THE FOURTH UNIVERSE
CHAPTER 13
The flapping of mighty wings, the pounding of heavy paws, the subtle whistling of turbulence-inducing acrobatics mixed with the telltale echoes of taut strings.
"Yes! YES!!!" a jubilant Zell shouted as he watched the six figures descend from the resplendent beam of yellow light emanating from the heavens. "Come to papa, babies!!!"
Their unexpected arrival made for a truly awe-inspiring sight. Multiple snarling reverberations of primordial fury spewed out from the three gaping jaws of the Guardian Force Cerberus, as he led his equally vengeful peers - Siren, Carbuncle, Diablos, Cactuar, and the small but menacing Tonberry - in reassuming physical forms.
Vesta, confident as ever, simply flashed an evil grin while glaring at the resurrected Guardian Forces.
"Can't you all recognize when you're already conquered? Will you still persist in your stubborn and futile desires to thwart me?" the evil destroyer exclaimed. "No matter. I have achieved my goal. And whether you live or not does not concern me anymore. Let the devouring forces of the Fourth Universe render your powers useless."
The swirling vortex, as if responding to the ancient villain's calling, spun even faster to hasten the influx of anti-matter energy. Dark light consequently radiated from the maelstrom and started to spread outward in a widening circle, as warriors and Guardians alike were forced to step back to avoid its consuming field. Until finally, the heroes found themselves pinned between the shadowy brilliance and the hard walls of the ancient chamber.
"Dammit! It's getting closer!" Zell anxiously blurted out while turning to their squad leader. "Squall, can't we do something about this?"
Squall didn't answer. Unsure of what to do, the SeeD commander attempted to cast an Ultima spell on Vesta who was standing in the middle of the maelstrom. The familiar white orb appeared, but the powers that were supposed to fuel it sputtered in the midst of the anti-matter energy's canceling effect.
"No..." Quistis muttered with defeat.
All seemed lost. Struggling frantically against utter despair, the SeeDs called upon their original Guardian Forces to junction back, hoping that their additional abilities will prove sufficient in empowering them to reverse the odds. The magic forces they unleashed were staggering, and under normal circumstances would be enough to decimate the very planet they dwell on. However, the reversing effect of anti-matter rendered their desperate maneuvers all for naught. After a flurry of devastating albeit futile spell castings, the warriors decided to cease their useless actions, as they gave in to a bitter acceptance that nothing they can do will prevent the impending carnage.
Or so it seemed. Ignoring the biting pain of his injuries, Squall slowly picked himself up and walked toward the unsuspecting Odin. Keeping himself unnoticed, the SeeD commander swung the Lionheart hard, striking the magnificent Zantetsuken blade with enough force to knock it off the Guardian's grip. He then hurriedly took hold of its brazen handles, and was consequently enveloped with searing pain as the Zantetsuken's energies which were not meant to be possessed by human hands started to suck the life out of the SeeD commander.
"What do you think are you doing, boy?" Odin's thunderous voice echoed. "That blade doesn't need to slice you to kill you."
"Squall!!!" Rinoa tried to run to her lover's aid. But the fiery Zell quickly prevented her from doing so.
"No, Rinoa. Leave him alone. It's a gamble. I think I know what he's trying to pull."
Squall's vision began to grow blurry, indicating signs of death fast approaching. But the throes that threatened to snuff his life out only served to drive him more, with a renewed sense of hope stemming from the apparent corroboration of his theory. Ignoring the imminent threat to his life, he continued crawling towards the dark beam, with Odin's sword held tight in his hands. The others held their breaths as they watched the courageous SeeD slowly being engulfed by anti-matter, until all they could see was a hazy figure of their seemingly suicidal colleague.
To their immense surprise, Squall started to lift himself up from the ground after entering the anti-matter field. Zell balled his fists and flailed them in the air. "Friggin' awesome! It's working!"
Squall caught a blurred glance of his brash teammate cheering furiously, but the effects of the anti-matter muffled whatever sound that was echoing from him. Nevertheless, he allowed himself a slight smile for having confirmed his suspicion. He had always wondered about Odin's true prowess, especially after one curious moment in the past when he tried to cast a Life spell on a Mesmerize beast that the legendary GF killed with his lethal blade. He wondered then why he can't resurrect the Unicorn-like creature.
And now, he knows why. With the knowledge imparted to him by the Thunder Guardian and Doctor Odine, Squall was able to correctly surmise among other things, the true nature of Odin's evolution, and the reason why he is the most feared among all Guardian Forces. For all intents and purposes, Odin is the living manifestation of the one force in this universe that can counteract the energies of the Fourth Universe.
Anti-life magic.
However, the resolute warrior still needed to be aware of the odds stacked against him. Wielding the Zantetsuken would ensure that his powers will be functional under the debilitating energies of anti-matter. However, his might still can't begin to compare to Vesta's. So what now? Fight her head-on? Die trying? Is this stunt he's trying to pull incredibly brave or enormously stupid?
"Dumb, arrogant fool!" Bluish-white angst suddenly sprang forth from Vesta's hands, blasting out of it with a loud hiss to make its twisting path toward the young warrior. Squall closed his eyes as he crossed the Lionheart and Zantetsuken in front of him to shield himself from the Energy Bomber assault. He recoiled from the attack, his left foot scraping hard against the rocky floor. The flash subsequently cleared to reveal the stalwart SeeD, unharmed and mightily standing his ground.
His lips took the shape of a disdainful smile.
"I kinda like the odds a lot better now, Vesta..." He spoke out defiantly before unleashing an attack of his own. "FLARE!!!"
The ghostly figure of a growling, three-headed beast momentarily sprang up from the SeeD's head before a troika of stabbing solar explosions struck the vile witch and pushed her two steps backward. And before she could regain her composure, Vesta was bombarded by a wild flurry of triple Ultimas and Meteors as Squall took advantage of the multiple infusions of mystical quickness granted to him by the combined speed-empowering prowess of Cerberus and Lockheed.
The loud reverberations of Squall's crazed battle cry resonated throughout the chamber, coupled with the ceaseless onslaught of magical attacks that unrelentingly pummeled the death-bringer. And after what seemed like forever, faint thuds were heard when the exhausted SeeD commander gave in to fatigue and collapsed on his knees. Squall allowed a few seconds to catch his breath before lifting his head up with the hope of fixing his gaze on a defeated and lifeless enemy. But the sight of a lofty and wickedly grinning Vesta only introduced the warrior to new heights of sheer despair and frustration.
"Nice try, oaf." The evil witch echoed, after which she unleashed another Energy Bomber that connected solidly on the hapless Squall.
Unable to bear the horrible sight of her beau's agony, Rinoa frantically squirmed out of Zell's hold and quickly dashed inside the anti-matter field. She nearly tripped on her own feet when the weakening effect of the otherdimensional energy suddenly disoriented her. But the former Timber revolutionist persevered, swinging her arms with all her strength to hurl the spinning, deadly blades of the Shooting Star at Vesta. To her horror, the deadly pinwheel gradually slowed to a halt as it approached the spiteful demigoddess. Vesta was just about to send the weapon on a deathly path back to its owner when she suddenly winced in mind-numbing pain.
"AARRGGHHH!!!" the startled witch hollered. "WHO DARES?!?"
She was again struck by the mysterious attack that sent her reeling back in utter surprise. Equally dumbfounded, Squall nevertheless lifted his head to the sight of a dwarfish figure slowly marching into the anti-matter field. Despite his unassuming form, he was again able to land a debilitating blow on the pain-stricken Vesta with a simple wave of his luminescent lantern.
"Your infernal scheme shall not deter the twenty-fold millions of the grudging victims who cry out for your blood." A hollow voice resonated from the diminutive Tonberry, waving his caliginous lantern once more to deliver another painful blow against the villainess.
Everyone's Grudge. An element of the human emotion that calls for retribution. The spirit of man's vindictiveness that does not depend on the natural forces of the world and, therefore, is immune to the effects of anti-matter. She tried not to show it, but Vesta was admittedly taken by fear with Tonberry's attacks. She never expected Hyne's spirit to take a living form symbolic of the human predilection for vengeance.
"You... actually managed to hurt me..." the vengeful destroyer blurted. "You shall die for this!"
Ignoring her threatening rejoinder, Tonberry pressed on with his assault by unleashing his mystical blade toward Vesta. The embattled enemy quickly cast a discorporating spell on herself to allow the Chef's Knife to harmlessly pass through her. Under the reverse effect of the anti-matter, the blade picked up momentum instead of losing it, and darted right through a decaying stone wall.
"You impudent worm!" Vesta grinned, feigning an appearance of fortitude. "How can you expect to win when you can't even touch me with your pathetic weapon?"
Unfazed, the midget GF nonchalantly produced another knife from his sackcloth. "That was never meant for you, gullible cretin."
"My goodness!!!" Quistis exclaimed after being startled by a blood-curdling howl that penetrated the ancient embankment. Dust and minute debris started falling from the crumbling structures to herald a tremendous explosion that destroyed the chamber's west wall.
Amidst the smoking ruins, Bahamut hovered majestically.
"I owe you one, diminutive ally." The Guardian sovereign quipped at Tonberry before turning his smoldering eyes toward Vesta. "I promised you a world of torment, doomed pretender. Let my burning wrath expunge your evil."
Without warning, the great Bahamut fired successive energy globules from his jaws that struck Vesta with impunity. The catastrophic onslaught was exclamated by a searing bolt that released multi-megaton levels of destructive power on the vile witch. Severely weakened by Tonberry's attack, Vesta's defenses were unable to fully resist the dragon lord's anger.
However, the otherwise incapacitating blow only served to intensify her rage. Crazed beyond comprehension, the ancient would-be conqueror detonated sizzling purple beams from her eyes that brought Bahamut to wince in tremendous agony and smashed him against an adjacent wall. Vesta sustained her attack with murderous intent, her punishing glare relentlessly tormenting the screaming GF.
"Dammit! We gotta save Bahamut!" Irvine frenziedly shouted while repeatedly pulling on the trigger of the Exeter, as Rinoa and Fujin complemented him by simultaneously unleashing their spinning pinwheel blades. However, their efforts netted nothing amidst the incalculable hatred of the destroyer, her fiery form combining with the Fourth Universe's disabling power to effortlessly repulse their congregated attacks. Multiple reverberations rang out when Seifer, Zell, Raijin, Marcus, Siegfried and Quistis were thrown against the decrepit ceiling when they tried to attack Vesta directly. Ultimately, all of them could do nothing but to watch in desperation while Bahamut's writhing started to slow down.
"All hope is lost." The observing Gilgamesh murmured.
"All but one." Odin shot back. "With their salvation comes the hope that he has finally seen the light."
"He." The eight-armed Guardian concurred. "Yes... he."
"I am merciful, wretched flare beast!" Vesta resonated while further torturing Bahamut with her hellish glare. "Submit to me now and I will spare your life! Surrender to the ultimate insult against my sworn enemy by making his firstborn into a willing slave of the one who opposed him!"
"NEVER!" the dragon lord defiantly cried out while convulsing in unbelievable torment. "It... will be a cold day in hell... before I surrender myself to you..!!!"
"Then hell had just frozen overrrRRAAARRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Everyone's jaws dropped in pure disbelief. Not so much due to the soul-wrenching cries of the suddenly pain-gripped demigoddess... but rather to the awe-striking, steel-muscled figure that owned the powerful jaws currently clamped down tight along the width of the devilish Vesta's flame-engulfed body. Squall suddenly forgot about his ache-ridden ordeal when his unbelieving eyes beheld the proud and mighty creature standing right in front of him.
"AAYYYEEEEEEIIIIIIIIII" Hellish screams mixed with the resonance of shattering bones as the steeled jaws mercilessly closed into the baneful death-bringer. The charcoal-hued beast flexed his magnificent form after which he bellowed an all-consuming roar while hurling Vesta's body against the elevated platform. Pitch-black, viscous fluid slowly dripped from his sharp fangs as he hovered over the enemy.
"I've seen enough of the likes of you, repulsive warmonger, to last me an eternal lifetime."
"You..." Vesta retorted menacingly. "You whose infamy for corruption shall be known throughout the ages. Young boys and girls will spit on the ground at the very mention of your disgusting name."
"Yes... you are correct. But still... your demise will be my ultimate redemption."
Long, sharp claws reached out to where the bleeding witch lay, and folded its cutting edges around her battered anatomy. Though visibly overwhelmed by pain, Vesta remained silent, glaring with demonic eyes toward the lion-Guardian, Griever, as his grip started to tighten. The warriors held their breaths while witnessing black blood oozing from the demigod's swelling eyes.
Another explosion rocked the chamber, after which a long, pitiful wail bellowed from Griever's gaping jaws after his left arm was brutally severed from his shoulders. His agony was unbelievable, utterly indescribable, bringing him to reel back away from his tormentor who nonchalantly extricated herself from the lifeless claws.
"Pathetic posturing. You are so undone, Griever."
He kneeled, appearing to give tribute to the wicked force that had just rendered him one arm short. Griever lifted his head at the sight of Vesta's spiteful smirk, then lowered it again. His remaining arm then extended down to pull the shimmering Zantetsuken from the dumbfounded Squall's grip.
"I am... elated." The lion beast whispered to the SeeD. "Always... always treasure that relic around your finger."
"What? What do you..." Squall groped in confusion. However, small beads of clear fluid welled from his eyes when he discerned the message of the Guardian Force who was his role model from his early years. He became at a loss for words, unable to say or do anything as the wobbling Griever turned his gaze towards the equally weak Bahamut.
The two greatest of the great Guardians bore into each other with burning eyes. When last they faced, enmity was the order of the day on account of the opposing forces they found themselves committed to. But this time, it is evident that enmity has ceased its spiteful grip. Griever uttered curt words to which Bahamut gently concurred with a humble bow.
"My... atonement..."
"I understand..."
It was a moment that will forever be etched in the minds of these battle-weary gladiators. In one swift move, Griever raised the Zantetsuken above his head, then snapped with a sudden surge of strength to plunge its sharp blades deep inside his bleeding form, penetrating all the way to his back. Tortured groans emanated from the Guardian Force, wails of pain that gradually shifted to spiteful laughter.
"Harrr... come stop me if you can... Vesta!" He hollered as he lifted up towards the swirling vortex. Then, much to her horror, the erstwhile smug Vesta became aware of the dying GF's intent.
"No NO!!!"
But she was rendered temporarily immobile when Griever hurled a Shockwave Pulsar spell on her just before reaching his objective. The deathly maelstrom was too much for the mighty lion-beast to endure, as he fought with all his might to resist the opposing forces tearing the very fiber of his being apart. Reaping benefit from the energies of the lethal blade impaling him, Griever poured all his strength in emitting thin, solid threads of cosmic power from his remaining appendages. He let out a magnificent roar, his whole being focused on the single Great Attractor effort that slowly but surely tugged on the outbound of the vortex to bring them closer together.
As if trying to resist, the incredible energies of the Fourth Universe fought back to keep the struggling Guardian from closing its malicious rift. Indeed, as mighty as he was renowned to be, Griever's strength still cannot begin to compare against that of a whole universe's raw power. He groaned unabashedly in sheer pain and frustration while feeling the forces rapidly slipping out of his grip. He hollered in despair as the malevolent aggression of the negative maw asserted its superiority, widening its hungry jaw and threatening to tear his remaining limbs away.
And as though feeling the Guardian's ordeal, Squall's eyes, already strained from staring at the bring darkness, felt even more tormented with the tears that began to soak them. He groped and looked around, as if trying to find someone or something that can offer aid to his role model that was now fighting alongside him. He was so close to capitulating to despair when a hollow voice from recent memories came back to admonish him.
"Griever is... was the greatest of our kind. A being spawned not by the natural forces ruling this universe, but rather by the innate greatness of man's courage and inner strength."
He didn't exactly understand Quezacotl's remark back then. But now, perhaps born of a world's desperate plea to survive, the flood of understanding came roaring into his mind like a raging river. Griever, the living epitome of man's inner strength, courage and pride. The mightiest Guardian who ever walked the hallowed halls of the dimensional interval and the same one who went against this same strength of the human resolve when he fought against them under Ultimecia's command.
No wonder they were able to defeat him. For in truth, Griever fought a lost battle against the forces that first birthed him. He never had a chance.
But that's by no means the case today. With the understanding of the Guardian's roots came the knowledge of his eventual triumph over this apparently unbeatable adversary. Squall then turned to his comrades, who by then no longer needed his admonition. For some inner voice had seemingly whispered to them the very key to their victory.
As if on cue, the crew of eleven poured all their might in offering that one thing which seemed lost in the face of this bleak circumstance: hope. All the love, optimism, and faith they ever had to anything or anyone in their varied lives, they all channeled into the one single conviction that would eventually force the hands of fate and twist in to their bidding. Ignoring the prospect of defeat, they focused all their inner strength in believing and bolstering the power of the human spirit and man's indomitable pride in himself.
The great strength and pride of the human heart then welled out to the one it gave birth to with the aid of Hyne's spirit. And with every push they made to fuel the will to survive and the resolve that they will not be conquered, a new surge of fresh power became infused in Griever's faltering spirit.
"Come on, Griever. Close that thing! You can do it!" Squall muttered under his breath.
"Ghh Where is this power coming from?" The most powerful GF echoed as he felt the infusion of fresh energies. But he really didn't need to know, he subsequently told himself. All Griever knew is the second chance being given him to atone for his sin.
"NO! YOU SHALL NOT THWART ME, GRIEVER!!!" Vesta screamed as she glared in indescribable frustration and disbelief at the vortex that was beginning to shrink and close. The same sizzling purple bolts fired out from her eyes, and connected with impunity at Griever's quivering form.
But the lion-Guardian was not to be denied, and didn't even seem to notice the burning death-beam slowly eating away through his body. Billions of moments from an uncertain point in time, he foolishly allowed himself to be seduced by the outwardly sparkling albeit innately empty appeal of absolute power. He was thwarted, defeated by six resolute youngsters whose feeble powers were nevertheless augmented by the mighty forces that were supposed to be his very essence: their courageous hearts and indefatigable feelings for each other and for everything they held dear. They had a purpose in life. He had nothing but a hollow void.
Defeat was bitter, painful, and excruciatingly humiliating. Timeless streams passed over his ethereal form to give him an enlightening cognizance of why his fellow Guardians do what they do. The legendary Odin offered him his final hope.
"Have purpose."
And now, with the energies surging through his very being and the belief that he has finally discovered his purpose, the mighty Griever grew even mightier with the very conviction that immersed him into a well of meaning. He had no idea how powerful the concept of 'purpose' and 'meaning' turned out to be, and marveled at its sheer might as it helped him overcome the tremendous odds besetting him. Grunting in utter defiance, he followed the powerful tug he made with a bellowing laughter that drowned the shrill cries of a Fourth Universe that about to be denied its conquest. The hungry maw wailed and shrieked, its inanimate essence seemingly aware of the futility of its cause.
Griever echoed a final pronouncement just as the anti-matter vortex collapsed on itself.
"I have purpose."
The dark light disappeared. A metallic wail echoed when the Zantetsuken wedged itself in the concrete floor. Black-gloved hands slapped a tight grip around its brazen handles.
"I swear... by this sword, Griever's sacrifice shall not be in vain."
No longer in need of its mysterious power, Squall promptly tossed the Zantetsuken back to Odin. He then turned his burning glare toward the astounded Vesta. "Your threat ends here."
"I still have the power. I still have the deathly might of Quadrum Aura crackling through my being! You fools can never hope to defeat me!"
"Say what you want, bitch." Seifer shot out. "As far as I'm concerned, you're already dead! RUSH HER!"
Quistis took the initiative and cracked her whip hard, a sound barrier-shattering maneuver that violently coiled the golden weapon around Vesta's neck. As she tugged hard to restrain the demigod, Zell, Raijin and Siegfried collaborated to pummel Vesta with lightning quick blows on her head and body.
"Graahhhh!!! Release me!!!" Vesta screamed just as Zell's fists landed a flurry of Punch Rushes on her abdomen.
"Like we're really goin' to!" Raijin shot back. "We're gonna make ya croak bad, ya know!" Another staggering blow to the head with the edge of his battle rod sent blood flying off the witch's fractured skull.
But then, Vesta's battered form unexpectedly emitted powerful magnetic pulses to throw off her tormentors. Quickly following up, the mighty destroyer unleashed multiple Tornado and Quake attacks that threw Rinoa, Irvine and Fujin off their feet.
"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH" the beleaguered foe suddenly screamed with infernal fury, unleashing massive energy bolts that bombarded the throng of warriors surrounding her. Marcus decisively released quick, multiple Curaga spells to recover his comrades' strengths, but his efforts were not nearly enough to sufficiently repel the onslaught.
"Damn! She's still too strong" Squall frustratedly hollered.
"Well, as I always say: when worse comes to worst..." Seifer retorted while eyeing his childhood rival, who acknowledged him with a crazed grin.
"We start playing dirty! Let's do it, Seifer!"
"After you, Squall!"
The duo simultaneously tossed Aura stones in the air, which infused them with golden-yellow rage. And before Vesta could even blink, a violently brutal tornado of whirling blade carried her aloft while inflicting debilitating Demon Slices in the process. Not nearly satisfied with his move, Seifer quickly followed up with a powerful leap and a crossing gesture with the Hyperion, drawing a fiery cross on the ground which erupted with explosive incendiary wrath that hurled the helpless witch into the air.
She was yet to touch the rocky floor when Squall quickly came up with an upward stab of the Lionheart to send her back aloft. Leaping mightily after the airborne foe, the SeeD commander unleashed the Lion Heart, consequently introducing Vesta to new concepts in pain and suffering.
A final blow shattered a brittle matter inside Vesta's chest, which brought arcane energies escaping from her eyes, nose, mouth and ears to deliver the foe unheard of torments. All of them watched in awe as Vesta began to boil while the steadily flowing streams of energy continued to seep out of her body in the form of luminescent smoke.
Gradually, the vapors separated into hues of bright yellow, red-orange, moss-green, bluish-white, sky-blue, aquamarine, metallic gray, earth-brown, and three distinct lines of pure white. Vibrantly distinct shades which then disappeared into nothingness. However, their effects are far from being unfelt. Rinoa flashed a warm smile and held herself with her arms after she felt a familiar, empowering sensation when the brown smoke dissipated above her.
"Welcome back, you two."
All of the sudden, the party was jostled by a powerful shockwave. Behind them, Vesta's decaying body began to rise anew.
"I... will not ... DIE... UNTIL YOU ALL DIE WITH ME!!!"
"Damn! Don't you ever give up?" Squall blurted out.
But before his Lionheart can land the deathblow on Vesta, another blade beat his to the draw as Odin lunged on the dying witch, his merciless Zantetsuken brutally slicing through her hideous body and completely cutting it in half. The party watched in horror as the dilapidated body of the evil witch squirmed, as if struggling to keep itself from succumbing to true death. Another bolt of destructive energy from the flare dragon completely and finally decided the outcome of the incredible battle by consuming Vesta's remains with its mighty non-elemental fire. Bahamut slowly descended to perch right on top of the smoldering carcass.
"As I promised. I will savor the aroma of your burning flesh."
The din quieted down abruptly, as humans and Guardians alike present in the ancient anteroom slowly gathered around the blackened matter that used to be a vile demigoddess bent on conquest. With Vesta's deserved death and the vanquishing of the threat she posed, they finally managed to sigh in ultimate relief. Squall pushed his gunblade back in its sheath before facing Odin. The two just stared at each other briefly before the legendary Guardian turned his attention to Seifer.
Bracing himself, Seifer took hold of the Hyperion anew, fearful of a potentially dreadful battle he may have to wage against a Guardian Force who once met humiliation against him. Though his was the initial victory, Seifer wasn't inclined to underestimate a GF bent on revenge. He knows that a war-hardened spirit like Odin isn't inclined to forget the lesson of a past mistake.
But to the errant student's surprise, Odin merely grinned.
"Be grateful, that we now fight on the same side."
He then disappeared into thin air, followed by the murmuring Gilgamesh. "Damn... back to square one."
It's over. They have won. It would have been a joyous moment had they not been reminded of the grim tidings. His shoulders dropped in defeat, Irvine slowly walked alongside the unmoving form of Selphie. He cradled her head on his lap, sorrowful sobs echoing silently as gunslinger pulled his hat just above his face to hide his tears. His eyes reddening, Zell likewise knelt beside his unmoving comrade.
"We'll miss you, Selphie."
The martial artist then lifted his face up when warm hands rested on his shoulder.
"She just needs a special touch."
Irvine and Zell trained their sullen faces to the awe-inspiring sight of the Guardian Force known as Siren, who was smiling warmly on the grieving pair. Her soothing aura penetrated deeply into everyone's souls. And amidst the disheartening moment of apparent loss, the warriors were nevertheless cloaked with a reassuring feeling that seems to say that everything will be just fine. Siren signaled forth, after which Carbuncle disjunctioned himself from Quistis to join his Guardian peer. The two GFs made a series of incomprehensible gestures, emitting arcane forces that coupled with the mysterious energy brilliantly shining forth from the metallic form of Alexander perched just behind the pair. After the ritual, the three Guardian Forces then disappeared and ultimately junctioned themselves to the unconscious SeeD.
"Unnnhhh...." Selphie began to stir. Irvine smiled, and wiped the tears from his eyes when she finally opened hers. "Is... is it over?"
"Yeah." He softly replied, touching her tender lips with his fingers. "Let's go back to our time."