Badier watched Selphie as she whimpered in the middle of blankets that dwarfed the fragile girl, he had sent her to sleep ten minutes ago because the fact she never took her eyes off him was disconcerting. Now her panicked whimpers and soft cries made him wish he'd endured the staring. He didn't hate her, he didn't really feel anything for her, except a general distaste. She had helped kill a soceress, to him that made her lower than dirt. He had been ten when he had been gifted with his power, his face ticked in a smile, it hadn't really been a gift, he admitted to himself that he had stolen it. When people were sick or unconcious you always had more power over them, he knew what his father was even at that point, and he'd wanted it... thirsted for it. It had been a simple task to make his father believe he was dying, a small plague had been rife amongst his town then, he'd contracted simple flu and thought he was finished. Badier had no compunctions in taking what he believed was rightfully his. Since then he had been testing his limits, his boundaries and adapting his abilities around them. He remembered the first time he forcibly brought a guardian force across from the elemental plane the tiny, weak light elemental died shortly after but now more lived these days, not all... not by a long shot... but most. He's been a true soceresses knight for as long as Rinoa had been a soceress, but unlike her he didn't care what happened because of his powers. Power was given to be wielded, if power wasn't used it shrivelled like rotten fruit. That's what he was hoping for, that her powers were less than his, because if he could control her, he could control everything. He shook his head and sat back, monitering the situation from inside a few of his puppets heads.
He hadn't needed Rathi to tell him the situation, but he needed to know if Rathi was honest with him, he was one of five people in his army that he hadn't manipulated into being his supporters, they were his of their own free will. It was the first time he had incurred anything close to friendship in another human being, he'd always been able simulate feelings for others but he'd always stayed aloof, knowing he was better than everyone else. Except for Roo that is. He had met her for the first time when Delta brought her to become her second assistant. Her firey red hair, quick wits and honesty had instantly made him like her, not an emotion he generally felt for anyone. Over the two years they worked together they had become close, he had even thought about making her attracted to him by using spirit on the elemental plane, but he had decided that if she was worthy of him she would like him without that tweaking. That was why she was the only one he'd ordered survive.
He glanced at Selphie, he had not been able to get into her mind, nor Zell's. They were slightly protected in some way, he guessed it was being around a soceress for a long period of time. If he first turned a mind after he had known them for a year or more it was incredibly hard, people adapt to what they are surrounded by. He could have done it, could have forced his way in, but not before they knew what was happening, but by that time, they'd no longer care... But it had felt good to put his gunblade through her, a final revenge for the soceress they killed. That was worse than sacrilege.
*
Bahumut swirled around her as it had done since she'd been put to sleep. Bahumut was concerned for her, they both felt her strength ebbing away but every time that Badier healed her he slid her further back in the direction of health, it was a cumulative effect. Bahumut had took this interlude where they didn't have to worry about her body to explain to her what had been happening.
So my friends are actually coming for me?
*They are coming to do as you requested, save Trabia, but Shiva and Diablos are trying to discover what anybody can use to defeat Badier.* She sighed mentally, talking in her dreams was less colourful than excisting in the elemental plane. She was glad that her friends were coming to save Zell, she'd much rather he live than her.
So, they've given me up for dead? I can't say that I blame them... they must be hurting so bad.
*I do not believe they would just let you die, they value too much. As I do.* Selphie could feel her body smiling.
What other choice do they have? Nothing can save me.
*I said before that there might be another way.* She could feel the silence stretching out between them, a possible measure of hope that she would not let herself grasp.
What way would that be then?
*I would propose that you and I join our spirits, this means that we would become one being in your body. Baider could not control us because we would be excisting on the coporeal plane as a unit. I could also use my life force to sustain your body, something which I cannot do if I am merely junctioned, not without you summoning me, then I am as like to be forced to kill you as aid you.* The dragon spilled it out as if he could no longer hold this idea in any more. Selphie was taken aback and she asked him what it would mean. *It would mean you have a greater oppertunity to live... but if we joined our souls, then that would be it... no more of this junctioning nonsense, I would die when you did.* If she was awake she would have gasped.
But GF's live a thousand times longer than humans, I could not ask it of you.
*No, that is why I offer my life to you, you have said that you would give your life for your friends. Please allow me to do no less. If we lived through this we would be forever a unit and could join in your body on the corporeal plane or in mine on the elemental one, whenever we wished*
I don't believe that this is possible.
*It is a rare phenomenon, both parties have to consent and even then they both have to have a maximum affinity with each other as you and I do. It has been known, most joinings with humans are done by dog or wolf spirits. You would know of it as lycanthropy.*
Lycanthropy? You mean werewolves? They really do excist?
*It is rare, but they do happen, humans and wolf spirits are very close in form so the physical changes that are associated with it are easy*
So... what? I'd become a were dragon?
*No, our forms are too dissimilar, you would take on some permanant characteristics of my earthly form, they would become more pronounced if I was co-residing within you at any time. Lycanthropes become very hairy when their joined force is not with them. But they become wolves if they are.*
I never knew about this. Well live and learn huh? You are suggesting this so you can inhabit my body and put paid to Badier?
*I would not inhabit your body, our souls would conjoin, we would inhabit your body and we would... put... paid to Badier, it is a simple process to detangle souls, but we would be forever joined, reguardless of where our souls were. I would always be here for you.*
What if we had an arguement? We couldn't just make the other disappear.
*Look into my heart, if you truely love someone then any arguement can be overcome* Selphie smiled at the honest admission of love from the GF, if only men were so easy to comprehend.
I need to think about this, to see if this is the only way... and I will probably still die anyway.
*You say that as if you want to*
In a way I do, stop the pain... stop the hurt... in one fell swoop.
*Think about this little one, it is a great choice you have here. A chance of life and a chance of death. I would like to join my soul to yours... but both parties must be willing, it is not as intrusive as it sounds. We could not be controlled by the true knight as neither of us would be in his sphere of influence, the elemental plane. He is your enemy... and mine. We both have great affection for each other, it would not be a loss for me, but a gain. But the choice is yours, I only beg you to make one before the time for chosing is past.*
*
Rathi drew back his whip as Zell turned to face him, as he brought it down time seemed to slow and yet Zell could still do nothing. Pain exploded as he caught the brunt of the impact on his face. The metal spike on the end of the whip tore open his face from the corner of his eyes to his chin and blood exploded out in a stream. Zell knew he had nearly lost an eye then, this wasn't just about tormenting him for Rathi, he was going to make Zell suffer. His hand slid up to cover his cheek and it slipped on the slick blood. 'Oh this is going to be fun.' Rathi said as he drew back the chain to bring it back down on Zell's head again.
'Stop.' They all looked round and saw Roo standing there full in the light of the lampost, one figure stood by her, her face covered in shadow. Zell grinned, he had recognised the voice of who had spoken, but then so had Rathi.
'Nice for you to drop in Delta, don't take this personally, but I'm going to kill you now.' She wandered into the light and smiled at him, her dark eyes glittered like a razors edge and her long brown hair was whipped up by the wind.
'I sincerely doubt it, I don't think that the two of you could beat all three of us.' She said simply and Rathi began to laugh.
'There aren't just two of us, you really think we are that stupid.' He put his fingers in his mouth and whistled, nearly twenty SeeDs and students sprang up from around the quad in different places, Zell's heart went into his mouth.
'I marvell that you believe I am though, Rathi. You think I am as stupid to come here and not bring reinforcements?' She laughed.
'You're bluffing.'
'Oh I really am not.' She lifted her head back and shouted. 'Rise and shine everybody.' From deeper in the brush rose students, several SeeDs hammered down both flights of stairs and the door behind them burst open revealing the sixty or so SeeDs that were to be found there. Rathi's mouth opened wide and began twirling his whip, Roo nearly gave the oder to fire on him but Zell stopped her.
'No please, this could be interesting.' His grin was malicious, the blood that ran down his face gave him a sinister look. Rathi sent another slash his way but Zell managed to dodge it. 'Is that the best you can do... god I pity your students, if you are the best and brightest that they have to offer.' This time Rathi sent his whip round in a body shot, Zell didn't move, several people cried out in shock before it even connected. It never did, Zell held out his hand and grimaced when the sharp end slammed into his palm. He closed his hand around it and jerked it towards him. Rathi never figured out that no weapon is better than being brought into the reach of your opponants', namely... Zell's fists. But he refrained from using them, as Rathi stumbled towards him he ducked under his arms and then twisted round to face his back. When Rathi realised what Zell was planning to do he tried to struggle, but Zell had already reached past him and grabbed the other end of the metal whip. Rathi's throat was a main target, as the metal coil slammed into it he took in a large gulp of air. Zell pulled the chain tighter. 'You see, I've always had this problem with whips, if you can get inside their sphere of influence and don't mind a little pain, they can be nigh on useless.' The chain bit hard into Rathi's neck. 'Are you afraid yet? Becuase every single one of the group standing here before you is. You know what it is like, to be plunged into a situation beyond your control. Because believe me you can't control this group.' He lent forward and whispered in Rathi's ear. 'And you will never, never control Trabia whilst I live.' Rathi's struggle for air was a losing battle, when he finally lost conciousness Zell let him slump to the floor. He looked out the corner of his eye and a young woman stood next to him.
'Is he dead?' Jill asked in a flat monotone, Zell shrugged.
'No, just unconcious.' He looked around, Rathi's group were staring at him in wild eyed horror, a couple were looking at the resistance to their cause that they had been told would never happen. Zell counted Delta's group quickly, well over seventy, which made their combined totals around one hundred and thirty. He nodded with a grin. 'Tie up the red bands and stuff them in the pantry, tie Rathi up and bring him with us, we're going to free the other people who remained loyal to Trabia.' He bent down and removed the walkie-talkie from Rathi's belt.
'What's that?' Delta asked him.
'Rathi's sole communication with Badier.' He flicked on the switch. 'Badier, can you hear me? I sure well hope you can, because this is Zell, we're taking control of Trabia back... And I'm coming to kill you. You got that shithead?'
Author's note~ I know this is quite a short chapter, but tell me what you think anyway, cheers. Luv and hugs. M.