Chapter 3: The Journey
Both groups looked at each other for some time. Each looked different to one another.
Zell was glaring daggers at Kyrstan who was looking at the floor, evidently, deep in thought.
It was Squall who started the conversation. "Who are you?" Everyone snapped out of thought and looked at Squall.
Anya smiled and stood up, "How silly of us!!! My name is Anya Cheskert! Pleased to meet you finally. I have for a while."
Irvine nudged Zell. "First time someone who attacked us wanted to see us…"
Zell nodded. "Right…" He the turned back towards the girl to see tears fall down her face. Anya sat back down and let Demetre stand up. But that other girl had her eyes hidden from him by her hair. Zell wanted to see those eyes. He was being way to hard on her. She was a good fighter. Damn good if she could defeat Zell.
"Names Demetre. And to clarify, we know who you are. And this," Demetre turned to Kyrstan's form, "is Kyrstan." Her head nodded up and down quickly but no verbal response came out. Zell was watching her. He wanted to comfort her, but not in a room with all of these people, especially Seifer.
Rinoa was also watching her. "What's wrong with her?" She sounded half concerned, half annoyed.
"She broke a promise to herself that went deep…" Anya said sadly.
Selphie piped up, "What kind of promise?"
Anya smiled, "She promised herself that if a certain blonde haired fighter showed up, she would ask him ou…." A hand was lashed to Anya's mouth with a loud smack. Kyrstan had jumped over Demetre who was wide eyed and had put her hand over Anya's mouth quite forcefully.
The Final Fantasy people were looking at Zell. He was in bewilderment. Seifer laughed. "Hey, chicken wuss, looks like the girl that kicked your ass has the hots for ya! Wadda the odds that would happen? First she takes feeling from your balls, now she wants feeling from your heart!!!"
Zell rolled his eyes. "Shud up Seifer, I'm thinking."
Selphie, who was sitting on the couch went to the floor and behind Zell and said, "About what Zelly?!" Zell rolled his eyes again.
"Not what you're thinking about Selph…"
Selphie frowned and went back to sitting beside Irvine. Ellone looked at Demetre. "How do you know us?"
The three sitting on the loveseat stopped. They needed an answer quick!!!
We could tell them we heard about them from friends? Anya thought.
No, something like "We're psychic and we can read your minds!" hey, it wouldn't be half wrong. you two in a sense are psychic… Kyrstan retaliated to Anya.
"We can't tell you right now…" Demetre said.
Rinoa scrunched her nose. "Why not? And while we are asking questions, where are we?" There were a few voices of agreement.
"You are in Ashton, Colorado. Home of the Ultimate Malls."
Rinoa and Selphie looked at each other. "SHOPPING!!!" The guys groaned. Quistis and Ellone laughed.
"So I guess this means we are on the same team right?" Seifer asked.
The three on the loveseat nodded their heads up and down gesturing yes. They all jumped when they heard an alarm. Demetre looked beside him to find and alarm plugged in saying 7:00 AM. Kyrstan was now playing with her hair. "So that means, we have to go shopping today? Alright!"
Demetre looked at the two giggling girls. "Why are we going shopping?"
Kyrstan smiled. "Because we don't know how to get them home, and we look a little different here than their world"."
Demetre glared. "One problem you two, how are we gonna get money? There sure ain't any here…" Selphie jumped up.
"Super duper mega bummer!!!"
Seifer rolled his eyes. Irvine laughed to Quistis saying, "She is just so comical its sweet!"
Quistis looked at him with her eyes. "More like a three year old…"
Irvine still laughed. "I didn't say how old she acted, but that's true…" Quistis laughed.
Selphie turned around. "Whatcha laughin at Irvy?"
"Nothin honey!"
Selphie smiled, "Oh, ok!" She then turned back to Demetre and crew. She then turned to Squall and pulled him up from thinking. "Squall, give them money!"
Squall shook his head as the group burst out laughing… "Selphie!!! How many times do I have to tell you I don't have that much money!!!" Selphie glared at Squall.
"Don't lie to me Squall. I saw how much you get paid!"
Everyone stopped laughing and looked at Squall. Squall stopped breathing. "Squall, just how much do you get paid?" Rinoa asked.
"Uh…normally….55…uh…thou…uh…sand…"
Their jaws dropped. "55,000 AND YOU NEVER HAVE MONEY?!?!?!" Quistis yelled. "I'M NEVER GIVING YOU MONEY AGAIN!!! THE NATIONAL BANK OF QUISTIS IS CLOSED FOR GOOD!!!" She was quite mad. Squall sank in his chair.
Demetre was snickering.
Then he stopped laughing. "Can I see what is in all your pockets?" The Final Fantasy people stopped and gave curious looks, but nodded in agreement.
Zell pulled out a few notes, a wallet with pictures and some more notes, and a condom. He then pulled out a pack of some smokes. Everyone eyed him. He just smiled. Quistis emptied her jacket to reveal some tissues, a pen, some notes, and a few pieces of paper with writing on it. She wouldn't let anyone see what was wrote.
Irvine had some bullets, some notes, and a rag. Selphie had some notes and a few pieces of gum. Irvine grabbed one as she put it on the coffee table. "Hey!!!" Irvine popped it in his mouth and smiled.
Seifer pulled out a wallet, a business card, and a condom. Ellone pulled out a few tissues and a few notes. Rinoa pulled out two pens, a bracelet and a few notes. Squall pulled out a wallet, a few notes, a ring (not Griever), and a very flashy pen. He pushed something back into his pocket only to be spotted by Rinoa.
She pulled it out and shrieked to find it to be a joint. "Squall!!! Why?" Squall just looked at the floor.
Kyrstan walked over and put a hand of comfort on Rinoa's shoulder. "Rinoa, don't worry. You should at least be happy that he isn't using acid…" Rinoa eyed Kyrstan's form. She had tear streaks going down her cheeks. Her blonde hair was flying out of her braid.
"That's not the most comforting…" Kyrstan frowned.
"Sorry Rinoa honey, but that's really all I can say. But then again, do you think of Squall as the druggie type? Maybe Irvine, but definately not Squall…" Rinoa giggled at that.
She brushed a stray piece of hair from her face. "I guess your right…thanks Kyrstan…"
The blonde nodded and sat back down.
"Ok, so what are we gonna do? There seems to be some differences in this place… But the question is, what are they?" Ellone said.
Demetre looked around. "Well, there are no monsters, and no Galbadia…" The Final Fantasy people smiled. No more confrontations with Galbadia at least… "…Money, style, and a few other things…" Demetre looked at the group. Irvine and Selphie were looking out a small window in the corner, Quistis was examining some paintings on the wall, Ellone was looking at a book, Squall and Rinoa were listening intently, Zell and Seifer were staring at Anya and Kyrstan with smiles.
Perfect, hormones are flying…
"Demetre, exactly how do we get home?" Everyone stopped at Squall's comment.
"I don't know Squall, not yet at least. But I promise you, I will find a way for you to get home." Anya and Kyrstan groaned softly at the remark.
"Shouldn't we at least make the most of this? I mean, we haven't had a vacation in a long, long time!!!" Selphie said excitedly.
"This place is not exactly a place for a vacation. There are much better places…" Demetre said softly.
"Its not exactly like we know everyone out there Demetre. And it seems like you guys are trustworthy, and so why not stay with you…" Squall said.
Anya smiled. "That means we get to finally learn intimate details!!!" Anya and Kyrstan high fived. Demetre rolled his eyes.
"Yes dearest sibling and friend, but where are we gonna get the money to pay for our little adventure?"
Anya and Kyrstan looked at each other. "We could pay for ourselves…" Seifer said. Everyone looked at Seifer. "Hey, I'm not always an asshole." He stated plainly.
"Actually, I think we have enough money…" Kyrstan said sweetly.
Demetre whorled around. "Exactly from where? Its not like money grows on trees…"
Anya smiled. "But money does come from the green element…" Demetre stopped.
"What's the green element?" Rinoa asked curiously.
"I'll explain after we go shopping…" Anya and Kyrstan grabbed Demetre's arms and ran up to his room. The Final Fantasy people looked at their fleeting forms with bewilderment.
"Damn, first they beat us up, then they get friendly, then they ditch us, what kind of people do that?" Zell asked.
Seifer picked up the flute Anya had been using and looked at it closely. "This thing has got some magic alloy or somethin in it…" Seifer stated softly.
Quistis walked over and examined it. "What makes you say that?"
Seifer handed her the flute. "She blocked every one of Squally boy's blows and there isn't even a dent to the damn thing." Quistis turned the object around in her hand. There was something strange about this family…
~*~*~
"Wait just one bloody second Anya, I'm not doing any damn money spell!!!" Demetre was wailing like a child. Anya and Kyrstan were in his room, rooting around for the right spell book.
"Oh yes you are Mr. Cheskert! You will do that spell until we see fit!!!" Anya was looking at Demetre with a glare.
"Ani, we all know that money spells are bogus and a waist of time! You know that! And Kyrstan, you know that messing with the FF world is dangerous!!!"
Kyrstan looked at Demetre with a coy look. "And isn't messing with any type of magic dangerous?" Demetre opened his mouth to speak, but went against it. The girls rooted around in the pile of books before Kyrstan pulled out a green spell book. She smiled and handed the book to an excited Anya.
She then opened the book and looked through its contents. After a few short minutes, she exclaimed, "Ahah!!!" She then gave the book to Demetre who scowled. "Do the spell De or I'll attack with my claws…" Anya flexed her fingers.
Demetre rolled his eyes. He then smacked her right hand with his tail. He then picked up the book and read to himself. He looked at Anya and said, "You gotta be kidden me. This stuff looks like it was written by a three year old!!!"
Anya and Kyrstan cracked up. "Oh well, it's not us doing the spell De…" Demetre glared. He summoned the element-inverted pentagram and summoned the green element.
He than began to chant,
"Green Guardian, Earth it be,
I summon, the mighty money tree,
Fill this room with moneys delight,
Grant me the ability of greedy delight!
Green Guardian, Money of It,
Bring forth a thing, so very rich,
May it be, a true, true wish…
Time is now, Time is short,
Bring forth money of a true worth!!!"
The room grew bright green and went back to normal. Demetre looked upon his bed to see a large, large pile of money. Anya and Kyrstan were in pure shock.
Demetre just nodded. "What's the matter girls, think I couldn't do the spell…I am the summoner…"
Anya blinked. "Actually, De, we made that spell up a few months ago just for kicks…We didn't know it was a real one…"
De stopped breathing. "You…mean…this…isn't…one…of…dad's…spells…?!?!" He was now screaming. Kyrstan just shrugged and looked at the money.
"There has gotta be a hundred thousand dollars here!!!" Kyrstan ran out of the room and was back in a flash. She had a very large purse.
Demetre grabbed her arm. "Oh no you don't Kyrstan, we gotta use this to pay for food, heat, electricity…"
"…And clothes, and pizza, and CDs, and movie tickets, and…" Anya shut up when Demetre looked at her.
"Alright, we are gonna divide this evenly. And I mean it Kyrstan!!!" Kyrstan looked at him with a bit of disgust but looked at the money greedily again.
"Uh, just how much did conjure De?"
Demetre looked at Anya. "300,000. Enough to last at least a year…"
"Or a week…" Kyrstan said to Anya quietly.
"Kyrstan!!!"
"Alright, alright, 100,000 for each of us…" Anya looked at Kyrstan.
"And our new buddies…" Demetre nodded.
"Alright, Anya, count out 100,000 for each of us. Find something to put it in that is moveable while I go speak with the natives…"
Demetre began to walk out of the room before Kyrstan piped up, "What do I do?" Demetre stopped.
He turned around and looked Kyrstan square in the eye and said, "I dunno. Maybe change into something your dream date might like..." He laughed and walked back to the basement.
Unknown to him, the two girls were smiling evilly.
~*~*~
Rinoa had gone upstairs to the living room and was sitting on the couch. She kept looking around, a bit of paranoia in her eye. She had a bad feeling about this. About everything that was happening.
She looked at the soft, white couch she was sitting on. It had a Victorian look to it.
She heard voices behind her as Irvine and Selphie walked up the stairs. Selphie was talking about something or other while Irvine "listened" and looked at the structure of the house. It was a very large, very beautiful house. He looked at paintings of people in outfits. There was a very large picture, over the fireplace, of what looked like a family portrait.
There was a tall man with sunglasses cut in half, looking like half moons. He had a black jacket with a burgundy tie and white shirt. He had black slacks and loafers on. He had black hair and was holding something. The woman standing beside him was shorter than him, but not the other man, and looked very petite. She had her hands crossed and was wearing a velvet dress. She wore a pearl bracelet and a chain necklace. She had amber colored hair and was smiling. The other female was sitting on a chair. Irvine looked at her closely and realized it was Anya.
She's very beautiful… He thought.
She had on a matching outfit to the other woman except she had a white blouse and had her hair up. She had beautiful flowing gold hair tied with a silk ribbon. The final man was quiet interesting. Irvine looked at it expecting Demetre but was surprised.
Selphie had noticed by now and was looking with him. Rinoa had also noticed and was looking at the figure as well. There were sounds coming towards them as the rest of the team came up the stairs.
They all stopped and Seifer asked, "What the hell you all lookin at?" Irvine pointed to the man in the portrait. They all looked at it and did a double take. There, in the painting, stood a man as tall as the female beside sunglasses man. He was smiling, with black hair with white streaks. He had a trench coat on made of black leather. He had a white wife beater on with a silver pendant around his neck. He had leather pants on with silver threading. On his feet were black boots comparable to Squall's.
What made them all look twice was that the person had a long, fur like tail. But the real shock was that there were two wings protruding from the back of the trench coat. The man had dark violet eyes and was holding a staff. He had a arm around the other man's shoulder as if they were brothers.
The Final Fantasy people just stared at it for a while. They all seamed so happy. They seemed so very cheerful and vibrant. They looked like they were totally full of life and joy.
They were interrupted by a voice. "I didn't know our family portrait was such a hit to you all…" Everyone turned to look at Demetre. He had a jacket and shoes on. He had an old pair of jeans and a rust colored shirt. He looked like he had just come from a job site.
"THAT'S YOU?!?!" Rinoa stated a bit over rationally.
Demetre nodded. "Sure is, that's myself, my sister, mother and father. The only picture of them we have." The Final Fantasy people looked at the picture again to see that the wings and tail gone. They all went wide-eyed.
"There…there…were wings and a tail there a second ago…" Ellone was trembling.
Demetre cocked his brow. "Right, and Seifer is Rinoa's boyfriend." Squall growled. Demetre just shrugged. The Final Fantasy people continued to look at the portrait as Demetre went to the kitchen. Irvine stopped.
"Where are your parents?" Rinoa looked towards the kitchen. She then gave a coy look to Irvine as the two headed there. They found Demetre standing in front of a large glass door. In front was a breath taking view of the mountains.
"Demetre?" Rinoa asked.
The rest of the group was at the foot of the hallway leading into the kitchen. Irvine was standing almost beside him.
"…Dead…" Demetre said harshly.
Rinoa blinked. Did he say that with a bit of happiness in it???
Demetre looked at Irvine. Irvine made a crooked grin. He then looked out at the window.
"I'm sorry for your loss…How long?" Selphie asked.
Demetre turned around and grinned. "It doesn't matter…But all I know is that we are better off without them…at least my father…"
Quistis furrowed her brow. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Demetre shrugged. "Its personal…" Seifer nodded.
"Right, and that picture is possessed…Yeah, that's normal…"
Demetre glared at Seifer. "Last time I checked, normal didn't include having my total free will taken away by some sorceress from the future, so don't start."
The group looked at Demetre with wide eyes. He merely shrugged and walked past. Seifer was trembling with anger.
Ellone put a hand on his shoulder. "Seifer, its all right…People just don't understand it wasn't your fault." Seifer looked at Ellone and nodded.
The group followed Demetre back into the living room were they sat down in silence. Seifer was glaring daggers at Demetre, who was reading a magazine. Squall too, was looking at Demetre.
How did he know about that? They said they know us, but what else do they know? Squall was then rudely interrupted by the sound of footsteps. More, actually like a herd of
buffalo.
Anya and Kyrstan appeared and all the guys, other than Demetre, did a double take. Anya, who was now no longer wearing pj's, was wearing a revealing white belly shirt with "Punk" written in pink. She had on white flares and sandals. Finally, she had a long black trench coat hanging on her arm.
Kyrstan had redone her hair and had re-adjusted the dragonfly pin. She had dog collar on and a black top. She had low cut jeans with her black kickboxing boots on. Her jacket was also leather, but was brown and not a trench coat. The Final Fantasy guys gawcked at them while Demetre walked up to Anya.
"I didn't mean you were supposed to take it seriously…"
Anya smiled. "You know we always do…"
Kyrstan smiled at Zell who went red. She then handed Demetre a wallet that looked like it was about to burst.
"Why didn't we use that spell before De?"
Demetre put the wallet in his back pocket and said, "It will probably disappear after some time. You two did a good job in wording it…" The girls smiled. Demetre then turned to look at the others. "Lets go…" They nodded a bit and followed the Three outside.
~*~*~
The Final Fantasy people were speechless as they left the front door. Outside was a plateau with perfectly untouched snow and a few trees. There was an old swing on the largest.
"Great Hyne! This place is more beautiful than Balamb!" Selphie cried. Demetre shrugged and began walking down the large driveway. From the looks, it hadn't been used in quiet some time.
"So, what exactly are you guys? Witches?" Zell asked.
"Get your anatomy strait Dincht, if I were a witch, I would be a female…Sure you payed attention during classes?" Anya began to snicker. The other Final Fantasy people began to snicker as well.
"That wasn't right…don't diss Zell. Diss…Selphie!" Kyrstan was getting red. Zell followed suite.
"Dearest Kyrsty, that is way to easy! Watch…" Anya turned around from walking beside Seifer and looked at Selphie. Selphie was totally unaware.
"Selphie, how large is the moon?" Kyrstan said loudly.
Selphie stopped and began to think. "Uh, I don't know…"
Kyrstan began to smile. "How large is Balamb?"
Selphie again replied the same answer. "You never lie, no?"
Selphie smiled. "Never!"
Kyrstan's smile reached its limit. "How long is Irvine's dick?" Selphie began to giggle.
"Hehehe…three inches…Ahe!!!" She gasped as everyone looked at first to her, then Irvine, and finally Kyrstan's hysterical laughing form. Irvine and Selphie looked at each other and sobbed.
Anya smiled. "That was a diss…"
Demetre smiled. "I'm sure we could help you out with that Irvine. Maybe Zell can teach you about male anatomy and how you need to hit puberty first…Oh wait, you already did…" Everyone burst out laughing at that other than Zell, Selphie, and Irvine. Selphie and Irvine were almost crying inn each other's arms and Zell was fuming. In fact he walked right up to Demetre and got right in his face.
"You damn son of a bitch!!! If you think you can talk about us like that…" Demetre whirled around and placed his right hand on Zell's throat. He than lifted him off the ground.
Zell went wide-eyed and began to squirm. Demetre brought the taller man to his eye level. "I taught everything Kyrstan knows about fighting…and she creamed your ass…What makes you think I wouldn't be able to kick yours also???"
It was quiet for quite some time. Demetre sat Zell down and continued to walk down the driveway. Zell was breathing hard. Kyrstan put a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry Zell…all of you. Demetre has changed since his parents were killed."
Anya nodded. She looked at her brother's form. Quistis walked beside her. "Why did he take like that?" She asked calmly.
Anya smiled at Quistis. She then looked at the ground. She again looked at Quistis and nodded her head in the direction of Demetre. The group began to walk. "About eight or nine years ago, my parents were in a huge chaos over each other. My father thought only of his work and my mother thought only about her beauty and style. Demetre was usually stuck in between. He was forced to take sides. When that would happen, he usually got yelled at or…hurt…" Anya went quiet for a bit.
Rinoa and Squall looked at her. "What exactly? Physically? Mentally?" Irvine asked.
Anya shrugged. "Never asked. But when they were killed in that car accident…well, life became different." Anya whimpered a little. Seifer put a comforting arm around her shoulder.
"I know how he feels…" Anya smiled at Seifer.
"I doubt it…I saw some of the shit that went on…that was just horrible…" Kyrstan said. Zell gave her a coy look.
~*~*~
"Where are we?" Squall asked suddenly. The group had reached the end of the long driveway.
Demetre was waiting. "Ashton, Colorado…we said that earlier…" Demetre said, sounding annoyed.
"That means we are not on Gaia…" The Final Fantasy people went quiet.
"Um…so?" Anya asked.
"That means we have traveled from one planet to another…" Quistis said.
"Whoa…" Said Selphie. Demetre rolled his eyes and looked at the on coming bus.
"Alright, keep in mind that you don't do magic in town unless its dire need. Goes the same for GF's…" The Final Fantasy people nodded. The bus came to a slow stop. Demetre boarded and paid their admission. The team then boarded the bus and began the task of looking for seats. There were a few people on.
One woman looked at Selphie and said to the man next to her, "Those mini skirts kids wear these days keep getting shorter and shorter…soon you'll be able to see their bosom's and all!" The man grunted in agreement. Selphie looked hurt.
Anya looked at Selphie from her seat beside Seifer and glared. Rinoa and Squall took a seat beside Zell and Kyrstan. Quistis sat by Anya. Demetre and Ellone sat farther back. They seemed to be in a deep discussion.
The woman was now analyzing the rest of the team as the bus pulled away. "…And what is it with those tattoos??? Now it's going from the arm to the face…What's next? And that gothic kid by the pretty young girl looks like pure trouble…" Anya was beginning to fume. The bus turned down a road and headed into town. The woman didn't stop.
"…And that girl with the ponytail needs to work on her posture…and that boy beside her needs to get that tattoo removed…" Anya stood up. But a gloved hand sat her down again. A pink dress and a rush of blonde hair was seen as Quistis sat down on the seat across from the man and woman.
"Excuse me ma'am?" She began. The woman looked at Quistis with a bit of disgust.
"Yes dearie?"
Quistis smiled. She had trained for conditions like this. "Ma'am, if you want to complain about myself and my friends, make sure you do it quietly or I just might get my boyfriend to beat you up…and I don't want to see that ugly dress get torn up…" The team laughed loudly.
The woman held an appalled face and "Hmph'"-ed. She got up and waddled to a seat farther up. The merely shrugged his shoulders and followed the woman. Quistis smiled and continued to face forward. The team continued to chuckle as they finally rolled into the main part of town.
"What an elegant display of etiquette, whimsy, and blubber." Demetre said to Irvine.
They both immediately burst out in laughter as Rinoa sat appalled. "That was rude, Demetre!"
Demetre met Rinoa eye for eye. "Some could say you're a prude Rinoa dear."
Rinoa glared dangerously at Demetre. "Well, not to burst your inflating head, Demetre, but," She made a gesture as to pinch her nose, "some might say that you are crude."
Demetre mocked a laugh. "Oh how devious Rinoa. Are you trying to offend me or something, cause if your not, have you considered working for some Nature program. I'm sure they'd love to do a story on a…oh, famous cow." Demetre rolled his eyes and sat back, hands crossed over his chest.
Rinoa and everyone else had a shocked face upon them.
Jeez…Demetre, I know you don't like Rinoa but Goddess, you don't have to be a fuckin bitch to her!!! Kyrstan thought.
Rinoa whimpered slightly and leaned into Squall.
Shut up Kyrstan. She was a prick to me earlier and she has been thinking stuff about Anya that I don't like. Demetre glanced at Kyrstan. Zell still had his 'Oh My Great Hyne!' face on. Kyrstan gave him a pity face and looked out the window.
"Demetre, would you please apologize to Rinoa?" Ellone suddenly asked.
Demetre grunted.
They still had twenty minutes yet not a word was spoke.
Ellone suddenly slumped on Demetre. "What the hell?!" He cried. Everyone turned to look at Ellone.
Seifer raised an eyebrow and asked, "What happened?"
Squall shrugged. "She went back into someone's mind."
Kyrstan squinted at Zell and asked, "But who's past is she looking at?"
The group looked at one another before Demetre's eyes went wide.
"Mine."
That's the end of Chappy Three! Took me forever to get it this far. Oh well…
Disclaimer-I own De, Ani, and Kyrsty! Square, owns everyone else.
And I want to give Phantom Loner a big Thank You for giving me the idea for this part of the story{This part till up to the Mall}. (She didn't even know she gave it to me!)
R&R
Ta Ta!