For the hundredth time, Cosmos assumed, Kefka thought it'd be funny to throw chucks of ice at Golbez to pass the time. Ironically enough, Golbez didn't even flinch, which she thought would take away the fun. He just let the shards ping off his armor and face and scatter.
One would think that with no reaction the clown would get bored.
One would be wrong.
Kefka howled again. "Aw MAN! So CLOSE! Don't worry, Golby! I'll get one in your eye eventually!" He kept laughing like it was the most fun he ever had in his life. Cosmos seriously doubted that it was; he probably had more fun the last time he was punched in the face, or threw some poor child down a well. Those seemed like the kinds of activities that would thrill Kefka.
A rock ricocheted off of Golbez's shoulder and stung across Cosmos' cheek. She felt blood well up almost immediately.
"WAAAAHOHOHO-"
"Stop it!" she snapped. "Enough! Leave him be!"
Kefka ignored her. He formed a ball of ice and set it at his feet, retreating several steps.
"KEF-ka PALAZZO dribbling down the right side, wide open NET!" He ran quickly up to the ball. "He SHOOTS!" The each shattered beneath the force of his kick and littered Golbez and Cosmos. "GOOOAAAALLL- Oh, CHAOS, I sound like Jecht's whiny brat!"
He went for another round but Cosmos was ready. She quickly formed a weak shield that flickered as the ice crunched into it. She glared at Kefka as angrily as she could muster, but it lacked effect on him.
"Pshghrt-AAAHAHAHA! Aww, isn't that CUTE! Look, she's pouting!" he whined.
"Leave us alone! You've won! You've got us trapped! Now go and find some other way to entertain yourself instead of bothering us! We've already resigned ourselves to this!" Cosmos yelled.
" . . . No." He rained more ice on them but Cosmos kept her shield strong. "Hey- how are you DOING that, anyway?!" Kefka fumed. "Ulty's little circle-star-of-death-thing SHOULD be draining your magic!"
"Ultimecia is a time witch," Cosmos ventured to guess, "trying to execute strength-oriented magic. I imagined it wouldn't be done well. Like everything else she does," Cosmos uncharacteristically added.
"Oh yeah?" Kefka said, rising to the dig at Ulty. He put his nose an inch from the wall of Ultimecia's attack. "Why don't you try to break out?! GUARANTEE you'll get your brain fried like an EGG! Go 'head! Try!"
" . . . "
"Didn't think so. How bout THIS one!" he yelled, throwing a trail of Thundagas at them. Cosmos' shield shattered with a flash of gold, and Golbez was struck. He fell to a knee and Kefka giggled. "Now, THE BIG ONE!"
Cosmos saw the garish, yellow shine of Kefka's Hyperdrive intensify as he charged it up. He raised his arm but before he could sent it their way a shard of sharp, blue crystal rocketed into Kefka's arm, digging into his fleshy forearm. His spell skittered wildly off-line and crashed into one of the gears.
"What was THAT for?!" he yelled, cradling his arm.
Ultimecia appeared in front of him, crossing her arms. "We need her unbroken if this is to look convincing."
"You hurt my arm!"
Ultimecia's lip poked out in a baby-like pout, then she sneered. "Oh, PLEASE! It'l heal in a few minutes! Grow up, Kefka."
He leered at her and stuck his tongue out, but left to sulk.
"Well, well, well," Ultimecia drawled slowly, circling around Cosmos' trap. "It's close to showtime, Cosmos. What to do, then, to pass my time. I cannot wait to see all their faces. Or yours, when you see their reactions."
Cosmos took a step towards her. "I won't even ask what you're talking about, or planning anymore. But there is one thing I do desire to know: WHY do you work for him?" she questioned honestly. "I don't understand. If you're your own abilities and ambitions, why do you help him achieve his? I don't know what he told you, but I do know one thingL whatever he promised you- power, time compression, a seat next to him- he'll not give any of it to you. They're all empty words. He'll go back on those words faster than you can blink. HE plans on ruling this world, solely. You are integral to his designs, of course-"
"'Integral?' He has me to credit for the whole thing!I offered up the information he's now going to use to ruin your warriors!"
Cosmos continued like she wasn't interrupted. "But as soon as he is on top he'll dispose of you, Ultimecia. Like another obstacle, another threat. Mark my words."
"Oh, Cosmos," Ultimecia chided with a small tsk! "You think I intend to let him reach the top? Of course not! I help him because he's like a bulldozer for the future I plan to build. He literally levels the playing field, eliminates more than HALF of the people in my way with this little plan. And what's more, THOSE people would try the HARDEST to stop me! So I play his game. I let him think he's in control. He'll let his guard down. And once he does, and once this job is done, I'll have no further use of him. I'll ruin HIM."
"Do you TRULY know what he plans?" Cosmos asked. "Become too focused on your prey, and you'll miss the predator hunting you."
"Don't be so cliché. I appreciate your concern, dear, but you needn't worry about me. If not from me he'll get what's coming to him. He's got a LINE of people eager to see him dead."
Cosmos excitedly realized she got Ultimecia talking. She tugged slightly at the chance to keep her going. "Who? Why?" she asked, as if only mildly interested. Ultimecia shrugged like they were having a casual conversation.
"Chaos, first and foremost, me, you, your warriors, specifically Firion, your champion Rosa. Tell ALL of them to get in line. I've an idea on what he plans. His ultimate goal. Something that might even have Chaos concerned."
"Which is?" Cosmos felt like they were gossiping. Well, as long as Ultimecia took the bait, Cosmos would keep her talking.
The witch in question crossed her arms. "Well it should be obvious to those of us who know the workings of the cycle. He wants you and your warriors gone, he wants Chaos' side gone as well as Chaos. He thinks he'll lord over land and cycle. But there's one LITTLE problem in his way." She raised an eyebrow to Cosmos.
She caught on immediately. "Shinryu. He plans to attack and defeat Shinryu."
"Exactly. I don't even know if HE knows that. He was Purified after your 13th cyclic victory, and has since recovered knowledge of the cycle. but of Shinryu, I'm not certain. But I believe that's what he's planning. He'll never win, of course. And this is all my speculation. That may very well not be his plan at all. What we know for sure is you, your warriors, Chaos, and his warriors. But it makes sense, does it not? Then he commands the cycle, all the reincarnated warriors' powers are absorbed into him, and HE grows powerful for all eternity."
"That's impossible. Shinryu has cycles upon cycles of accumulated power. There's not a chance for him."
"I've a thought on that as well. But I'm not about to tell you. It could . . . ruin the integrity of our little plan. At any rate, I'll never let him get that far. Neither would you, or your warriors, am I right? Never you worry your pretty little head. Do you want my opinion, however?"
Cosmos looked up sharply. "You'll give me . . . advice?"
"More like an observation. Something to think about. Next time, it'll be a lot easier to tell warriors who TRUST you to do something for you."
"Warriors who trust me? Are you talking about the Emperor? Is that what he's gone to tell them? To make them believe there're more lies kept from them? They'll forgive me. It's in their nature. Never you worry."
"Hmph! If you say so. More of a shock to you equates to more enjoyment for us. Just bear it in mind."
"Why would they not forgive me?"
She tossed her head back and laughed her bell-like, insubstantial laugh. "You'll see."
