Part Eight: The Search and the Gate
The frozen landscape was hard on their feet as they trudged across the frigid tundra. Strong winds threatened to pull them from their feet while the blowing snow threatened to blind them. The five moved in a single line, stepping in the footprints of the previous one, shivering tremendously.
"Do you see it yet?" Zell called to Squall, his breath almost tore away by the hateful wind.
"No but it can't be too much farther."
They had left the Ragnorok far behind since no one except Selphie knew how to fly it well. They all had just thought it was safer to walk the rest of the way. They all were now regretting that decision.
Pulling scarves and parkas more tightly around them, they continued on in search of the Guardian.
"Ah, the final treasure." He sighed happily as he held the precious thing in his hands. "Have Sechmet bring the girl while I go to the Room."
"Yes sir," they saluted and departed from the room.
Zalanth rose from his chair and started for the staircase, the spirit sword levitating behind him. Again he went to that room and again he locked the door. But this time he did not need to use to scrying pool. instead he made his way over to the table beyond it.
Laying the sword upon it, he took down a book from a shelf above and began to thumb through it.
"Where is that damn spell of corruption? Ah, here we are." Setting the book down he reached into a jar and sprinkled some dark ashes over the glowing white spirit sword.
"From these ashes I embrace corruption. Let the Corruption of the ages modify this object so it will bend to the will of evil!"
Then the sword's natural glow deepened in color until it became a midnight black. It grew an extra two feet and thickened out as well. Miniature bolts of pale lightning crackled over it's surface as a sheen of slickness formed. Soon the show came to an end and Zalanth began to breath again.
"I'm so glad that it worked."
"I see it! I actually see it!" Squall and the others sped up their pace, hoping that they weren't too late to stop the evil that was descending upon the world. They entered the cave and stopped at a large fountain that was in the very center.
"Alvanshas, will you help us?" Rinoa called out softly.
A pale form appeared sitting crosslegged above the fountain. She had white blond hair, vivid blue eyes, and simple white gown was on her body. She gently floated down until she was in front of them.
How did you know where to find me? She asked, her voice echoing in their minds.
"You are the Guardian of the Pure. Snow is very pure when it has just fallen and this was the only place that has a substantial amount of it." Squall replied. She nodded as if her answer satisfied her.
I know why you have come. Zalanth has returned to the world. The fault of a young boy.
Zell flushed and looked away.
I will help. I can not allow so many kind souls to be changed into the ones of evil. When the Final Battle has risen, I will come. Wait for me then.
Her spirit form dissipated leaving the young people behind.
"You know, that was almost too easy," Irvine mentioned.
"She will not lie to us. It's not in her." Rinoa told him. "Let's go back to Garden. The vampire will come because he is drawn to Zell."
Zalanth, Sechmet, Seifer, Raijin, and Fujin all stood on the battlements that were on the wall that surrounded Zalanth's tower. Selphie was sitting in a chair frowning fiercely at what she was being made to do.
If I do, I will free thousands of demons but if I don't, Irvine will be hurt. I think that everyone back at Garden can handle them but still, it's so wrong!
"It's time, girl," Zalanth told her, his brow creasing at her hesitation. "Well?"
Selphie looked at him in confusion. "I have absolutely no idea what to do."
Zalanth groaned. "Raise yours arms and focus where you want the Gate to open. Preferably over there." He pointed to a patch of struggling grass that was about 200 feet away from them.
"Alright." She did as he said but nothing happened.
Zalanth groaned again. "You have to clear your mind of all thoughts except the Gate or it won't work. Try again and this time DON'T FAIL!"
Selphie tried again and this time she succeeded in creating on to the corrupted spirit realm. Shadowy demon armies slowly made their way over followed by skeletal warriors, legions of vampires, and more things that should only be kept in nightmares.
Selphie shuddered at the mere thought of them and started to lower her arms.
"No," Zalanth caught her. "You must keep them raised until they are all across. Then I will allow you to return to your friends to wait for the end."
Then a single larger creature came through. It was all black, covered in some kind of fur, and two twin horns sat atop it's head. It looked around for moment, spotted Zalanth and grinned. The teeth were long and razor sharp, the incisors pointed like fangs.
"Why hello Delmashas! So nice of you to join us."
The beasts expression turned as fast as you could blink.
Cut the crap, Zalanth. Where's that puny godling?
"She will arrive all in due time. By the way, here is the weapon that I have prepared for you, I hope it is to your liking." He snapped his fingers and the black sword appeared. Gesturing with his arm, he levitated it down the Delmashas.
A fine blade. Where was the original taken from?
"Some woman named Edea, but she won't be needing it anymore."
Matron? Selphie asked herself tearfully. They took it from Matron and made it that way? How awful!
Sechmet took his cue to moved toward Selphie. "Create a portal to the Garden."
"Now?!"
"What do you think?" he hissed in her ear. "It wouldn't do to make the Master angry..."
She shook, frightened, and then did as she was instructed transporting everyone to the sparse Centra Continent where the Garden was currently positioned in.
"Phase one is complete. Phase two, the libertas of summ socius, has also been completed." Vincent bowed his head from where he was staring out of the window in Cid's bedroom.
The headmaster didn't even bother to ask what phase two was. After all, he had a pretty good idea. "And what is phase three?"
The man turned from the window and stared at Cid, emotion full in his eyes. "The defaeco or the purging of the good souls. This is closely followed by phase four which is formerly called 'the gubernatio-ionis of summ formidilosus' which is-"
"The 'Reign of His Terror' in english." Cid said absently smoothing back some stray hairs on his wive's forehead. "Does the beast have the spirit sword?"
"I believe so. Zalanth wouldn't be coming here otherwise. His heart holds too much fear for Alvanshas."
"Edea is growing paler with each passing moment. I pray to Hyne that they can defeat both he and the demon in time."
Vincent continued his watch from the window. "So do I, Cid. So do I."
"The final battle is almost here. I hope everyone is ready because this will be long, hard but I have faith that you will win and come out alive. So when those demons appear, please suppress your fear. For Edea, for yourselves, for everyone on the planet. So I wish you the best of luck and as Zell would say, let's go kick some ass!" Squall turned of the P.A. system and got into the elevator from the bridge. Everywhere on the first floor, people erupted into cheers as he passed. He gave a small smile and continued outside where his friends waited on the front line.
"Is she here yet?" Squall asked distractedly. He was scanning the horizon for any sign of the enemy.
"Alvanshas? No. She will be. Gods keep their word." Rinoa said. Then she added more as an afterthought. "At least the ones aligned with Good do."
"Does everyone have magic, their weapons, and at least one GF?"
"Yes Squall." Quistis stepped forward and and made a gesture like she was going to make a report. Actually that was exactly what she was going to do. "Rinoa has Diablos and Eden; Zell has Bahamut and Pandemona; I have Quezacotl, Doomtrain, and Brothers; Selphie has Shiva, Carbuncle and Tonberry from before; and Irvine has Cerebus, Ifrit, and Leviathan."
"And I have Siren, Cactaur, and Alexander." Squall's gaze went back to the horizon. Then the demon army winked into existence. It was like one moment they weren't there and another they were. But that was basically how it happened.
Irvine saw Selphie and tried to run forward. Squall and Zell stopped him, with effort, and continued to watch them.
"Why hello! Are you the little beings that got the silly notion into their head that I'm stoppable?" Zalanth walked towards them, chuckling. "I assure you that if I am -and I'm not- it would take lots more than what you have to do it."
"We'll see," Squall drew his gunblade and eyed him, unafraid.
"By the way, you can have this girl back now. Her job for me is completed." He snapped his fingers and Selphie appeared next to Irvine. He tried to hug her, but she avoided his touch and his relieved eyes.
"I have to go inside now," Selphie mumbled. Then, with one last glance at the people she called friends, she ran inside of the Garden.
Irvine turned and glared death at Zalanth. "What the hell did you do to her?"
"Nothing much. I had to make sure she wouldn't trick me, didn't I? After a few well-placed threats for her friends, I simply took time and reminded her who was boss."
The whole groups first thought was that he raped her the second that he tortured her. He saw the disgusted looks on their faces and chuckled again.
"I didn't rape her if that is what you're thinking."
"What about the other?" Rinoa asked softly. "Did you torture her?"
"Not any of the physical sort. I tend to make attacks of the mental kind. She's a little disturbed right now, you see."
"Yes, we see. And we're going to make you regret anything you have done to her." Squall said and the others nodded.
"Oh that reminds me, I need the curse breaker. NOW." Zalanth walked
"What are you going to do with me?" Zell asked shakily.
"Kill you."
"Excuse me?!" he asked, disbelieving.
"You heard me!" Raising his right arm a ball of red glowing energy gathered. Zell's eyes grew wide and then he summoned Bahamut. All six of them vanished into the shadowspace so that the blue dragon could do his work.
"So you're the person that is hunting the one who junctions me." Bahamut rumbled. "I am sorry but that is not acceptable."
"I didn't ask you if it was, Dragon," Zalanth growled. "You are not important enough for me to as permission of!"
Bahamut glared down from where he was hovering in the sky, fury showing on his face. "I'm not, am I? I am Bahamut, lord of the Guardian Forces. And now you are going to die for insulting me!"
The blue dragon rose higher into the air and inhaled deeply. He was going to give Zalanth a taste of hell that he would not soon forget.
Please review, your feedback is most appreciative. More chapters are on its way!
