© Lexiter Jackson 2003
Tears of the Fayth
Chapter Seven:
Ace of Spades
Hello ladies an' gentlemen!! I have done another chapter! Finally!
I'm really sorry to keep you all waiting, but I've been having *coughs* a bad week. Nrk. Ah well, that's no longer the point, coz it's back!
Thanks to everyone who's reviewed – I'm astounded that people actually like this story! Wow! Ahem. *Throws handfuls of cookies to everyone* Thanks for the support everyone!
Right, someone asked me if the Ace of Spades was a sign of bad luck? Well, this chapter should clear that up!
Anyway, disclaimer: [insert standard disclaimer here] Yada yada yada…you know the show.
Warnings: I get really tired of saying this, but I don't really want to be flamed: YAOI et cetera et cetera…you get the picture. Man am I off today! Just one other thing – for some reason FF.Net won't show italics. Sucks. So I'm gonna do a thing to make it clear what's thoughts and what ain't. See key below.
PLOT TWIST again…heh heh don't you love the little plot bunnies that run around your head?
Diablos: *takes out gun and aims at one* Yeah…
Hmm. Meet the muse responsible for this monstrosity. Diablos.
Oh yeah, one more thing: I've already started on the sequel and stuff. Expect the side stories up soon!
Key:
/blah/ - Jassu's thoughts
//blah// - Someone else's thoughts (read the chapter to find out who
blah – normal.
-'blah'- - Mystery person's voice crap thingy
READ AND REVIEW!!! Please…I need cheering up…!
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'Hey everybody! Rise and shine!'
Jassu grunted at the loud, disgustingly cheerful noise that echoed from behind the door. He forced his eye open with sheer brute force, only to find that his head was resting on Auron's chest.
/So much for not waking up today./ Jassu sat up asnd yawned, blinking in the early morning sunshine that streamed through the window.
'Hn.' Jassu turned as the man still lying down grunted and opened his eye as well. 'That girl needs to be shot.'
'Mmm.' Jassu agreed, getting out of bed and dressing in his warm and, he noticed, blood-free clothes. 'Where's Danny?'
'Still with Rikku.' Auron stretched, then pulled his clothes on. 'I'd wash your face, Jassu.'
Jassu walked into the tiny bathroom and looked in the mirror. Faint tracks of dried blood lined his cheeks, and Jassu frowned, splashing his face and then drying it.
'Okay, I'm ready.' He turned to face Auron, who looked at him closely.
'You alright?' He asked. Jassu smirked slightly.
'Yeah, I suppose I am now.' He sighed. 'Well, at least I've got past Macalania Woods this time.'
'Yeah, you've done that and more.' Auron smiled, picking up his sunglasses and placing them on his face. Jassu couldn't help but smile and shake his head, strapping Original Sin on his back and following Auron out of the room.
An excited squeak greeted Jassu as he entered the foyer, and a green blur hit him in the chest.
'Jassu! Jassu!' Danny trilled as he found the pocket with the – by now – slightly squashed biscuits in. He sat on Jassu's shoulder chewing away happily, his eyes darting around the room at the various people there.
Rikku laughed. 'He's been waiting for you to get him since yesterday.' She grinned. 'His Spiran is getting better, isn't it?'
Jassu smiled, scratching Danny behind the ears. 'Yeah. I'm thinking of teaching him Al Bhed next.'
'Um...can we go now?' A quiet voice broke into their conversation. Yuna looked like she could do with a few day's more sleep; something was obviously troubling the young Summoner.
Jassu nodded. 'Hey, listen up!' He called, gaining everyone's attention. 'We're going to the Temple of Macalania. We're crossing the Lake first, so be careful – it's very slippery and there's lots of fiends about. Let's go!'
The group all walked out, looking around at the white wasteland around them. Jassu narrowed his eye against the glare of the sun, looking down at the surface of the frozen Lake. For some reason this looked very familiar to him, and a sense of foreboding filled the air.
'Ah, Lady Yuna!' Jassu turned at the sound of a Guado; Tromell was walking towards them, flanked by two Guado guardians. 'Lord Seymour sends his apologies for leaving so quickly. He trusts you are well, and that you will meet him in the Temple.'
Yuna nodded. 'Can you answer me a question, please?'
The Guado spread his hands. 'But of course, Lady Yuna.'
'If I were to marry, would Seymour allow me to continue my pilgrimage?'
Tromell blinked. 'I am sure he wishes for nothing else. But,' He smiled. 'Guado traditions should be followed. If you'll excuse us?' Tromell took Yuna's hand and led her away from the group.
'Yuna.' Auron called. Yuna turned, and nodded.
'I'll be careful.'
'That's all I wanted to know.' Auron bowed his head. Suddenly three sleds, engines roaring, landed on the ice surrounding Yuna and Tromell.
'Al Bhed!' Wakka yelled. Jassu cursed and drew his sword as he heard Auron and Tidus doing the same. The group all skidded onto the ice and surrounded Yuna in a protective circle.
'Rikku!' One of the Al Bhed shouted, raising a fist. 'Kad uid uv drana!' [Get out of there!]
Rikku bit her lip, her green eyes undecisive. Then she appeared to make up her mind. With a nervous glance at Wakka, she faced the other defiantly. 'E's Yunie'c kiynteyh huf.' [I'm Yunie's guardian now.]
'E'mm damm vydran!' The man yelled. [I'll tell father!] He ran along the ridge as a roar erupted behind him and an enormous machina rolled up into sight. 'Drec ec Crawler! Ed ryc yh yhde-sykel veamt! Dryd sayhc hu Aeons duu!' The man punched the air again. [This is Crawler! It has an anti-magic field! That means no Aeons too!] Then he ran off as the Crawler roared over the rise, the cannon training itself onto the group. Something was shot from the back.
'Oh no!' Rikku cried, her expression worried. Wakka looked over to her.
'Care to translate?'
'It's got an anti-magic field! Yunie can't even use her Aeons!'
Wakka grunted. 'You knew that guy?'
Rikku sighed. 'Yeah. That was...my brother.'
'Gaah!' Wakka cursed, turning and facing the Crawler. 'That's all I need!'
Auron and Jassu faced the Crawler, with Wakka aiming to hit the Negator that hovered above it. 'This is not going to be an easy fight, Auron.' Jassu said as he surveyed the machina. This was all a little too familiar to him. 'Look at the armor on that thing.'
Auron nodded, then glanced back to Yuna and Lulu. 'When Wakka destroys that Negator, Lulu hit it with spells and Yuna, call on that new Aeon of yours.'
Lulu nodded and smiled grimly as Yuna readied her Summoning staff.
'Auron! Look out!' Auron turned back just in time to dodge a barrage of bullets as machine guns, hidden by sliding pieces of armor let loose a few rounds at the trio. Wakka retaliated by throwing a Thundaga charged blitzball at the Negator. Smoke started to eminate from the small machina.
Jassu leapt in and smashed Original Sin into the cannon, snarling at the laughter of the operators of the machina.
'Heads up!' A grenade whistled through the air, and Auron, Jassu and Wakka all hit the deck as it hit the Negator and exploded. The machina shuddered, then fell to the ground. Lulu ran forward and hit the Crawler with a Thundaga Fury, hitting it seven times in a row.
'Warning-Three-Seconds-Until-Mana-Cannon' A metallic voice droned out.
'Yuna! Now!'
Yuna nodded nervously, and closed her eyes. She held her staff out in front of her, the point facing the ground as the rest dived for cover. All except for Jassu, who was stood frozen to the spot, his eye widening as he understood.
'No...'
But it was too late; glyphs surrounded Yuna, and the air almost seemed to recoil back from them as the world was cast in shadow. Yuna drove the point of her staff into the ground, then pulled it out, stepping away from the hole. She opened her eyes, and gasped.
The glyphs were lashing out, reaching for something, and the only thing in reach was Jassu.
'Jassu! Move!' Auron yelled desperately, but Jassu couldn't. The hole that Yuna had created in the ice had widened into a pit surrounded by the violent red and black glyphs, and his eye was fixed on it. Slowly, drunkenly, he took a step forward.
The tendrils that were whipping about suddenly thrust at him, attaching themselves to his wrists and ankles. At the touch, Jassu suddenly seemed to wake up.
'Get off me! No! Not me!'
He tried to break free of them, without success. They dragged him over to the pit and hled him suspended over it.
Suddenly Jassu screamed and thrashed, then screamed again as a pair of angel's wings so black they looked like they were made from spun evil burst out of his back. The tendrils of energy became golden chains as Jassu, or what was left of him began to fight against them. The screams had changed from screams of pain to screams of fury as he strove to break free.
A black-robed figure carrying a scythe materialised in front of him
-'Release me!'- Jassu roared. The figure nodded, and with one sweep cut through his bonds and disappeared, as did the pit.
-'My sword.'-
Yuna pointed wordlessly at the discarded Original Sin, and the angel picked it up, then turned and bowed to Yuna. She gasped as she saw the blood red eye and the claws. 'Jassu?'
The angle straightened, a wry grin on his features. -'He is here. But he – I – am one and the same. I offer my services to the Liberator.'- So saying, the angel of Anger leapt up into the air, and smiled at the machina.
'Warning-Mana-Cannon-Discharging'
St Anger looked down at Yuna. -'Get thee behind me, that I may protect thee from this foul machine's spell.'- Raising Original Sin, he glared at the Crawler and spun it in a circle as a ball of energy collected at the cannon's tip. Folding his wings around himself, the circle solidified just as the beam hit him. The angel was pushed back by the force, and his shield was shattered. -'Hm. Perhaps thou art a tougher enemy then was first shown.'- St Anger looked down at the others, who were all staring at him with strange looks. -'I am not here to harm thee, friends. I am here to help, to free thee from this pitiful machine that would threaten thy existance. For my Lady Yuna here hath freed me from my hellish prison, and none who shall oppose her will live.'- He turned and faced the machina, and the smile on his face would have damned the reciever to Hell for eternity.
-'And thou art opposing Lady Yuna. So thou shalt die.'-
/No no no please...at least allow the ones inside to live.../
//I was wondering how long it would take thee to wake, Lord Rammas//
/Let them live.../
The angel laughed, bringing his sword around and pointing it at the Crawler. -'Hear me, mortals. If thy life is precious to thee, then flee from this foul machine and never return. For my Lord Rammas has begged for your lives, and as my Master I must obey. But if thou comest to do battle with me again, then I shall not hesitate to destroy thee, and all that follow behind.'-
Terrified scrambling was heard as the two white Al Bhed crawled out of the machina and disappeared over the rise. St Anger laughed and raised a clawed hand, leveling it at the abandoned machina. -'To be honest, I never would have thought it possible that I would show any man mercy.'- White light built up in his hand, and he released it, destroying the machina. -'But then, I never thought it possible that I would be released from my prison too.'-
St Anger landed, then bowed to Yuna. -'I hope I was of some use to thee, Lady Yuna?'-
Yuna nodded. 'Yes, thank you. Will you be going?'
St Anger stood. -'I will always be around, my Lady. Lord Rammas and I are joined in ways that you and thy friends could never understand.'- He tapped the side of his head. -'In here. Until next time, my Lady.'-
The angel fell to his knees as the wings disappeared and the claws shrunk back to normal fingers again. Jassu shuddered once, then stood shakily looking up at the group surrounding him. Auron was relieved to see that sapphire was once again looking back at him.
'Jassu? You alright?' Rikku asked, giving him a shivering Danny.
'Jassu okay? Big nasty gone?' Danny squeaked, placing a tiny hand on Jassu's nose and sniffing his face. Jassu nodded, just blinking. He glanced over to the wreakage of the Crawler and nodded.
'Jassu?'
Jassu turned to face Yuna. The whole world looked slightly different, somehow. It seemed brighter, sharper, as if a fuzzy Sphere had just come into focus. It felt like his body had been taken apart and put back together again, only better.
//You will find various abilities have heightened, my Lord. Senses...agility...//
/Stop calling me 'Lord'. Just Jassu will do. And who the hell are you?/
//Your other self? I am St Anger, but if you so wish I will answer to Rammas//
/Okay. I'll...talk...to you...later./
'Jassu, what happened?' Yuna almost whispered the question. Jassu frowned, placing Original Sin back into the scabbard on his miraculously unscathed back.
'Honestly? I don't know.'
Auron was frowning. 'What was it the dead one said? A guardian protecting a soul...Yuna, is it possible that part of Jassu's soul got trapped when Braska Sent him?'
Yuna frowned. 'I've...never heard it happening before...but yes, that could happen.'
Tidus grinned. 'Hey, we got an Aeon for a guardian! Nothing can stop us now!'
'Whoa there, kiddo.' Wakka smiled, placing a hand on Tidus' shoulder. 'No need to get excited, ya?'
Jassu smiled slightly, then turned to the group. 'Hey, I'm not a museum piece. We've got a pilgrimage to finish.'
Tromell walked up to the group. 'Thank you for protecting us. Now, I must leave with Lady Yuna.'
Auron nodded, and Tromell took Yuna onto a sledge drawn by chocobos and disappeared into the crevass beyond. Auron walked over to the sleds.
'Rikku, can you make these run?'
Rikku nodded. 'Uh-huh.' She bounced over to the nearest one and started it up, then moved to the others. Wakka snorted.
'Hey, Wakka, just because you've found out that Rikku's Al Bhed doesn't make her a different person. She's still Rikku.' Tidus smiled as Wakka sighed.
'Ya, I know. It's...just gonna take some getting used to, ya?'
'Yeah.' Tidus nodded. 'Hey, I want to drive the sled!'
Wakka grinned. 'Okay, blitzboy, if you think you can!'
'Tidus drive better then Kimahri.' Kimahri grunted, trying to hold his sled still as the rest of the group laughed. Rikku got on behind Lulu, and Wakka and Tidus were on another sled. Auron raised an eyebrow at Jassu, stating in no uncertain terms that he was driving. Kimahri finally managed to get his sled to work just as Jassu climbed on behind Auron. He held on, burying his face into Auron's back.
'Are you quite comfortable now?' Auron's amused voice travelled back to Jassu as they started to move.
'Mmm...warm.'
If Jassu had been able to see Auron's face, he would have laughed at the sudden blush that graced the older man's cheeks. As it was, he was almost dozing.
//Ah, not yet, Jassu//
/Not you again. Bugger off./
//Methinks not. We are going to be together for a very long time//
/Great. I have an Aeon living in my head./
//Thou wouldst rather be Sin?//
/Let me correct that. A sarcastic Aeon./
//The only wit I possess is what I have derived from you//
/Oh yay./
//My point//
That's it. I am now officially mad. I have a voice in my head, and it's agreeing with me.
Jassu groaned slightly as a dry chuckle followed that last statement. He nuzzled further into Auron's back, closing his eye again.
//He is here.//
The sleds had pulled up outside the temple gates by this point, and the group had dismounted and were walking down the long pathway to the temple.
/Who is?/
//He that wishes ill for thy Summoner. Look to thy sword, Jassu. Our work isn't done yet//
/You'll be putting in an appearance, I assume./
//Of course//
Jassu walked beside Auron, his hand reaching up and touching the hilt of Original Sin as if for reassurance.
'We will not let the Al Bhed in here! It's sacrilage!'
Auron smiled coldly at the pompous priest. 'This Al Bhed is Lady Yuna's guardian. You are refusing entry to a Summoner's guardian?'
The priest looked flustered. 'Ah...'
Auron nodded. 'I thought not.' The group walked into the temple, leaving the priest fuming and spluttering behind them.
'If anything happens then I will hold you all personally responsible!' The priest's enraged voice followed the group into the Temple.
Jassu spared him an amused glance, then followed the rest into the Temple. He looked around at the statues, smiling slightly at the one representing Braska.
'He never looked that serious.' He whispered to Auron as Wakka was asking Tromell where Yuna was.
Auron shook his head. 'He did the day you died.' He looked round at Jassu. 'I think that made me draw up as well. All of a sudden I had lost someone that I cared about deeply. Made me think about what was coming at the end of it all.'
Jassu nodded philisophically. 'Yeah. But...I still feel bad about dying on you like that. I just didn't want to see you die.'
'Hn.' Auron grunted, looking back towards Tromell. Jassu missed the brief flash of bitterness that crossed Auron's face.
'Lady Yuna? She's in the Trials with Lord Seymour.' Tromell was saying.
//That's him//
/That's him what?/
//Lord Seymour. There is madness brewing within his heart. Surely thou hast heard the cries of his father from the Farplane?//
/That was Jyscal?/
The conversation was interrupted when a young nun suddenly burst out of the nun's quarters and prostrated herself onto the ground.
'A Sphere! In Lady Yuna's belongings!' She cried, her voice trembling.
Auron and Jassu exchanged a look, and led the others into the room. Picking up the Sphere, Jassu gave it to Lulu.
'Play it.' He ordered. Lulu leveled a look at him for a moment, then pushed a button.
'I...haven't got much time.' A voice, faint at first began to speak as a miniture of Lord Jyscal blurred into view. 'Soon...I will die, by my son's own hand. It...is only what I deserve, for not protecting him and his mother from the cruelties of this world.
'For a long time, I have felt the flames of darkness burning within his heart. He means harm to Spira and all its peoples. But his mind is closed even to me, a Maester of Yevon.
'Please, whoever is watching this, stop my son. For the good of Spira, stop my son.'
The Sphere clicked and the image faded.
'This can't be happening...' Wakka was the first to break the stunned silence.
'Yuna's alone with him?' Tidus cried. 'We've got to stop him! You heard what that Jyscal guy said!'
Jassu nodded and glanced across to Auron. 'I think that as her guardians, it is our right and duty, so to speak, to protect her at all times, no?'
Tidus punched the air. 'Yeah!'
'Let's go get him!' Rikku bounced, running out of the door with Kimahri hot on her heels.
'Well, what the hell are we waiting for!' Jassu raised a fist. 'Let's go get the son of a bitch!'
Kimahri led the way, pushing the priest standing guard at the bottom of the stairs out of the way. The rest all followed. Wakka hesitated as they entered a tunnel of ice.
'This can't be happening...' He groaned.
Lulu walked back to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. It's alright, Wakka.' She said.
Wakka scowled, shrugging off the hand. 'No, it's not.' He retorted. 'We are seriously considering killing a Maester, ya?'
Auron chose that moment to walk past. 'If that's what it takes to protect Yuna from Seymour, then yes.' He paused, and turned a piercing eye to him, smiling wryly. 'You are Yuna's guardian, are you not?'
Wakka sighed, shaking his head as he started to move on. 'If that's what it takes...oh boy.'
Jassu led the way to the doors, a little suspicious that there weren't any trials in this temple. He hesitated for a moment, laying a hand on the heavy doors. The Prayer of the Fayth whispered to him, calming him for what he knew would end in bloodshed behind those doors.
'Open the doors, Jassu.' Auron suddenly appeared beside him. Jassu nodded, taking a deep breath, and pushed the doors open.
The room was huge, a dome crowning the top. A single staircase led the way up to the Fayth. Standing in front of the door was the Guado they had come to face, and on either side of the stairs stood a Guado guardian.
'Yuna!' Jassu yelled, his hand reaching up to the hilt of Original Sin.
//No. Not yet//
/I'll keep it there for the moment. This guy is dangerous, Rammas./
'Please, be quiet. Lady Yuna is praying at the Fayth.'
Seymour turned, facing the group in the room. He smiled.
'Seymour!' Tidus yelled as Yuna stumbled out of the Fayth, holding onto the wall momentarily for support. She looked shocked as she realised that her guardians were there. 'You killed Jyscal!'
Seymour shrugged. 'So what if I did?' He turned to face Yuna. 'Lady Yuna, you knew of this, did you not?'
Slowly, Yuna nodded, then ran past him to her guardians.
'Then why did you come?' Seymour seemed genuinly confused as he fixed Yuna with his startlingly blue eyes.
'To stop you!' Yuna cried. Seymour took a step forward, and her guardians surrounded her. Jassu growled, and Auron glanced at him, shivering at the flecks of red in his eye.
//Not yet//
/Why not?/
//Not yet. Be patient. Let Yuna Summon first. Then offer thyself to me once again.//
'"Protect the Summoner, even at the cost of your own life". The creed of the guardian.' Seymour looked faintly amused as he raised a hand and his guards flanked him. 'Well, seeing as you are offering, I will just have to take them.'
Yuna stepped forward, pulling her staff from where it usually rested and glaring at Seymour. 'I will not let my friend die to protect me. If they fight, I fight too!' Tidus and Auron flanked her.
Seymour drew in a sharp breath. 'Your eyes...they burn with determination. Beautiful!'
Tidus growled, drawing his sword. Auron did the same, cooly fixing Seymour with a death stare as he shrugged his arm free of his robe.
Jassu sighed; even in the face of a grave situation, he could not help but admire Auron's body.
//Concentrate, Jassu. Control thy desires. Thou art welcome to admire him after we have finished this//
Jassu started at the wry, amused tone of the Aeon, a blush passing across his face as he got back to waiting for his turn.
Tidus suddenly disappeared under a blaze of flame from a Fira, his clothes still smoking slightly after the magical fire had gone out. He narrowed his eyes at the guard who was responsible, and shot forward, plunging his blade into the Guado's chest.
Even as the Guado was crumpling, however, he cast Protect on Seymour, then fell to the floor.
'What sort of Maester would rather have his guardians die protecting him then allow them to heal to fight another day?' Wakka ground out. He was obviously still having troubles with the whole 'kill Maester Seymour' thing.
'Now you're getting the hang of it.' Jassu grinned at Wakka as Auron cut the other guard almost in two. Seymour at least had the decency to let a slight flicker of fear travel over his porcaline features before he raised a hand again.
'Feel my pain! Come, Anima!'
An anchor flew from the ceiling, burying itself into the floor and pulling Anima up. Auron took one look at the Aeon, and glanced to Yuna.
//She will use Shiva//
Yuna nodded, and Auron and Tidus backed off. She raised her staff, then arced it down as huge crystals of ice slammed into the ground behind her. A transparent figure of a woman floated down into the largest of them, solidifying as she threw her hair back and ran her fingers through long, thick blue braids. With a careless flick of her wrist, she shattered the ice. Turning and smiling to Yuna, she bowed.
'Shiva at your service, Lady Summoner.'
'Thank you, your Majesty.' Yuna inclined her head to the Ice Queen. Shiva straightened, and faced Anima. Smiling, she casually flicked her wrist up, then brought it down. A huge crystal of ice fell on Anima and shattered. Anima screamed, and unleashed a Pain attack.
Shiva stumbled back from the force. Yuna gasped as Shiva turned to face Anima again, a slight trail of blue blood flowing down from her lips. Shiva raised her hands to cast a Blizzara on herself, but Anima made use of her momentary stillness by unleashing another Pain attack. Shiva fell to one knee.
'Shiva!' Yuna gasped. She raised her staff, dismissing her.
'I'm sorry...' Shiva whispered even as she faded.
'You will lose!' Seymour laughed. 'No Aeon is more powerful then Anima!'
Yuna glared at the Maester, even as her heart sank as she realised this was a lost cause. A voice made her turn, though.
'I beg to differ.' Jassu smiled coldly at Seymour as he stood beside Yuna. Red flecked through his eye, giving off a very disconcerting glow.
'Are you sure, Sir Jassu?' Yuna asked him, knowing how much pain this caused him.
Jassu looked up at Anima, swallowed, then nodded. 'He's right; there is no known Aeon more powerful then Anima.'
Seymour smiled warmly at Jassu, making his skin crawl. 'At least one guardian of yours is enlightened, Lady Yuna.'
Jassu spared him a frosty glance as he turned to Yuna. If the honest truth were told, he was scared shitless, if not down-right terrified. 'Take it away, Lady Yuna.'
Yuna nodded, stabbing her staff into the floor of the room. As the hole widened, she stepped back, hardly noticing as Auron pushed the others back.
Beneath his tanned skin, Jassu was white, but like hell he was going to back down now. Besides, he doubted that St Anger would let him.
He didn't wait for the tendrils that were whipping about to find him; instead he ran towards the pit and disappeared from sight.
Auron took an involentary step forwards, even as the tendrils snaked down after him and brought him up, struggling, to be held once more over the pit.
Jassu was trying desperately not to scream, although it felt like he was being turned inside out through his ears.
//Stop fighting me, then//The Aeon sounded strained, as if the transition between human and Aeon was hurting him as well.
/Sorry./
//It hurts thee?//
/Yes/
Jassu was only able to give one word answers as the pain intensified as the wings unfolded from his back again.
Seymour blinked as St Anger was cut loose from his bonds. The Aeon fell forward onto one knee, then gracefully stood up, cooly eyeing the Maester. The room had fallen silent at his emergance, and it had darkened slightly as an air of fear filled it.
The angel gracefully leapt into the air, one beat of his black wings holding him airbourne. One clawed hand reached behind him, grasping the hilt of Original Sin and slowly drawing the huge sword. The room was filled with a steely hiss, the sword ringing slightly as it was taken from the scabbard.
-'Hail, Anima.'- St Anger inclined his head to the huge Aeon in front of him, smiling slightly.
Anima screamed, the cry holding eons of pain and suffering as she turned her one unveiled eye to the other Aeon in what was clearly a challenge.
/Oh...shit.../
//I can handle her, my Lord//
/Glad to hear you're so confident.../
'What is this...' Seymour gazed into the face of the Angel. The face was indeed that of the guardian Jassu, but the smile was crueller, and the eye was red. 'Sir Jassu...is an Aeon? Where is your Fayth?'
St Anger turned his crimson gaze to the Maester and sneered. -'Why should I tell thee? My Fayth is one that will never be found again. I am for one and one alone, the one called Jassu Rammas. That I serve Summoner Yuna is no concern of yours.'-
Seymour was taken aback. Nobody, Aeon or otherwise, spoke to him like that. 'But I would use you to aid Spira.'
At that, St Anger laughed. -'Thou wouldst use me to aid Spira? I have seen thee, Guado. I have heard the cries of thy father. Thou wouldst use me for thy own ends.'-
With that, the Aeon turned from the gobsmacked Seymour as if he held no further interest, facing Anima instead.
-'I will apologise to thee now, great Anima, for I fear that I will cause thee harm before this is done.'-
Anima moaned, blasting the angel with a Pain attack for an answer. St Anger couldn't shield himself from it in time, bearing the full brunt of the attack. Grunting, he brought Original Sin up to eye level, much like Jassu's battle stance, and grinned.
-'So be it.'-
The sword began to hum as the flames began to glow, then burst into real red and silver flames. Whirling the burning sword above his head, St Anger let loose a chilling battle cry, and flew at Anima. He thrust the sword into the huge Aeon, then flew up, the sword ripping after him.
Anima screamed as St Anger somersaulted back into his original position. He frowned as the world began to darken, and he spun the sword in a circle and brought his wings around him. A black hole, similar to that which he was released from opened beneath him, and he was dragged into it.
'Jassu!' Auron cried, trying to get to the hole. Wakka and Kimahri held him back as the hole closed.
'You can't do anything for him, ya?' Wakka grunted. 'He'll be okay.'
Auron grunted, but stopped trying to tear Seymour limb from limb.
Meanwhile, St Anger was faced with Anima's underworld reflection. The huge bat – that was the only way he could describe it – was at the present moment struggling against chains that bound two huge fists together.
With a roar, the chains broke apart, and the creature snarled as its eyes fixed on the other Aeon. Raising the now freed hands, the Aeon began to pummel St Anger, the fists travelling at insane speeds. Despite the shield, St Anger felt each and every blow as it landed, the shield shattering after the first few. Finally, the hole appeared above him, and the creature screamed in fury as St Anger was returned, bruised, to the surface. As the hole below him disappeared, St Anger struggled to get back into the air, but he just didn't have the energy. He stood, his shoulders slumped, the sword's point lowering until it hit the floor.
Seymour laughed as Anima roared. 'You cannot win!'
Yuna risked a glance at St Anger, and was surprised to see sapphire spiking the red in his eye.
-'Like hell...'
The Aeon glowed with the affects of Cure, and he leapt into the air. The Aeon appeared to be slightly unbalanced, but soon he seemed to regain his balance.
//What are you doing, my Lord?//
/Attempting to wipe the smirk off of that asshole./
//Highly commendable, I'm sure, but perhaps it would be easier if I dealt with him?//
/Probably. But it's more satisfying this way. Besides, shoud I be able to do this?/
//For once, I don't know. But, if that is thy wish, then carry on. I will help when I am needed//
The Aeon shook his head as if trying to clear it, then fixed Anima with his sapphire gaze. Auron suddenly blinked. Sapphire?
'Hey, Anima.' Jassu grinned, switching the sword into his other hand and digging into his back pocket with a clawed hand. Retrieving what he wanted, he held it out. 'Do you play poker?'
None of the other guardians could see Jassu's expression, thanks to the wings, but they could place a good bet by what was passing across Seymour's.
The world suddenly went black as Jassu threw the Ace of Spades into the air. Instead of drifting back down as was an oblong piece of cards' wont, the card spiralled up into a roiling grey sky. Lightning ripped the sky in two. This was none of your 'let's do a pretty light show' lightning, such as might be in the Thunder Plains; this was your 'incinerate-everything-bad-guy' lightning. A splinter of violent white-blue light struck the ground between Jassu and Anima.
Jassu raised Original Sin, and another snake-strike of lightning struck the sword with all the force of...well, Sin. The sword lit up, lightning travelling along its length. He turned to Anima again, pointing the sword at her.
'Now, one would assume that this wouldn't hurt you, really. After all, you're an Aeon, I'm just a human.' Jassu broke into a wide grin as the clouds above him broke, allowing a beam of light to fall on him. He raised a claw, and blue sparks earthed themselves from him to the floor. Everyone's hair was standing on end from the raw power held in the air.
A ball of black was building in Jassu's hand. He raised it, then threw it up in the air. As it came down, he swung Original Sin like a baseball bat, hitting the ball to Anima. The ball hit her, causing her to scream. Then Jassu was there, hitting Anima at insane speeds. Lightning struck the ground around them, and huge sparks of power earthed from Anima and Jassu. Finally Anima moaned, slumped, and disappeared. Jassu drifted to the ground, lowering the sword. He was slightly out of breath, but grinning. He looked up as the room lightened and the clouds disappeared. Holding out a claw, the Ace of Spades fell into it.
'Amazing...' Seymour gasped, narrowing his eyes at Jassu 'The power that defeated Anima...I must have it!'
'Not on my watch.' Jassu snorted, leaping back into the air.
'You have no choice. I will kill Yuna and her guardians, then you will have to serve me!' Seymour cried.
Jassu's eye flashed crimson at that statement, and he growled at the Maester. -'Over his and my dead body, swine.'-
The insult was delivered in a very low, calm voice, and as Seymour looked up into the cold sapphire eye, he knew fear for the first time.
'Jassu!'
Jassu looked behind him to Auron.
'Let me join you!'
Jassu thought for a moment, then grinned. 'Not right now, Auron. Let me have my moment of glory.'
Auron snorted. 'Fair enough, oh mighty Aeon.'
Jassu flipped him off. 'Whatever.' Turning to face Seymour, he grinned, raised his sword, and charged.
'NOOO!' Seymour cried, raising his staff and creating a wall of ice to shield him. Moments later, the ice shattered as Original Sin met it, the blade carving into the Maester's arm. Seymour screamed, blindly throwing a Watera at Jassu. Purely by luck, it hit him in the face, making him drop the sword.
'You asswipe!' Jassu roared, diving down at Seymour. Barely noticing the heat of a Fira, Jassu grabbed him by the front of his robes and flew straight to the roof. He wrenched Seymour's staff away from him, snapping it with one hand.
'Let's see you worm your way out of this, you bastard.' Jassu whispered to the terrified Guado. He folded his wings and plummeted down to the ground, Seymour screaming all the way. About twenty feet from the ground, Jassu pushed Seymour away from him, spreading his wings to save him from the same fate that awaited the Maester.
It was a high building, and the floor was solid flagstone.
The Maester hit with a sickening crack on his back. He tried to sit up, but fell back with a moan of agony. Jassu landed beside him just in time to hear the Maester's last words.
'Lady Yuna...' He gasped as Yuna knelt beside him. 'Would...would you...pity me...now?'
With that, he died. Yuna passed her hand over his eyes, closing them.
'What have we done...' Wakka croaked as Tromell and some other Guado walked in.
'Oh...no...' Tromell immediatly moved to the body's side. 'W-who did this?'
Jassu stood, wavering on his feet as he fought to stay consious. It didn't help that the wings were an unfamiliar weight. He wandered over to where Seymour had knocked his sword out of his hand, picking it up. Seymour's blood still stained the blade as Jassu staggered over to where the others were.
Unfortunately, Tromell noticed the stain.
'You did this?' He gasped. 'You...you traitors!'
'What does it matter.' Auron stated, beginning to walk away. 'Yuna, Send him.'
Yuna nodded and was about to start the Dance when Tromell stopped her.
'No, no, you're not Sending him!'
Two Guados came and picked up the body of Seymour, dragging it away.
'You're not letting us leave.' Tidus said it emotionless, knowing he was stating the obvious even as his grip tightened on the hilt of his sword.
'Of course not.' Tromell smiled coldly. 'He would never forgive us if we did.'
With that, Tromell exited, leaving the room in silence. Until a soft thud came from behind them.
Jassu had finally fallen over, and was hovering on the borders of unconsiousness as Auron came and knelt beside him.
'Hi-potion, anybody?' Wordlessly Lulu passed his one, and Auron forced the liquid down the bewingéd guardian's throat. Coughing and spluttering, Jassu tried to turn onto his back, then winced as he caught the wings.
'Ow...?' He groaned, not sure if he was hurt or not. He got to his feet, to be met by a flying green furball.
'Hey Jassu. Beat the asswipe!' Danny grinned at his master as Jassu blinked.
'Maybe you're picking Spiran up a little too fast.' He murmered, digging out a broken biscuit for the Jassite. That's when he noticed the claws.
/Uh...hello?//Very impressive. Thy control...//
/Whoa. Drop the thees and thous./
//Your control is highly impressive, Jassu//
/Yes, well...thanks and all that, but...can we lose the claws and wings?/
//But they are useful//
/Maybe so. But how many people do you see with five-inch claws and black feathery wings?/
//Point. But you can call them at anytime...//
Searing pain drove Jassu to his knees as the wings refolded into his back and the claws retracted. It felt like two white-hot knives had been drawn down his back. His back was still smarting as he got up.
'Right. On to the Trials, then.'
The group walked out of the doors, Tidus in the lead. They were walking into the tunnel of ice when Tidus stepped on the last stone cross in the floor. The tunnel began to disappear as Tidus backflipped from pillar to pillar (much to the appreciation of Wakka) to land safely with the rest of the group.
'Now what do we do?' Wakka cried, looking exasperated.
'Solve the Trials.' Yuna spoke up, looking down into the pit below. Auron shook his head.
'No time. Tromell will be back with more guards, and if we're down there solving this, we'll be sitting ducks.'
Jassu stared hard at the puzzle. 'Gimme five minutes.' Without another word, he disappeared down the tunnel that had materialised next to the group. Auron leant over the edge, watching as Jassu shifted ice blocks and Spheres around the icy floor, occasionally disappearing into another level of the puzzle. Finally, a few clicks later the tunnel reappeared. Jassu ran back up the slope.
'Mind the switch in the centre of the path.' He warned, breathless. Leaning up against the wall, he grinned. 'It resets the whole puzzle.'
Startled, Rikku moved away, eyeing it as if it was going to bite her.
'Nice one, Jassu.' Tidus grinned. 'I thought you couldn't do these?'
Jassu tapped the side of his head for an answer. 'I had help. Shall we get moving, then?'
The group found a nice little welcoming commitee waiting for them outside the Trials. Tromell wasn't interested in hearing the reasons behind the Maester's death.
'Guado affairs are dealt with by Guados.' He stated firmly.
'But he killed his father!' Tidus cried. 'Show him the Sphere, Yuna!'
'Oh, you mean this Sphere?' Tromell held up the Sphere from Yuna's belongings. Before any of them could react, the Guado had crushed it in his hand. 'You killed Master Seymour, and for that you are traitors. You must die!'
'Move!' Kimahri was suddenly in front of Yuna, his spear out and carving a pathway through the guards. Few Guado cared to cross a Ronso at the best of times, and this certainly was not a best time.
'Run!' Auron ordered, and the group, Summoner and all, broke into a run, knocing Tromell over in the process.
'Jassu! You and me take the back! Tidus, you and Kimahri take the front! The rest of you, if we let any through take them out!' Auron yelled, and the group took up various positions as the doors to the temple crashed open and a dozen Guado guards streamed out. The group ran as fast as their legs could carry them, and Jassu drew his sword, sighing.
/You're going to taste a lot more blood before this is over.../
The sword hummed in response, and it glowed slightly. Danny squeaked as he looked behind.
'Nasty!' He yelled. Jassu and Auron skidded to a stop, turning and facing the Guado that was right behind them.
The Guado sneered, then flipped a hand at them. Two Ice Flans materialised in front of the two guardians.
'You get the guard.' Auron ground out to Jassu.
Jassu nodded, growling as he brought the sword down in a graceful arc, only to find it parried by a knife, another flickering to his stomach. With both hands taken up holding Original Sin, Jassu could only twist to the side, catching the knife in his side instead, which hurt enough.
Suddenly a green blur exploded past his nose, and the Guado screamed as Danny attached himself to the Guado's face via his nose. The Guado floundered, trying to remove the Jassite. Finally grabbing Danny by the throat, the Guado threw him to the floor. Turning to meet the guardian, he met the blade of Original Sin first.
'Nobody pisses with my friends.' Jassu ground out, giving the body a kick before looking over to Auron. The fighter had disposed of one Flan, but was recieving heavy pay back from the other. Jassu threw a Firega at it, incinerating it. Auron looked over to him gratefully.
'Let's catch up with the others.' Auron said, then waited as Jassu picked up an unconcious Danny.
'This guy saved my life.' Jassu said, tucking him into an inside pocket and pulling out a potion. He downed it, grimacing at the bitter taste and the pain of his side repairing.
The two soon caught up with Yuna and the rest.
'Yo, wassup?' Jassu called. Lulu turned.
'Him, maybe?'
Jassu looked past the group and saw a fiend. It was big, it was white, and it was hairy.
It was a Wendigo.