chapter 11: Divine Dragon
Caesar was strangely aggressive looking. He flew across the sky to the Island Closest to Hell to meet his destiny. The Holy Dragons. If he gained their respect, they'd have a valuable ally in the fight against Seth. Selphie, Glafky and Irvine had gone with him, while the rest headed with the Ragnarok to Esthar to see Laguna.
"Caesar?" Glafky said.
"Yes Glafky?"
"Are you afraid?"
"Maybe a little. But, I know Squall is with me."
"Yes…He is…" They didn't take long before they landed on the Isle. Caesar was looking very serious and determined. Having reached 20 meters in length, and with a wingspread of 10 meters, he looks like a really deadly creature. And now, he isn't nice and sweet at all. He looks divine, yes. A real Divine Dragon.
"This is it." He said. "The Den of the Holy Dragons." He continued as they approached a cave. Caesar entered it.
"You can't see them, but they're all around you. You can't feel them, but they're there…" he told them. They moved deep in the cave, and Caesar kept breathing deeply. Finally they reached a great hall with stalactites and stalagmites.
"This is it." Caesar said. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He was concentrating. Then he let a series of growls that grew to one single, thundering roar that echoed through the cave and made Selphie, Glafky and Irvine cover their ears with their hands. They had never heard him roar so loudly. Then he hushed, waiting for answers. A roar came as an answer to his. Caesar roared again, not as loud as before though. Thudding footsteps came closer and Caesar sniffed the air. There was a smell he recognized, but he couldn't remember.
"Who's there!?" A dragon said. The voice was lighter than Caesar's and the kids guessed it might be a female.
"It is me. Caesar." Caesar said.
"Wha…Caesar! Caesar! Is it really you?!" the dragon said.
"Who are you?" Caesar said.
"Oh, you can't remember?" she replied as she stepped closer. She looked like Caesar, but she was a little smaller, and her colors were lighter. Caesar half closed his eyes, trying to remember. Then he remembered and his eyes peeled wide open.
"Sylvia!" Caesar exclaimed happily. He stepped ahead as she did and they budded their heads. Sylvia rubbed her head on his.
"Oh, I'm so happy to see you again! How did you get here?! How did you escape Carnorium!?" Sylvia asked him.
"Oh…it's a long story…" Caesar replied and told her all about it.
"Oh my…and these humans are your friends? How cool! It's nice to meet you…" Sylvia said.
"Sylvia and I were best friends when we were still young. Now, she can help us." Caesar said to the guys.
"Oh Caesar…you've came back at a right time…Divine Dragon is gone…Seth abducted him…He's weak…"
"Sylvia…Sylvia…Divine Dragon is dead…Now, I'm the Divine Dragon…" Caesar told her.
"What!?…Oh my, I…I'm sorry…" Sylvia said and bowed in front of him.
"No, no, no…" Caesar giggled. "You don't have to be sorry! You're my friend! I'm here to do what I must do. I'm going to gain the respect of all the Holy Dragons and lead them against Seth. I have to do that." Caesar said.
"And who are you who says you're going to lead us against the Lord of Darkness?" Another dragon said. They hadn't realized it, but they found themselves surrounded by Holy Dragons.
"It's Caesar! Caesar is back!" Sylvia said.
"And does that youngster think he can lead us!?" another one said.
"I can!" Caesar said.
"You can't! Only the Divine Dragon can!"
"The Divine Dragon is dead!" Caesar replied. The dragons were stunned. They just could not believe it. And they panicked.
"Our King is dead! The Divine Dragon is dead! And there is no one to lead us!" They cried out.
"THERE IS!" Caesar roared to cover the noise.
"I am! I am the Divine Dragon now! My grandfather christened me the new Divine Dragon in his place. I will lead you against Seth!" Caesar shouted.
"Ha! You can't even live around dragons! You live around humans! You weren't raised as a dragon but as a human!" a dragon sneered at him.
" No! I chose to be with humans! I chose to be with humans because this is where I made some of my best friends! But, most of all, I befriended Squall Leonhart! Andros' descendant, and killer of Sorceress Ultimecia!" Caesar shouted.
"What! The Leonhart! Unbelievable!" the dragons murmured.
"It can't be!"
"Yes, it can! Andros' grand-grand son was my best friend." Caesar said. "But, now he is dead. He was spiritually the son of Terra, who lived in Valhalla. His brother Cloud came from his era to fight him. And for the sake of us all, he sacrificed himself. They killed each other, once again."
"If the Leonhart is dead, there is no hope!" a dragon said. As the crowd always sides with the last to speak, the dragons started shouting:
"Yes! There's no hope! Let's side with Seth to save our lives! Side with Seth!" the dragons cried out. Caesar got furious.
"NO! We will never surrender to him! Squall may be dead, but his spirit lives on! And I would be ashamed to betray his trust! I will fight Seth to the end! Just as Squall did! And I'm here because I have to lead you all against Seth! That is our duty! If you knew Squall as I did, you would feel him all around you! He lives through everyone who will have the courage and the heart to fight Seth! We, the Holy Dragons are part of the army that will defeat Seth, and throw him in the valleys of the Tartara once and for all!" Caesar roared covering all the other voices. The dragons were deeply influenced by Caesar's words. They were thinking of his speech, said with so much passion and coming from the heart. A ray of hope went through their hearts and minds. If Caesar believed so badly they could win, could they? A dragon came ahead. He was older that Caesar, and a little larger. He had a scar over his left eye, and another dozen of scars all over him. His right horn was broken.
"I don't believe you." He said.
"Titus…" Caesar murmured.
"It's nice to see you again." He said without emotion in his voice.
"I don't believe we can oppose Seth now. He is way to strong." Titus said.
"You don't have the heart to oppose him that's all." Caesar replied calmly.
"If you have the faith, you can do anything."
"Seth will kill us all if we try to oppose him."
"I'll gladly pay that if I can to save the world."
"Caesar! Are you willing to sacrifice the lives of hundreds of Holy Dragons for the favor of a human? You are a fool! You may be the Divine Dragon, but you are a fool!" Titus said.
"No, Titus I am not. I fight for what I believe. But you'll never understand. You never had rights, or beliefs. All you have is your own little self." Caesar replied, clearly angry.
"Even so, I won't let you take the Holy Dragons to the grave!" Titus said.
"I will stop you, even if I have to kill you!" he roared and attacked Caesar. Caesar got surprised and couldn't avoid the blow. It threw him back.
"How dare you Titus!" Sylvia shouted.
"Quiet female!" Titus roared back.
"If the Divine Dragon makes a wrong decision any dragon is welcome to stop him!"
"He is not wrong!" Sylvia said.
"SILENCE!" Titus said and hit her face with his left front foot. Sylvia was thrown aside violently.
"Sylvia!" Selphie cried out. Titus didn't see Caesar's attack. Just a flash of jaws and Caesar's teeth cutting his back.
"Titus! Stop this!" he said.
"I will stop you!" Titus replied. He attacked Caesar again. He clawed his head, and Caesar was shocked by the attack. Titus left four horizontal, bloody lines on Caesar's left cheek. Caesar roared and attacked too, but his attack was a punch that threw Titus on a wall. The Holy Dragons had back stepped. This was a matter between them. Irvine prepared to help Caesar, but Sylvia put her foot in front of him.
"No" she said. "Caesar must do it on his own. Or else he won't prove to himself and the others he can do it." Irvine nodded. Titus attempted to bite Caesar's face. Caesar pulled his head close to his body like a turtle, and Titus' jaws bit his hard frill. Caesar stretched his neck and bit Titus'. Titus roared. He freed himself from Caesar's grip and hopped back.
"You're not the Divine Dragon!" he growled. Caesar wasn't intending to hurt Titus badly, and when he saw him bleeding on the ground he turned his head to the Sylvia.
"Are you alright?" he asked her. Titus was waiting for such a moment. He gathered a ball of fire in his mouth, and threw it on Caesar. Caesar was violently thrown diagonally sideways. He slammed on a wall, and fell heavily on the ground. He hit his head, and got very dizzy. Titus went over and leered down at him.
"You are very weak Caesar. You always were. You will never be the Divine Dragon!" He said and bit Caesar's exposed neck, and began choking him.
"CAESAR!" the guys and Sylvia cried out. Titus had bit Caesar from behind, and he couldn't turn to face him. Titus was slowly choking him, and Caesar couldn't breath. He growled and roared, trying to free himself. But he was smaller that him and Titus was more experienced in dirty fights. Caesar closed his eyes from pain and choked. "
Caesar…" said a voice in his head.
"Squall?" Caesar's mind asked.
"Caesar!" said the voice more sharply.
"Father!" Caesar said in his mind, as he remembered his father. His father… A great Holy Dragon… His name…what was his name!? …Oh, no! The GF! No! Not now! His name…his name…
"Father…I…can't remember!" Caesar said. "No! Father! Don't leave me! No, not again!" Caesar said. He remembered the day his father had left, never to return. He had died, killed from his brother, Carnorium.
"NO! I can't remember! I can't remember!" Caesar said panicked.
"I'll help you…" his father said and then, in the clear white light he saw him. Yes it was him…Tokein…Tokein was his father's name.
"Father! I remember!" Caesar said. "I remember now!" Caesar said. He DID remember.
"Caesar, you are the Divine Dragon. You must not let Titus doubt you. Fight him!" his father said.
"I…I can't…" Caesar replied.
"You can! You are the Divine Dragon! Fight him!"
"Fight…fight Titus…my old friend…but was he?"
"Caesar, these times can remember no friends and foes! Fight back." Caesar didn't want to shame his father. He opened his eyes and roared. He stretched and his feet touched the floor again. Titus was biting harder and his neck was bleeding. Caesar moved his body violently and tried to throw Titus off him. The memory of his father gave him strength. He swirled and twisted, dragging Titus along. Titus tried to hold on, but inevitably, Caesar threw him off him. He jumped back, and stared at Titus.
"I won't let you side with Seth and lead the Holy Dragons to evil Titus!" he said. He attacked and clawed Titus' left eye, where the scar was and opened the old wound again. The blood blinded Titus' eye, and he growled with anger. Caesar clawed again, this time Titus' right cheek and sent his head the other side. Then he punched his snout with his punch, as he had learnt in Garden. He delivered one hit after the other. Caesar threw Titus on the floor again with a blow on the back. Titus was weak and lifted his eyes to Caesar. Caesar pressed his head on the ground with his hand, and then looked at the dragons.
"What do you decide of this dragon?" he asked them. They remained silent.
"I have no right to decide on my own for the life of a dragon."
"Yes you have!" an old dragon said. "You are the ruler of the dragons, and if a dragon opposes you, you have all the right to punish him!" Caesar looked at Titus.
"What do you decide for yourself?" he asked him. Titus looked back at him.
"I have that right?"
"Yes you do. You have to judge yourself now. That's how I was taught…by humans…" Titus looked at him without speaking.
"I must die." He said. "I opposed you. You are the Divine Dragon…" he said.
"You realized that a little late Titus…" Caesar said with a sad smile.
"I can't live. I committed a crime by opposing you…"
"I'll decide of that…you'll live, and live as my friend, not my enemy. I'll need friends now, to lead the Holy Dragons, and I can't think of any better than you Titus…" Caesar said with a warm smile. Titus smiled too.
"I'll help you Caesar. My friend." Caesar helped him up. Then he looked at all the dragons.
"Come on! Let's all unite now, under the holy flame and fight Seth!" he said.
"YES!!!!" they all said together. The happiness was obvious on their faces. The dragons were cheering and laughing with joy. Irvine, Selphie and Glafky felt like they were in a big party. Suddenly a young dragon came from the entrance of the cave, panting.
"Demons!" he cried out. All the dragons hushed and looked at him. "Demons!" he repeated. "Seth's demons! They're attacking us! The west caves have been destroyed! They're hundreds of them! They're coming this way!" the young dragon said. The dragons looked at the young one surprised. Many turned to look at Caesar. His eyes were narrowed, determined. He took his decision, knowing it as right.
"Now!" he said. "Now we'll see where it hurts! We'll fight back! We'll fight them!" He said. The dragons roared.
"We fight! For the holy flame! For our lives! For the people! For the world!" they said.
"Lead us Caesar!" one cried out. Caesar smiled and turned to his buddies.
"Will you guys help me?" he asked them.
"You bet!" Irvine said.
"Of course! We're going to send those rug rats back where they came from!" Selphie said.
"…All the way to the moon!" Glafky added.
"Let's do it buddy!" Titus said. Caesar smiled. He turned to the dragons once again.
"Let's go! Listen up! Some of you go to the rest of the caves and let them know we're under attack! Tell them not to fear and come join us! The Divine Dragon is here! The younger dragons that can't fight, I want you guys to go in the deepest places of the cave! All fighting dragons, males and females, come with me! Let's go meet those bastards and say a hello they're gonna remember!" Caesar roared. The dragons roared and the most enthusiastic moved out. Caesar healed himself and Titus with magic and then headed out with all the others to meet their destiny. Caesar flew up ahead, with Irvine on his back. Titus with Glafky, and Sylvia with Selphie followed. He positioned ahead of the dragons. He could see the demons. They were Trolls, tall, ugly and smelly beasts that wore little armor and wailed clubs, hammers, axes and swords. And with them came undead soldiers with their meat rotting under their armor. They were hundreds of them. But they didn't scare the dragons, not now. Now The Divine Dragon was with them, ready to lead them against this enemy. And the Holy Dragons were ready. The demons were approaching quickly, advancing from the hills.
"Come on!" Caesar said and flew up to attack. The dragons followed and on his order, sent big fireballs against them. Some hit the trolls and killed a few. Others were smarter and lifted their shields.
"Dive now!" Caesar said and the dragons followed him as he dived and flew straight through the lines of the enemy.
"GARAHANA!!" Caesar shouted the war cry of the dragons and the rest repeated. Caesar's horned head dragged many trolls on its course. He tossed them on all directions. The other dragons did the same. Then they stood on the ground to fight. Irvine fired with his Exeter on all directions.
"Yowza! Bull's eye!" he yelled as he shot a troll straight through the eyes.
"Eat dirt assholes!" he said. He then cast 'Aura' on him, to activate his Limit Break.
"Man, this is gonna be fun!" he said as he selected Pulse Ammo.
"Cannonball!" he shouted as he began firing like hell against the trolls. One by one, 50 trolls dropped dead from his hot iron.
"YEAH!" he shouted as he finished his shot. Selphie was raging with spells on Sylvia's back. Her Slot seemed to love her today. It gave her all the spicy spells quickly.
"Catastrophe!" she yelled as the troll in front of them exploded. "Yahoo!" she screamed.
"I like your style Selphie!" Sylvia told her. Selphie blinked with a smile.
"Smile motherfuckers!" Sylvia said as she sent a huge fireball on the trolls, turning them into ashes.
"Ha-hah!" she laughed.
"STI-RIKE!" Titus roared as he sent a couple of trolls flying with his tail. Glafky was sending spells like Selphie all around the place.
"Blizzaga!" she yelled and unleashed the spell. A troll turned into an iceberg, then cracked, damaging the demon.
"Boom-boom-boom!" Titus laughed as he stomped it. Then, with a swift move bit another one's head off.
"This oughta show them not to mess with us!" The dragons were winning, and they tried as hard as they could. But they weren't without losses though. A troll chopped off a dragon's head, attacking from behind. A swarm of undead soldiers had climbed all over a dragon, and were eating his flesh alive. They we're worthy opponents. After a little, the dragons lost their courage. They were growing weaker. Caesar saw all this, and decided to act.
"Irvine!" he said. "Irvine you gotta get off me! I have to do something!" Caesar flew over to Sylvia and Irvine jumped off Caesar's back.
"Time I showed these wackos who I am!" he only said. Then, he flew up vertically, and levitated in mid-air. Then he let a loud roar so that all the Holy Dragons could hear him, and began glowing. He emitted a golden light, and a power unimagined. Both the trolls and the dragons stopped the fight to gaze with awe at the Divine Dragon. Caesar shone like the sun and the holy power he emitted spread out like warmth.
"NOW! LET'S SHOW THEM OUR TRUE POWER!" Caesar said loudly. The dragons knew. They knew what Caesar was asking them to do. They rose to their hind legs and roared, and then they gathered Holy energy in their mouths. This was the real Holy Flame.
"All dragons as one!" Caesar said and gathered his flame. They all threw their heads up and sent the Holy flames up, where they gathered into a large, shiny orb. Caesar moved under it, lifted it in his hands, and with a swift move threw back his hands and tossed the orb to the ground.
"YAAAA!" he exclaimed. Irvine hugged Selphie and protected her under his body. Glafky crouched on Titus' back. The orb crashed with tremendous power on the ground. The Holy explosion that followed was devastating. Imagine a power 3 times greater than an atom bomb. The trolls and the undead soldiers evaporated, and the battlefield was devastated. But the Holy Dragons and the kids weren't harmed a bit. When the strong light faded, they all gazed around them, and after the first few moments of shock passed, they cheered with joy. From up high, Caesar smiled satisfied with his success. He looked at the bright sky.
"I did it Father…I did it Squall…I did it guys…" he thought. Then he flew down to the other dragons.
"Hooray! Hooray! The Divine Dragon lives! Hooray!" they all cheered. If Caesar could, he would have blushed.
"We all did this. It wasn't just me!" he said. They all continued cheering, and laughing, and didn't notice a black smoke that emerged on the center of the battlefield. No one saw it turning into a dark assassin. Sent by Seth. When they noticed, it was too late. The assassin lifted a crossbow and aimed an arrow with Seth's dark power towards Caesar. Glafky saw it in time. She jumped off Titus' back, before he could react, and crying out.
"No!" she jumped in front of Caesar as the arrow was heading towards his heart. The arrow blasted through Glafky as Caesar gasped with surprise. The dark power spread trough her, and as she fell, it burst into dark, black flames.
"GLAFKY!!!" Selphie screamed.
"NOOO!" Caesar said. He opened his jaws and full of anger spit a holy beam at the assassin, which when hit, fell and evaporated. Selphie jumped off Sylvia's back, followed by Irvine, and ran towards Glafky's burning body. She used Water to put out the fire, and then knelt by Glafky's carbonized body. She lifted her friend in her arms.
"Glafky…" she said with a trembling voice. Irvine knelt by her too. Caesar, Sylvia Titus and the other dragons went close too.
"She's dead Selphie…" Irvine said. "There's nothing we can do…" he said with grief.
"Glafky…" Selphie said, choking. "Why did you do this…Why did you have to die now?" Selphie asked the lifeless body. Irvine put his hands on her shoulders.
"Selphie…I think Glafky's death was obvious since Zell's. Glafky didn't want to live. Didn't you see the way she fought? She ran into battle blindly, without caring about life or death. I…I think this was the best for her…she's with Zell now. And… Remember what Squall said. These are no times to cry our loved ones. These are times of war…we can't let Seth get into us through sorrow. We've gotta be strong Selphie…" Irvine told her. Selphie looked at him.
"I know…but I can't believe she's dead…just a sec ago we fought together…and now…" Selphie said and burst to tears. "Irvy…I'm scared…I'm scared of dying now…I wasn't before, 'cause I didn't know death…but, now I've seen what it looks like…It's painful and it fills you with agony…I don't want to die!" she sobbed. She fell into Irvine's arms and kept crying.
"Oh Selphie…" Irvine said and hugged her. "You shouldn't be afraid…Think of the others…Of Zell, Squall and Glafky…They weren't afraid to die, were they? They did it so that we could live. If it weren't for them, I wonder if we'd be alive now." Selphie lifted her sight at him. Her eyes were red. She stared at him. She remembered Zell, Squall and Glafky. They were dead. They died to save others.
"You're right…" she said. She lifted her hand to wipe her tears away. "We shouldn't be crying now…We have to be strong, and fight our way through life. Like Squall did. You know, he's been distant and all…he must have been unhappy, I guess…Ooh…I'm talking about him in past tense…He would have hated that…" Selphie said, remembering Squall's outbreak at Galbadia Garden. Gosh, it seemed so long ago…like centuries… Was it that long?
"That's right…And, like he said, he's still around us…Remember what Matron had told us when we were little? That the dead one's we've loved are always around us? And that they never leave us? That's it Selphie…Squall, Zell and Glafky will live on and on through our minds and hearts…" Irvine said. Selphie smiled sadly.
"Yeah…you're right…they do. We'll have to keep them in our hearts…" she said.
"Gosh, Irvy, I never expected you to say things like these…you're sweet." She said and kissed his forehead.
"Now, now…enough with crying…take your friend and let's bury her. With all the dead dragons. In this battlefield, and make a monument to honor their memories. They will rest in peace, in this ground where the holy power lived." An old dragon said with a kind voice. Irvine and Selphie lifted Glafky's body, and after digging a hole, laid it there. Selphie cut a bouquet of flowers Glafky loved, and placed them in her grave. Then, they covered the grave, and put a flat stone slab on it, where they carved her name.
"None would ever believe it…A goddess is dead. If even gods die now, what about us humans?…" Irvine said.
"Yeah…" Caesar said. The next few hours passed sadly, as they helped bury the dead dragons. The atmosphere was full of sadness. Many good dragons had died; many had lost friends and family. But there was a reason to be happy as well. They had defeated Seth in a battle. And that meant they had chances of winning the war. And that gave them hope for the future that would come. When all burials were over, Caesar gathered them all to speak to them.
"I know you feel tired and despaired now. But you also feel happy isn't it? We defeated Seth's servants in this battle, and we proved that we could oppose him, even if we pay the price. We have power. Seth may be a god, but he is one. We are many. Humans and dragons, all the mortal creatures of this world, even the monsters, we all are part of the army that will defeat Seth. He is strong, yes. But, we gain strength from each other. Through bonds of friendship and love. Divided we are weak; united, we are strong and powerful. These times call for such bonds, and such a unity. Let's remember people like Squall and Glafky, and the dragons that died here. They fought and died for rights they believed in. So will we, so we must. I fight for what I believe in, and that's what I do." Caesar said. The dragons and the kids were hanging from his mouth.
"Now, since this battle is over, I can finally get on with big things." He said. "I'll need help in this task. Titus will you help me?" Titus smiled with preplexion.
" Of course my friend. We're long time friends, and we always fought, so that little squabble we had before isn't something unusual. Like the old days…" Titus said.
" I'll be behind you all the way." Caesar smiled.
"And you Sylvia, will you help me as well?" he told to the female dragon.
"…Me? How can I help you Caesar? You did all this on your own…you turned the dragons into pure rebels against Seth…What can I do to help?" she said with shyness.
"By becoming my mate, and my Queen. Together we will lead the Holy Dragons against Seth, and we will guide the others too. Do you accept Sylvia?" Caesar asked her, longing for an answer. Sylvia looked at the ground. She was very honored, and was about to cry. She had always loved Caesar, but when she set eyes on him, all grown up, a strong and proud Holy Dragon, the Divine Dragon himself, she had instantly fallen for him. But Caesar had also loved Sylvia. She was his first friend, and his best. Caesar always stood for her when other young dragons had teased her.
" I do Caesar…" Sylvia said.
"ALRIGHT!" Caesar said and rubbed his head with Sylvia's. The dragons cheered.
"Hooray! Hooray for Caesar and Sylvia! Hooray for the Divine Dragon and his Queen! Hooray!" and with them Selphie and Irvine cheered. Caesar deserved such happiness, Selphie thought. He was happy, and he was ready to fight the Evil, no matter what it would cost him.
"If Squall was here, he'd be really happy…" Selphie thought. She almost heard Squall answer.
"You bet Selphie…you bet…" he said in her mind. She looked up in the sky, and saw Squall there, his eyes looking down at them all, smiling, as he seldom did.
Seth was furious. He didn't know what to do to contain his anger. He failed to kill the Divine Dragon. It was that silly former goddess', Glafky's fault. That little slime had jumped in front just as he was to die, curse her. Now he had to find another way to strike them. He should turn to the other party, which headed to Esthar to see that idiot, Laguna. Oh, if only he had killed him seventeen years ago…Squall would have never been born. And he would succeed. But, someone else would have came up, inevitably…And that stupid Superior Power…it wouldn't completely obey him. He had to kneel its will. But, he had time; lot's of time. All the gods were now imprisoned, and the Leonhart was dead…who could oppose him now? Now, he was free to rule…if he won over the Superior Power. He looked at the white light orb across him. That was the incarnation of the Superior Power. But, I was half under his command. If he could win over it, nothing could stop him, nothing. Now, he had to run to the secret temple of Apollo, and kill Echidna. Her blood was the only poison that could kill a god, and she was a minor threat.
In Dollet, two men entered the Nautilus Junk Shop. They looked around.
"Can I help you?" the owner said, surprised by the silent customers. They wore long white robes, and had their faces half covered. They looked like Bedouins.
"Yes, I want you to make something…a crystal goblet…with a lid from Dragon bone…" one man said with a low, silent voice.
"Hmmm… It'll be pretty expensive Sir." The owner replied, slowly, underlining his words. The man who had spoken nodded.
"How much?" he asked.
"10.000 Gil" the owner replied, a little nervous. Those two didn't look like they wanted to argue. The first man nodded again, and turned to his companion. He whistled to attract his attention from some swords and told him something in a strange, sharp language. The other man nodded and from a pocket of his robe he pulled a leather purse, which he threw at the first man, who caught it in mid-air, just lifting his hand, without moving any other muscle. He silently took out the amount, and placed it on the counter.
"Is it ok now?" he asked.
"…Yes…of course…err…do you have the ingredients required?" The owner said surprised. The first man placed a bag on the counter.
"It's all in there old man…" he said as the owner went to check. The owner nodded, and taking the bag turned his back to them, to stare at the workbench behind the counter.
"I'll be done in a while…Come back in a few minutes…" he said as he prepared to work. The second man showed a sword on a wall and told something to his companion with the odd language, asking him something, and then explaining something else. The first man nodded affirmatively.
"Say, how much is that sword on the wall? The big silver one." The owner turned to them again.
"The 'Razor Arm'? Uhh…500 Gil. You want it?"
"My companion needs a new sword. His old one was destroyed. That one is exactly like his. We'll take it." The first man said and told the other one to take it, in the odd language again. The other man smiled slightly and took the 'Razor Arm' from off the wall. He looked satisfied. The owner looked at both of them.
"Excuse my curiosity, but where are you from, and what the hell language are you speaking? I speak 5, but I don't know yours!" the said.
"…We're from the desert…and we speak the language of the desert." The first man said.
"Hell…I haven't heard of any people in the desert! Where exactly are you two coming from?"
"You want to know too much old man. Just make the goblet." The first man replied. The second man laughed, and told something to the first man, which also laughed.
"My friend said you talk like a meerkat…too much and too fast, hehe." He told the owner. The poor owner stared at them. A little girl came in the shop, playing with a ball. He ball tumbled all the way to the second man's feet. He looked at the girl, then at the ball, then back at the girl. The little child was staring at him, hesitating to go get her ball. The second man kneeled, and lifted the little ball. Then he whistled at the girl to draw her attention and threw the ball gently at her. The girl caught it, and sent a small smile at him.
"Thanks." She said.
"Whishkoka" the man replied. The first man watched the whole scene with interest.
"He's saying 'welcome'." He told the girl. She smiled again, and ran out happily passing by the second man with a shriek of laughter.
"She's my daughter." The owner said, hammering.
"…" none of the men spoke.
"You two…obviously don't talk much…"
"Don't talk much either old man."
"Hey, let me do my job the way I'm used doing it!"
"Then talk to wall." The second man said suddenly. He had a heavy pronunciation. It was obvious English wasn't a language he knew well.
"Rami…Quiet." The first man said surprised.
"Huh? So you do talk English after all!" the owner said surprised.
"He knows the language…a little." The first man said.
"Good for him…" the owner replied.
"What are you two anyway?! Why do you want a luxury item when you live in the desert? Are you SeeDs or anything?!"
"Never mind old man…" the first man said sharply. A movement of the man's body revealed part of a weapon.
"Hmmm? What's that? A Gunblade?"
"Yes."
"What model?"
"Never mind."
"It looks like one I know…Hell, can't recall the name…But I think I've crafted one like it…a young hero brought his one, and I remade it into a great Gunblade…He fought a Sorceress with it…I guess you know the story…"
"Who doesn't?" the man replied shrugging his shoulders, and concealed his weapon nervously. The second man asked something with hesitation. He nodded towards the owner.
"No Rami, it won't be necessary. If he knows what's good for him, he won't speak of us." The first man replied, loud enough for the owner to hear. Of course, on purpose. The owner sighed and finished off the goblet.
"Here it is…It's 10.500 Gil in total…" the owner said.
"One last one…where the hell did you get all this money?"
"…Monsters of the desert are a profitable pray for hunt…" the first man said, as they exited the shop. The owner of the shop watched them as they mounted two Chocobos outside the shop, and took out a map to examine. The second man showed something on the map, and the other man replied, annoyed, but not from the other man, but rather with the map. He packed it up, and then pulled the Chocobo's reigns to give it a move on. His companion followed.
"Weird customers…" the owner murmured and bit his pipe.
Seth rose from his throne, Horus' throne, and after opening a dimensional door, walked through it, to find himself in Apollo's secret temple, where Echidna lived. He pulled out his great sword, and headed for the altar, where Echidna crawled. Echidna was a woman, waist up human, waist down a snake, and her bite was deadly, and so was her sight. Anything that looked in her eyes, say human, say animal, turned into stiff stone. Seth reached the altar, and drooped his sword from surprise. Echidna was dead. She lay in front of the altar; face down, he head chopped off. Someone had been there before him, and killed her.
"Nooo!" he cried out with fury.
"Who has done it! Who has done it!" he cried out.
"It can't be the Leonhart, he's dead…a comrade of his?!…I'd knew…Grr…perhaps he has a friend I don't know…yet…never mind…he spared me of a chore…" Seth said lifting his sword. Then he noticed something.
"Whoever did this, made sure he gathered some blood…and took the head…two powerful weapons…hmmm…No…a silly move…now I can easily find him…" he said, and then opened that dimensional door again, and left the temple.
The other three, Quistis, Seifer and Rinoa headed to Esthar. They had to hurry and find Laguna. Rinoa was choking with worry. What from now…what future awaited them? She looked out of the Ragnarok. The blue sky and the blue sea made her sad. They reminded her of Squall's eyes. Of him. She wished he could be there now, and hug her to comfort her. She missed him. Strangely, his face was slowly yet steadily fading away in her mind. Only his eyes, his sometimes persistent, sometimes worried, innocent or puppy-dog eyes, his eagle sharp and wild eyes during battle still were alive in her memories. Those tender eyes whenever he met hers. Where was he now? What was he doing? Could he see her…from up there? Her mother had told her that the people who are dead watched over the living and helped them in times of need. Rinoa looked at the sunset. Squall was smiling at her in the strong light…
Hey! This chapter's for you, C-chan, seeing as you're the only person that constantly reviews! People, I need reviews! Only another two chapters, and a bonus chapter, which can be counted as the epilogue, if you want.
Ruby Dragon
Caesar was strangely aggressive looking. He flew across the sky to the Island Closest to Hell to meet his destiny. The Holy Dragons. If he gained their respect, they'd have a valuable ally in the fight against Seth. Selphie, Glafky and Irvine had gone with him, while the rest headed with the Ragnarok to Esthar to see Laguna.
"Caesar?" Glafky said.
"Yes Glafky?"
"Are you afraid?"
"Maybe a little. But, I know Squall is with me."
"Yes…He is…" They didn't take long before they landed on the Isle. Caesar was looking very serious and determined. Having reached 20 meters in length, and with a wingspread of 10 meters, he looks like a really deadly creature. And now, he isn't nice and sweet at all. He looks divine, yes. A real Divine Dragon.
"This is it." He said. "The Den of the Holy Dragons." He continued as they approached a cave. Caesar entered it.
"You can't see them, but they're all around you. You can't feel them, but they're there…" he told them. They moved deep in the cave, and Caesar kept breathing deeply. Finally they reached a great hall with stalactites and stalagmites.
"This is it." Caesar said. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He was concentrating. Then he let a series of growls that grew to one single, thundering roar that echoed through the cave and made Selphie, Glafky and Irvine cover their ears with their hands. They had never heard him roar so loudly. Then he hushed, waiting for answers. A roar came as an answer to his. Caesar roared again, not as loud as before though. Thudding footsteps came closer and Caesar sniffed the air. There was a smell he recognized, but he couldn't remember.
"Who's there!?" A dragon said. The voice was lighter than Caesar's and the kids guessed it might be a female.
"It is me. Caesar." Caesar said.
"Wha…Caesar! Caesar! Is it really you?!" the dragon said.
"Who are you?" Caesar said.
"Oh, you can't remember?" she replied as she stepped closer. She looked like Caesar, but she was a little smaller, and her colors were lighter. Caesar half closed his eyes, trying to remember. Then he remembered and his eyes peeled wide open.
"Sylvia!" Caesar exclaimed happily. He stepped ahead as she did and they budded their heads. Sylvia rubbed her head on his.
"Oh, I'm so happy to see you again! How did you get here?! How did you escape Carnorium!?" Sylvia asked him.
"Oh…it's a long story…" Caesar replied and told her all about it.
"Oh my…and these humans are your friends? How cool! It's nice to meet you…" Sylvia said.
"Sylvia and I were best friends when we were still young. Now, she can help us." Caesar said to the guys.
"Oh Caesar…you've came back at a right time…Divine Dragon is gone…Seth abducted him…He's weak…"
"Sylvia…Sylvia…Divine Dragon is dead…Now, I'm the Divine Dragon…" Caesar told her.
"What!?…Oh my, I…I'm sorry…" Sylvia said and bowed in front of him.
"No, no, no…" Caesar giggled. "You don't have to be sorry! You're my friend! I'm here to do what I must do. I'm going to gain the respect of all the Holy Dragons and lead them against Seth. I have to do that." Caesar said.
"And who are you who says you're going to lead us against the Lord of Darkness?" Another dragon said. They hadn't realized it, but they found themselves surrounded by Holy Dragons.
"It's Caesar! Caesar is back!" Sylvia said.
"And does that youngster think he can lead us!?" another one said.
"I can!" Caesar said.
"You can't! Only the Divine Dragon can!"
"The Divine Dragon is dead!" Caesar replied. The dragons were stunned. They just could not believe it. And they panicked.
"Our King is dead! The Divine Dragon is dead! And there is no one to lead us!" They cried out.
"THERE IS!" Caesar roared to cover the noise.
"I am! I am the Divine Dragon now! My grandfather christened me the new Divine Dragon in his place. I will lead you against Seth!" Caesar shouted.
"Ha! You can't even live around dragons! You live around humans! You weren't raised as a dragon but as a human!" a dragon sneered at him.
" No! I chose to be with humans! I chose to be with humans because this is where I made some of my best friends! But, most of all, I befriended Squall Leonhart! Andros' descendant, and killer of Sorceress Ultimecia!" Caesar shouted.
"What! The Leonhart! Unbelievable!" the dragons murmured.
"It can't be!"
"Yes, it can! Andros' grand-grand son was my best friend." Caesar said. "But, now he is dead. He was spiritually the son of Terra, who lived in Valhalla. His brother Cloud came from his era to fight him. And for the sake of us all, he sacrificed himself. They killed each other, once again."
"If the Leonhart is dead, there is no hope!" a dragon said. As the crowd always sides with the last to speak, the dragons started shouting:
"Yes! There's no hope! Let's side with Seth to save our lives! Side with Seth!" the dragons cried out. Caesar got furious.
"NO! We will never surrender to him! Squall may be dead, but his spirit lives on! And I would be ashamed to betray his trust! I will fight Seth to the end! Just as Squall did! And I'm here because I have to lead you all against Seth! That is our duty! If you knew Squall as I did, you would feel him all around you! He lives through everyone who will have the courage and the heart to fight Seth! We, the Holy Dragons are part of the army that will defeat Seth, and throw him in the valleys of the Tartara once and for all!" Caesar roared covering all the other voices. The dragons were deeply influenced by Caesar's words. They were thinking of his speech, said with so much passion and coming from the heart. A ray of hope went through their hearts and minds. If Caesar believed so badly they could win, could they? A dragon came ahead. He was older that Caesar, and a little larger. He had a scar over his left eye, and another dozen of scars all over him. His right horn was broken.
"I don't believe you." He said.
"Titus…" Caesar murmured.
"It's nice to see you again." He said without emotion in his voice.
"I don't believe we can oppose Seth now. He is way to strong." Titus said.
"You don't have the heart to oppose him that's all." Caesar replied calmly.
"If you have the faith, you can do anything."
"Seth will kill us all if we try to oppose him."
"I'll gladly pay that if I can to save the world."
"Caesar! Are you willing to sacrifice the lives of hundreds of Holy Dragons for the favor of a human? You are a fool! You may be the Divine Dragon, but you are a fool!" Titus said.
"No, Titus I am not. I fight for what I believe. But you'll never understand. You never had rights, or beliefs. All you have is your own little self." Caesar replied, clearly angry.
"Even so, I won't let you take the Holy Dragons to the grave!" Titus said.
"I will stop you, even if I have to kill you!" he roared and attacked Caesar. Caesar got surprised and couldn't avoid the blow. It threw him back.
"How dare you Titus!" Sylvia shouted.
"Quiet female!" Titus roared back.
"If the Divine Dragon makes a wrong decision any dragon is welcome to stop him!"
"He is not wrong!" Sylvia said.
"SILENCE!" Titus said and hit her face with his left front foot. Sylvia was thrown aside violently.
"Sylvia!" Selphie cried out. Titus didn't see Caesar's attack. Just a flash of jaws and Caesar's teeth cutting his back.
"Titus! Stop this!" he said.
"I will stop you!" Titus replied. He attacked Caesar again. He clawed his head, and Caesar was shocked by the attack. Titus left four horizontal, bloody lines on Caesar's left cheek. Caesar roared and attacked too, but his attack was a punch that threw Titus on a wall. The Holy Dragons had back stepped. This was a matter between them. Irvine prepared to help Caesar, but Sylvia put her foot in front of him.
"No" she said. "Caesar must do it on his own. Or else he won't prove to himself and the others he can do it." Irvine nodded. Titus attempted to bite Caesar's face. Caesar pulled his head close to his body like a turtle, and Titus' jaws bit his hard frill. Caesar stretched his neck and bit Titus'. Titus roared. He freed himself from Caesar's grip and hopped back.
"You're not the Divine Dragon!" he growled. Caesar wasn't intending to hurt Titus badly, and when he saw him bleeding on the ground he turned his head to the Sylvia.
"Are you alright?" he asked her. Titus was waiting for such a moment. He gathered a ball of fire in his mouth, and threw it on Caesar. Caesar was violently thrown diagonally sideways. He slammed on a wall, and fell heavily on the ground. He hit his head, and got very dizzy. Titus went over and leered down at him.
"You are very weak Caesar. You always were. You will never be the Divine Dragon!" He said and bit Caesar's exposed neck, and began choking him.
"CAESAR!" the guys and Sylvia cried out. Titus had bit Caesar from behind, and he couldn't turn to face him. Titus was slowly choking him, and Caesar couldn't breath. He growled and roared, trying to free himself. But he was smaller that him and Titus was more experienced in dirty fights. Caesar closed his eyes from pain and choked. "
Caesar…" said a voice in his head.
"Squall?" Caesar's mind asked.
"Caesar!" said the voice more sharply.
"Father!" Caesar said in his mind, as he remembered his father. His father… A great Holy Dragon… His name…what was his name!? …Oh, no! The GF! No! Not now! His name…his name…
"Father…I…can't remember!" Caesar said. "No! Father! Don't leave me! No, not again!" Caesar said. He remembered the day his father had left, never to return. He had died, killed from his brother, Carnorium.
"NO! I can't remember! I can't remember!" Caesar said panicked.
"I'll help you…" his father said and then, in the clear white light he saw him. Yes it was him…Tokein…Tokein was his father's name.
"Father! I remember!" Caesar said. "I remember now!" Caesar said. He DID remember.
"Caesar, you are the Divine Dragon. You must not let Titus doubt you. Fight him!" his father said.
"I…I can't…" Caesar replied.
"You can! You are the Divine Dragon! Fight him!"
"Fight…fight Titus…my old friend…but was he?"
"Caesar, these times can remember no friends and foes! Fight back." Caesar didn't want to shame his father. He opened his eyes and roared. He stretched and his feet touched the floor again. Titus was biting harder and his neck was bleeding. Caesar moved his body violently and tried to throw Titus off him. The memory of his father gave him strength. He swirled and twisted, dragging Titus along. Titus tried to hold on, but inevitably, Caesar threw him off him. He jumped back, and stared at Titus.
"I won't let you side with Seth and lead the Holy Dragons to evil Titus!" he said. He attacked and clawed Titus' left eye, where the scar was and opened the old wound again. The blood blinded Titus' eye, and he growled with anger. Caesar clawed again, this time Titus' right cheek and sent his head the other side. Then he punched his snout with his punch, as he had learnt in Garden. He delivered one hit after the other. Caesar threw Titus on the floor again with a blow on the back. Titus was weak and lifted his eyes to Caesar. Caesar pressed his head on the ground with his hand, and then looked at the dragons.
"What do you decide of this dragon?" he asked them. They remained silent.
"I have no right to decide on my own for the life of a dragon."
"Yes you have!" an old dragon said. "You are the ruler of the dragons, and if a dragon opposes you, you have all the right to punish him!" Caesar looked at Titus.
"What do you decide for yourself?" he asked him. Titus looked back at him.
"I have that right?"
"Yes you do. You have to judge yourself now. That's how I was taught…by humans…" Titus looked at him without speaking.
"I must die." He said. "I opposed you. You are the Divine Dragon…" he said.
"You realized that a little late Titus…" Caesar said with a sad smile.
"I can't live. I committed a crime by opposing you…"
"I'll decide of that…you'll live, and live as my friend, not my enemy. I'll need friends now, to lead the Holy Dragons, and I can't think of any better than you Titus…" Caesar said with a warm smile. Titus smiled too.
"I'll help you Caesar. My friend." Caesar helped him up. Then he looked at all the dragons.
"Come on! Let's all unite now, under the holy flame and fight Seth!" he said.
"YES!!!!" they all said together. The happiness was obvious on their faces. The dragons were cheering and laughing with joy. Irvine, Selphie and Glafky felt like they were in a big party. Suddenly a young dragon came from the entrance of the cave, panting.
"Demons!" he cried out. All the dragons hushed and looked at him. "Demons!" he repeated. "Seth's demons! They're attacking us! The west caves have been destroyed! They're hundreds of them! They're coming this way!" the young dragon said. The dragons looked at the young one surprised. Many turned to look at Caesar. His eyes were narrowed, determined. He took his decision, knowing it as right.
"Now!" he said. "Now we'll see where it hurts! We'll fight back! We'll fight them!" He said. The dragons roared.
"We fight! For the holy flame! For our lives! For the people! For the world!" they said.
"Lead us Caesar!" one cried out. Caesar smiled and turned to his buddies.
"Will you guys help me?" he asked them.
"You bet!" Irvine said.
"Of course! We're going to send those rug rats back where they came from!" Selphie said.
"…All the way to the moon!" Glafky added.
"Let's do it buddy!" Titus said. Caesar smiled. He turned to the dragons once again.
"Let's go! Listen up! Some of you go to the rest of the caves and let them know we're under attack! Tell them not to fear and come join us! The Divine Dragon is here! The younger dragons that can't fight, I want you guys to go in the deepest places of the cave! All fighting dragons, males and females, come with me! Let's go meet those bastards and say a hello they're gonna remember!" Caesar roared. The dragons roared and the most enthusiastic moved out. Caesar healed himself and Titus with magic and then headed out with all the others to meet their destiny. Caesar flew up ahead, with Irvine on his back. Titus with Glafky, and Sylvia with Selphie followed. He positioned ahead of the dragons. He could see the demons. They were Trolls, tall, ugly and smelly beasts that wore little armor and wailed clubs, hammers, axes and swords. And with them came undead soldiers with their meat rotting under their armor. They were hundreds of them. But they didn't scare the dragons, not now. Now The Divine Dragon was with them, ready to lead them against this enemy. And the Holy Dragons were ready. The demons were approaching quickly, advancing from the hills.
"Come on!" Caesar said and flew up to attack. The dragons followed and on his order, sent big fireballs against them. Some hit the trolls and killed a few. Others were smarter and lifted their shields.
"Dive now!" Caesar said and the dragons followed him as he dived and flew straight through the lines of the enemy.
"GARAHANA!!" Caesar shouted the war cry of the dragons and the rest repeated. Caesar's horned head dragged many trolls on its course. He tossed them on all directions. The other dragons did the same. Then they stood on the ground to fight. Irvine fired with his Exeter on all directions.
"Yowza! Bull's eye!" he yelled as he shot a troll straight through the eyes.
"Eat dirt assholes!" he said. He then cast 'Aura' on him, to activate his Limit Break.
"Man, this is gonna be fun!" he said as he selected Pulse Ammo.
"Cannonball!" he shouted as he began firing like hell against the trolls. One by one, 50 trolls dropped dead from his hot iron.
"YEAH!" he shouted as he finished his shot. Selphie was raging with spells on Sylvia's back. Her Slot seemed to love her today. It gave her all the spicy spells quickly.
"Catastrophe!" she yelled as the troll in front of them exploded. "Yahoo!" she screamed.
"I like your style Selphie!" Sylvia told her. Selphie blinked with a smile.
"Smile motherfuckers!" Sylvia said as she sent a huge fireball on the trolls, turning them into ashes.
"Ha-hah!" she laughed.
"STI-RIKE!" Titus roared as he sent a couple of trolls flying with his tail. Glafky was sending spells like Selphie all around the place.
"Blizzaga!" she yelled and unleashed the spell. A troll turned into an iceberg, then cracked, damaging the demon.
"Boom-boom-boom!" Titus laughed as he stomped it. Then, with a swift move bit another one's head off.
"This oughta show them not to mess with us!" The dragons were winning, and they tried as hard as they could. But they weren't without losses though. A troll chopped off a dragon's head, attacking from behind. A swarm of undead soldiers had climbed all over a dragon, and were eating his flesh alive. They we're worthy opponents. After a little, the dragons lost their courage. They were growing weaker. Caesar saw all this, and decided to act.
"Irvine!" he said. "Irvine you gotta get off me! I have to do something!" Caesar flew over to Sylvia and Irvine jumped off Caesar's back.
"Time I showed these wackos who I am!" he only said. Then, he flew up vertically, and levitated in mid-air. Then he let a loud roar so that all the Holy Dragons could hear him, and began glowing. He emitted a golden light, and a power unimagined. Both the trolls and the dragons stopped the fight to gaze with awe at the Divine Dragon. Caesar shone like the sun and the holy power he emitted spread out like warmth.
"NOW! LET'S SHOW THEM OUR TRUE POWER!" Caesar said loudly. The dragons knew. They knew what Caesar was asking them to do. They rose to their hind legs and roared, and then they gathered Holy energy in their mouths. This was the real Holy Flame.
"All dragons as one!" Caesar said and gathered his flame. They all threw their heads up and sent the Holy flames up, where they gathered into a large, shiny orb. Caesar moved under it, lifted it in his hands, and with a swift move threw back his hands and tossed the orb to the ground.
"YAAAA!" he exclaimed. Irvine hugged Selphie and protected her under his body. Glafky crouched on Titus' back. The orb crashed with tremendous power on the ground. The Holy explosion that followed was devastating. Imagine a power 3 times greater than an atom bomb. The trolls and the undead soldiers evaporated, and the battlefield was devastated. But the Holy Dragons and the kids weren't harmed a bit. When the strong light faded, they all gazed around them, and after the first few moments of shock passed, they cheered with joy. From up high, Caesar smiled satisfied with his success. He looked at the bright sky.
"I did it Father…I did it Squall…I did it guys…" he thought. Then he flew down to the other dragons.
"Hooray! Hooray! The Divine Dragon lives! Hooray!" they all cheered. If Caesar could, he would have blushed.
"We all did this. It wasn't just me!" he said. They all continued cheering, and laughing, and didn't notice a black smoke that emerged on the center of the battlefield. No one saw it turning into a dark assassin. Sent by Seth. When they noticed, it was too late. The assassin lifted a crossbow and aimed an arrow with Seth's dark power towards Caesar. Glafky saw it in time. She jumped off Titus' back, before he could react, and crying out.
"No!" she jumped in front of Caesar as the arrow was heading towards his heart. The arrow blasted through Glafky as Caesar gasped with surprise. The dark power spread trough her, and as she fell, it burst into dark, black flames.
"GLAFKY!!!" Selphie screamed.
"NOOO!" Caesar said. He opened his jaws and full of anger spit a holy beam at the assassin, which when hit, fell and evaporated. Selphie jumped off Sylvia's back, followed by Irvine, and ran towards Glafky's burning body. She used Water to put out the fire, and then knelt by Glafky's carbonized body. She lifted her friend in her arms.
"Glafky…" she said with a trembling voice. Irvine knelt by her too. Caesar, Sylvia Titus and the other dragons went close too.
"She's dead Selphie…" Irvine said. "There's nothing we can do…" he said with grief.
"Glafky…" Selphie said, choking. "Why did you do this…Why did you have to die now?" Selphie asked the lifeless body. Irvine put his hands on her shoulders.
"Selphie…I think Glafky's death was obvious since Zell's. Glafky didn't want to live. Didn't you see the way she fought? She ran into battle blindly, without caring about life or death. I…I think this was the best for her…she's with Zell now. And… Remember what Squall said. These are no times to cry our loved ones. These are times of war…we can't let Seth get into us through sorrow. We've gotta be strong Selphie…" Irvine told her. Selphie looked at him.
"I know…but I can't believe she's dead…just a sec ago we fought together…and now…" Selphie said and burst to tears. "Irvy…I'm scared…I'm scared of dying now…I wasn't before, 'cause I didn't know death…but, now I've seen what it looks like…It's painful and it fills you with agony…I don't want to die!" she sobbed. She fell into Irvine's arms and kept crying.
"Oh Selphie…" Irvine said and hugged her. "You shouldn't be afraid…Think of the others…Of Zell, Squall and Glafky…They weren't afraid to die, were they? They did it so that we could live. If it weren't for them, I wonder if we'd be alive now." Selphie lifted her sight at him. Her eyes were red. She stared at him. She remembered Zell, Squall and Glafky. They were dead. They died to save others.
"You're right…" she said. She lifted her hand to wipe her tears away. "We shouldn't be crying now…We have to be strong, and fight our way through life. Like Squall did. You know, he's been distant and all…he must have been unhappy, I guess…Ooh…I'm talking about him in past tense…He would have hated that…" Selphie said, remembering Squall's outbreak at Galbadia Garden. Gosh, it seemed so long ago…like centuries… Was it that long?
"That's right…And, like he said, he's still around us…Remember what Matron had told us when we were little? That the dead one's we've loved are always around us? And that they never leave us? That's it Selphie…Squall, Zell and Glafky will live on and on through our minds and hearts…" Irvine said. Selphie smiled sadly.
"Yeah…you're right…they do. We'll have to keep them in our hearts…" she said.
"Gosh, Irvy, I never expected you to say things like these…you're sweet." She said and kissed his forehead.
"Now, now…enough with crying…take your friend and let's bury her. With all the dead dragons. In this battlefield, and make a monument to honor their memories. They will rest in peace, in this ground where the holy power lived." An old dragon said with a kind voice. Irvine and Selphie lifted Glafky's body, and after digging a hole, laid it there. Selphie cut a bouquet of flowers Glafky loved, and placed them in her grave. Then, they covered the grave, and put a flat stone slab on it, where they carved her name.
"None would ever believe it…A goddess is dead. If even gods die now, what about us humans?…" Irvine said.
"Yeah…" Caesar said. The next few hours passed sadly, as they helped bury the dead dragons. The atmosphere was full of sadness. Many good dragons had died; many had lost friends and family. But there was a reason to be happy as well. They had defeated Seth in a battle. And that meant they had chances of winning the war. And that gave them hope for the future that would come. When all burials were over, Caesar gathered them all to speak to them.
"I know you feel tired and despaired now. But you also feel happy isn't it? We defeated Seth's servants in this battle, and we proved that we could oppose him, even if we pay the price. We have power. Seth may be a god, but he is one. We are many. Humans and dragons, all the mortal creatures of this world, even the monsters, we all are part of the army that will defeat Seth. He is strong, yes. But, we gain strength from each other. Through bonds of friendship and love. Divided we are weak; united, we are strong and powerful. These times call for such bonds, and such a unity. Let's remember people like Squall and Glafky, and the dragons that died here. They fought and died for rights they believed in. So will we, so we must. I fight for what I believe in, and that's what I do." Caesar said. The dragons and the kids were hanging from his mouth.
"Now, since this battle is over, I can finally get on with big things." He said. "I'll need help in this task. Titus will you help me?" Titus smiled with preplexion.
" Of course my friend. We're long time friends, and we always fought, so that little squabble we had before isn't something unusual. Like the old days…" Titus said.
" I'll be behind you all the way." Caesar smiled.
"And you Sylvia, will you help me as well?" he told to the female dragon.
"…Me? How can I help you Caesar? You did all this on your own…you turned the dragons into pure rebels against Seth…What can I do to help?" she said with shyness.
"By becoming my mate, and my Queen. Together we will lead the Holy Dragons against Seth, and we will guide the others too. Do you accept Sylvia?" Caesar asked her, longing for an answer. Sylvia looked at the ground. She was very honored, and was about to cry. She had always loved Caesar, but when she set eyes on him, all grown up, a strong and proud Holy Dragon, the Divine Dragon himself, she had instantly fallen for him. But Caesar had also loved Sylvia. She was his first friend, and his best. Caesar always stood for her when other young dragons had teased her.
" I do Caesar…" Sylvia said.
"ALRIGHT!" Caesar said and rubbed his head with Sylvia's. The dragons cheered.
"Hooray! Hooray for Caesar and Sylvia! Hooray for the Divine Dragon and his Queen! Hooray!" and with them Selphie and Irvine cheered. Caesar deserved such happiness, Selphie thought. He was happy, and he was ready to fight the Evil, no matter what it would cost him.
"If Squall was here, he'd be really happy…" Selphie thought. She almost heard Squall answer.
"You bet Selphie…you bet…" he said in her mind. She looked up in the sky, and saw Squall there, his eyes looking down at them all, smiling, as he seldom did.
Seth was furious. He didn't know what to do to contain his anger. He failed to kill the Divine Dragon. It was that silly former goddess', Glafky's fault. That little slime had jumped in front just as he was to die, curse her. Now he had to find another way to strike them. He should turn to the other party, which headed to Esthar to see that idiot, Laguna. Oh, if only he had killed him seventeen years ago…Squall would have never been born. And he would succeed. But, someone else would have came up, inevitably…And that stupid Superior Power…it wouldn't completely obey him. He had to kneel its will. But, he had time; lot's of time. All the gods were now imprisoned, and the Leonhart was dead…who could oppose him now? Now, he was free to rule…if he won over the Superior Power. He looked at the white light orb across him. That was the incarnation of the Superior Power. But, I was half under his command. If he could win over it, nothing could stop him, nothing. Now, he had to run to the secret temple of Apollo, and kill Echidna. Her blood was the only poison that could kill a god, and she was a minor threat.
In Dollet, two men entered the Nautilus Junk Shop. They looked around.
"Can I help you?" the owner said, surprised by the silent customers. They wore long white robes, and had their faces half covered. They looked like Bedouins.
"Yes, I want you to make something…a crystal goblet…with a lid from Dragon bone…" one man said with a low, silent voice.
"Hmmm… It'll be pretty expensive Sir." The owner replied, slowly, underlining his words. The man who had spoken nodded.
"How much?" he asked.
"10.000 Gil" the owner replied, a little nervous. Those two didn't look like they wanted to argue. The first man nodded again, and turned to his companion. He whistled to attract his attention from some swords and told him something in a strange, sharp language. The other man nodded and from a pocket of his robe he pulled a leather purse, which he threw at the first man, who caught it in mid-air, just lifting his hand, without moving any other muscle. He silently took out the amount, and placed it on the counter.
"Is it ok now?" he asked.
"…Yes…of course…err…do you have the ingredients required?" The owner said surprised. The first man placed a bag on the counter.
"It's all in there old man…" he said as the owner went to check. The owner nodded, and taking the bag turned his back to them, to stare at the workbench behind the counter.
"I'll be done in a while…Come back in a few minutes…" he said as he prepared to work. The second man showed a sword on a wall and told something to his companion with the odd language, asking him something, and then explaining something else. The first man nodded affirmatively.
"Say, how much is that sword on the wall? The big silver one." The owner turned to them again.
"The 'Razor Arm'? Uhh…500 Gil. You want it?"
"My companion needs a new sword. His old one was destroyed. That one is exactly like his. We'll take it." The first man said and told the other one to take it, in the odd language again. The other man smiled slightly and took the 'Razor Arm' from off the wall. He looked satisfied. The owner looked at both of them.
"Excuse my curiosity, but where are you from, and what the hell language are you speaking? I speak 5, but I don't know yours!" the said.
"…We're from the desert…and we speak the language of the desert." The first man said.
"Hell…I haven't heard of any people in the desert! Where exactly are you two coming from?"
"You want to know too much old man. Just make the goblet." The first man replied. The second man laughed, and told something to the first man, which also laughed.
"My friend said you talk like a meerkat…too much and too fast, hehe." He told the owner. The poor owner stared at them. A little girl came in the shop, playing with a ball. He ball tumbled all the way to the second man's feet. He looked at the girl, then at the ball, then back at the girl. The little child was staring at him, hesitating to go get her ball. The second man kneeled, and lifted the little ball. Then he whistled at the girl to draw her attention and threw the ball gently at her. The girl caught it, and sent a small smile at him.
"Thanks." She said.
"Whishkoka" the man replied. The first man watched the whole scene with interest.
"He's saying 'welcome'." He told the girl. She smiled again, and ran out happily passing by the second man with a shriek of laughter.
"She's my daughter." The owner said, hammering.
"…" none of the men spoke.
"You two…obviously don't talk much…"
"Don't talk much either old man."
"Hey, let me do my job the way I'm used doing it!"
"Then talk to wall." The second man said suddenly. He had a heavy pronunciation. It was obvious English wasn't a language he knew well.
"Rami…Quiet." The first man said surprised.
"Huh? So you do talk English after all!" the owner said surprised.
"He knows the language…a little." The first man said.
"Good for him…" the owner replied.
"What are you two anyway?! Why do you want a luxury item when you live in the desert? Are you SeeDs or anything?!"
"Never mind old man…" the first man said sharply. A movement of the man's body revealed part of a weapon.
"Hmmm? What's that? A Gunblade?"
"Yes."
"What model?"
"Never mind."
"It looks like one I know…Hell, can't recall the name…But I think I've crafted one like it…a young hero brought his one, and I remade it into a great Gunblade…He fought a Sorceress with it…I guess you know the story…"
"Who doesn't?" the man replied shrugging his shoulders, and concealed his weapon nervously. The second man asked something with hesitation. He nodded towards the owner.
"No Rami, it won't be necessary. If he knows what's good for him, he won't speak of us." The first man replied, loud enough for the owner to hear. Of course, on purpose. The owner sighed and finished off the goblet.
"Here it is…It's 10.500 Gil in total…" the owner said.
"One last one…where the hell did you get all this money?"
"…Monsters of the desert are a profitable pray for hunt…" the first man said, as they exited the shop. The owner of the shop watched them as they mounted two Chocobos outside the shop, and took out a map to examine. The second man showed something on the map, and the other man replied, annoyed, but not from the other man, but rather with the map. He packed it up, and then pulled the Chocobo's reigns to give it a move on. His companion followed.
"Weird customers…" the owner murmured and bit his pipe.
Seth rose from his throne, Horus' throne, and after opening a dimensional door, walked through it, to find himself in Apollo's secret temple, where Echidna lived. He pulled out his great sword, and headed for the altar, where Echidna crawled. Echidna was a woman, waist up human, waist down a snake, and her bite was deadly, and so was her sight. Anything that looked in her eyes, say human, say animal, turned into stiff stone. Seth reached the altar, and drooped his sword from surprise. Echidna was dead. She lay in front of the altar; face down, he head chopped off. Someone had been there before him, and killed her.
"Nooo!" he cried out with fury.
"Who has done it! Who has done it!" he cried out.
"It can't be the Leonhart, he's dead…a comrade of his?!…I'd knew…Grr…perhaps he has a friend I don't know…yet…never mind…he spared me of a chore…" Seth said lifting his sword. Then he noticed something.
"Whoever did this, made sure he gathered some blood…and took the head…two powerful weapons…hmmm…No…a silly move…now I can easily find him…" he said, and then opened that dimensional door again, and left the temple.
The other three, Quistis, Seifer and Rinoa headed to Esthar. They had to hurry and find Laguna. Rinoa was choking with worry. What from now…what future awaited them? She looked out of the Ragnarok. The blue sky and the blue sea made her sad. They reminded her of Squall's eyes. Of him. She wished he could be there now, and hug her to comfort her. She missed him. Strangely, his face was slowly yet steadily fading away in her mind. Only his eyes, his sometimes persistent, sometimes worried, innocent or puppy-dog eyes, his eagle sharp and wild eyes during battle still were alive in her memories. Those tender eyes whenever he met hers. Where was he now? What was he doing? Could he see her…from up there? Her mother had told her that the people who are dead watched over the living and helped them in times of need. Rinoa looked at the sunset. Squall was smiling at her in the strong light…
Hey! This chapter's for you, C-chan, seeing as you're the only person that constantly reviews! People, I need reviews! Only another two chapters, and a bonus chapter, which can be counted as the epilogue, if you want.
Ruby Dragon