Chapter 40 – Crystal Trap
A/N: Argh!!!! Due to some error, all the reviews for chapter 42 have been deleted! Not by my own hand of course… seems that when FF.net corrected some errors on its server, it had deleted some reviews along with the change… reconfirmed my suspicions with a review of my own, and it appeared immediately after I submitted it… but… but… the rest all flushed down the drain! I feel pained at such a loss!! I'm sorry your efforts have gone to waste… thank goodness for email, or I wouldn't have read those reviews at all and thought my chapter worthless.
Anyway… enough rambling…. Shall we continue?
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"I wouldn't do that if I were you."
Out of nowhere, two neat rows of three star-shaped darts flew in and lodged themselves onto the Underground Creature's back.
Its hand jerked with an awkward motion upon the contact, thereby completely stopping its attempt to slash viciously at Yuri, as it had obviously intended to do.
It turned around to face its attacker with a rough growl. The growl turned into an ear-busting, cringe-worthy yell as the searing flames of the poison licked through its entire back with merciless tongues, then spread outwards from the tip of its head to its toenails. The searing sensation was replaced by a chilling of its vile blood and consequently paralysis of all its muscles.
"Those darts were steeped with the saturated venom of Ochu, Anaconda and Black Widow Arachnid. You will not be able to move for… let's say, the rest of your life? Would you rather prefer I kill you instead?"
The Underground Creature did not, or rather could not respond, staring at her with plain hatred.
"I thought so too." Xu 'replied' to its vengeful glare, and walked purposefully towards its back.
She took a deep breath, pushed all her chi to the tip of her fingers and struck at its blood points along the neck, shoulder blades, spine, and limbs, effectively hindering the blood flow to its heart.
She gathered her chi again, this time upon the core of her right palm, and slapped the palm right into the middle of the creature's back while pushing the chi entirely into its body.
The entire mass of the mud-brown creature dispersed into tiny particles, as was the norm whenever they had their life snubbed out.
"You two ought to be more alert to your surroundings!" She chided Nida and Yuri sternly, but there was no masking the mischievous twinkle in her eye. She could not wait to take the juicy piece of gossip back to the Balamb community… for this elusive couple had kept their relationship under wraps all along. Even though……
"Ah… thank you, Xu…" Nida and Yuri separated immediately, sporting sheepish looks and fierce blushes on their faces.
"How's the situation now?" Xu enquired looking around her to survey the damage done.
"Not good… our squad is gradually getting tired… cos we had to fight with two Back Ogres, one of which we had destroyed not too long ago. The other one was defeated by some five of our team… but they barely survived the attack…" Nida was worried to the hilt that Dollet would be taken over by the Underground Creatures, even with the help of some SeeDs dispatched from the Dollet Shore Squad, which was currently unoccupied as their area had not been breached by the enemy. They could not stave off the excessive numbers of Underground Creatures that kept multiplying themselves, as the SeeDs could not kill them fast and thoroughly enough to prevent the cells from regenerating.
"Don't worry. Now that we're here, you've got all the help you need, and more." Xu said with a grin.
"Thank you again, Xu. That's a huge load off our shoulders."
"Save your thanks for later. We've got things to kill!" She said, striking one of the advancing creatures at the neck with her hand blade without so much as throwing a glance at it.
"HOLY!" Yuri yelled, casting a spell upon the same creature, sending it along its way to become merely dust particles.
"Not bad… not bad at all, Yuri! Nida… if you don't buck up soon you'll lose to your girlfriend in the reliability stakes."
"B…but we aren't…" They started to protest at the same time, only to induce more laughter around.
Unknown to them, the other SeeDs and Cadets had started listening in on their conversation as well, and found it amusing, to say the least… and definitely a welcome break from the continuous fighting they had been engaged in ever since they had pitted themselves against the monsters to protect Dollet.
"Oh well… I suppose they would have to find out sooner or later…" Nida grinned foolishly at Yuri.
"Incoming at six o'clock!" Someone yelled behind them, and sure enough, there were two monsters rapidly advancing towards Xu, Nida and Yuri, eager for a piece of them.
Xu turned towards the Squad that had followed her from Winhill, she gave her orders quickly.
"You are to assist whoever is in need of your help, be it curing, support or simply beating the hell out of those creatures. I expect you to exercise your initiative fully here. Dismissed!"
The Squad immediately dispersed to different directions.
She turned back to her immediate threat, and started to get ready for the next wave of attack.
Fifteen minutes later……
Slowly but surely, the numbers of the Underground Creatures started decreasing, no longer cloning themselves as the humans had started to battle smartly, and disposed of them within the first few attacks, thus giving them less time to regroup their regenerative cells. This was only made possible with the fresh injection of help from the Winhill Squad, which had increased their odds against the monsters to a favorable one. As such, a chain effect followed. With the steady decline in the enemies' numbers, the SeeDs and Dollet forces were better able to unify against the creatures, thus giving them even less time to strike back…
At the very last stage of the tug-of-war between humans and Underground Creatures in Dollet, the ratio was one creature to ten humans… simply a matter of time before all were completely destroyed and reduced to black powder, disposed of automatically by the wind that seemed to be perpetually blowing over the whole continent.
The Squad leaders looked about them, and sighed with blatant relief when they had ascertained that all the enemies had been taken care of.
However, their own situation was not that much better, for the casualties were many… an inevitable occurrence as with any battle.
"Rest well… for you have earned it with your blood and sweat. Think no more of what lies ahead… for the time being, you are free of worries, even if it is only for a short period. The rest shall be taken care of by our comrades in other parts of the world……" Yuri knelt by each injured person, tried to perform curing on them and at the same time whispered words of encouragement and kindness into their ears that were still ringing with the clash of the battle and the pounding of their adrenaline-rushed hearts. Her voice was soft and soothing, like cool balm upon burnt skin.
"Yuri… you should get that burn dressed… or you might risk an infection…" Nida examined her thigh anxiously, afraid that the burn would leave a scar on her flawless skin and subsequently, a similar one in her heart.
"I'm fine… let me do this first… they need my help, I can't just leave them unattended! It would take some time for them to be transferred to the hospital, and the least I could do was try to calm them down……"
"I must say, Nida… you have excellent taste." Xu observed them quietly for a while, then remarked to Nida with another mischievous grin… the fifth one that day, if her count was accurate.
"What do you mean?" Nida looked at her with incomprehension, not having the slightest idea what she was talking about.
"Figure it out yourself. Meanwhile… we need to get back to Squall on our situation, and check if any of the others need our help."
"That's right! I almost forgot!" Nida fumbled with his communication device, switching in on in a hurry.
I'm talking about your choice for a girlfriend… you dense head! You couldn't have picked a better one… I suppose I should let go and move on…...
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~DELING CAMP~
"Are you alright, Squall?" Rinoa peered worriedly at her husband, who was lying on the makeshift hospital bed in their tent. The Galbadian hospital was already full with admission of the sudden surge of injured soldiers and SeeDs as a result of their fight, and Squall chose not to occupy a place so that an additional place was available for the next person. His wounds had been attended to quickly by the Head of the hospital, at the insistence of President Caraway, who had not been able to convince him to receive treatment in the hospital.
"I owe you much, son. Not just for the help you have invaluably given in protecting my cities, but for creating a link for me and Rinoa after so many years of cold war…"
"It's nothing, Sir. I only did what I was supposed to do."
"You are too modest. I can foresee the makings of a great leader in you. Balamb Garden… no… the whole Garden community will thrive under you leadership."
"I'm only just the Commander of Balamb Garden… Not even the Headmaster!" Squall protested at President Caraway's words, afraid of the implications that might arise from it.
"We'll see… Squall… we'll see…" The President replied with a mysterious smile.
"Squall? Are you still here with me?" Rinoa became even more anxious when Squall did not respond to her calls.
"Huh? Oh, I'm fine, Rinny. All I need is a good rest… and you need one yourself… your face is all drawn with fatigue!"
"B…but…. I can't just leave you like this?"
"Then share my bed, if you can't bear to leave my side."
"Squall! That's so unlike you to joke at a time like this! Has the battle gone to your head?" She pinched him on the shoulder lightly.
"Who says I'm joking? There's enough space for two in here." He moved aside to create a space on his bed that was indeed big enough for Rinoa to fit in.
Rinoa looked at him incredulously for a while, unsure if it was really her husband lying there and not some impersonator from the funny camp.
"Ahhh, what the hell!" She declared, shook off all her inhibitions, and snuggled into the empty space, lying against his arms.
He did his best to stifle a groan - a truly admirable effort for her body was slightly pressed against his abdomen.
They lay there for quite a while, enjoying the peace that settled over them, something that had become a luxury ever since they had been plagued with worries of the world being destroyed and taken over by a certain Dark Lord.
But it was not to be… their private moments always seemed to be interrupted before they could enjoy enough of them.
The communication device hidden in his jacket beeped shrilly, shocking them out of their moment.
With an exasperated grumble and an apologetic look at Rinoa, he switched it on and barked into it with more than a little annoyance.
"WHAT?!!" He yelled into the mouthpiece.
"Errr…. This is Nida speaking? Reporting on the situation in Dollet?" Nida's voice was quivering, intimidated by the Commander's sudden display of PMS-worthy crankiness.
"Continue." Squall tried to curb the annoyance from his voice, but a little of it succeeded in creeping in.
"All the monsters have been destroyed in Dollet."
"And in Winhill as well, by the PuPu aliens I had mentioned earlier." Xu added, switching on her communication device a little later than Nida. "What about other areas, Commander?"
"Hmm…. Very good. It appears that each and every one of the cities have been rid of the Underground Armies. There were no reports of attacks on Balamb Garden, Balamb Town, Trabia Garden and Fisherman's Horizon. As for the Estharian continent, I would have to refer to its President for further updates, but even if there were attacks, they would have asked for our help by now if there was any difficulty in defeating the enemy. So essentially… we have won, this time round. Now we wait for the six to defeat Redrumiel… and we can end this bloody war."
"Now that's a relief…" Xu said. "So, do we remain in the cities, or do we return to Balamb Garden?"
"For the time being, it is better to maintain vigilance on additional enemy activity… we do not know if there were any other armies which were not deployed in this round. Of course, I would hope that all of them had been exterminated, but it is better to play it safe than sorry."
"Understood Commander."
"Nida signing off, Commander." Nida switched off his communication device first.
There was a pause on Xu's part. She did not appear to be intent on breaking the conversation as yet.
"Xu?" The Commander was puzzled.
"Psst psst… Squall… do you know that Nida and Yuri are an item?" She whispered covertly.
Squall's face registered surprise at first, followed by a tiny smile.
"WHAT? IS THAT TRUE?" A shrill voice screeched into their ears… belonging to the one and only Selphie Tilmitt.
Uh-oh… the whole of Balamb… no… Garden community will know of it by the time the sun sets…
Both Xu and Squall thought to themselves, shaking their heads in pity for Nida and Yuri. (Even Xu, who was the initial culprit who let the cat out of the bag.)
"Well… I have to go now and help out with the admission of the injured into the Dollet hospital. If there are any new instructions, just beep me. Xu signing off." With a click, she switched off the communication device.
"Yes, Selphie? Do you have anything to report other than Timber being safe?"
"Uh… No. I simply had an urge to switch it on… and I'm glad I listened to it… or else I would have missed out on an absolutely important piece of news! TATA! Gotta go!"
"What's so amusing?" Rinoa looked suspiciously at Squall, who was still wearing that tiny smile, only it had spread a little to qualify as a grin for Squall's standards.
"You will never guess…" He spoke, his grin widening by the moment.
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~ANGEL LAND, THE LORD'S CHAMBERS~
"If you think that you have won the battle… that all is over just by defeating my Underground Creature Army… then you are dreadfully wrong, and overtly naïve. Do you think that I do not have a backup plan? I have know all along that the useless creatures would never succeed… they are merely pawns within my control… a means of buying time… to create the ultimate monster that could destroy your entire race with a simple flick of its fingers… HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA… fools… bask in your bliss while you can. Your time is up."
The Dark Lord strode away from his mirror, which would reflect whatever was happening in the SEI, and had learnt from there that his AKU Army had been reduced to nothing but dust at the bottom of the ocean between the Galbadian and Estharian continents.
A tiny voice screeched at him, coming from one of the six tiny crystals that were placed in a row on his marble-topped pedestal.
He bent down so that he was at eye level with that particular crystal.
"You can scream all that you want, but you
will never be able to escape from the eternal prison of crystal I have created
for the six of you. Your friends will be left to die in my hands… every single
one of the humans, including the four here that are entrapped alongside you.
The only way you can escape is if I die, or if you break out of your prison…
but that would only mean certain death for you, as the intense pressure created
from the collision of forces inside that compact space would rupture your blood
vessels and cause extensive damage to your internal organs. Do not say that I
have never warned you. I will not be responsible for whatever consequences if
you should decide to go against my advice."
He stroked the blue crystal gently,
then caught himself, and sauntered towards the exit of the chamber.
"I do not have the time to reminisce over what's already past. Once… I was willing to relive our pleasant memories… but you did not accept the hand that I held out to you. You have dug your own grave… and you shall pay for it with your freedom."
He left the chamber, ignoring the little sounds emitting from the multi-colored crystals on the pedestals.
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I have to save them… and stop him… no matter what it takes… even at the cost of my own life.
She thought frantically, trying to find a way out of her prison… but the walls were tough as steel, maybe even worse, and there was no opening, at all, no matter where she looked.
"I know what you're thinking, Celestine. Don't do it… you mustn't throw away your life like that…"
Don't bother me. As an Angel, it is my duty to protect humans. And now that is just what I am intending to do… as I have chosen in my first test in the maze of shadows. You should know… for you have taken the same oath as I did.
She replied to the voice that had appeared in her mind.
"Celestine!"
Say no more… my mind is set… the only thing is… how the hell do I break through this stuff?
"That is one question I will never answer."
Fine! Have it your way!
She started banging on the walls, exerting every ounce of strength in her, but not even a single crack appeared. She tried using offensive magic, but there seemed to be an anti-magic field in the crystal, so that did not work too well.
She crouched upon the ground in despair.
She knew that time was running out… if she did not stop Redrumiel from summoning that monster he was talking about the whole of SEI could be destroyed, for all she knew.
I need strength… lots and lots of it… who is willing to bestow it upon me? Please….
She will get the strength she asked for, eventually.
But at what price, and by whom?
Will she be able to defeat the Dark Lord before he summons the monster?
Will she be able to save the rest from their crystals without subjecting them to the intense pressure that comes with the breaking of the crystal?
Next chapter, please.
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Yeah!! This chapter was so difficult to write that I fell asleep in the middle of it… seriously! I got home from work at twelve midnight, and started writing, but before I knew it, I had fallen asleep at the desk with my drool pooling on the keyboard… disgusting! Anyway… I'm sure you can smell the end of the war… soon I hope cos I repeated so many times I hate writing battle scenes. Meanwhile… I still have not gotten the consensus on the fate of Celestine! The opinions were pretty divided… Okay, to make the decision easier… dying does not mean necessarily mean a sad ending, and living does not guarantee a happily ever after one… so which to choose? Hmm Hmmm…..
Okay! Thank the reviewers time!
Soul of Flame –Wow… *glittery eyes* you sacrificed your fic writing time to review my fic… Am so moved… I will do the same for your fic, I promise! *holds hand up in solemnization*
Jengab057 – You like Celestine don't you? Well even if you don't, still I thank her on your behalf.
Celestine: At least somebody wants me alive… *grumbles grumbles*
WL: That's two somebodies! Soul of Flame wants you to live too.
Celestine: But you seem to want me dead.
WL: As I said… I can't decide.
Celestine: Which speaks volumes. How can you do this to your own character?
WL: Errrr…. Next…
Quistis88 – It's the quality, not the quantity that counts! It doesn't matter that you have eight chapters or forty-two… each writer has a different pace… for me I only write so many cos I'm long-winded. What other people use one chapter to describe, I can use up to three chappies! (Well, maybe a little exaggerated…) Anyway, I LOVE your story, so don't worry about it.
Shabaman – Yes… it would be dramatic to let her die. But I pulled the same stunt during the first fic of the series, Angel with a Broken Wing… too much of a good thing might spoil the whole thing…would it? Your opinion?
Celeste Spring: Oh no… you're right… how could I have missed that? Thanks for pointing it out to me! The attack on Winhill was a spur on a moment thing, and subsequently the appearance of PuPu… damn… wanted to inject some "All unity against the enemy" feel, but in the end I just kicked myself in the face…. PuPu… explain yourself!
PuPu: One fine day, PuPu hovering near Island closest to Hell… PuPu hate that place, but PuPu friend HuHu call it there. Many black monsters on that island talking about killing humans. Pupu think Winhill in trouble, so PuPu gather many friends.
Celestine: Bullshit… you were just conjured out of nowhere by a nondescript lily. Your acting is horrendous, your lies easily exposed.
Pupu: Sorry…PuPu failed Waterlily.
Damn… that only goes to show the story is too big for me to pull it off convincingly…