Dissidia 011: Undecim

The Last Stand

"Maybe it was destiny. Maybe it was through our own strength of will. Whatever the reason, after all our hardship; all the fighting, doubt, and truths come to light, we'd finally made it: to the edge of the Land of Discord – Chaos' throne. We could all feel the horrible power flowing from where he waited, but we didn't turn back still. The faintest glimmer of hope remaining inside of each of us gave us the courage we needed to take those final steps toward the god of discord. This was it. The final battle…was just ahead. Though knowing very well what we faced, we didn't let that hinder us. No matter what happened, as long as Cosmos could claim victory in the end…anything was worth it."

We all stared ahead in the direction of Chaos' throne. It was obvious to each of us that there was slight hesitation, but not enough to make us turn back. Chaos had to be defeated – and we were prepared to do whatever it took to make sure he was.

"You guys ready?" Snow asked, looking at all of us.

We all nodded in response as we kept staring ahead.

"…Yeah. Let's go after Chaos." I said.

I tried to hide the remaining fear I held. It wasn't that I didn't think we could do it, but…this was Chaos himself we were talking about. I had a right to be a little nervous, at least.

Locke looked at me and knew right away something was wrong.

"Garnet? Are you alright?"

I took a deep breath as I tried to muster up my courage again. I couldn't stay like this. I was afraid that if I did, I'd bring everyone down with the burden of doubt and despair…and I couldn't stand to do that. Not after all we'd been through to get here.

"Yes. I'm fine. I promise."

I looked at her as she stared at the ground in silence for a moment and held her amulet.

"…I'm ready." she said, looking ahead again with determination.

I was worried about her, but I didn't want to slow everyone else down with such – so, I let it go. By now…I knew Garnet could take care of herself.

I heard Snow take a breath next and looked over at him as he lifted his head.

"…Let's do this." he said.

We started walking forward when suddenly a group of Chaos' warriors appeared before us – Ultimecia, Kuja, Kefka, Sephiroth, Garland, and one we didn't recognize.

"Well, well, warriors of Cosmos. I hate to disappoint you, but your travels end here." Garland said.

Snow stepped out in front of us.

"What are you doing here?" he grumbled, balling his fist.

Ultimecia smirked as she spoke.

"We simply came to welcome you…to your pitiful demise. I'm sure you realize the consequences of your actions to this point by now."

She laughed to herself before speaking again.

"The fate that awaits you is inevitable. Foolishly following your own recklessness despite the many warnings you've been given – what makes you believe so strongly that you can defeat Chaos without your precious crystals?"

I stepped forward in defiance of her words.

"Nothing is inevitable. And, even if our fate is to fall…we will do all in our power to make sure our struggles in these cycles will not be wasted."

Ultimecia laughed under her breath as she and I stared at each other intently.

"Rinoa. I'm curious as to when one such as you gained so much strength."

I didn't let her get to me. I knew exactly what she was doing and it wasn't going to work. This time…I'd have the last laugh.

"I'll never waver, Ultimecia. None of us will – our allies or Cosmos."

All of them could only laugh in response. If anything…it only served to anger me, and the others, that they could find sacrifice so amusing. It was one thing to mock us alone, but to mock the very thing we, and Cosmos herself, stood for; I'd had enough.

"If you pests truly plan to get to Chaos, you'll have to get past us first. After all, like you, we serve the god we've been summoned to fight for. We can't have even the threat of Chaos being defeated to go unrewarded. If he were to lose, no matter how unlikely that is…" Kefka explained.

Locke was quick to respond. Clearly, he'd had enough as well.

"So be it. This'll be easy."

I caught Garnet give a glance in my direction out of the corner of my eye.

"Have you truly…learned nothing from your experience?" Sephiroth said, smugly.

"Just back off and shut up! If there's one thing we've learned after all this time…it's that Chaos must be defeated. As for those whom stand to prevent that…" Zack replied, raising his sword.

They all laughed again; always with the laughing. I didn't get it. I wanted so much to wipe those smug expressions off their faces, and it was evident the others did, too. There was no better time than now to do just that.

"Oh, this is simply amusing…and grand! Finally, the big finale! And, what gracious props you are, my dears. You've come just in time!"

Kuja did his usual heinous laughter that echoed throughout the area. A laugh I knew all too well and had heard all too much. Of all of them, his laugh was by far the most annoying!

"Unfortunately, it looks like our gracious host will miss out on our "big finale". We've got a date to make…and you're not invited." I said, preparing to fight.

I was ready more than ever this time. I was going to get back at them – for everything they've done up to this point…and to show Chaos exactly what we could do, and the power of Cosmos.

"So bold…and certifiably arrogant of you. Is death truly so appealing to you that you'd waste your lives just to see it? There is no hope for you in this conflict, after all."

I looked at the six warriors of Cosmos before us. While I had no direct relationship with any of them, I simply had to be here for their final moment; something of a "going away party", to put it lightly. I may have never gotten to meet up with Yuna, but if we could foil the attempts of her allies…that was good enough to satisfy me…for a time.

"Sometimes…you just have to make your own hope, huh?" Balthier said, raising his weapon.

Garland laughed under his breath, putting in his two cents for whatever it was worth.

"Fools. All your "hope" will give you is an eternity of wandering the rift. The likes of you cannot hope to defeat Chaos. Crystals in hand or not…your fate is to fall."

I slammed my fists together upon the completion of his speech. I wasn't backing down no matter what. We hadn't come all the way here to be turned back by the likes of Chaos' warriors of all people. Whatever our fate was…we would face it in the end. All we cared about was that our friends got a chance later…even if meant our lives as the price.

"Are you done running your mouth yet? Like we said before…we've got some place to be." I said.

We all prepared to fight them and they did the same. This was it; one final battle before Chaos himself. Though we would have preferred to have been able to get straight to him, a little intervention would at least help us make sure we were prepared.

"Very well. If you deem yourselves so superior as to be able to stand against Chaos…allow us to test that will of yours. I think we've stood on the sidelines far too long." Garland said.

We stared them down intently as our battle was about to begin. It wasn't the confrontation we'd come for, but it would have to do. Besides, deep down…we all knew how good it would feel to put Chaos' cronies in their place.

"It couldn't hurt to touch up a little before the big guy himself." Snow said, smirking.

"Your so-called "loyalty" to your goddess is nothing but a mere illusion. The only thing driving you is your shallow ignorance. You only have yourselves to blame for the misery and despair that is to fall upon you shortly." Garland stated.

We weren't fazed by his words. We were too set on our goal now and nothing would change our minds. Now was the time we'd waited for and if we died trying…we'd already come to accept that. Looking at the brighter side…we'd be out of this horrible conflict. Truthfully…that was all I'd wanted all along.

"Enough! This ends now!" Locke said, with a stern tone.

"Our final battle began – even though it wasn't quite the one we'd intended. Our powers collided with those of the warriors of Chaos, all the while the power of Chaos himself radiated from the far end of the Land of Discord. We knew time was short, but we had to get around one last obstacle…despite the unfortunate delay. This final struggle was all that stood in our way now and we were determined to get through it like all the others before it. However, once we'd finish… time would be our next enemy, as Chaos' power was about to reach its peak. The annihilation of Cosmos, and harmony itself, was imminent."

*Author's Note* - Obviously, this is NOT the last chapter – though, it was originally intended to be. The next chapter, however, will be the end of the story.