**BY: KUROHIME**
(The Moon Forest Road seems oddly familiar, but even then, they still knew that it hadn't been there before. That in itself was disconcerting, to say the least. Zidane had taken the lead once again, with Dagger and Kurohime just a few paces behind.)
DAGGER: *looking overhead* We might get rained on soon...
(It's obvious that Kurohime is still a bit preoccupied.)
KURO: I can't believe it. He let Jess get kidnapped. That idiot!
DAGGER: Kurohime, it's not as if you haven't made mistakes, either.
KURO: *grimaces and remains silent for a beat*
(Zidane overhears them and slows a little so they fall into step alongside him)
ZIDANE: We are going to get her back.
KURO: Well, I can't help but think how silly this is! Here we are wasting our time going on a Wild Summon Chase, and Jess is...
ZIDANE: I think she'll be fine.
KURO: I really don't share in your optimism right now, Zid. I wish I could, but I...
DAGGER: Well, there is no point in turning back now that we're already here. You said yourself that the remaining two summons might be here.
KURO: *frowns* That was just me opening my big mouth.
ZIDANE: *raising his eyebrows* Was it?
(Kurohime gives him a glance. She can see in his face that he's genuinely surprised that she was going back on her conviction now. He'd believed her.)
ZIDANE: *after another beat* I'm serious, Kurohime. That wasn't you just saying something out of the blue, was it?
KURO: I don't know.
ZIDANE: Hey, if you had a hunch, maybe you should trust it. It's all we've got to go on right now.
KURO: Well, I'll be completely honest. I don't know HOW I know that the summons are here. I just feel like I know this place. And that they know this place, too.
ZIDANE: The summons know this place?
KURO: Yeah. That's the only way I can describe it.
DAGGER: *pauses* Kurohime, I think you're right. I think we do know this place.
ZIDANE: We... do?
KURO: We... do. I think.
DAGGER: WE do.
KURO: *a beat* We DO.
ZIDANE: *blink* I'm not even going to pretend I know what you two mean anymore.
(Suddenly, Dagger pauses.)
DAGGER: Zidane, did you get the weather report for today in Tokyo?
ZIDANE: I'm sorry, Leviathan doesn't come with an AM/FM radio as part of the deal. I think we missed it.
DAGGER: *putting her hands on her hips* Was it supposed to rain here?
ZIDANE: I don't see why it couldn't. It rains here all the time, doesn't it?
DAGGER: But it was perfectly good weather when we first arrived here. I don't think this is a normal rainstorm...
(Dagger looks thoughtful for a moement, then runs a little ways down the road.)
KURO: Dagger! Wait!
(Roy, Bob, and Vivi see Dagger break away from the group, and join Zidane and Kuro.)
VIVI: Where is she going?
KURO: *running after Dagger* Dag! Wait!
ROY: Where is she going?
ZIDANE: Well, we'd better follow them before they we get split up. Come on.
(Dagger leads the group a little farther down the road before she makes a sharp turn into a small dirt road branching from the main street. It would have been easy to miss, but somehow, she finds it with ease. Now she's been able to navigate down the slightly overgrown path without much forethought. Kuro isn't far behind.)
KURO: Dagger, hang on! We're going to lose the guys if we don't wait.
DAGGER: *slowing a bit* Do you remember when you combined your memories with Bahamut?
KURO: Not like I could forget that, Dag.
DAGGER: No, I mean do you remember?
KURO: Of course.
DAGGER: Summon him.
KURO: Summon him?
(Dagger just nods and keeps walking. Kurohime stops, a bit confused. Hesitantly, she takes the summoner's pendant from her neck and calls for the Dragon King...)
BAHAMUT: Do not fear my power... do not fear your power...
(The Bahamut scream rings through the stillness of the air, and in the brewing cloud cover, his powerful blast of energy seems amplified. But instead of taking up a position above his summoner, as he would have in battle, the dragon roared past her. The wind from his wings almost knocked the others to the ground.)
BOB: Bahamut? Why did you summon Bahamut?
KURO: *suddenly understanding* Because he was able to remember this place.
BOB: ....that makes absolutley no sense, Kuro.
KURO: I'll explain later. Follow him. He'll lead us to the other two summons.
ROY: Wow. So not only can he kick ass in battle, he can also be Lassie?
KURO: That's why I love that dragon. Come on.
(Meanwhile, back in NY where Jess is... and Kuro is absolutely clueless about this..)
JESS: Heh-heh... consider those a gift from me.
HOODED MAN: Feisty little white mage, aren't you?
JESS: *glares at the man* Great, this is the part where you laugh maniacally and start spouting your diabolical master plan to me, right?
HOODED MAN: If I were like any other villain, I probably would.
JESS: Dammit, if you're going to gloat, at least be original about it.
HOODED MAN: Now why would I gloat? I'm sure my dialogue would definitely be written better than that.
JESS: *smirks* We'll see about that.
HOODED MAN: Oh, I won't gloat, my dear. I won't be the one who goes on and says that your friends will be pathetic losers. I'll spare you the speech about how my diabolical plans will be the end of everything you ever cared for. I'll even resist saying that you're all going to die.
JESS: *rolls eyes* I do have to admit, I wasn't expecting the speech to come out THAT way.
HOODED MAN: *gives a cold, humorless laugh* Oh, but it's all true, my white mage. You could never comprehend my powers.
(The hooded figure moves smoothly towards a large, long metallic case along one side of the room. He caresses it, almost lovingly. Then he calmly opens the case. A hidden power seems to radiate from inside, though Jess can't be sure if it's just her imagination. A long, thin, deadly blade gleams in the pale light. Jess stares at it, and for the first time, feels a shiver of fear run down her spine. It's the Masamune.)
JESS: *quietly* Who are you...?
HOODED MAN: Oh, I'm someone you know well, Jessica. When you were Tifa, a long time ago...
JESS: Tifa? I dont' know what you're talking about!
HOODED MAN: You don't remember a thing...
JESS: Well, duh! Of course I don't.
HOODED MAN: Tell me, then. Why did you fear this blade so much?
JESS: Because I don't like sharp, pointy things in the hands of nasty hooded villains! Especially when I'm being held prisoner by that nasty hooded villain!
HOODED MAN: But there's a greater fear that you have. Yet you don't remember. Look at the blade, Tifa. And remember.
JESS: I'm NOT Tifa, you idiot! I'm Jessica! I dont' know who you think I am, but I was never anyone named Tifa!
(A beat. Then the man breaks into laughter. It's a cold, humorless laugh.)
JESS: *bitterly* Your sense of humor is worse than Kurohime's, you know.
HOODED MAN: Ah yes, the other summoner. You're quite fortunate that your friends are collecting the last summons. I could have done it myself, but this will make this end much sooner.
JESS: ...you are making absolutely no sense.
HOODED MAN: *his voice dangerously calm* What you don't understand will be your undoing, my dear.
JESS: I'm never going to be afraid of some coward who won't even show me his face.
(The hooded man slowly comes towards her, the Masamune glinting in the light. Its blade is long, and smooth... cold, and uncaring. He brings it up to her cheek and lightly runs the flat of the blade along her face.)
HOODED MAN: You know me... and you will fear me....
(He brings the blade down and lets in come to his side in a slow, arrogant movement. Then he brings his hand up towards the hood. In the light, Jess can finally see his eyes, a haunting green glow behind them. The sharp recognition finally hits her.)
JESS: Sephiroth.....!
(Dun dun DUN.....!!!!)
(Back on the Moon Forest Road.... Bahamut leads Kurohime and Dagger a little deeper into the forest, and the trail seems to become even more overgrown with trees and moss. There is a distince excitement in the air, almost an elecrtic charge. Whether or not it's anticipation or the fact that there seems to be a storm brewing overhead isn't really clear. Maybe it's both.)
(Bahamut makes one last circle over the team, then in one smooth movement, spirals into the sky, exploding into the thousands of shards of light that signalled a dismissal. Kurohime watches him in quiet amazement. She's still not sure she understands what just happened...)
BAHAMUT: *his voice a strange, echoing reverberation.... it's almost as if the voice is felt rather than heard* The moments will die... but your memories will last. Do not be afraid...
KURO: Why does he keep telling me that?
ROY: Hmm? Tell you what?
KURO: *shakes her head* It's just that he keeps reassuring me, telling me not to be afraid.
ROY: *looking over at her with concern* You can't tell me you're not afraid, Kuro.
KURO: I'm...... not afraid, actually.
ROY: *shrugs* Then maybe he did his job. *grins*
KURO: *blinks* *Opens her mouth to say something, but decides against it and just nods instead*
(They all notice a large, gaping cave-like opening in the ground. It looks too perfectly formed to be natural, but too weathered to have been made recently by anyone.)
ZIDANE: Now I know this wasn't ever anything I'd seen last time I was in Japan...
(He steps a bit closer to the opening. A yellow glyph begins to glow just above the opening, lighting up the path at his feet.)
ROY: I can't believe this... it's a Cloister of Trials.
ZIDANE: *turning to Kurohime* Well, this would be where you find summons. Do you believe your hunch now, Kuro?
KURO: ...! *blink*
ROY: I think that's a 'yes.'
ZIDANE: Where's Tidus and Yuna when you need them? *he stares up at the glyph* Well, does anyone know what to do?
KURO: Not a clue...
BOB: Nope, no idea.
VIVI: Me, neither.
DAGGER: *shakes her head*
ROY: I think I might know.
(Roy walks into the entrance, a bit hesitantly. The others follow behind. Inside, the doorway opens up into a spacious cavern. The stone seems pleasantly, but unnaturally warm.)
ROY: Now if I remember, we just look for the spheres and glyphs... and find the places to put them.
ZIDANE: That's it? Well.... *points over to a soft light glowing in a small crevice* ...that looks like a sphere over there.
(Zidane trots over to the sphere and picks it up. As he does, one wall of the cavern flashes, flooding the room in a white light. A moment later, a pedestal appears where the wall used to be.)
ZIDANE: Wow... why does Tidus get to do all the cool stuff like this? All we ever did was find gemstones.
DAGGER: *nudging him* Those gemstones saved our butts, Zidane.
ZIDANE: But still, this is much more exciting!
(He walks towards the pedestal and examines it. A carving on the side of the stone glows with an eerie yellow light. It pulses with energy as Zidane brings the sphere closer to it.)
ROY: Is there a place to put that sphere? There should be.
(Zidane nods. Just as Roy said, the soft glow of the carving reveals a small sphere-shaped carving. Zidane places the sphere inside, and the entire pedestal comes to life with a pulsating rhythmic light)
ZIDANE: *backing away* What the h*ll did I just do!?
KURO: Hold on... look at the pedestal, Zid!
(Zidane turns back to the pedestal. In place of the sphere, a summoner's pendant has appeared. No one saw that coming, huh?)
KURO: *pause* "Others will have to learn not to fear the power..."
(She goes over to the pedestal and takes the pendant.)
DAGGER: That's a lightining element.
KURO: *handing Zidane the pendant* Zidane... this is yours.
ZIDANE: What? Since when am I supposed to be a summoner?!?
KURO: A little Dragon told me.
ZIDANE: But I....
KURO: Zid, just try it. We're running out of time.
ZIDANE: If I screw this up, don't look at me.
DAGGER: *putting a hand on his shoulder* Don't worry, sweetheart. I'll help you.
(She takes Zidane's hand and puts it over the pendant. The energy from the pendant slowly begins to radiate and coalesce into a light that surrounds them. And then it congeals into the form of a great four-legged beast. A single, scimitar-shaped horn grew from its head.)
KURO: Ixion...
(The Moon Forest Road seems oddly familiar, but even then, they still knew that it hadn't been there before. That in itself was disconcerting, to say the least. Zidane had taken the lead once again, with Dagger and Kurohime just a few paces behind.)
DAGGER: *looking overhead* We might get rained on soon...
(It's obvious that Kurohime is still a bit preoccupied.)
KURO: I can't believe it. He let Jess get kidnapped. That idiot!
DAGGER: Kurohime, it's not as if you haven't made mistakes, either.
KURO: *grimaces and remains silent for a beat*
(Zidane overhears them and slows a little so they fall into step alongside him)
ZIDANE: We are going to get her back.
KURO: Well, I can't help but think how silly this is! Here we are wasting our time going on a Wild Summon Chase, and Jess is...
ZIDANE: I think she'll be fine.
KURO: I really don't share in your optimism right now, Zid. I wish I could, but I...
DAGGER: Well, there is no point in turning back now that we're already here. You said yourself that the remaining two summons might be here.
KURO: *frowns* That was just me opening my big mouth.
ZIDANE: *raising his eyebrows* Was it?
(Kurohime gives him a glance. She can see in his face that he's genuinely surprised that she was going back on her conviction now. He'd believed her.)
ZIDANE: *after another beat* I'm serious, Kurohime. That wasn't you just saying something out of the blue, was it?
KURO: I don't know.
ZIDANE: Hey, if you had a hunch, maybe you should trust it. It's all we've got to go on right now.
KURO: Well, I'll be completely honest. I don't know HOW I know that the summons are here. I just feel like I know this place. And that they know this place, too.
ZIDANE: The summons know this place?
KURO: Yeah. That's the only way I can describe it.
DAGGER: *pauses* Kurohime, I think you're right. I think we do know this place.
ZIDANE: We... do?
KURO: We... do. I think.
DAGGER: WE do.
KURO: *a beat* We DO.
ZIDANE: *blink* I'm not even going to pretend I know what you two mean anymore.
(Suddenly, Dagger pauses.)
DAGGER: Zidane, did you get the weather report for today in Tokyo?
ZIDANE: I'm sorry, Leviathan doesn't come with an AM/FM radio as part of the deal. I think we missed it.
DAGGER: *putting her hands on her hips* Was it supposed to rain here?
ZIDANE: I don't see why it couldn't. It rains here all the time, doesn't it?
DAGGER: But it was perfectly good weather when we first arrived here. I don't think this is a normal rainstorm...
(Dagger looks thoughtful for a moement, then runs a little ways down the road.)
KURO: Dagger! Wait!
(Roy, Bob, and Vivi see Dagger break away from the group, and join Zidane and Kuro.)
VIVI: Where is she going?
KURO: *running after Dagger* Dag! Wait!
ROY: Where is she going?
ZIDANE: Well, we'd better follow them before they we get split up. Come on.
(Dagger leads the group a little farther down the road before she makes a sharp turn into a small dirt road branching from the main street. It would have been easy to miss, but somehow, she finds it with ease. Now she's been able to navigate down the slightly overgrown path without much forethought. Kuro isn't far behind.)
KURO: Dagger, hang on! We're going to lose the guys if we don't wait.
DAGGER: *slowing a bit* Do you remember when you combined your memories with Bahamut?
KURO: Not like I could forget that, Dag.
DAGGER: No, I mean do you remember?
KURO: Of course.
DAGGER: Summon him.
KURO: Summon him?
(Dagger just nods and keeps walking. Kurohime stops, a bit confused. Hesitantly, she takes the summoner's pendant from her neck and calls for the Dragon King...)
BAHAMUT: Do not fear my power... do not fear your power...
(The Bahamut scream rings through the stillness of the air, and in the brewing cloud cover, his powerful blast of energy seems amplified. But instead of taking up a position above his summoner, as he would have in battle, the dragon roared past her. The wind from his wings almost knocked the others to the ground.)
BOB: Bahamut? Why did you summon Bahamut?
KURO: *suddenly understanding* Because he was able to remember this place.
BOB: ....that makes absolutley no sense, Kuro.
KURO: I'll explain later. Follow him. He'll lead us to the other two summons.
ROY: Wow. So not only can he kick ass in battle, he can also be Lassie?
KURO: That's why I love that dragon. Come on.
(Meanwhile, back in NY where Jess is... and Kuro is absolutely clueless about this..)
JESS: Heh-heh... consider those a gift from me.
HOODED MAN: Feisty little white mage, aren't you?
JESS: *glares at the man* Great, this is the part where you laugh maniacally and start spouting your diabolical master plan to me, right?
HOODED MAN: If I were like any other villain, I probably would.
JESS: Dammit, if you're going to gloat, at least be original about it.
HOODED MAN: Now why would I gloat? I'm sure my dialogue would definitely be written better than that.
JESS: *smirks* We'll see about that.
HOODED MAN: Oh, I won't gloat, my dear. I won't be the one who goes on and says that your friends will be pathetic losers. I'll spare you the speech about how my diabolical plans will be the end of everything you ever cared for. I'll even resist saying that you're all going to die.
JESS: *rolls eyes* I do have to admit, I wasn't expecting the speech to come out THAT way.
HOODED MAN: *gives a cold, humorless laugh* Oh, but it's all true, my white mage. You could never comprehend my powers.
(The hooded figure moves smoothly towards a large, long metallic case along one side of the room. He caresses it, almost lovingly. Then he calmly opens the case. A hidden power seems to radiate from inside, though Jess can't be sure if it's just her imagination. A long, thin, deadly blade gleams in the pale light. Jess stares at it, and for the first time, feels a shiver of fear run down her spine. It's the Masamune.)
JESS: *quietly* Who are you...?
HOODED MAN: Oh, I'm someone you know well, Jessica. When you were Tifa, a long time ago...
JESS: Tifa? I dont' know what you're talking about!
HOODED MAN: You don't remember a thing...
JESS: Well, duh! Of course I don't.
HOODED MAN: Tell me, then. Why did you fear this blade so much?
JESS: Because I don't like sharp, pointy things in the hands of nasty hooded villains! Especially when I'm being held prisoner by that nasty hooded villain!
HOODED MAN: But there's a greater fear that you have. Yet you don't remember. Look at the blade, Tifa. And remember.
JESS: I'm NOT Tifa, you idiot! I'm Jessica! I dont' know who you think I am, but I was never anyone named Tifa!
(A beat. Then the man breaks into laughter. It's a cold, humorless laugh.)
JESS: *bitterly* Your sense of humor is worse than Kurohime's, you know.
HOODED MAN: Ah yes, the other summoner. You're quite fortunate that your friends are collecting the last summons. I could have done it myself, but this will make this end much sooner.
JESS: ...you are making absolutely no sense.
HOODED MAN: *his voice dangerously calm* What you don't understand will be your undoing, my dear.
JESS: I'm never going to be afraid of some coward who won't even show me his face.
(The hooded man slowly comes towards her, the Masamune glinting in the light. Its blade is long, and smooth... cold, and uncaring. He brings it up to her cheek and lightly runs the flat of the blade along her face.)
HOODED MAN: You know me... and you will fear me....
(He brings the blade down and lets in come to his side in a slow, arrogant movement. Then he brings his hand up towards the hood. In the light, Jess can finally see his eyes, a haunting green glow behind them. The sharp recognition finally hits her.)
JESS: Sephiroth.....!
(Dun dun DUN.....!!!!)
(Back on the Moon Forest Road.... Bahamut leads Kurohime and Dagger a little deeper into the forest, and the trail seems to become even more overgrown with trees and moss. There is a distince excitement in the air, almost an elecrtic charge. Whether or not it's anticipation or the fact that there seems to be a storm brewing overhead isn't really clear. Maybe it's both.)
(Bahamut makes one last circle over the team, then in one smooth movement, spirals into the sky, exploding into the thousands of shards of light that signalled a dismissal. Kurohime watches him in quiet amazement. She's still not sure she understands what just happened...)
BAHAMUT: *his voice a strange, echoing reverberation.... it's almost as if the voice is felt rather than heard* The moments will die... but your memories will last. Do not be afraid...
KURO: Why does he keep telling me that?
ROY: Hmm? Tell you what?
KURO: *shakes her head* It's just that he keeps reassuring me, telling me not to be afraid.
ROY: *looking over at her with concern* You can't tell me you're not afraid, Kuro.
KURO: I'm...... not afraid, actually.
ROY: *shrugs* Then maybe he did his job. *grins*
KURO: *blinks* *Opens her mouth to say something, but decides against it and just nods instead*
(They all notice a large, gaping cave-like opening in the ground. It looks too perfectly formed to be natural, but too weathered to have been made recently by anyone.)
ZIDANE: Now I know this wasn't ever anything I'd seen last time I was in Japan...
(He steps a bit closer to the opening. A yellow glyph begins to glow just above the opening, lighting up the path at his feet.)
ROY: I can't believe this... it's a Cloister of Trials.
ZIDANE: *turning to Kurohime* Well, this would be where you find summons. Do you believe your hunch now, Kuro?
KURO: ...! *blink*
ROY: I think that's a 'yes.'
ZIDANE: Where's Tidus and Yuna when you need them? *he stares up at the glyph* Well, does anyone know what to do?
KURO: Not a clue...
BOB: Nope, no idea.
VIVI: Me, neither.
DAGGER: *shakes her head*
ROY: I think I might know.
(Roy walks into the entrance, a bit hesitantly. The others follow behind. Inside, the doorway opens up into a spacious cavern. The stone seems pleasantly, but unnaturally warm.)
ROY: Now if I remember, we just look for the spheres and glyphs... and find the places to put them.
ZIDANE: That's it? Well.... *points over to a soft light glowing in a small crevice* ...that looks like a sphere over there.
(Zidane trots over to the sphere and picks it up. As he does, one wall of the cavern flashes, flooding the room in a white light. A moment later, a pedestal appears where the wall used to be.)
ZIDANE: Wow... why does Tidus get to do all the cool stuff like this? All we ever did was find gemstones.
DAGGER: *nudging him* Those gemstones saved our butts, Zidane.
ZIDANE: But still, this is much more exciting!
(He walks towards the pedestal and examines it. A carving on the side of the stone glows with an eerie yellow light. It pulses with energy as Zidane brings the sphere closer to it.)
ROY: Is there a place to put that sphere? There should be.
(Zidane nods. Just as Roy said, the soft glow of the carving reveals a small sphere-shaped carving. Zidane places the sphere inside, and the entire pedestal comes to life with a pulsating rhythmic light)
ZIDANE: *backing away* What the h*ll did I just do!?
KURO: Hold on... look at the pedestal, Zid!
(Zidane turns back to the pedestal. In place of the sphere, a summoner's pendant has appeared. No one saw that coming, huh?)
KURO: *pause* "Others will have to learn not to fear the power..."
(She goes over to the pedestal and takes the pendant.)
DAGGER: That's a lightining element.
KURO: *handing Zidane the pendant* Zidane... this is yours.
ZIDANE: What? Since when am I supposed to be a summoner?!?
KURO: A little Dragon told me.
ZIDANE: But I....
KURO: Zid, just try it. We're running out of time.
ZIDANE: If I screw this up, don't look at me.
DAGGER: *putting a hand on his shoulder* Don't worry, sweetheart. I'll help you.
(She takes Zidane's hand and puts it over the pendant. The energy from the pendant slowly begins to radiate and coalesce into a light that surrounds them. And then it congeals into the form of a great four-legged beast. A single, scimitar-shaped horn grew from its head.)
KURO: Ixion...