Chapter 3
Kuja moved like a shadow through Alexandria. Vatica knew that Zidane, Eiko, Steiner, and Garnet were in the castle. She knew that once they were taken care of Vivi, Freya, and Amarant would fall more easily. The castle was heavily guarded with watchmen at every window and doorway. Kuja slipped around a building and into a grate in the street. He dropped down into the catacomb-like sewers of the city. Water came up to his knees and rats watched from the cracks in the water-swelled walls. He moved in the direction of the castle, a snake ready to strike. (Actually I like snakes...wait, pay no attention to me, back to the story!)
Garnet pulled her covers up around her head. Hilda and Eiko were in the guestroom down the hall. Steiner, his Knights of Pluto, and Beatrix were patrolling the hall nonstop. She could hear the clank of Steiner's armor and the click of Beatrix's boots as they walked by. Yet, there was still a feeling of insecurity.
'Why Zidane...? Why? Even in death I am not free...Even when I am dead, I cannot know peace...I could not save myself, even by helping you escape your own death. Is it my destiny then, to spend eternity wandering the world, being surrounded by people who cannot see nor hear me...people whom I will never be able to touch or be close to? Why...?" In a back ally of Alexandria, a lost soul, weak with pain of the heart, sat crumpled in a heap far from the open streets. 'Life is so cruel...but death without the promise of rest is even crueler.' Kuja rose from his position, and looked at the castle, where he knew Zidane was residing. He still held a certain amount of contempt for his brother, but Zidane was not his enemy anymore. Hate was partially responsible for his death. "Why Alexander!?" Kuja shouted angrily at the sky, "haven't I learned my lesson yet? Haven't I suffered enough?" He knew that the words of a lost soul could only be heard by someone who wants to hear, and likewise, can only be seen by someone who wants to see them. Kuja was sure that no one in heaven or on earth wanted to hear from him again. He ran his fingers through his long silver hair, "so then, this is my fate." He laughed to himself, "...ah yes, heaven can be cruel...yet we all desire it...could that fit the definition of irony?" His expression reverted back to sadness, "...then since I have no chance at heaven, I should leave this city and move on...perhaps to a smaller town, where my memories will not haunt me so...but one last hurrah: I cannot hope to be granted Alexander's forgiveness, there is only one whose forgiveness I must have before I depart..."
We live in hope of greater things
But tomorrow usually sorrow brings
Still we move on because we believe
That a reward for our pains we will receive
Some get what they desired
Most will never reach the fire
We greet new hopes with each sunrise
But everyday ends and sunlight dies
Deep in the under city, Kuja's body waded towards the castle storm drain. He could get in through the basement level. There was rusty iron grate across the drain. Kuja broke it with one strong kick to the foundation. He ducked inside and calmly climbed up out of a manhole in the castle basement. There were guards on duty at the staircase to upper levels. "No bother," Vatica smirked. She had Kuja simply fly straight upwards, keeping out of the torchlight. "This time when Alexandria falls, it won't get back up."
The lost soul slowly made his way to Alexandria Castle. Before he moved on, he had to have the satisfaction that his past actions were forgiven. He calmly walked right through the castle wall. This was one ability that made being dead not so bad. The halls were well lit; the guards didn't want an intruder to have any chance of hiding.
The castle was mostly completely restored. The floors were shined and the gold and silver polished. 'Well done Queen Garnet..." Kuja thought. He found the main foyer and the staircase to the upper floors. Two men were on duty at the foot of the stairs. Kuja went right past them.
"Hey, you feel that?" One guard shivered.
"Yeah, kinda chilly all the sudden." His companion agreed.
Kuja smiled to himself; 'if only I were alive I'd give them something to shiver about.'
Meanwhile, Vatica had found Garnet's bedchamber. Steiner and Beatrix were patrolling the hall, if she made her move they would catch her. She waited, hoping that there would be a moment when both of them had their backs turned.
Beatrix stopped walking, she turned to Steiner, "do you smell that?"
Steiner sniffed the air, "now that you mention it, yes...it reeks of rotting flesh in here, like a dead rat."
Vatica fumed, "how dare they compare my Kuja to a rat!" She directed his body out from hiding. "They will pay!"
"Who goes there?" Steiner drew his sword upon seeing Kuja standing down the hall. Beatrix stepped up beside him, weapon also drawn.
"Oh such valiant knights..." Kuja taunted, "you rise so quickly to meet your deaths."
"It is the villain Kuja!" Steiner exclaimed, "you will taste the wrath of my blade before this night is through!"
"Should I be afraid?" Kuja asked.
"Beatrix, stay here, guard the Queen!" Steiner said tersely.
Beatrix nodded and backed away to Garnet's door.
"This really is flattering," Kuja smiled, "I am now to face not only the Captain of the Knights of Pluto, but the General of Alexandria as well!" Malice was enjoying herself. She laughed at the two of them.
"Enough of your chattering. Face me!" Steiner growled. He charged at Kuja and was about to strike when suddenly he reeled backwards, covering his nose and mouth, "that hideous stench is you?! By Gaia...Beatrix, beware! He is of the undead!"
Garnet sat up fearfully; she could hear Steiner yelling outside her room. She grabbed one of her magical rods from beside her bed; she crept to the door and pressed her ear against it.
Steiner held his sword in front of him. He gripped the hilt with both hands, eyes narrowed dangerously.
"What are you waiting for?" Kuja asked.
Steiner ran forward; "die villain!"
Kuja stood looking very unimpressed. He held a hand out and with one flick of his wrist, cast a break spell on the charging knight. Steiner watched in horror, as his feet turned to stone. He used his legs to get in a few extra steps before trying to bring his sword down on Kuja's head. The spell worked its way up his body, he continued his downward swing, but soon he was completely turned to stone, his sword stopped only inches above Kuja's head. Kuja smirked at the petrified knight, whose face was frozen in an expression of rage.
Beatrix held her own weapon out, blocking Garnet's door. She held her ground but she knew that she could not win alone. She called to Garnet, "Your Majesty! Kuja has entered the palace; I will try to hold him off! I swear by Alexander that I will not let any harm come to you!"
"Beatrix, let me out! I can help you!" Garnet answered through the door.
"I am very sorry Your Majesty, but I cannot do anything that may put you in danger!" The General responded stiffly.
Garnet thought quickly, she knew that Beatrix would be killed if she tried to fight alone. Garnet considered her options; she could call for help, or try to do something. Calling for help might take too long, and put other lives in danger. So she held her rod and concentrated, 'oh Mighty Lord of Dragons, hear me! Help me in my time of need!'
The air grew very still. Kuja stopped in his tracks. A sound like a falling bomb came from above. There was a horrendous crash as Bahamut the Dragon God blazed through the castle wall. He flared his gigantic wings and came to halt in front of Kuja. The eidolon opened his jaws and shot a devastating Mega Flare in Kuja's direction.
"NO!" Rage screamed.
Malice took over and jumped up from her seat, "no! Not this night Bahamut!" She used Kuja to cast an Ultima on Bahamut. The powerful spell hit the dragon squarely in the face. Bahamut's head snapped to one side, the Mega Flare was misdirected and hit Kuja only a glancing blow. He was thrown back several feet. Roaring in fury, Bahamut blasted Kuja again, this time only a scorch mark remained where the undead warrior had stood. With that, the Dragon Lord departed.
The hallway of the castle was totaled. Dr. Tot, Hilda and Eiko came out and many of the Knights of Pluto arrived from different locations of the castle. Beatrix sighed in relief, but was very annoyed.
"Why is it that the cavalry always comes too late?" She asked.
"Many apologies ma'am!" A knight said, "is Her Majesty safe?"
At that moment Garnet burst from her chamber. She looked at everyone, "where is he?"
"I believe that Bahamut saw to it that Kuja was taken care of." Beatrix responded.
"You mean I missed the fight?" Eiko asked. "Mother, you should have let me go out to help!"
Garnet walked down the hall, or what was left of it. When she got to Steiner she cast Stona on him. Steiner came back to life swinging his sword wildly. "Take that you miserable coward!" He yelled. His sword cut only air, "where did that fiend get off to?" He demanded, then he saw Garnet, "Your Majesty, please stay away, it is too dangerous here!"
"Calm down." Garnet said, "Kuja is gone."
"What? Where did he go? I shall-
"I think he's dead." Garnet said.
"Well you're right about one thing..." a disembodied voice said smugly. From a hole in the ceiling, Kuja dropped out. He was even more battered and scorched than before, he held his shoulder where his arm was torn off. "Kuja is dead...but he certainly isn't gone."
From below, the lost soul had heard the commotion from the battle upstairs. He flew up to where the fight had taken place. There wasn't very much left of that section of the castle. "Now what happened here?" Kuja asked rhetorically. There was the Queen, her General, the captain of Alexandria's elite knights, the Regent's wife and adopted daughter...but one person was conspicuously absent. "Where is Zidane?" Kuja was about to go and try to make himself known, when he stopped cold. "It can't be..."
"Don't look so surprised everyone," Vatica sneered through Kuja's mouth, "you didn't really think a little fireworks from and eidolon would stop me did you?"
"Kuja, what are you doing here?" Garnet asked fearfully.
Vatica laughed, they hadn't caught on yet. "I brought him here."
"Brought who?"
"Kuja of course you nitwit!" Vatica snapped.
"Why is he talking in third person?" Eiko raised an eyebrow.
Dr. Tot's eyes widened, "wait, what did you say the angel's name was from your dream? It was Vatica wasn't it? Yes, then what I had assumed was correct. The fallen angel Vatica has assumed the body of Kuja."
"Well, at least I know there's someone with half of a brain in here..." Vatica sighed. "Yes, I took what I deserved! What I wanted...and none of you can take him from me!" Rage took over, "NONE OF YOU!!! HEAVEN IS MINE!" She hurled a flare spell at them. Everyone managed to jump out of the way, but Rage was out of control, "NEVER! I WILL NEVER LET YOU WIN!" Using Kuja's remaining arm, she began to cast an Ultima, but Innocence stopped her, "Stop this! Why must you go on destroying like this? Not even Heaven is worth all of this! Look at all that you have done. Why must so many be hurt for this dream?" She turned Kuja's eyes away.
"What's wrong with him...er...her?" Steiner asked, "is this some sort of trick?"
"She's a schizophrenic," Dr. Tot explained, "her record was in one of the books I was studying. She was cast out of Heaven centuries ago. The shock of it split her mind into three personalities, Malice, Innocence, and Rage, and her mental complex is that she deserves everything she wants. She has been vengeful towards Alexander ever since then. She is the only recorded angel in history to have fallen so far out of grace with the Holy Eidolon."
"You think you know me?" Vatica asked once she had control of herself again, "you can never understand. Heaven is rightfully mine! I should be the one to govern the ways of the souls of Gaia, and I shall do it with my beloved Kuja beside me!"
Kuja felt very weak. He could see and hear everything that was said and done. There, at the end of the hall, was what remained of his physical body, seemingly possessed by an insane angel. The angel Vatica, he knew her, he had heard of her. She had failed to obey the wishes of Alexander and had been sent to Gaia for a while, but she had gone mad and was banished forever. Garland had briefly considered using her as a weapon against Gaia, but had concluded that she was too mad to be of any use. Kuja knew she wanted to conquer Heaven, he also knew such an ambition was ludicrous. One angel could not so much as annoy Alexander, perhaps that's why she had stolen his body. It still contained its powers; it could use the black magic she could not.
"I don't understand this," Garnet said desperately, "why are you here?"
"Because it is you fault he is dead," Vatica snarled, "you and your underlings murdered Kuja! You took him from me! It is because of you that he lost his soul and must wander alone!" She clenched her fist and shook it at them, "soon I will reunite his soul with his body, and then my dream of vengeance will be fulfilled!" She prepared to finish them; "unfortunately none of you will be around when my dream is realized..."
"I don't think so!"
Everyone turned quickly, a dark figure was standing in the shadows. Garnet called to him, "Zidane!"
"So now you make yourself known..." Vatica glared at him, "perhaps I should kill you first, as you were the one who left my Kuja to die in the Iifa Tree."
Zidane unsheathed one of his daggers. He held it by the blade and flung it at Kuja's body. The dagger struck him in the chest. Vatica screamed, Rage overwhelmed her and she lost contact with him. Kuja's body slumped onto the floor. An uneasy silence hung in the air.
"...It seems that Vatica has left him..." Tot observed.
"Well now what do we do?" Garnet asked.
Zidane stepped up and faced everyone, "like you even need to ask," he said, "we're going after her. Who knows how long she's been at this, but I say it ends now!"
Kuja moved like a shadow through Alexandria. Vatica knew that Zidane, Eiko, Steiner, and Garnet were in the castle. She knew that once they were taken care of Vivi, Freya, and Amarant would fall more easily. The castle was heavily guarded with watchmen at every window and doorway. Kuja slipped around a building and into a grate in the street. He dropped down into the catacomb-like sewers of the city. Water came up to his knees and rats watched from the cracks in the water-swelled walls. He moved in the direction of the castle, a snake ready to strike. (Actually I like snakes...wait, pay no attention to me, back to the story!)
Garnet pulled her covers up around her head. Hilda and Eiko were in the guestroom down the hall. Steiner, his Knights of Pluto, and Beatrix were patrolling the hall nonstop. She could hear the clank of Steiner's armor and the click of Beatrix's boots as they walked by. Yet, there was still a feeling of insecurity.
'Why Zidane...? Why? Even in death I am not free...Even when I am dead, I cannot know peace...I could not save myself, even by helping you escape your own death. Is it my destiny then, to spend eternity wandering the world, being surrounded by people who cannot see nor hear me...people whom I will never be able to touch or be close to? Why...?" In a back ally of Alexandria, a lost soul, weak with pain of the heart, sat crumpled in a heap far from the open streets. 'Life is so cruel...but death without the promise of rest is even crueler.' Kuja rose from his position, and looked at the castle, where he knew Zidane was residing. He still held a certain amount of contempt for his brother, but Zidane was not his enemy anymore. Hate was partially responsible for his death. "Why Alexander!?" Kuja shouted angrily at the sky, "haven't I learned my lesson yet? Haven't I suffered enough?" He knew that the words of a lost soul could only be heard by someone who wants to hear, and likewise, can only be seen by someone who wants to see them. Kuja was sure that no one in heaven or on earth wanted to hear from him again. He ran his fingers through his long silver hair, "so then, this is my fate." He laughed to himself, "...ah yes, heaven can be cruel...yet we all desire it...could that fit the definition of irony?" His expression reverted back to sadness, "...then since I have no chance at heaven, I should leave this city and move on...perhaps to a smaller town, where my memories will not haunt me so...but one last hurrah: I cannot hope to be granted Alexander's forgiveness, there is only one whose forgiveness I must have before I depart..."
We live in hope of greater things
But tomorrow usually sorrow brings
Still we move on because we believe
That a reward for our pains we will receive
Some get what they desired
Most will never reach the fire
We greet new hopes with each sunrise
But everyday ends and sunlight dies
Deep in the under city, Kuja's body waded towards the castle storm drain. He could get in through the basement level. There was rusty iron grate across the drain. Kuja broke it with one strong kick to the foundation. He ducked inside and calmly climbed up out of a manhole in the castle basement. There were guards on duty at the staircase to upper levels. "No bother," Vatica smirked. She had Kuja simply fly straight upwards, keeping out of the torchlight. "This time when Alexandria falls, it won't get back up."
The lost soul slowly made his way to Alexandria Castle. Before he moved on, he had to have the satisfaction that his past actions were forgiven. He calmly walked right through the castle wall. This was one ability that made being dead not so bad. The halls were well lit; the guards didn't want an intruder to have any chance of hiding.
The castle was mostly completely restored. The floors were shined and the gold and silver polished. 'Well done Queen Garnet..." Kuja thought. He found the main foyer and the staircase to the upper floors. Two men were on duty at the foot of the stairs. Kuja went right past them.
"Hey, you feel that?" One guard shivered.
"Yeah, kinda chilly all the sudden." His companion agreed.
Kuja smiled to himself; 'if only I were alive I'd give them something to shiver about.'
Meanwhile, Vatica had found Garnet's bedchamber. Steiner and Beatrix were patrolling the hall, if she made her move they would catch her. She waited, hoping that there would be a moment when both of them had their backs turned.
Beatrix stopped walking, she turned to Steiner, "do you smell that?"
Steiner sniffed the air, "now that you mention it, yes...it reeks of rotting flesh in here, like a dead rat."
Vatica fumed, "how dare they compare my Kuja to a rat!" She directed his body out from hiding. "They will pay!"
"Who goes there?" Steiner drew his sword upon seeing Kuja standing down the hall. Beatrix stepped up beside him, weapon also drawn.
"Oh such valiant knights..." Kuja taunted, "you rise so quickly to meet your deaths."
"It is the villain Kuja!" Steiner exclaimed, "you will taste the wrath of my blade before this night is through!"
"Should I be afraid?" Kuja asked.
"Beatrix, stay here, guard the Queen!" Steiner said tersely.
Beatrix nodded and backed away to Garnet's door.
"This really is flattering," Kuja smiled, "I am now to face not only the Captain of the Knights of Pluto, but the General of Alexandria as well!" Malice was enjoying herself. She laughed at the two of them.
"Enough of your chattering. Face me!" Steiner growled. He charged at Kuja and was about to strike when suddenly he reeled backwards, covering his nose and mouth, "that hideous stench is you?! By Gaia...Beatrix, beware! He is of the undead!"
Garnet sat up fearfully; she could hear Steiner yelling outside her room. She grabbed one of her magical rods from beside her bed; she crept to the door and pressed her ear against it.
Steiner held his sword in front of him. He gripped the hilt with both hands, eyes narrowed dangerously.
"What are you waiting for?" Kuja asked.
Steiner ran forward; "die villain!"
Kuja stood looking very unimpressed. He held a hand out and with one flick of his wrist, cast a break spell on the charging knight. Steiner watched in horror, as his feet turned to stone. He used his legs to get in a few extra steps before trying to bring his sword down on Kuja's head. The spell worked its way up his body, he continued his downward swing, but soon he was completely turned to stone, his sword stopped only inches above Kuja's head. Kuja smirked at the petrified knight, whose face was frozen in an expression of rage.
Beatrix held her own weapon out, blocking Garnet's door. She held her ground but she knew that she could not win alone. She called to Garnet, "Your Majesty! Kuja has entered the palace; I will try to hold him off! I swear by Alexander that I will not let any harm come to you!"
"Beatrix, let me out! I can help you!" Garnet answered through the door.
"I am very sorry Your Majesty, but I cannot do anything that may put you in danger!" The General responded stiffly.
Garnet thought quickly, she knew that Beatrix would be killed if she tried to fight alone. Garnet considered her options; she could call for help, or try to do something. Calling for help might take too long, and put other lives in danger. So she held her rod and concentrated, 'oh Mighty Lord of Dragons, hear me! Help me in my time of need!'
The air grew very still. Kuja stopped in his tracks. A sound like a falling bomb came from above. There was a horrendous crash as Bahamut the Dragon God blazed through the castle wall. He flared his gigantic wings and came to halt in front of Kuja. The eidolon opened his jaws and shot a devastating Mega Flare in Kuja's direction.
"NO!" Rage screamed.
Malice took over and jumped up from her seat, "no! Not this night Bahamut!" She used Kuja to cast an Ultima on Bahamut. The powerful spell hit the dragon squarely in the face. Bahamut's head snapped to one side, the Mega Flare was misdirected and hit Kuja only a glancing blow. He was thrown back several feet. Roaring in fury, Bahamut blasted Kuja again, this time only a scorch mark remained where the undead warrior had stood. With that, the Dragon Lord departed.
The hallway of the castle was totaled. Dr. Tot, Hilda and Eiko came out and many of the Knights of Pluto arrived from different locations of the castle. Beatrix sighed in relief, but was very annoyed.
"Why is it that the cavalry always comes too late?" She asked.
"Many apologies ma'am!" A knight said, "is Her Majesty safe?"
At that moment Garnet burst from her chamber. She looked at everyone, "where is he?"
"I believe that Bahamut saw to it that Kuja was taken care of." Beatrix responded.
"You mean I missed the fight?" Eiko asked. "Mother, you should have let me go out to help!"
Garnet walked down the hall, or what was left of it. When she got to Steiner she cast Stona on him. Steiner came back to life swinging his sword wildly. "Take that you miserable coward!" He yelled. His sword cut only air, "where did that fiend get off to?" He demanded, then he saw Garnet, "Your Majesty, please stay away, it is too dangerous here!"
"Calm down." Garnet said, "Kuja is gone."
"What? Where did he go? I shall-
"I think he's dead." Garnet said.
"Well you're right about one thing..." a disembodied voice said smugly. From a hole in the ceiling, Kuja dropped out. He was even more battered and scorched than before, he held his shoulder where his arm was torn off. "Kuja is dead...but he certainly isn't gone."
From below, the lost soul had heard the commotion from the battle upstairs. He flew up to where the fight had taken place. There wasn't very much left of that section of the castle. "Now what happened here?" Kuja asked rhetorically. There was the Queen, her General, the captain of Alexandria's elite knights, the Regent's wife and adopted daughter...but one person was conspicuously absent. "Where is Zidane?" Kuja was about to go and try to make himself known, when he stopped cold. "It can't be..."
"Don't look so surprised everyone," Vatica sneered through Kuja's mouth, "you didn't really think a little fireworks from and eidolon would stop me did you?"
"Kuja, what are you doing here?" Garnet asked fearfully.
Vatica laughed, they hadn't caught on yet. "I brought him here."
"Brought who?"
"Kuja of course you nitwit!" Vatica snapped.
"Why is he talking in third person?" Eiko raised an eyebrow.
Dr. Tot's eyes widened, "wait, what did you say the angel's name was from your dream? It was Vatica wasn't it? Yes, then what I had assumed was correct. The fallen angel Vatica has assumed the body of Kuja."
"Well, at least I know there's someone with half of a brain in here..." Vatica sighed. "Yes, I took what I deserved! What I wanted...and none of you can take him from me!" Rage took over, "NONE OF YOU!!! HEAVEN IS MINE!" She hurled a flare spell at them. Everyone managed to jump out of the way, but Rage was out of control, "NEVER! I WILL NEVER LET YOU WIN!" Using Kuja's remaining arm, she began to cast an Ultima, but Innocence stopped her, "Stop this! Why must you go on destroying like this? Not even Heaven is worth all of this! Look at all that you have done. Why must so many be hurt for this dream?" She turned Kuja's eyes away.
"What's wrong with him...er...her?" Steiner asked, "is this some sort of trick?"
"She's a schizophrenic," Dr. Tot explained, "her record was in one of the books I was studying. She was cast out of Heaven centuries ago. The shock of it split her mind into three personalities, Malice, Innocence, and Rage, and her mental complex is that she deserves everything she wants. She has been vengeful towards Alexander ever since then. She is the only recorded angel in history to have fallen so far out of grace with the Holy Eidolon."
"You think you know me?" Vatica asked once she had control of herself again, "you can never understand. Heaven is rightfully mine! I should be the one to govern the ways of the souls of Gaia, and I shall do it with my beloved Kuja beside me!"
Kuja felt very weak. He could see and hear everything that was said and done. There, at the end of the hall, was what remained of his physical body, seemingly possessed by an insane angel. The angel Vatica, he knew her, he had heard of her. She had failed to obey the wishes of Alexander and had been sent to Gaia for a while, but she had gone mad and was banished forever. Garland had briefly considered using her as a weapon against Gaia, but had concluded that she was too mad to be of any use. Kuja knew she wanted to conquer Heaven, he also knew such an ambition was ludicrous. One angel could not so much as annoy Alexander, perhaps that's why she had stolen his body. It still contained its powers; it could use the black magic she could not.
"I don't understand this," Garnet said desperately, "why are you here?"
"Because it is you fault he is dead," Vatica snarled, "you and your underlings murdered Kuja! You took him from me! It is because of you that he lost his soul and must wander alone!" She clenched her fist and shook it at them, "soon I will reunite his soul with his body, and then my dream of vengeance will be fulfilled!" She prepared to finish them; "unfortunately none of you will be around when my dream is realized..."
"I don't think so!"
Everyone turned quickly, a dark figure was standing in the shadows. Garnet called to him, "Zidane!"
"So now you make yourself known..." Vatica glared at him, "perhaps I should kill you first, as you were the one who left my Kuja to die in the Iifa Tree."
Zidane unsheathed one of his daggers. He held it by the blade and flung it at Kuja's body. The dagger struck him in the chest. Vatica screamed, Rage overwhelmed her and she lost contact with him. Kuja's body slumped onto the floor. An uneasy silence hung in the air.
"...It seems that Vatica has left him..." Tot observed.
"Well now what do we do?" Garnet asked.
Zidane stepped up and faced everyone, "like you even need to ask," he said, "we're going after her. Who knows how long she's been at this, but I say it ends now!"