Kay, I really really hurried to finish this before school. I think it turned out okay, though it rambles a bit. ^^; Long chapter. Yaay! Maybe I should rate this one PG-12, tho...
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There was something different about the air in the dungeons today, something indescribable. There seemed to be more people in the rows of seats which usually remained empty... or perhaps he had never paid attention to the humans there. A great number of Alexandrian soldiers were present, most of them lounging around, looking bored. He scanned the humans quickly for Kuja, and found him standing at the center of the left row, arms crossed, with a mysterious, unrevealing smile. Seated on his left with a hand on her sword hilt sat an Alexandrian soldier in a much fancier uniform, perhaps an officer of higher rank. Sitting to his right was a woman Three had never seen before, not exactly the picture of beauty... But whoever she was, she must have been important and powerful, to afford all the luxurious clothing she wore.
Is that... the queen?
Bow.
Three gave a graceful, sweeping bow in their direction, but they did not appear to notice. Irritated, he stiffened, and picked his staff up off the ground, wondering for a moment what sort of creature would be released from the opposite gateway, when the queen began to speak. The female soldiers stopped chattering to listen.
"We have come here today to witness the execution of a vile traitor to the crown! Guards! Bring him in!"
The Black Waltz briefly thought they were referring to him, but then the far gates opened, and a young man with his hands bound was led in by two soldiers. He struggled against them, but they held him fast, and led him to the center of the pit, throwing him down into the dust. He coughed, trying vainly to stand.
The queen smiled savagely. "He has given information about Alexandria to enemy nations," she snarled.
"How could I do that!?" the young man yelled up at her, finally managing to get his feet under him, and drawing up to his full height, which was not too impressive. "I don't know anything about Alexandria that could harm you!"
"Do you deny your crime?"
"I haven't done anything!"
"Very well, if you refuse to admit..." The two female soldiers that had led him in ran back out through the gates as they slowly creaked shut. The young man looked around wildly, not yet noticing the tall, handsomely winged black mage not standing far away. The queen's grin widened and she shouted to the pit below, "Kill him!"
Yes, kill him.
The prisoner turned in time to meet Three's staff cutting in towards him, and he yelled as the force of the blow knocked him back. He lost his balance and fell over backwards in the dust, almost landing directly on top of an old, rusted sword which must have slept in the pit for centuries. He pressed the rope tying his hands against the blade, freeing himself, then picked the weapon up and pointed it towards the Waltz. His hands were shaking.
Pathetic...
Kill.
The young man lunged towards him, wielding the sword as best he could. Three scoffed and parried easily, then leapt into the air and hovered just out of reach of the blade. He held up his free hand as magic burned in his eyes, and an orb of fire surrounded it, screaming with a desire to destroy. He faced his palm to his opponent, and a blast of flame exploded towards the unlucky warrior, who cried on in pain as it collapsed on him and burned at and through his skin...
Excellent.
"I won't lose!" the young man shouted, the worst of the spell fading off, pointing the blade at Three, a different sort of fire in his gaze. "Come down here and fight like a man! ...Or are you one?"
"Do you dare to insult me?" Three landed, standing loosely, prepared to counterattack. The prisoner charged, meeting another parry, growling as he drew backwards. The mage straightened and sneered down at him. "Are you truly that ridiculously weak, or are you just attempting to conserve your power?"
The other could not stand this, and charged again, slashing furiously with the sword, breaking through Three's guard on a last, upward swipe, tossing the mage back to the opposite wall. Three vision was jarred into blurriness, and he brought a hand up to the wound on his side... it wasn't very deep, but stirred pain and deep fury.
HOW... DARE... HE...
Kill him!
"Thunder!" Black Waltz 3 screamed to the air and sky, smiling with satisfaction as he felt electricity ripple over him. The growing thunderbolt raced along the staff, the golden head glowing white. Three then raised the staff over his head as lightning exploded from both ends, the music of the thunder an undying roar, causing a few soldiers to cry out. He threw his soul over the magic, gathering it, and then pointing its power directly towards the young man...
What beautiful screams...
The sound of his cries faded as he keeled over backwards, the sword falling from his hands and embedding itself point down in the dust. His clothes had caught fire from the sparks of electricity, and he lay there, motionless, bleeding his blood and life onto the ground. There was a terrible sort of burn on his pale skin, and deep, black scars the magic had inflicted. Three decided not to gaze upon his handiwork for too long, and turned away, awaiting the opening of the gates that led to his chamber, and sleep...
The Kuja's light laughter echoed through the dungeon and within his mind...
Three did not object to serving as the executioner of those who betrayed the queen. He hated all humans, and what better way was there to satisfy that hatred? Kuja was proud of him, but he frankly didn't care what Kuja thought of him. So long as he had his books and a comfortable place to rest at night, he wouldn't complain...
Few of the prisoners had the will to fight back, and their deaths came quickly. Oh, but not painlessly... he would never let them go painlessly. There was something satisfying in the sound of a human's dying scream... in killing the poor, foolish creatures... Yet he did not look forward to fighting that much, to dirtying his robes from rising dust, and having to expend the great amount of energy spells demanded of him. If he was given the choice, he would have rather been locked up in the libraries for the rest of his life, to live among the texts and be able to spend all his time just soaking in the knowledge...
His thoughts drifted as the soldiers moved to open the gates. They had been especially jumpy today, perhaps because he had started killing humans... or perhaps it was something else. His long, swift stride carried him through the gate, but he stopped short when he saw his enemies for the evening.
Two young women in light armor glared back at him, their hands tied behind them, and spirits blazing brightly. The third female in the group, however, had her gaze cast down, and was trembling slightly. These were Alexandrian guards...
"We have come here to witness the execution of three traitorous guards who have plotted treason! Commence!"
The spirited soldiers prepared to run from anything he sent in their direction. His attention, however, was captured by that one guard who still wouldn't look up, still shaking, fear rolling off her in sheets, waves of hair dulled from being soiled by the dungeon dust, but still golden...
Go. Kill them.
Neither of the two others guards were ready for the icy destruction that Three cast upon them. Limbs frozen over, the force of Blizzard testing the strength of their frames, they both collapsed, still alive, but barely. Three did not pay them much mind, focusing instead on the beautiful, golden-haired guard who had just begun to look up. Their eyes met, and he gazed into the sorrowful light that escaped through her look. She was...
Three raised his hands, still watching her. She bowed her head again slightly, looking up at him with a sort of helpless despair. She finally flung herself down on her knees, giving herself up to the earth again, awaiting the death Three held to be released upon her. A memory of a smile came to him, and the spell rose in him, talons of ruin clawing at the air.
Thunder was birthed from his hands, and he watched bitterly as it began to tear at all it came in contact with. It came in at the sides, reaching first the two whose will to live was overwhelmed by the will to destroy, then approached the golden-haired one, who remained motionless, and did not even cry out when the dark electricity consumed her. Three's gaze began to wander upwards, away from her.
I don't... understand.
The destruction is complete, my glorious weapon... you shall serve me well.
There was a throbbing pain in his head, and his breath did not come easily. He did not want to stay there, but returning to a small room no longer brightened by that spark...
...Why didn't she fight back?
"Aren't they wonderful?" Kuja smiled, giving a sweeping gesture. "Products of my research."
Three leaned on his staff, gazing down at the lines of soldiers slowly walking into the castle. They wore steeple-crowned hats, with eyes a lighter, softer yellow, like something he had seen in a reflection somewhere, long ago. Their robes were plain, a depressing shade of violet, and their step was slow and awkward. He didn't think much of their ability.
"Mmm?" The silvery warrior studied the mage's expression. "Not very impressed, eh? Well, I can't create an army of Black Waltzes, sadly... it is far too costly. These mages cost much less."
"Hn..."
"Indeed." Kuja's smile remained sweet and ironic as he crossed his arms and looked down at them. "Ah, I remember those days... I knew quite little about the proper construction of soldiers from the Mist... Only after much experimentation and frustration was I able to create you, dear Waltz."
"...My name is Three. Where are the other two?"
"In their respective wings," Kuja replied casually. "I couldn't put you three together; you'd kill each other. Really, it is far too dangerous."
Really.
"Why? Do you wish to meet them?"
Three shook his head, and resumed observing the lines of mages. There was something wrong with them... they walked like puppets, head down, the swinging of their limbs exaggerated. He felt Kuja leave, as the black mage soldiers finished lining up along the walls and stopped moving. There was one straggler, however, that plodded over to take its spot.
Three leapt from the balcony and landed lightly beside it. It ceased to move, staring straight ahead, as the Waltz walked around it, studying it. He stopped in front of it and looked into its eyes... deep, and sore-looking. He cleared his throat. "Where are you going?"
It did not respond.
He frowned, and tried again. "What do they call you?"
"......"
"Answer me. Are you a mute?"
You can't talk to them, dear Waltz. They are all dumb animals, mindless dolls.
Three shivered, and stepped aside as the puppet-mage began to trudge forward again.
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^^;; It was early in the morning and I was hurried. Kindly review, it will brighten my day! The next two chapters cover some of the game storyline.