Chapter 52
Zieg rushed towards Rose, pure malice gleaming in his eyes.
"Stay out of it!" Rose cried, and Zack came to a halt. She had drawn her own sword and a few seconds later it clashed with Zieg's.
Christ he really means to kill her Zack thought. Rose and Zieg engaged in a brutal fence off, their blades but a blur to Zack. Yet Zack could still spot amongst the flurry of blows that Rose was only defending and the majority of the strikes were from Zieg.
Rose what are you doing? Quit defending and try to kill him!" Zack encouraged hotly.
"Stay out of it!" Rose retorted, and she lunged her first real strike. It caught Zieg off guard, the strength of the blow sending him back a step. She followed up with a swift kick to the lower abdomen, and he doubled back, falling to a knee.
"Now Rose! C'mon kill him already!"
But she only stood there, as if mesmerized. He rose slowly, a hysteric look formed on his face.
"You can't kill me eh?" he said, raising his broadsword once more. "C'mon, where is that Black Monster? The one who killed thousands over a millennia, not stopping at even children or babies." Rose recoiled as if struck, and Zack could only watch helplessly as he attacked her now apparent mental fragility.
I'll have to step in; Rose won't bring herself to kill him. He stepped back towards the teleport device and warped to the next room putting Lucile gently on the ground. Sorry about this Lucile. He then warped back, turned towards Zieg charged, ignoring Rose's cries of protest as he swung his spear. Zieg ducked without much effort, and then Zieg shot a small ball of fire that ignited in his hand. A small explosion of fire and smoke enclosed the area he was in. Rose let out a cry of anguish as Zieg snickered.
"And then there was one. Any other of your deluded friend you wish to sacrifice first?"
"I'm not done yet!" A voice announced from the smoke. Zack charged fourth towards Zieg, using his powerful wings acquired through his quick transformation to propel him at a high speed. Zieg guarded, and then it was Rose's turn to watch haplessly as her past and present comrades engaged in a grueling duel. No amount of shouting or ordering stopped them. She would have to impose herself physically, and she did just that. She concentrated deeply, pulling out her dark magic in the form of a small orb in her hand. It shot towards an unsuspecting Zack and struck him straight in the chest. Zack shout out a sharp groan of pain and he hit the ground heavily, his chest feeling like it had been set ablaze. Dark chains spawned out of the small orb hovering above his chest, wrapping around his body, constricting him like a snake. He felt his power being sapped and despite his Dragoon Armour he felt his body sizzling, not allowing him to create a coherent thought.
Rose wasted no time in sprinting towards the restricted Zack, acting as a barrier before Zieg could take the opportunistic offensive. In once swift motion and an incredible feat of strength and agility she pulled him on her chest and ran towards the teleporter. Even though the capturing chains were her own spell, the contact still burned her unprotected arms. Zieg only watched mildly, seeming not interesting in taking the cheap blow. Rose positioned him near the teleporter, uttering "I'm sorry Zack, this is my battle. Please forgive me." She stood up, leaving him there as he responded with painful groans. Zieg grinned wickedly.
"So have you grown a heart after all these years Rose? Or are you just fooling yourself?" he snarled. "You'll always be a monster!" and sent fourth another barrage. Rose once more only defense, while Zack tried all he could to break the spell on him. He couldn't overpower it.
"Fight me Rose, I am all that stands in your way, do what you've always done" and he knocked her down, pointing the sword towards her throat. "Die!" he called, trusting in downward. Rose could only just turn her head and inch away, but she felt the steel blade slice the back of her neck.
It's real after all, that blade was solid steel Rose thought dejectedly. There was no doubt about it, it was Zieg. His damnation has twisted and corrupted his soul she thought, but knew she couldn't bring herself to attack him.
"Zieg, we don't have to do this!" Rose pleased, hoping to talk some kind of reason into him. Zieg only spat scornfully, opting to answer with his blade rather than words. Rose kept trying to reach him, pleading to a side that seemed to no longer exist, the side of him that loved and wanted to wed her. The insanity of his face only grew with each attempt, clearly taking pleasure at her desperation. She still refused to try and return any offensive, and after minutes of trying again and again to call off the encounter, she remained quiet, silent anguish plastered on her face.
Zieg halted his advances, smiling wickedly. "Why, I'm not the only soul here who has been sent to this hell" Zieg spat venomously. Small balls of blue and white hovered by Zieg's side. They transformed into royal guards of Mille Seasu, and while their faces were hidden behind their helmets, the spirits voices echoed towards her as they berated her, calling her what thousands of other had. A Black Monster.
Zieg could see Rose's resolve dissolving, her eyes becoming downcast, her stoic face cracking, revealing the pained guilt underneath she had always been carrying.
The guards shot towards her, swords drawn, and as Rose brought her own up to defend they vanished upon contact.
Only phantasms Rose thought with a dull kind of surprise. But it wasn't over yet, more apparitions appeared, this time the townspeople from Neet she had slaughtered years ago. They did the same thing, making chide remarks before rushing her, only to disappear without any contact. More souls came to life, and the process was repeated many times over, all victims she had claimed for what she thought was the sake of the earth. She could only close her eyes and try to cover her ears, trying to block out their torment. It did no good, soon all the voices seemed to blend into one, calling her a monster, a killer, a creature of darkness and death, telling her it's her that should be trapped in eternal damnation. Then there was another voice, a shrill scream. It wasn't until she opened her eyes and saw no other spirits that she realized that voice had been her own. Zieg still stood there, laughing at her suffering. By this stage it had become painfully clear that Zieg not only wanted her to die, but to torture her. He was going to pick her apart piece by piece.
Then Zieg's voice changed into an all familiar tone.
"Rose, you couldn't even protect me." Rose looked at him with wide eyed horror. Although it was Zieg who was mouthing the words, it was Charlie Frahma's voice that reverberated. "Like the many others in your wake of destruction, you let me die too. I was a fool to trust such an important mission to!" The voice was harsh and cold. The torture was too much. She fell on her knees, tears rolling down her face as Zieg, talking with Charlie's voice, continued to verbally attack her.
"You failed, failed us all!" it roared. Then the Zieg's voice returned to his own. The malice and hate was absent now, yet he said next and the way he said it was infinitely worse.
"You failed me Rose" he said in a low voice, and those words pierced her heart and soul like a lance. Rose's sword dropped to her side. She was now beaten, not physically, but for the first time in her lifetime… mentally and emotionally. She lowered her heard, awaiting the final blow which couldn't come quick enough.
"I'm sorry" she muttered in a low and sobbing voice.
"It's too late" Zieg replied, his voice devoid of even the tiniest bit of emotion. "You can only hope to try and repent with your death." He raised his sword high in the air. Rose didn't make a move, only nodded, defeated.
"Rose no!" Zack hollered from behind her. His voice was full of pain that Rose's binding spell had put on him, but he pressed on despite it. "You're not that person anymore! You've changed!"
Rose looked at him like he was her savior, her bastion of hope, her only ray of light. "You're no longer that monster, I… we all know that. You need to believe it, believe that you can redeem yourself in this life!"
"And what would he know?" Zieg retorted a little amused. "He's been around you how long? He doesn't know the real you at all, or the devastation of your atrocities."
"You're wrong! I've been affected by it as well! But I've forgiven, I've moved forward, and it's time you do as well Rose. Yes you've done some unspeakable things, and no there is no excuse for them, but your death is not going to change any of that! You can only hope to repent by doing good in the life you have left!"
"The problem is that while many of us are here suffering, she is free to live on a prosperous life! She should be here, paying for her sins, she –"
"She is paying for them!" Zack interrupted. "She carries the weight of those souls on her shoulders every waking minute of her long living life! She has been forever plagued by the memories of each life she has taken. You should know this better than anyone! Don't you love this woman? Aren't you the same man that wanted to marry her!?"
Zieg's expression remained stoic. "That is irrelevant. It's now a matter of justice; it is her time for judgment. She shall join us down here, and suffer for eternity and more for her crimes.
"But who made you the judge!? Perhaps she will have to suffer when she dies, but that isn't up to any of us to decide! Are you truly mad!?"
"…Zack, enough" Rose said softly. "Your words are kind, kinder than I've ever heard, or deserve for that matter. But I am now willing to accept the penalty."
Zieg advanced closer, his swords moving threateningly.
"Fight Rose, fight! We need you, people outside need you! We need to stop Melbu from destroying everything we have! Please, don't give in! You are Rose, the most powerful fighter, the most powerful women… no, the most powerful individual I have ever met. You shape your own destiny, you don't let others deicide it. C'mon, this is not you! There is still so much left unfinished…"
"It's too late for all that" Zieg said, raising his sword over his head executioner style. "Now, there is only death, and I shall deliver it." The sword hung above Rose's exposed neck. She still made no move.
In one last desperate attempt to talk her out of her death sentence, Zack screamed "Rose I love you, please don't leave me!"
And Zieg's sword came down upon her. However instead of meeting the flesh of the back of her neck like it was supposed to, it met the steel of her blade. Zieg's eyes widened with surprise.
"I'm sorry Zieg, but I'll have to put that date on hold. There are still things I have to do first." In a quick instant she forced him back, sprung to her feet and drove her rapier through her ex fiancée's chest. And then all fell deathly silent.
Rose and Zieg locked eyes in a stare down, and then something unexpected happen. His lips twitched into a smile. All of the dark malice and hate seemed to evaporate like a haze. Underneath was a look of bemused Clarity.
"Rose…" he began, but didn't know what quite to follow with. Rose could only stare back, stupefied. Then Zieg let out a blood filled cough, and remembering the situation (and amazed she had momentarily forgotten it) she quickly withdrew the sword from his chest. He stumbled back a few steps as blood dripped down the wound. Yet he showed no visible signs of pain or even discomfort. Just a man who looks resigned to his fate.
"Sorry about that" and he let out one of his sheepish grins. It was just like he always did, it became a sort of trademark of his, and she felt it melt her from the inside. Yet she still couldn't say anything, she could only still look on dumbfounded.
"I guess I gave you quite the hard time. You see I was… kinda called here against my will. This was the result…." He smile faded.
Rose finally found her voice again. But what came out of her mouth next made her wish she never did.
"Did you really intend to kill me?" she asked, and then chastised herself for it. The answer was obvious, and it made her feel like a helpless child again asking it. The lowering of his eyes told her all that she needed to know however.
"Just know that… what I said wasn't true. I never blamed you for anything, not for a second."
Rose nodded, but fell silent again. They both did for a moment, and then Zack's voice cut in, his presence almost forgotten.
"Her um…. Can I be released yet?" he asked in suppressed pain. Rose let out a small cry and released the binding spell immediately. He slipped back into his human form, but his arms and legs still burned. Putting that aside for the time being, he looked at Zieg a moment to gage if he was any longer a kind of threat. After a few moments of deliberation, he came to a decision.
"I'll give you two a few minutes… I'll go check on Lucile." Zack glanced at Rose to make sure it was okay, and she gave him a solemn nod. Eager to leave because he felt like a third wheel of such, he walked back into the teleport device and disappeared to the previous area.
"You've come a long way Rose" Zieg complimented brightly. "You have gained a lot of confidence; the old, insecure Rose that I know seems to have vanished in the space between our last meetings."
"That's not true" Rose replied, putting her head down. "I haven't changed at all. I'm just a little better at hiding it…"
Zieg closed the small space between them with a swift step and placed his hands on her shoulders, forcing Rose to face him. He was still smiling.
"If there's one good thing that came out of this, it was the fact you were able to defeat the demons of your past, the ones you have been letting haunt you for all of your life…"
His soft, reassuring tone seemed to create a ripple effect deep inside her. Tears crystallized at the corners of her eyes, threatening to spill down her face like rain. Yet she wouldn't let it happen. She had to keep firm. She pulled out of his grasp
"You're wounds…" she stammered, changing the focus. He looked down absently at his bleeding stab wound, but shrugged. "It doesn't really matter. I'm sure you know this, but my time here is almost up, one way or the other."
She nodded as melancholy that was bordering outright despair shadowing her face like a gloom. She now felt somehow empty inside, like a shell. For a moment the bizarre idea of pleading for him to stay crossed her mind. But as quick as it had come she gained a semblance of self control amongst the maelstrom that was her emotions, and the thought was dismissed just as quickly as it had arrived.
As if able to read her mind, Zieg stated unhappily "As much as I'd love to help you in your struggle, I cannot. I'm not meant to be here, not even meant to exist. If you get right down to it, I should have been killed eleven thousand years ago… when I put my life in front of yours."
Zieg quickly realized the effect his words would have on her as Rose's head dropped once more, a look of guilt flashing across her face. Zieg grabbed her by the shoulders again and said "and I'd do it again and again."
There was no helping it; she could no longer fight back the flood of tears that cascaded like a stream. She broke down, no longer able to control herself (and no longer caring at this point) and Zieg could only just hold her, acting as her anchor. And for several minutes, nothing more was said. For the time being, they took comfort in each other's presence, and that was all that mattered.
When Zack had gone back to check on Lucile he was surprised to see she had woken and was crossed legged, sitting before the green teleport sphere.
"How long have you been awake?" he asked her as he took a seat next to her.
"About thirty seconds" she said, still in a kind of daze. "Where is Rose?" she asked, a sense of urgency now creeping into her tone.
"She's okay" Zack reassured calmly. He took a seat next to her and took the next few minutes to explain what had happened while she was unconscious. Lucile showed worry and deep gratitude when he explained the process he and Rose went through to keep her alive. He left out a few key points, particularly the danger their lives were I during the process (he didn't want her to worry or feel guilty), yet he thought she was still sharp enough to gleam the implications anyway. She was more than apt at reading between the lines. After he finished with the battle of Rose and Zieg, he fell silent.
"I guess we'll just wait and give them some time together" Zack said, not able to hide the grim tone.
"Are you worried about her?" she asked. She focused for a moment, closing her eyes. "I sense no malicious intent, so she'll be safe with him."
"It's not that" he replied. When it seemed he wasn't going to elaborate any further, she prompted him to continue, but he shook his head. "It's nothing."
"Oooh, is it perhaps jealousy?" she replied with a playful smirk. Zack let out an dismissive grunt, but she could see a light hue of red travel up his neck and cheeks.
"None the less, I think its best we wait until Rose gets us" Lucile decided. "Plus I'm not so sure my body is willing to move yet." Zack nodded, giving his non verbal agreement, yet his thoughts still lay with Rose. Something about the two of them together unsettled him, but whether it was due to some childish jealousy or a deeper sense of anger he didn't yet quite know.
"I think I'll have to kill Dart" Rose said, breaking the silence. She expected Zieg to protest the idea, even show anger or dismay, but he only nodded with a calm acceptance. Rose arched an eyebrow towards him and said "You're not going to object?"
He sighed, looking skyward. "I don't like the idea at all, don't get me wrong, and I wish there was another way, however…" he paused a moment, searching carefully for his words. "I think Dart would want this. He is not himself at the moment, just as I was not me during the period I was possessed. It was a horrible process, your own soul being trapped within your body. You're still conscious of what is going on, yet you are powerless to stop it. It was torture, having to watch your own body commit those atrocities, watching someone else control you. There's a piece of Dart still in there, praying for a release, even if that release meant his body destruction. And knowing my son, he would want nothing less if he knew his existence would destroy many lives."
Rose was at a loss of what to say. To give your own son a death sentence, how can he bear it? He turned away, hiding his face, and Rose fancied she saw a tear slid down his bloodied face. Rose put a tentative arm on the back of his shoulder and said "I'll try and find away to exorcise him without destroying his body" she pledged.
"It was my fault" he murmured. "Twice I had the chance to destroy him, and both times I failed, and now my son is paying for it."
No Zieg, it was I who failed Rose thought, but could only keep a hand on him.
"Frahma's become more mad than ever before. His defeat destroyed the last remnants of his sanity, and now he wished to gain the power of all the Dragoon Spirits combined to wreck havoc on Endiness. He must be stopped, at all costs."
Rose was startled. "But is it really possible to force the service of the spirits? They choose their masters at whim, surely he cannot slave their power to himself?"
"He is mad and unstable, but he has the brain of a true scientist, a genius even. I have no doubt he has the means to accomplish such an impossible feat."
"But even if we destroy the body… will his souls simply occupy another vessel?" Rose asked. Zeig's face turned more solemn than ever.
"It is probable, so you'll have to find a way to destroy his soul."
Great, more complications, as if I needed anymore…
Zeig began to convulse, falling to his knees with a series of raspy coughs.
"Zeig, are you alright!?" she cried, kneeling down to his side. When the fit subsided took a moment to recompose himself. "I haven't got much time left…. Summon your friends; I have one last gift to give to you all." She looked at him questionably. "Just go, quickly" he urged with more sharpness then intended. Rose hesitated a moment before rushing towards the teleporter.
She reappeared moments later, Zack and Lucile following in tow. Zieg was still hunched on his knees, his artificial face drained of almost all colour. His time is nearly up Rose thought with numbed closure.
When the trio ventured toward him he stood up (with obvious effort) and fronted the three of them.
"As I'm sure you've already figured out, my time is short so we must make this quick. You're all aware of the treat Melbu Frahma imposes, not just to you three, but the entire world as a whole. He means to bring about the utter destruction of everything, and it is up to you three to make sure he doesn't achieve that goal." He paused, looking sheepish a moment as if unsure what next to say to his audience, and then finished. "I wish I could help you with this, but regrettably all I can do is grant you passage out of here." He signaled for the three to step in a small circle adjacent to him.
"Can you really do this?" Zack asked skeptically.
"I will use the last of my power to do so yes, however where you will end up… I cannot be sure." Zack looked ready to protest but Zieg hurried along. "I haven't got much time; if we don't hurry I won't be able to do it." He took a few steps back, closed his eyes and muttered something. The ground beneath the trio turned prismatic, and Zieg opened his eyes for a final time.
"I wish you all the best of luck." Zieg spoke, his face turning grave. He was looking at Rose now, and she at him. She didn't move out of the multi coloured circle that had lit around them, but she extended her hand. Zieg took it and squeezed it gently. "I always have, and always will love you Rose" he said.
"And I you" she replied, fighting back another wave of tears. "Thank you for all you have done, and all you have shown me. I could never thank you enough."
"You can by staying alive and finding peace in your life" Zieg returned, breaking the small contact. "And peace I hope you managed to find once this ordeal is over, one way or the other." He turned to Lucile, who seemed surprised to be noticed.
"I regret I was never able to properly meet such a beautiful lass" he said, and Lucile's cheeks flushed. "Yet I sense a strong spirit within you, as one would expect to be chosen by the Silver-White Dragoon Spirit. Look after your comrades for me, they will need it."
"You have my word" she said, bowing her head slightly. He smiled, and faced Zack, who stared at him coolly. Zieg only returned the intense stare, before he put a hand on his shoulder, grasping it hard. Zieg gave a single nod, to which Zack replied with the same. A moment of wordless comprehension passed between the two warriors, and Zieg released his grip on Zack's shoulder. I now pass on the mantle to you that gesture said. Look after her and protect her.
Then Zieg walked back a few paces to where he was. "Goodbye to you all and thank you for giving my soul its much needed rest. I doubt we will meet again in this life, yet if there is another, I shall wait for you there. Then he closed his eyes once more, focused, and everything went white.
It only took an instant, one moment they were watching Zieg in Mayfil, and now they were in an area where the sounds of swords clashing and magic exploding filled their ears before the matching vision could visualize. Rose drew her sword quickly and told her comrades to do likewise.
Rose took a quick moment to survey her surroundings. They were thrown straight into a battle; she could see Wingly soldiers and other grey dressed soldiers in a heated battle, both on ground and in the air. In front of them stood the most dominant structure; the Black Castle. Whether that was by chance or design, she didn't know.
They were on the ebon bridge leading towards the castle entrance Rose managed to find out as she barked orders to her two companions. They got down low and headed towards cover, but before they could go totally unnoticed a large ball of fire hurled towards them.
It dispersed in an explosion of vapor, and what jumped down to greet them was a grey dressed women whose face at first was so marred by black soot that it took a moment for Rose to realize who she really was. She supposed that also had to do with her slightly changed appearance, but her eyes were the same.
"Shana" Rose said, surprised. "What is going on?"
Shana beckoned them behind one of the large pillars supporting the bridge for cover.
"Glad you guys could make it" she said, yelling over the echoes of the surrounding battle. "While you were gone, we managed to rally the troops of all Endiness to launch a final attack." It was then that Rose realized that along with the grey fighters were soldiers from all over the world. Fletz and even soldiers from Deningrad were involved in an all out assault for the main gate. Rose was genuinely shocked at the scene playing out before her.
"It won't be successful of course unless you manage to get in there and kill both Wen and Melbu Frahma of course; however we have provided a big enough distraction for you to do just that. Now is your time to get in there and end this once and for all."
Rose looked at Shana and smiled. "Thank you, we shall not fail." Both Zack and Lucile nodded form behind her and Shana returned the smile.
"Then go! We know he is holed up in the castle somewhere; it'll be up to you to find him and end this madness for good. Go with my luck Rose, gods know you'll need it." Another ball of flame combusted above them.
"You take care as well you hear?" Rose said sternly. Shana nodded.
"I'll be fine, now go, before they find out you're here."
Rose turned to Zack and Lucile. "You heard her, this is it. The final battle, no more running around and playing it safe. We end it all here and now, understand?" Zack noticed a spark in her eyes, a blaze that only meant one thing: There will be much blood spilled.
"Let's do this, for us, for everyone. Let's end it quick so we can avoid unnecessary fatalities" Lucile agreed. Zack just looked up at Rose, then to Lucile, then back at Rose.
"Lead the way commander" he said, and the three of them ran towards the large castle doors, ready to meet their destinies.
