steps, the throne was there, its plate of skulls suspended above it - and just as the hero of harmony had been seated on Cosmos' throne, so too was Chaos' thrown occupied by discord's own stalwart warrior.

"Weeeeeeeeeeeeellll!" Kekfa cheered, crossing the battlefield with a childish hop and peering at the unarmoured Cornelian knight. "If it isn't Gar-Gar Blinks! Wondering where I was gonna find you!"

Considering how Garland's face was ever obscured through the emotionless helmet, the expression of sheer confusion on his face was absolutely wondrous. "What in the world are you talking about?" he inquired.

"Oh, never you mind," the harlequin mused, waving a hand dismissively. With a flip, he landed at the edge of the stairs. "Alright, come on! Give me a round! I know you love a round, let's have a little fun!"

Garland scoffed, closing his eyes; yet the jester was right. Ever since Shinryu had remolded World B to be a seat of war between Cosmos and Chaos, he had thrived on battle - and aside from Terra Branford, who had arrived unintentionally, he had yet to experience a good fight. He had his suspicions that Palazzo had an ulterior motive... but the harlequin could do naught that would be completely detrimental.

A grin rose on his face, and he raised a hand high at the side of the throne. In a flare of necrous light, his blade appeared - a crushing broadsword of size to dwarf any blade across the Rift, save those scattered about the Edge of Madness. As Garland had taken an appearance befitting Discord's throne, so too had his blade been adorned in chaotic cracks; the steel surface, normally segmented neatly, was ruptuted haphazardly as he rose from the throne.

"If you will grant me a fight, I will be the last to object."

Kefka grinned, holding stance for a brief moment; then he snapped his fingers, one right after another, as he pointed at Garland.

"I'll be the first!"

With a spin, the harlequin was gone, and Garland only turned, gripping his blade forehand - as he did when walking without a fight - to see Kefka reappear on the throne of discord, crossing his legs and hooking his hand behind his head. "Nice seat," he mused. "I can see why you were hiding out-"

Necrous black lightning ripped out from the jester before he could finish, and Garland only winced, ever so lightly, as he turned away.

"-heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrre!"

When at last the voltage faded, Kefka lashed his head forward, gasping for air. Garland was at the top of the steps, and as the harlequin got to his feet he saw the stalwart begin to walk down towards the blackcrystal throne. "What the... what the... what the hell was that?!"

"You took seat on Chaos' throne," Garland observed. As he walked, fragments of metal flew out from across the plains surrounding the Edge of Madness, slowly adorning him as he had been during the war. "Did you think you would not suffer for it?"

Kefka glanced at the throne idly before turning back to him. "Okay, so you put a joybuzzer on the seat," Kefka mused. "So what? I still got a cool chair."

Garland raised his gaze, laughing as his helmet nestled itself over his head; he had arrived at the blackcrystal throne by now, and he turned, impaling his sword in the ground at his side.

"Oh, make no mistake, you now hold the throne of discord."

He sat himself down upon the blackcrystal, gripping his sword as the cracks parted, and the blade segmented once more.

"And all of the power - and prison - that that entails."

A dark light borne of the Chaos Shrine wrapped Garland at this point, and as Kefka rushed down the steps towards him, the stalwart vanished; Kefka slammed into the throne (again), grabbing his nose and nestling into the seat.

"Ow," he muttered. "What the hell."

Then he realized the seat wasn't taking him anywhere this time.

"What the hell what the hell what the HELL!"

Draco: I'm gonna call it there for now.