Oy. ^_^; I feel soo bad. I know I've been slacking on this, but I've been suffering some MAJOR FFX writer's block. Everything else flows like water, but FFX just seems to get stuck somewhere in the back of my head. I know exactly how I want to finish this, but there are a few things that I could do with the ending. The next chapter MAY be the last one, if I handle this 'un right. I plan on doing an epilogue too, though, so.. ^_^
Chapter Twenty-Three: Guardian's Gift
The man dug through the debris of the spot he'd lead us to, searching for something. I heard a small beeping sound as he drew his hand away and got a small glimpse of a glowing red panel. He hauled me backwards roughly as the beeping continued and swiftly grew louder. I winced as my sore, bleeding feet were injured further by the sharp edges of random pieces of scrap metal that protruded from the rubble piles. Guardian cursed the man profusely.
The rubble surrounding the panel began to slide backwards as two enormous metal doors began to rise upward, making a smooth sound and gleaming in the moonlight.
Fight him! Guardian ordered. Resist! I won't go there again!
I struggled, but that man's grip was too sure.
Bite him! Guardian roared.
I did as I was told and sunk my teeth into the man's hand. He yelped, but didn't let me go. What now? I asked Guardian. Guardian growled, but said nothing. He was feeling helpless, and that feeling was slowly eating away at me as well.
The man began to drag us down through the doorway and to a staircase that spiraled downwards into the darkness. Guardian hissed as the man descended the steps with me in his hold. He would be dead now if I could be summoned here, Guardian stated in a furious growling tone. I wasn't quite sure whether he was talking to me or not and stayed quiet.
When we reached the end of the staircase we were confronted with yet another door and another strange panel. He placed his hand on the panel and it flashed for a moment, then the door slid open. Identity confirmed. A mechanical voice stated. The man smiled down at me.
"We'll see what to do about you," he said, shoving me inside. He looked down at his hand, where my bite marks were still clear a trickle of blood oozed. "I wouldn't mind if the chief fed you to the fiends, though. Not a bit," he remarked, glancing at me with his tired, bloodshot eyes.
~*~*~*~
The chief was a young man with brown hair and intelligent gray eyes, who surveyed me with a thoughtful expression on his face as the man who'd captured me led me in. "Who have we here?" he asked.
The man swallowed. He hadn't thought about asking me exactly who I was. "I don't know, sir," he replied, keeping his eyes downcast.
The chief sighed and turned to me. "What is your name?" he asked.
What do I do? I asked Guardian.
Guardian sighed. Tell him the truth. No one knows who you are here anyways, he said. His voice had begun to sound tired and faint.
Guardian? I asked him, worried that he should be sounding so different.
Don't worry about me, Guardian muttered. Just do what I told you.
The chief was patient, but his eyes were raised suspiciously. "If you're thinking about lying to me, that would be unwise," he said.
I grimaced. "My name is Destiny," I said to him truthfully.
"Alright," the chief said. "Now tell me what your reasons for being in Zanarkand are."
Once again I questioned Guardian. Don't tell him everything, but don't lie, either. There are lie detectors all over this room, and they'll scream like nothing you've ever heard before if you even tell the smallest fib.
Lie detectors? They have things like that?
Here they do, Guardian said. This is only about a decade after Sin's first attack. Technology hasn't faded away yet. There are still radical groups like these scientists who think they can beat Sin with their machines and inventions. He sighed deeply. They have the same goal that I always have. They want the summoners to live. The only difference is that they don't care how many other people they have to hurt to get there. His voice began to regain its luster and fury. That difference is what sets those scum and people like me so far apart.
"We're here by accident," I answered the chief, feeling that he'd waited long enough. "We didn't mean to come here."
The chief stopped, seeming to listen for something. When no sound came to his ears, he continued. "Are you a summoner?"
My heart stopped beating for a second as his question sunk into my mind. I couldn't lie and say no, because in a way I was a summoner. But I surely couldn't tell him about Guardian, not when Guardian seemed to loathe this place so much. "I am a summoner," I answered him, looking away. Guardian was beginning to feel apprehensive as well.
The chief listened again, and again no sound came. "Excellent," he murmured. He looked at the man that had brought me in. "Take her to the testing room. She may be the one we need to end this experiment, and if she passes the test, take her to Guardian and let them get to know each other."
His last statement shocked me, but not as much as it should have. This is where they changed you, isn't it?
Guardian sighed. Yes, he answered, I was arrested and handed over to these people. They were only too glad to have another living test subject. He moaned. I'll never forget the pain of transforming into an aeon. He growled out his next comment harshly. Or the pain of knowing that my summoner died in vain without my protection.
You had another summoner before Yuna?
Guardian made a small, helpless sound. Yes. Her name was Lara. We were in love, his voice cracked, that's why I saved her with the machina. I had no other choice. I was caught up in the feeling, and I didn't really care what happened to me.
I smiled. That's what makes you you, Guardian.
The man had led us to a strange room. It was large and very open, with a small glass window and seats off to the left of the door. The man led me into the middle and ordered me to stay where I was. I obeyed, though I was very skeptical. It seemed very strange. What kind of tests do they do here? I wondered to my aeon.
Guardian turned my head and surveyed the room. I remember this room, but for all I know it was never used. I'm not sure what they do in here.
The man had entered the room behind the window, and he pulled out a wooden board with some papers attached to it. A low buzz echoed through the barren room, and part of the wall at the far end slid open. I peered into the darkness curiously, wondering what exactly was going on. Soft grunts were coming from the opening. "BEGIN BATTLE IN TEN SECONDS!"
BATTLE?
Guardian roared out in fury. How could they put you in an arena? You're unarmed! His roar dissolved into a growl, and he seemed to contemplate for a few of the ten seconds. Alright, Destiny. You're going to have to do this. I'll help you as much as I can, but as long as you can't summon me the extent of my help is limited. He sighed. I was hoping to work you into the hard battling slowly, but I guess now's as good as any time. He stopped, and I visualized his toothy grin. Maybe I CAN help you.
Large, ponderous footsteps sounded as the monster stepped into view. It was a giant, huge and purple, with a red mane and two curled black horns extending from its head. It took one slow step after another towards me, flexing its violet fingers until the ebony claws were nearly digging into the fur and flesh of its palms. Its breathing was slow, but not unhealthy sounding. A behemoth, Guardian told me, knowing the question I was about to ask. He told me, This one is pretty tough, but you'll be able to pull it off. His voice obtained a mischievous tone. Reach behind you, Destiny. I did as I was told, seeming foolish as the behemoth slowly advanced, it's carnivorous teeth dripping saliva. Now cup your fingers, as if you were holding something between them. Again, I did so, and was startled to find my fingers closing around something.
I pulled the object into my line of vision, and was very surprised with what I saw. This is your sword, Guardian!
Guardian flashed me his smile again, the one I had begun to know and love. That, Destiny, is my gift to you.