Chapter 25: Determination on both side (not always good)

            Miranda…wake up…

            Miranda rolled on to her side. "It's still too early…I don't want to get up…" She suddenly realized that she was on a smooth patch of grass. She sat up and looked around her. Sunlight was filtering through the covering trees, the sound of birds singing filling her ears.

            "I am glad that you are awake, Miranda." The voice was soft and melodic. "It has been a long time since we first met back in Madain Sari."

            Miranda turned around to find a woman sitting on a nearby boulder. She had long white hair and there was a certain elegance about her. "Are you…are you Serenity?"

            She smiled. "Yes, I am."

            "Where am I…?"

            "I like to call this spot my little get away place," she said looking around. "It's nice and peaceful here, isn't it?"

            "Yeah…" I wish Chris was here to see this…She suddenly blinked in realization on what had happened. "Whoa, whoa…I was just in Lindblum and Tristan…er…well how did I end up here?"

            "Your body is still in Lindblum, but I brought your soul here. We are inside your crystal."

            Miranda's eyes shot open. "You're joking right? I mean this…" She reached up and touched the pendant around her neck. "Does Chris know?"
            "No, he does not."

            Miranda jumped when the crystal flashed. "What the…?"
            Serenity suddenly looked at her gravely. "Miranda, Chris is a good fighter, but he is not good enough to face his main opponent on his own. Help him."

            "What do you mean?!"

            "Hold the crystal flat in the palm of your hand, and you will see what I mean."

            Miranda did as she was told and a small projection shown above the crystal. Miranda gasped at what she saw.

            Chris and Tristan fought on, neither letting up. They continued to exchange blows, thrusting and parrying. The on watchers watched grimly as the two fighters continued to do battle.

            Tristan smirked as he forced his blade upon Chris's, pressing down hard. "Give it up…you are no match for me."

            Chris pushed him off and went into another round of attacks. "I am never giving up!" He struck at his side and managed to give a glancing blow.

            Tristan stood there, blood dripping from his side and smiled. "Well, well…managed to cut me…enough child's play." He held the hilt with both of his hands and smiled. "See if you can dodge this, Chris. DRAGON SWORD THRUST!!!" (boy that sounds really…REALLY bad .;;)

            A large beam of energy emitted out of the tip of the sword and slammed Chris into a tree.

            "NOOOOOO!!!! CHRIS!!!!"

            Everyone looked up and saw Miranda kneeling in the bubble watching in horror. "Let me out of this right now!!!!" She looked at Chris's still form and cried out, "Chris!!! Please get up!!! CHRIS!!!!"

            "…Mir…anda…?" Chris moaned and staggered up. "Yowch…I'm going to be feeling that for a while…" He looked up at Miranda and gave her a grin. "So, what's up?"

            "I have to say…that was the lamest joke I've ever heard," Zidane muttered.

            Chris grimaced as he held his side. Miranda looked and saw blood seeping from the side of his shirt.

            "An Eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth," Tristan said twirling a rose. "But enough of this…" He locked his eyes onto Chris. "Lets finish it."

            Chris charged and attacked Tristan with renewed ferocity, the crystal glowing underneath his shirt. All Tristan could do was parry the thrusts. What is up with this guy…? He carries on as if he wasn't even injured…

             Things were starting to look up for Chris. It was apparent that Tristan was tiring, however Chris was going on like a machine. I won't lose to this jerk!! And with each word he struck Tristan's sword, sparks flying. He then disarmed him in a lightning fast motion.

            Tristan grinning. "Well it looks like you won this fight. However, you haven't won the battle. Miranda is still coming with me."

            "Why you son of a—"

            "CHRIS!!!!"

            Chris coughed. "Uh…sorry Miranda…I mean how do you plan on doing that?"

            "Heh…why don't you look up there?" He floated a little off the ground and motioned up. Everyone looked up horrified to find Miranda being held by another Genome, a knife at her throat.

            "One move and the girl has another breathing hole," Altea said smirking.

            "Let me go!!!" Miranda yelled struggling.

            "Of all the dirty tricks…" Fratley growled. "They planned this all along!"

            Tristan clapped. "Very good! Well it has been fun and all but we really must be going." He phased out and appeared next to Altea and Miranda. "Next time we meet, Chris, I'll be ready."

            "Chris!!!!" Miranda yelled desperately.

            "Miranda!!!" He took a step forward but stopped when he saw Altea's hand move.

            "Nah, ah, ah!" Altea said, giving him a smile that made his blood run cold. "If you ever want to see her alive, don't move!" He's kinda cute…shame we have to kill him later.

            Chris growled and watched them feeling absolutely helpless.

            "Well, that was fun. Lets go," Tristan said as he started to fly slowly upwards.

            A black portal suddenly appeared above them. Everyone down below looked on grimly as they watched the trio slowly enter.

            "Chris…" Miranda held the crystal tightly in her hand, painful tears streaking down her face.

            "Miranda!!" Chris yelled. I won't give up!!! I'll find you!!!" The crystal had come out from under his shirt and he held it tightly. I promise…

            The group stood in grim silence as they watched Altea enter the portal with Miranda, the knife still held in front of her throat. When the portal closed, everyone looked at Chris, not knowing what to do or say. He stood there a moment then walked over to the apple tree where Tristan had been standing next to when they had first met him. It was pretty thick, the red apples a dark crimson color, just ready to be picked. Chris plucked an apple and examined it. After a few moments, he threw it in the air then sliced it in half in mid-air, slicing the tree in half as well. (whoo…he's mad o.O;;)

            The group watched shocked as he walked toward them, wiping off his sword and placing it back in his sheath. "I'm going to find her."

            "But you don't know where she is!" Eiko protested. "And you're hurt!"

            "I know where she is. She's in Systania that's where. And I'm fine."

            Freya tapped his side with the side of her spear and he fell to his knees cringing. "Fine, eh? You should see a doctor. Magic won't help a wound like that."

            "But I have to save Miranda!! Don't you guys care what happens to her?!"

            "Of course we care!" Kristin yelled. "But what good would it do if you march in there, wherever it is, banged up like that?!?! That's just plain stupid and suicidal!!"

            Zidane placed a hand on his arm and looked at him dead in the eye noting the amount of determination and pain in them. "Look. I know you want to save her. I probably would do the same thing if I was in your position. Er…I probably would have tried to gone after them, too, hehe…but think. Kristin has made a good point. You have a serious wound and maybe even more after crashing into that tree like that. And you don't know the exact location of Systania. Instead of wasting the precious time we have, use it to form a strategy and finding the location. Use your head. Don't go off trying to be the hero. Do you want to get killed in a blind rage before you even get there?"

            Everyone looked at him in amazement. "Is…is that really Zidane?" Kuja asked Mikoto.

            She yanked Zidane's tail, making him jump up and yank on Mikoto's in revenge.

            "Yep…" Garnet sighed. She then smiled. "It seems he has matured a bit."

            Zidane rubbed his tail and muttered something under his breath before turning back to Chris. "Well?"

            "…Yeah…you're right Zidane." He staggered back up. "Heh, don't want to rescue Miranda looking like this, hehe."

            The group slowly walked back into the castle, Blank and Zidane on either side of Chris helping him up. Regent Cid immediately sent them to the infirmary. Freya and Fratley stayed behind to inform Regent Cid on what had happened while Ruby and Blank went to the other Tantalus Brothers who were entertaining the other guests.

            When they reached the infirmary, Chris's wounds had started bleeding again, and the doctors immediately set him on a bed, cleaning and wrapping bandages everywhere. The head doctor finished examining him and gave them the conclusions.

            "Three broken ribs, a minor fracture in the arm, a lot of bruises, and he has a long gash in his side, but thankfully it isn't too deep," she said. "Not too bad actually. You were pretty lucky," she said turning to Chris.

            "Especially crashing into the tree with so much force," Zidane said.

            "Wait a sec…if he had a fracture in his arm…how could still attack Tristan with so much force?" Kuja asked.

            "I don't know…I was just so mad and ticked at what he had done, I just kept going…I didn't feel any pain at all, really, until after the battle," Chris said.

            "Could it be…the Soul Blade?" Zidane said glancing at the sword belt that was strapped across the back of a chair. "Guess that old hag was right."

            "Zidane!" Garnet whacked him. "Be nice!"

            "Sorry! But still…she said that the more powerful the will, the more powerful it becomes. And that it doesn't take power from the energy of the person, but the will. But Chris still should have felt pain at least in his side and his chest."

            "Hey…that crystal is glowing!" Vivi pointed out.

            Chris held it and blinked. "It's doing it again…only…it's a solid glow and not flashing…"

            "Again?" Kuja asked.

            "Yeah…when Miranda was in trouble, it started flashing."

            "I wonder if it's connected to Miranda or something," Kristin mused.

            "You are right." The crystal emitted a bright flash of light and Serenity appeared standing next to the bed. "The crystals are indeed connected with each other."

            "It's Ms. Serenity!" Eiko exclaimed. "Hi again!"

            "Oh oh oh!!! Serenity!! I summoned another eidolon of my own!" Kristin said.

            "That's wonderful Kristin!" Serenity said smiling. "You must have summoned Winter Storm, the white tiger. She seemed happy when she returned home."

            "Winter Storm…that's a beautiful name…" Kristin said.

            Mikoto coughed. "I believe you were about to tell us about the crystals?"

            "Oh yes, that's right…now…what was it?"

            Everyone fell over.

            Serenity giggled. "I was just kidding. I am not allowed to tell the real secret behind the crystals…but…I can tell you this. The crystals are like hearts…when two people come together, they say that they become one."

            They stood there a moment thinking. "I have no clue," Zidane said after a while.

            Mikoto slammed a dish pan on his head. (.) "She means that when the two crystals come together they become one you imbecile!!!" she screamed. "Isn't that right, Serenity?" Everyone looked up to find that she had disappeared. (*spooky music turns on* WhooOOooOoooOo o.o…)

            Chris held the crystal and looked at it. Become one…

Zidane coughed and steered everyone out of the room. "Well, lets leave this wounded warrior to rest. We'll take on the research on the location of Systania while you're laid up there, Chris." He gave him a grin then shoved everyone out and closed the door.

            Chris sat there staring at the door, an amused look on his face. "Heh…" He stared down at the crystal again. Where are you, Miranda…? "Just hang tight…I'm coming." He sighed and laid back on the bed. "Sleeeep…I need sleeeep…and food…" he muttered as he closed his eyes.

            "Every time I turn around, I see you either hungry or sleepy if not both!"

            Chris immediately sat up. "Miranda? No wait…that can't be…I must have hit my head harder than I thought…I'm starting to hear things…" He lowered himself back down into the bed. But I can just picture her saying that…He finally settled in and feel asleep.

Author's Note: *sniff sob* how touching!!! *gags* =P so what's going to happen now o.o? How the heck am I going to make this actually make sense if it hasn't lost you already? O.o or maybe I'm just bringing myself down o.o that's most likely cuz I always do . anywho, neeeeeeeeeext!