Forgot to warn you this chapter would be late. I was working seven days in a row and was in Oxford yesterday for a friend's book launch (if anyone likes fantasy novels, please check out The Sea Stone Sword by Joel Cornah).
Not a very exciting chapter, more of a filler/in between chapter. The next one will contain the action.
Into Memoria
'We can't wait any longer, we need to go into Memoria and fight Necron.' Ipsen sighed, 'And we need to return Garland's and Foresight's shard to the crystal.'
'What about mine?' Reason asked nervously. Mikoto, who was sat beside him, squeezed his hand in reassurance.
'Yours was a shard Meaning found long ago. I doubt it was ever attached to the main crystal, it's just an excess part…but I would like you to come with me to the crystal, just in case. Then I want you to find The Invincible and destroy it. The reconstructed Terra will no longer exist without Garland, so The Invincible will be in a different area now.'
Reason nodded, returning Mikoto's squeeze.
'I'm going with him.' She spoke up, leaving no room for argument. Ipsen just nodded, turning to look at the others gathered in the library. 'The rest of you will head straight to the Hill Of Despair and fight Necron.'
'Fight a God?' Amarant scoffed.
'Zidane's power will be a big help, and I'll join you once I've healed the crystal…Where is Zidane?'
'He went to visit Kuja's grave.' Dagger said, 'I think he realises we need to face Necron soon as well.'
'Good, we should start preparing to depart for tomorrow.'
'To the Iifa tree? Can we still get in through there?'
'Judging by the readings Reason picked up when he was there, yes, there should be a portal open now…while the Burmecian souls are being processed. If we wait any longer it will close for good, and Necron will revive Garland again.'
'Or the crystal will give out and end all life.' Amarant added.
'We don't have our eidolons anymore.' Eiko sighed, 'So Holy is the only offensive magic I have.'
'Don't worry, together we can do anything.' Ipsen smiled.
No one quite believed him.
Zidane knelt in front of Kuja's grave, silent. Dagger had offered to have him buried next to her mother, but Zidane doubted Kuja would have wanted that. Instead he chose an old tree not far outside the city and buried Kuja under it, placing a simple, flat plague there with his name on it.
'I'm still not sure if it was worth it, but I am trying.' He told Kuja, smiling, 'I'm starting to understand human emotions better…I think.'
He fell silent, able to hear approaching footsteps. He turned to see Ipsen stop in front of him.
'We've decided to leave in the morning for Memoria.'
Zidane sighed but nodded.
'You must realise we can't defeat Necron. We can do the same as last time, beat him back and weaken him, but he'll return, and this will happen all over again.'
'I know, but I have a plan. Just weaken him as much as possible and leave the rest to me.'
Zidane frowned at him, letting out a long sigh.
'So, this is the way it has to be?'
Ipsen gave him a tight smile, which dropped into a pained look.
'Yes, I'm afraid so.'
'It's pointless to bring it, the airship will be faster.' Steiner argued.
'Forest is a she, and I don't care, she's coming with us.' Zidane said firmly, 'You do remember what happened last time, right? Once we defeat Necron we'll need to leave fast, and Kuja won't be there to teleport us.'
'She can't carry us all.' Steiner scoffed.
'No, she can't.' Zidane agreed.
Steiner was too shocked to respond.
After much coaxing and cooing Zidane managed to guide Forest into the ship's hull, the only place big enough to contain her. Everyone else was ready in the cockpit when he arrived.
'Okay, let's go!' Ipsen grinned as Amarant piloted the ship, soaring into the air and heading towards the Outer Continent. His driving was rough, but it was better they didn't bring extra crew members where they were heading.
It didn't take long to arrive in the Hilde Garde III, the portal above the Iifa tree visible even from a distance.
Zidane let out a long sigh.
'At least there's no Nova dragons to deal with this time.' Dagger said, 'Is everyone ready?'
Everyone gave a brisk nod, taking a moment to gaze at their friends before Amarant plunged the ship into the portal.
When the group woke the airship was nowhere to be seen, but Forest sat protectively near Zidane, ready to defend him.
Zidane climbed to his feet and looked around, seeing the familiar ancient ruins setting of Memoria.
'Is everyone okay?' Dagger asked. There was a chorus of 'fine', and 'yeah'.
'Then we'd better get started.' Ipsen said grimly.
Zidane nodded and ordered Forest to walk with Ipsen, Reason and Mikoto.
'Um, why?' Mikoto asked.
'Because you'll be using her to find The Invincible. Once you destroy it ride her to get out.'
They carried on in silence, passing through the scenery. Every once in a while a member of the group would stop, forced to relive a painful memory. Dagger watched Madain Sari being destroyed. Reason watched himself die on Terra. Zidane saw the destructive soul enter him.
'We are stronger than these memories.' Ipsen told them as they continued on. The others mumbled their agreement, but couldn't help the feelings it stirred up.
Finally they reached the crystal, taking a moment to rest before moving on.
'You all remember what to do?' Ipsen asked. The others nodded, although some frowned in annoyance.
'More details would be nice,' Amarant muttered.
'Just have some faith.' Freya teased, 'He's brought us this far.'
Ipsen smiled at her, but it soon fell from his face.
'I would just like to say…it has been an honour to know you all. Whatever happens, I'm glad I got to fight beside you.'
Zidane smiled at him, placing his hand on his shoulder before moving to his sister and hugging her.
'Good luck,' He said, and to Reason, 'look after her.'
Reason nodded.
The others said their goodbyes too before Zidane took hold of Dagger's hand and led the way into the Hill of Despair. Vivi, Eiko, Amarant, Steiner, Freya and Quina following behind them.
Forest let out a mournful cry.
Next chapter might take a while, because technically it's the last one, with the full battle stuffed into it. So probably will be Friday, with the epilogue on Sunday. Close to the end now!
