Author's Note: Reincarnation is drawing to a close. I'll try my best to twist the plot as much as I possibly can. Thanks to dragonlady8 for getting me to post again. I thought no one cared about this fic.
Reincarnation
Chapter 15-Garland's Back?
Alexandria City
Kuja:
"How do we stop Kirika?" Queen Garnet of Alexandria asked.
I really didn't want to answer or to find Kirika at the moment. The shock of being called a monster stuck firmly in my mind. Maybe it was an insecurity issue with me or something.
"I honestly don't know. All I know is that she'll be going after someone else next," I replied.
Zidane shook his head and sighed.
"Where else would she strike?"
"Lindblum, or rather, Neo Lindblum," Garnet whispered.
I nodded. Kirika would try to take out her family in a fit of rage. She was insane, but hurt. Deep inside of that destructive shell was a crying little girl.
"Her family lives there, correct?" Garnet asked.
"But she hates her mother," Zidane commented.
"Exactly. But she doesn't know who gave her mother all those riches," I muttered.
Garnet grabbed my shoulder and dug her nails into my skin.
"You know something, don't you?"
Oh, I knew plenty of things. That's what made me, me.
"Tell her, Kuja," Zidane hissed.
"Kirika's mother has been in league with me for years. You see, I am Kirika's legitimate father," I said softly.
Garnet expression softened.
"So, you weren't lying. But why did Kirika behave like that?"
I didn't know myself.
"She probably thinks you have something to do with it. She's just being irrational," I muttered.
"Great, now we have a very irrational, life crystal wearing teenager running around in Gaia."
Well…once you put it that way, it did seem kind of funny.
"Let's head to the Invincible and catch up to her."
Kirika:
I floated along slowly, realizing how weak and tired I was. I was rapidly de-trancing on my way to Neo Lindblum. Was the Life Crystal failing me? Had I grown so twisted and so ugly that the source of the most pure energy on Gaia would not support me? I stifled a small cry as I floated along also noticing that I was falling slowly.
"Silver…"
Out of the corner of my eye, a silver dragon swooped out of nowhere and positioned itself under me. I landed hard and wheezed, my body protesting against the action.
"Oh Silver, what have I done? I'm not worthy enough for the power of the life crystal…"
The dragon let out a soft cry as if to nurture me, but her comforting gesture was short lived.
"I am…I almost killed Garnet and Zidane. And Kuja was just trying to help."
But what about my mother? A sick smile inched its way across my lips. I could still kill her. My aura picked up greatly; the life crystal beginning to supply my body with life giving energy. I felt weightless again, like nothing could stop or touch me.
"Off to Neo Lindblum, Silver. We have someone to meet."
The Invincible
Kuja:
Silver was on the move again, probably with Kirika. I was surprised that the dragon would even go with her. Silver had limits to her temperament which she often reminded me of. Zidane was piloting the ship with Garnet, no doubt talking about how they plan to get rid of me when this was all over. Speaking of which, I'd better tell them another disturbing thing about Kirika.
I briskly walked up the stairs leading to the bottom level and into the cockpit.
"I believe there is something else you need to know about Kirika. However, you have to consider one thing: how she can trance," I said loudly.
Garnet blinked.
"Only those who are non-human or those you have magic can trance. So what your saying is that Kirika fits that category."
I nodded.
"When Kirika's Mother had her, we all thought she was human. But she has a tail…"
Zidane turned around, his face grim.
"She's a genome. Do you know what that means for her?"
I knew. Oh, I knew. This meant that maybe Garland would try to come for her. If Garland was technically 'alive'. Knowing my master…he probably created some kind of sick clone for him to merge with. Kirika was considerably more powerful than most genomes in general. However, she wouldn't reach my power limit by the time she bothered to develop it fully.
"Let us hope we can talk her out of it. And keep her safe."
Neo Lindblum
Kuja:
The city reeked of powers the moment I got out. However, none of them were Kirika's. Maybe Silver had bought us some time. And I didn't want to think of what happened if she did get here first. Fortunately for us, we were able to land in the Neo Lindblum District close to the Nightengale home. I knocked on the door of the mansion, composing myself for other things. A small woman opened the door slowly.
"Kuja…what are you doing here?"
I smirked, recognizing this woman as Melinda, Kirika's half sister.
"Family business. Get your mother now."
I emphasized the word now, simply because Silver was within calling range. If Kirika was with Silver, then we had trouble coming. The thin wiry frame of Alena Nightengale emerged from the door, followed by Melinda and a few other people. I didn't want a spectacle, at least not now. But I wasn't in the mood to argue.
"What do you want, Kuja?" Alena asked.
"He's obliviously here to bring something out in the open. Is he not?"
The voice didn't belong to any of the people that were around me. Which could only mean…
"Kirika," Alena hissed.
I turned around and saw the blazing fury that had characterized her anger. Her long red hair was peppered with silver feathers that defied gravity by standing up straight. Her clothes were in tatters, except for the body suit that seemed to encase the important parts of the body. She was completely barefoot and her feet seemed to burn holes in the ground.
Her aura and skin were the same pale shade and her eyes twinkled with a hidden fire. Her mouth was turned up in a half smile/half frown and a set of fangs rested on her lips. My dragon landed directly behind her, fangs bared for an attack.
"So Mother, is there something you should tell me?" Kirika asked.
Alena snorted.
"So you let Kuja poison your mind with magic. This makes you less than what you are. Now tell me, how can you be less of a disgrace?"
I knew that comment stung Kirika. I could tell by the change in her aura.
"Lady Alena, how can you say such horrible things about your child?" Garnet asked, sympathy clear in her voice.
"I don't need your sympathy, Queen Garnet. But…thank you," Kirika muttered.
"You should have killed her, Kuja. Look what a monster she's become," Alena snapped.
There was that word again.
"Monster? I'll show you a monster!"
Kirika thrust her hand out, sending power outward violently. Everyone except for Alena and me were thrown about. Although that show of power frightened me, I had to keep things under control. I grabbed Alena's arm and dragged her over to me.
"Tell her, Alena," I shouted.
Alena glared at me, her jaw set into a frown. I shook her violently and snarled. Kirika eyed me warily, her hand outstretched, but no longer generating any power. Before Alena could open her mouth, the ground shook violently beneath our feet, generating a startled cry from Garnet and Kirika. A small puddle of darkness oozed up from under the street and formed into a small boy who looked like he was at least 15 years old. Now, that entrance was not normal for a little boy.
"My, my, it's good to see you again, Kuja."
That voice belonged to…