Part Nine: Zalanth is Defeated? The Threat is Vanquished?

Three pale blue orbs streaked from Bahamut's muzzle and struck Zalanth full on. Instead of dying like the dragon thought that he would, they bounced harmlessly off an invisible shield.

"You have to do better than that, blue boy!"

Bahamut gazed in shock as he vanished and the others returned.

"Oh boy," Irvine said softly.

During the whole confrontation SeeD's and other students of Garden had been streaming out almost endlessly. It turned out that more were able to help because a mission in Galbadia was completed early and G-Garden was heading towards them at top speed.

Vincent Reed rushed out and directly over to the small group before the King of the Vampires. Pulling Squall over to the side, he explained his reason for showing up.

"You can not defeat him now, he's too strong."

"What do you mean?" Squall asked cluelessly.

"He is using part of Delmashas' power. Unless the god is defeated and banished back to his home plane, you will not be able to kill Zalanth."

"Okay. So we're only supposed to fight his minions?"

"Yes. Only Alvanshas has the power to banish him."

"Thank you for the information. Go back inside and see to Edea and Cid. You'll know when we've won." Squall inclined his head briefly and hurried back to the others.

"What's up Squall?" Zell questioned him.

"Vincent said that we are only supposed to fight the minions. Only after Alvanshas has defeated Delmashas can we kill Zalanth."

Rinoa was going to ask him why but then she closed her mouth. "I understand. Let's go help the others then."

Selphie hurried through the deserted halls toward Cid and Edea's apartment. She was very worried about the woman that she had called mother all of those years as an orphan and was anxious to see her.

Selphie approached the door slowly and knocked softly. "Matron, Headmaster, are you two in here?"

"Yes Selphie," Cid said quietly from his seat. "You may come in."

The girl pushed the door open wider and stepped through. After closing it, she moved over to the bed and gasped. "Oh my."

Cid sighed. "And it has been getting worse since Seifer came."

"I think I know why. You did know that he held me prisoner?" Selphie took a seat at the end of the bed and shuddered at the memory. The flickering candle light made her face look pale, and drawn.

"Are you alright?" Cid asked her, concerned.

"I will be," Selphie sighed. "He took her spirit sword for the demon to use."

"I know that one."

"Well, he did some kind of magical ritual and warped it. The demon mentioned the 'original'."

"Rinoa said that if it doesn't get replaced back into her soul, she will die." Cid bowed his head. "We can't let that happen."

Selphie remained silent. Then Vincent returned to the room.

"Do you wish to redeem yourself Selphie Tilmitt?"

She looked up. "I opened the Gate for him. Yes. I do."

"Then do as I say..."

Squall pulled his gunblade free from another dead demon. Wiping the blackened blood off on his pant leg, he turned partially to Rinoa who had just caught her Shooting Star from where it had sliced cleanly through one vampire's neck, severing it's head from it's shoulders. "How are you doing?" he shouted of the dull roar of the grunts and battle cries of the warzone.

"I've felt better. DUCK!" Squall complied as she unleashed her weapon again. "This isn't a good time to talk you know."

Squall nodded. "I just want to assure myself that you're still there I guess."

"I happy that you care but," She kicked another demon away, "can you save it for later? You're sort of distracting me."

"Of course." Squall tossed a fire spell at a semi-transparent shadow and watched as it faded away into nothingness. "Anything for you."

Irvine, Quistis, and Zell were destroying evil left and right. Zalanth swooped down on them, glaring angrily.

"I tire of this game. It is now time for your final performance!" Pointing at them he shouted loudly. "Delmashas, destroy their bodies and bring their souls to me so that I may transform them into my servants for all eternity!"

Delmashas smirked and dove for them, sword raised. The three below stood, frozen on the spot unsure of what do do while Rinoa and Squall watched helplessly from the distance. All around them the battle raged and the three thought that the end was near. Then an intense beam of white light penetrated the area.

Quistis, Irvine, and Zell noticed immediately that the battle noise seemed muted. It was like they were there but weren't at the very same time. They also noticed that a dome of hazy white covered them and had lifted them gently into the sky.

You all have done your part. I will take over momentarily. Then reality ceased to be, signaling the arrival of Alvanshas.

"Where are we?" Quistis asked softly as she stared at hands that didn't even look like they were solid.

"This is the Border. The place between the Mortal Realm and the Spirit one." Rinoa glanced around. "They are battling up ahead."

"I probably already know but how do you know this?" Irvine asked.

"Remember my answer from before," she answered.

"Ah."

The small group half floated/half walked to the site of the deciding battle for their very souls. They all crouched behind some rocks and watched in silence at the wonder in front of them.

Delmashas and Alvanshas circled each other warily, neither wanted to be the one to make the first move. Then the demon lunged at the woman and it was on.

Hell's Fury! Delmashas cried as a lava looking beam shot out from his outstretched hands to engulf the woman. She frowned in concentration and counterattacked.

Light of the Heavens! A beam, as bright as the other was hot, shot out and hit the lava substance head on. They both struggled with at beating the other when suddenly the beams cancelled each other out.

Well, that's not going to work this way. Alvanshas took a small rod, no more than a foot in length, out of a hidden pocket. She must have pressed an invisible trigger or something because suddenly more metal shot out of both ends adding an extra three feet, one and a half on each end, to the now formed weapon.

Alvanshas put the newly created trident in front of her and beckoned to the demon. Bring it on!

They lunged at the same time, bright flashes and miniature sonic booms erupted from where the two weapons clashed together. The wind the attacks created almost knocked Squall and his friends back a couple of feet, but they gripped the rocks tightly and hung on for all it was worth.

Then reality was altered again as the Border faded.

"Where are we now?" Quistis asked outloud.

Rinoa shrugged. "This one I don't know."

They looked below them and discovered that they could see the planet as if they were at a great height.

"Uh, we're falling aren't we?" Zell asked nervously.

"Yes. But not as fast as we should." As the ground became closer and closer they noticed how bad the land looked.

"What happened here?" Squall asked, shocked.

Quistis' eyes widened. "Oh no..."

The land was blasted and craterous. Trees were split apart as if jagged bolts of lightning had struck them, dead or dying animals were everywhere and quite a few boulders had been split in two like they were made of clay.

Rinoa looked to the sky solemnly and began to speak. "They've caused this."

"Who?" Irvine asked. Then his eyes widened. "You can't mean...?"

"Yes. Their battle is destroying the land." They touched down. "Neither side is winning and before long the world will be a complete and utter wasteland."

"How are we supposed to stop this?" Squall asked.

Rinoa sighed deeply. "We can't. We don't have the power of the gods. Not even a GF could stop this now." They fell silent, each absorbed in his own thoughts as they watched the battle unfold.

After a while Zell punched the ground, frustrated. "We can't just stand here and do nothing!"

"I know," said a new voice. "That is why I'm not."

Five heads turned in the direction of the newcomer. Selphie Tilmit stepped from a portal and walked towards them.

"How are you going to stop this?" Quistis asked curiously.

"I've brought the Balance."

"The... Balance?" Rinoa questioned.

"Yes. Neither Good nor Evil. A neutral deity." She reached into the knapsack on her back and dug around for something. Smiling softly, she pulled out a summon orb. "This," she held it up, "is Medishas. She is the Guardian of the Planet." Concentrating she called her out.

A small figure dressed all in one color - gray tunic, gray leggings, & gray shoes - appeared before them. She had bright green eyes and long red hair. Holding a staff she looked at them.

You called?

"How are you supposed to be able to stop them?" Zell asked.

She sighed, apparently bored. I can draw energy from both ends of the spectrum. By neutralizing their power, they will cease destroying everything.

"Okay. Good. Go do your thing then."

I planned on it. She flew over to the still fighting pair and floated in-between them. Neutralizer!

A bright flash and then Alvanshas and Delmashas were suspended in time.

Look at yourselves! Del, that vampire is using you. Will you you ever benefit from this 'reign' Zalanth keeps talking about? I don't think so! And Alvan, I know the mortals asked you to help but didn't you know what would happen to the Planet the Great Hyne loves so much at the hands of a battle of this magnitude? It's up to me again to set things straight. Medishas rolled her eyes and landed on the ground. Thumping the staff against the hard-packed earth twice she stared at her fellow Gods sternly. Green energy began to flow out at an incredible speed reviving and renewing everything in it's path.

There! Medishas said brightly. Now you six need to go back to Balamb Garden.

"Oh it's okay!" Selphie opened another portal. "You go ahead and send Delmashas back to Hell." She motioned to the portal. "After you."

The others exchanged glances and Selphie stomped her foot. "It's perfectly safe so come on!"

Irvine leaned closer to the others. "Humor her. Please?"

"Zalanth!" Squall called to him. "It's time for you to say goodbye!" All of his followers were dead but were also many SeeD's that were as well. It saddened Squall and everyone to see their still bodies but there would be time to mourn later.

"Oh, I don't think so. I won't be defeated so easily!" Then he and Squall began to go at it, neither one gaining the upper hand.

Meanwhile Zell and Selphie and begun to confer and were currently involved in a small argument.

"No! It's better to be at this angle!"

"Whatever Zell! I know I'm right."

Rinoa, Irvine, and Quistis were readying their weapons in case of battle while Zalanth shot a glance behind himself.

"SECHMET!"

"Yeah Zally?" His head popped up from behind a rock formation.

"Handle this."

"But Zally..."

Zalanth frowned. "I am too important to do physical battle and do you want your flow of blood to be cut off? I can do that you know."

Sechmet sighed then muttered something as an afterthought. "Stupid king vampire. Thinks that he's so perfect! I don't even have any real power..." He walked towards the group somewhat mentally exhausted Z. "Go ahead! Do you worst!"

Rinoa looked at him intently. "Do you really want to die like this?"

"No but he ordered me..."

"You don't have to listen to him!" The others nodded in agreement. "If you surrender now, I can guarantee your safety."

"NO YOU DON'T!" Zalanth screamed as he shot bright bolts of lightning at the group. They dodged the deadly objects until the storm had passed.

"I am so tired of this," Squall muttered. Powering up he raised his gunblade high above his head and started off a series of slashes that made up his limit break Renzokuken. Raising his power even further, he launched in his most deadly of finishing moves Lion Heart.

Zalanth, damaged badly from the physical blows, lurched towards Zell in a vain effort to at least kill before the rest of his life's blood spilled upon the ground. But Zell was ready for him. In a burst of speed, almost too quick for the human eyes to follow, he darted around the vampire and waited, foot poised.

Selphie opened another one of her portals and while she held it open, Zell kicked Zalanth in the ass, knocking him in. The small girl sealed up the portal and collapsed on the ground, panting.

Everyone ran over to her and kneeled by her side.

"Are you alright, Sefie?" Irvine asked worriedly.

"I'm fine," she smiled. The first one they had seen since the whole abduction ordeal. It wasn't her usual, but it would do. "But Zalanth's not!"

"Where'd you send him?" Rinoa asked her.

"Oh a place that I think that he would love very much."

"NO! I won't be defeated this way!" Zalanth pounded on the wall of the now dispersed portal.

"Hullo!" One small face peered at him.

"Who or what are you?"

"I'm Dagmar. I'm an elf!"

Suddenly several dozen little happy elves appeared in front of him.

"Welcome to our dimension! Would you like to hear a song?"

"NO!" Zalanth shrieked.

"It's a little something we picked up in the human universe." Dagmar cleared his throat and motioned to his companions. "This is the song that doesn't end! Yes it goes on and on my friends... Everybody!"

Then all of the elves formed a chorus and began to sing cheerfully. "Some people started singing it not knowing what it was, but they'll continue singing it forever just because This is the song that doesn't end..."

Zalanth's eyes widened and he began to double is pounding efforts. Sobbing, he screamed hysterically: "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"


Please review, your feedback is most appreciative. The final chapter is on its way!