**BY: TIFA_TRIBAL**
Jessica gripped Bob's waist tightly, her eyes squeezed shut and her forehead pressed against his back.
Jess: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bob: Calm down, Jess. The Phoenix won't drop you.
Jess: Oh, THANK you for reassuring me!!
Tidus: So why ARE you freaking out, Jess?
Jess: I HATE HEIGHTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bob: Oy vey. *rolls his eyes*
Yuna: This is such a beautiful summon, Sir Bob.
Bob: *begins to blush* Eh, just Bob.
Jess: How do you NOT know what a Phoenix is?! It's a disgrace to FF!!
Bob: Chill, Jess.
As he says this, they are smacked full in the face with a huge blizzard. The air is biting cold, the wind howls icilly, and the Phoenix almost falls from the air in shcok.
Jess: ....THAT WASN'T FUNNY!!!
Bob: I didn't mean it to be!!!
Tidus: It's FREEZING!!!!
Yuna: That's Shiva's work. She must be very angry.
Jess: What the heck did Kuro do, Bob?!
Bob: She told me that she turned Shiva away!
Jess: Why?!
Bob: ...because she was hitting on Roy!
They are all shouting to be heard over the screaming winds. The Phoenix lands, shuddering and curling up.
Yuna: This is too much for it! Call it back!!
Bob: How?!
Jessica slaps her forehead.
Tidus: Pray, stupid!!
Jess: Hey! I'm the only one allowed to call him an idiot!!
Bob: *sarcastically* Well thank you dear.
He closes his eyes, biting his lip against the cold. He mumbles something, and the large firebird disappeared in a large swirl of flames.
Tidus: He got it.
Yuna: We must split up and locate the summon!
Bob: Before she destroys my home!!
Jess: You're the only one who knows your way around here, Bob.
Bob: I know...
Yuna: We'll be alright. We'll follow the will of the pendant.
She holds up the sky blue pendant on a silver chord. Bob nods and takes Jessica's hand.
Bob: We'll go north. You two follow that.
Tidus draws his sword and Yuna leads the way. Bob pulls Jessica in the opposite direction.
Jess: Bob...?
Bob: They'll be fine.
Jess: No Bob.
She stops. He also stops and looks back at her.
Bob: What is it?
Jess: I...I have a feeling...
Bob hesitates, then looks up at the dark sky.
Bob: .....is it a bad feeling?
Jess: VERY bad.
They look at one another. The he silently takes her hand and guides her through the noe-deserted streets of his hometown.
Jess: It's so empty...I thought New Yorkers were used to this weather?
Bob: Jess...it's the middle of JULY.
Jess: ...Oh yeah.
They cross the streets and then come to rest against the side of a building. Jessica stands close to him for warmth.
Jess: I'm so cold....
Bob: I know, I know. We'll be fine.
Jess: We were supposed to come here and you were supposed to take me to pizza or White Castle!! I didn't want to come here to freeze my butt off!!
Bob: Stop freaking, Jess.
Jess: I'm so tired....and so hngry, and so cold, and worried, and--
Bob silently wraps her in a caring hug.
Bob: Don't worry. We'll get through this--we always do!
Jess: Yeah...you're right. I'm sorry.
She hugs him back. The two friends stand at the wall, hugging now for warmth and reassurance. They stare out into the bleak wasteland hat was once a Square.
Jess: Thanks Bob.
Bob: Huh?!
Jess: For being such a cool PiC.
Bob: Heh. PiC's forever! Ya?
Jess: Ya!
They hug once more, and slowly keep moving.
Voice: AHAHAHAH!!!
They both jump and spin back around to see a figure hooded in robes of gold and black standing behind them, arms crossed.
Jess: Who are you?!
Hooded Figure: There is no reason for you to know, little girl.
Jess: LITTLE?!
Bob: Down, Jess!
Hooded Figure (HF): Stupid, foolish little mages!
Bob: WHAT?! He's dead!!
Bob pulls out his mage staff and runs forward. The HF holds out a hand, and Bob freezes in mid-air.
Jess: BOB!!
She quickly took out her rod and cast esuna. He fell to the snow, coughing. Jessica swung the rod again, and a huge Holy attack enveloped the figure and sent them flying back into the building. Then she ran to her friend, helping him to his feet and casting a quick auto-lfe spell.
Jess: Idiot! You never charge head-first!!
Bob: Love ya too...
The person gets up, laughing again.
HF: AHAHAAHAH!!!!!!!
Jess: I don't like the sound of that...
HF: STUPID girl! You dare try and harm me?!
Jess: Yeah...?
Bob: *sighs; shakes his head* DUMB Jess, sooooo dumb.
Jess: Shaddap!!
The figure then raises one hand and Jessica also begins to rise, choking.
Jess: GAK!!!
Bob: Wha? What the heck's he doing?!
Jessica chokes and gurgles, her eyes rolling back. Bob casts, and the Flare attack sent everyone flying. Jessica landed out in the middle of the street, hacking up a lung. Bob sat up and started scurrying over to her. The figure suddenly stood before him, laughing his demonic laugh.
Bob glared up at him heatedly, then... Creatures, THINGS, were coming out of the alleyways and sewers. All were silhouettes, and their eyes glowed leathal red as they surrounded the three people. Bob slowly got to his feet.
HF: You can't win....silly mage.
Bob's shoulders begin to rise and fall, his eyes flickering, then shinning white.
Bob: Only she's aloowed...to CALL ME THAT!!!!
His scream sent the power in his eyes radiating from his body. The opponent took a step back.
HF: What--?!
Bob's clothes suddenly morphed with his black armor and became mage robes of black, red, and gold. His shoes turned to boots, and a mage's hat formed on his head. The staff he held also morphed into a longer, more detailed one. Jessica blinked in amazement, trying to get up.
Bob: ULTIMA...FLARE!!!!!!!!!!!
Jess: ....that's gonna hurt.
The hooded figure befor him got landed by a spectacular Flare spell. All the mosters around them began to roar in pain as waves of Ultimas and Flares washed across their numbers. The red and white flashes lit up the sky. Bob continued to relentlessly cast, as Jessica watched in awe.
Tidus followed Yuna quickly past all the deserted shops and cars. It felt like a ghost town.
Tidus: Did she...kill them all?!
Yuna: No, I believe she just put them all in a cold-sleep.
Tidus: Oh goodie. Even better.
Yuna: Here.
They both stopped. Yuna looked around.
Tidus: Well?
Yuna: I can sense the power of a summon here....
Tidus takes the necklace as she goes to explore the area. He holds it up and studdies it.
Tidus: How are you going to get this Shiva-chick to be your summon?
Yuna: I'll ask her.
Tidus: What? That's it?! Just "Shiva, will you be my summon?"?!
Shiva: You called?
Tidus: GHAA!!
The woman in all blue stands behind him, very provocatively.
Tidus: Erm...Yunnie?
Yuna turns, sees Shiva, and scurries over, bowing.
Yuna: Oh great and powerful summon, please! Let me be your master!
Shiva: Nope.
Yuna: Why ever not!?
Shiva: I won't be YOUR summon...*looks at Tidus* I'll be HIS.
Tidus: That's fi--
Yuna kicks his shin. He shuts up.
Yuna: But he isn't a practiced summoner!
Shiva: Oh I'll give him some practice.
Yuna: No! This isn't right!!
Shiva: Then tough break.
Yuna: ......
Tidus: I don't mi--
Yuna stomps his foot.
Tidus: OW!!
Yuna: *whisper* Do you know what she really wants?!
Tidus: *whisper* Well, what choice do we have?
Yuna: ......
Then they all look up as a random flare spell lights the area.
Tidus: Bob?
Yuna: Yup.
Shiva: Uh-oh... *turns to Yuna and Tidus* t's that mysterious summoner.
Yuna: Mysterios summoner?!
Shiva: He's tried to collect the eight summons, but he doesn't have the pendants. They were on the way here to him by airship. When an accident occured and a group of mages and summoners took the necklaces, he realized the necklaces would never reach him in time.
Yuna: He knows...?!
Shiva: He was counting on the bearers of the necklaces to come here and try and track me, so this is where he came.
Tidus: So you've basically brought us to our deaths.
Shiva: I will fight alongside you as your summon, if you will take me.
Tidus: T-TAKE YOU?!
Yuna: *eyebrow twitching* She MEANS as her master.
Tidus: O-Oh....
Shiva leans toward him rather seductively. Tidus gulps. Yuna nods, though we can see she is a bit miffed.
Tidus: Yes Shiva. Become my summon.
The hooded figure (HF) looked at the glowing figure before him. Bob's chest heaved, power still radiating from his eyes and glowing body.
Bob: You hurt Jessica...!
The aforementioned girl rises to her hands and knees.
Jess: Bob...I'm alright...
At the sound of her voice, he loses the anamalistic glint in his eye. The black mage runs over to her, concern on his face.
Bob: Jess...you're alive!!
Jess: Takes a lot more than that to kill me, remember?
Bob: So true.
She finally gets a good look at him.
Jess: Bob!! You're a...a...!!
Bob: A plushie?
Jess: Yeah--no!! You're an Ultimate Mage!!!
Bob: Ultimate Mage, whazzat?
Jess: Didn't you learn that in the finishing school?
Bob: No...
Jess: What's your most powerful dark spell?
Bob: Um...Ultima?
Jess: Right. SO, mix Ultima with all your other spells, and put yourself in triple trance mode.
Bob: That's a good thing, right?
Jess: Why DON'T you know about this?!
Bob: Erm...I might have skipped a class or two...
Jess: Bob!!
Bob: It was or a good cause!
Jess: Playing hookey to watch a baseball team lose?!
Bob: Don't start with me.
There was a flash of green light and Bob collapsed on top of her. She cried out and looked up into the face of the HF, gasping.
Jess: YOU?!
The figure merely laughed and threw his cloak around her, and in a swirl of green light, they were both gone.
Bob slowly got up, his mage-like clothing slowly fading back to the jeans and t-shirt he was wearing before. He looked around in a daze.
Bob: .....Jess?
No response. His eyes opened wide and he leapt to his feet, looking around wildly.
Bob: Jess?!
There is nothing around him but snow painted with the blood of fallen monsters.
No Jessica.
Bob: JESSICA?!?!
Jessica gripped Bob's waist tightly, her eyes squeezed shut and her forehead pressed against his back.
Jess: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bob: Calm down, Jess. The Phoenix won't drop you.
Jess: Oh, THANK you for reassuring me!!
Tidus: So why ARE you freaking out, Jess?
Jess: I HATE HEIGHTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bob: Oy vey. *rolls his eyes*
Yuna: This is such a beautiful summon, Sir Bob.
Bob: *begins to blush* Eh, just Bob.
Jess: How do you NOT know what a Phoenix is?! It's a disgrace to FF!!
Bob: Chill, Jess.
As he says this, they are smacked full in the face with a huge blizzard. The air is biting cold, the wind howls icilly, and the Phoenix almost falls from the air in shcok.
Jess: ....THAT WASN'T FUNNY!!!
Bob: I didn't mean it to be!!!
Tidus: It's FREEZING!!!!
Yuna: That's Shiva's work. She must be very angry.
Jess: What the heck did Kuro do, Bob?!
Bob: She told me that she turned Shiva away!
Jess: Why?!
Bob: ...because she was hitting on Roy!
They are all shouting to be heard over the screaming winds. The Phoenix lands, shuddering and curling up.
Yuna: This is too much for it! Call it back!!
Bob: How?!
Jessica slaps her forehead.
Tidus: Pray, stupid!!
Jess: Hey! I'm the only one allowed to call him an idiot!!
Bob: *sarcastically* Well thank you dear.
He closes his eyes, biting his lip against the cold. He mumbles something, and the large firebird disappeared in a large swirl of flames.
Tidus: He got it.
Yuna: We must split up and locate the summon!
Bob: Before she destroys my home!!
Jess: You're the only one who knows your way around here, Bob.
Bob: I know...
Yuna: We'll be alright. We'll follow the will of the pendant.
She holds up the sky blue pendant on a silver chord. Bob nods and takes Jessica's hand.
Bob: We'll go north. You two follow that.
Tidus draws his sword and Yuna leads the way. Bob pulls Jessica in the opposite direction.
Jess: Bob...?
Bob: They'll be fine.
Jess: No Bob.
She stops. He also stops and looks back at her.
Bob: What is it?
Jess: I...I have a feeling...
Bob hesitates, then looks up at the dark sky.
Bob: .....is it a bad feeling?
Jess: VERY bad.
They look at one another. The he silently takes her hand and guides her through the noe-deserted streets of his hometown.
Jess: It's so empty...I thought New Yorkers were used to this weather?
Bob: Jess...it's the middle of JULY.
Jess: ...Oh yeah.
They cross the streets and then come to rest against the side of a building. Jessica stands close to him for warmth.
Jess: I'm so cold....
Bob: I know, I know. We'll be fine.
Jess: We were supposed to come here and you were supposed to take me to pizza or White Castle!! I didn't want to come here to freeze my butt off!!
Bob: Stop freaking, Jess.
Jess: I'm so tired....and so hngry, and so cold, and worried, and--
Bob silently wraps her in a caring hug.
Bob: Don't worry. We'll get through this--we always do!
Jess: Yeah...you're right. I'm sorry.
She hugs him back. The two friends stand at the wall, hugging now for warmth and reassurance. They stare out into the bleak wasteland hat was once a Square.
Jess: Thanks Bob.
Bob: Huh?!
Jess: For being such a cool PiC.
Bob: Heh. PiC's forever! Ya?
Jess: Ya!
They hug once more, and slowly keep moving.
Voice: AHAHAHAH!!!
They both jump and spin back around to see a figure hooded in robes of gold and black standing behind them, arms crossed.
Jess: Who are you?!
Hooded Figure: There is no reason for you to know, little girl.
Jess: LITTLE?!
Bob: Down, Jess!
Hooded Figure (HF): Stupid, foolish little mages!
Bob: WHAT?! He's dead!!
Bob pulls out his mage staff and runs forward. The HF holds out a hand, and Bob freezes in mid-air.
Jess: BOB!!
She quickly took out her rod and cast esuna. He fell to the snow, coughing. Jessica swung the rod again, and a huge Holy attack enveloped the figure and sent them flying back into the building. Then she ran to her friend, helping him to his feet and casting a quick auto-lfe spell.
Jess: Idiot! You never charge head-first!!
Bob: Love ya too...
The person gets up, laughing again.
HF: AHAHAAHAH!!!!!!!
Jess: I don't like the sound of that...
HF: STUPID girl! You dare try and harm me?!
Jess: Yeah...?
Bob: *sighs; shakes his head* DUMB Jess, sooooo dumb.
Jess: Shaddap!!
The figure then raises one hand and Jessica also begins to rise, choking.
Jess: GAK!!!
Bob: Wha? What the heck's he doing?!
Jessica chokes and gurgles, her eyes rolling back. Bob casts, and the Flare attack sent everyone flying. Jessica landed out in the middle of the street, hacking up a lung. Bob sat up and started scurrying over to her. The figure suddenly stood before him, laughing his demonic laugh.
Bob glared up at him heatedly, then... Creatures, THINGS, were coming out of the alleyways and sewers. All were silhouettes, and their eyes glowed leathal red as they surrounded the three people. Bob slowly got to his feet.
HF: You can't win....silly mage.
Bob's shoulders begin to rise and fall, his eyes flickering, then shinning white.
Bob: Only she's aloowed...to CALL ME THAT!!!!
His scream sent the power in his eyes radiating from his body. The opponent took a step back.
HF: What--?!
Bob's clothes suddenly morphed with his black armor and became mage robes of black, red, and gold. His shoes turned to boots, and a mage's hat formed on his head. The staff he held also morphed into a longer, more detailed one. Jessica blinked in amazement, trying to get up.
Bob: ULTIMA...FLARE!!!!!!!!!!!
Jess: ....that's gonna hurt.
The hooded figure befor him got landed by a spectacular Flare spell. All the mosters around them began to roar in pain as waves of Ultimas and Flares washed across their numbers. The red and white flashes lit up the sky. Bob continued to relentlessly cast, as Jessica watched in awe.
Tidus followed Yuna quickly past all the deserted shops and cars. It felt like a ghost town.
Tidus: Did she...kill them all?!
Yuna: No, I believe she just put them all in a cold-sleep.
Tidus: Oh goodie. Even better.
Yuna: Here.
They both stopped. Yuna looked around.
Tidus: Well?
Yuna: I can sense the power of a summon here....
Tidus takes the necklace as she goes to explore the area. He holds it up and studdies it.
Tidus: How are you going to get this Shiva-chick to be your summon?
Yuna: I'll ask her.
Tidus: What? That's it?! Just "Shiva, will you be my summon?"?!
Shiva: You called?
Tidus: GHAA!!
The woman in all blue stands behind him, very provocatively.
Tidus: Erm...Yunnie?
Yuna turns, sees Shiva, and scurries over, bowing.
Yuna: Oh great and powerful summon, please! Let me be your master!
Shiva: Nope.
Yuna: Why ever not!?
Shiva: I won't be YOUR summon...*looks at Tidus* I'll be HIS.
Tidus: That's fi--
Yuna kicks his shin. He shuts up.
Yuna: But he isn't a practiced summoner!
Shiva: Oh I'll give him some practice.
Yuna: No! This isn't right!!
Shiva: Then tough break.
Yuna: ......
Tidus: I don't mi--
Yuna stomps his foot.
Tidus: OW!!
Yuna: *whisper* Do you know what she really wants?!
Tidus: *whisper* Well, what choice do we have?
Yuna: ......
Then they all look up as a random flare spell lights the area.
Tidus: Bob?
Yuna: Yup.
Shiva: Uh-oh... *turns to Yuna and Tidus* t's that mysterious summoner.
Yuna: Mysterios summoner?!
Shiva: He's tried to collect the eight summons, but he doesn't have the pendants. They were on the way here to him by airship. When an accident occured and a group of mages and summoners took the necklaces, he realized the necklaces would never reach him in time.
Yuna: He knows...?!
Shiva: He was counting on the bearers of the necklaces to come here and try and track me, so this is where he came.
Tidus: So you've basically brought us to our deaths.
Shiva: I will fight alongside you as your summon, if you will take me.
Tidus: T-TAKE YOU?!
Yuna: *eyebrow twitching* She MEANS as her master.
Tidus: O-Oh....
Shiva leans toward him rather seductively. Tidus gulps. Yuna nods, though we can see she is a bit miffed.
Tidus: Yes Shiva. Become my summon.
The hooded figure (HF) looked at the glowing figure before him. Bob's chest heaved, power still radiating from his eyes and glowing body.
Bob: You hurt Jessica...!
The aforementioned girl rises to her hands and knees.
Jess: Bob...I'm alright...
At the sound of her voice, he loses the anamalistic glint in his eye. The black mage runs over to her, concern on his face.
Bob: Jess...you're alive!!
Jess: Takes a lot more than that to kill me, remember?
Bob: So true.
She finally gets a good look at him.
Jess: Bob!! You're a...a...!!
Bob: A plushie?
Jess: Yeah--no!! You're an Ultimate Mage!!!
Bob: Ultimate Mage, whazzat?
Jess: Didn't you learn that in the finishing school?
Bob: No...
Jess: What's your most powerful dark spell?
Bob: Um...Ultima?
Jess: Right. SO, mix Ultima with all your other spells, and put yourself in triple trance mode.
Bob: That's a good thing, right?
Jess: Why DON'T you know about this?!
Bob: Erm...I might have skipped a class or two...
Jess: Bob!!
Bob: It was or a good cause!
Jess: Playing hookey to watch a baseball team lose?!
Bob: Don't start with me.
There was a flash of green light and Bob collapsed on top of her. She cried out and looked up into the face of the HF, gasping.
Jess: YOU?!
The figure merely laughed and threw his cloak around her, and in a swirl of green light, they were both gone.
Bob slowly got up, his mage-like clothing slowly fading back to the jeans and t-shirt he was wearing before. He looked around in a daze.
Bob: .....Jess?
No response. His eyes opened wide and he leapt to his feet, looking around wildly.
Bob: Jess?!
There is nothing around him but snow painted with the blood of fallen monsters.
No Jessica.
Bob: JESSICA?!?!