Disclaimer: I no own, you no sue.
*`*`*`*`*`
Author's Note: LAST CHAPTER!!! Please don't kill me for the ending. It's a cliffhanger....but if I don't end here, I won't have enough material for a sequel and I continue with this story....trust me, I've typed it already and it pretty much sucks if I try working it into this. So please, don't throw flaming things at my head!
~NeoNaoNeo
*`*`*`*`*`
"Water sucks, it really really sucks! WAAATER SUCKS! IT REALLY REALLY
SUCKS!"~ 'Waterboy'
*`*`*`*`*`
Chapter 16: Easier to Forget
*`*`*`*`*`
The sunrise was a blood red on the morning of the black mages' planned attack
on Burmecia. The ripples on the shallow clear stream reflected the scarlet color.
Ipsen lazily awoke at the first sign of light, 289 still slumbering peacefully in his
lap. The waltz nudged him awake. "Come on," Ipsen whispered. "Get up. We're...
hello... what's this?"
Ipsen picked up an envelope that lay near his arm and examined it. 289 released
his grip on Ipsen and sat up, rubbing his dully glowing eyes. "...What is it?" the
small mage asked, his high pitched voice sounding much stronger and bolder
than the day before.
Ipsen ignored him and tore the envelope open, removing the letter. The waltz
read it over.
'I want you in Burmecia by mid-morning. And, because of your mistake with
Mikoto, I want you to capture a girl by the name of Robin for me.'
"Robin...?" Ipsen whispered to himself.
'She is sixteen years old. She has a tail and a horn, with short brownish blonde
hair.'
It was a perfect description of the girl from his dream. Maybe the other mage
with wings was him, but how? What....?
'Don't fail me Four. She will be there with at least four others. After you lead the
black mages into Burmecia and capture the girl, you are to bring her to Ice
Cavern. I've included a map, just in case you have a sudden mind lapse.
Kuja'
There was a PS, but it was written in red, smudging ink.
'PS Don't go soft on me. You're superior to the black mages, even to that runt.'
Ipsen crumpled up the letter and tossed it in the stream, slightly flustered by the
post script. 289 was still snuggled against Ipsen for warmth, his eyes starting to
close again.
"Come on, wake up," Ipsen ordered and jarred the small mage awake. 289
narrowed his eyes slightly, but lightened his stare and hopped from Ipsen's lap.
The waltz spread his wings in a long stretch, raising his arms high over his head
and standing on tip-toe. He loosened himself back into his usual stance and
realized his wing hadn't given him any trouble.
He undid the bandage and examined the wound. Quite miraculously, the gash
was almost completely healed, although many of his feathers were still caked in
dried blood. 289 smiled at Ipsen's surprised reaction.
"...I used a healing spell before I bandaged it," 289 explained quietly.
"I noticed," Ipsen grunted and spread his wings. He hated to admit it, but this
small mage had once again saved his hide. "Thank you. I owe you one."
"...No, I only did what I felt appropriate." the small mage murmured with a
wistful tone.
"Come on, we need to get to Burmecia," Ipsen said, lightly grabbing 289's wrist.
The two teleported to where the other mages were camping. Many of them were
awake, staring blankly into space.
"..to do what?" 289 asked naively.
"We're going there to kill the lot of them," Ipsen laughed. 289's eyes widened.
"...Why?"
Ipsen thought a moment. "That's what we're made for, we exist to kill." Ipsen
said stoutly. "You too."
"...no," 289 said. "Not me....not you either...or them."
"What do you mean?" Ipsen growled.
"...I won't kill...."
"Fine," Ipsen said, opening his wings. "You can fend for yourself, runt."
289 swallowed.
Ipsen shrugged and began walking towards the other black mages. 289
whimpered slightly, knowing he wouldn't last very long by himself out in the
wilderness. He began toddling after Ipsen slowly, somewhat ashamed of himself.
The waltz turned around as the other black mages began to pick up their brisk
pace once again, although fatigue and exhaustion from their previous endeavor stayed with them, magically and physically.
Ipsen narrowed his eyes at 289, somewhat amused. "You choose what you
wanted," Ipsen snarled at the runt and a strip of lightning struck right in front of
the small mage's face. 289 fell backwards with a frightened squeak. Ipsen
laughed. "Perhaps you should choose a little more wisely and not let emotions
get in your way little one. I haven't. Only the strong survive, perhaps you'll learn
that better out here than with us."
"....fine, be one of them...." 289 muttered contemptuously. "...fulfill your empty purpose..."
Ipsen had already spread his wings and was coasting over the black mage army
as they trampled over the field.
(A/N: Just when you start to like him again, Ipsen goes and has a butthole
relapse. *Eight Crazy Nights quote for non-Adam Sandler people*
*`*`*`*`*`
Freya watched as the bloody sun rose from a high perch atop a bell tower. Robin,
Zidane, Steiner, and Garnet sat at the bottom. Eiko and Vivi walked toward the
group, both holding their weapons high.
"Vivi? Eiko?" Zidane asked and looked to the two magicians. "I thought you two
were helping with the clean-up in Lindblum."
"What gave you that idea?" Eiko giggled.
"The letter you sent," Garnet said.
"We...didn't send a letter." Vivi said.
"Yes, you did," Zidane said looking from Garnet to Vivi and Eiko.
Eiko shook her head. "Nope, we didn't."
"Huh, that's weird," Zidane said. "I wonder who..."
"They're here!" Freya called from the steeple and jumped down, landing with a
soft thump. "Ready arms!" She shouted to the ready Dragon Knights.
Vivi, Eiko, Zidane, Robin, Steiner and Garnet held up their weapons, ready to
fight as the black mages began pouring into the streets. Burmecians who weren't
fighting ran into their homes and those who were charged at the army with a
shout.
Ipsen flapped over the clash over the army, scanning the crowd for his target, the
girl. He saw her attacking a soldier with her dagger. Ipsen swooped down and
knocked her over. Robin fell to the ground with a grunt and she quickly hopped
to her feet. "Cheap shot!" she scolded. Her eyes opened in horror when she
realized who the waltz was. "....Ipsen...?"
That name....it was so familiar, was it his. Yes, she called that mage in the dream Ipsen, maybe....
No! I am Black Waltz Number Four! Kuja said so!
What if Kuja was wrong?
No! He's not! He....
Remember! Try to remember!
It's easier to forget. Sometimes....it's just easier to forget.
No, remember!
His internal argument came to an abrupt end.
"I'm Black Waltz No. 4," he snarled and shoved Robin down again. His once kind yellow eyes glittered at her ferociously like two fire embers.
"Ipsen!" Robin said as the waltz closed in on her, but didn't continue. He ignored her and leaned over, grabbing her by the collar. Robin bit her lip. "Damn it! Remember!"
*`*`*`*`*`*`
Remember? Remember what?
Everything! Remember everything!
...why?
For her.
For...her...?
Yes.
But...Kuja?
No! Forget Kuja! Like you did her!
Remember her....?
Yes.
Remember...
Who?
Remember her.
Her?
Robin.
Yes, Robin.
Why?
Because...friends don't forget friends.
Friends?
Yes, friends.....
*`*`*`*`*`*`
"Ipsen, come on." Robin whimpered, holding the unconscious waltz in her arms as best she could. Freya walked up to her, laughing.
"We did it, we fended off the mages," the Burmecian sighed and noticed Robin, cradling Ipsen. "Robin....I'm sorry."
"He's not dead, he's still breathing," Robin snapped. "Help me get him to the church."
Freya was quite offended by Robin's sudden agressive attitude. "Robin, the church is being used to care for the wounded...."
"Yes, he's wounded. So are the Black Mages," Robin retorted. "They should be allowed in there too."
"What!? No, that's too dangerous," Freya scolded. "If they were to awake in there and...."
"I'll cast Silence on every mage you take in, that way they'll be harmless," Robin suggested.
"But what's the point then?" Freya said.
"We can't just leave them out here. Remember the black mages at the Black Mage Village?"
Freya nodded, not looking up at the princess.
"All of them were used as weapons, like these mages. And they woke up," Robin mused absentmindly, now stroking the delicate feathers that surrounded Ipsen's neck. "How do you know these mages won't? Just give them a chance Freya."
"Look out!" Freya said and pointed to Ipsen as his eyes opened slowly. She raised her weapon, ready to attack.
"Wait," Robin said, looking up to the Burmecian. His eyes had returned to their original, dreamy yellow color. The waltz reached up and touched Robin's cheek.
"....Robin..." he muttered with a smile and then slumped in her arms again, slipping back to unconsciousness.
*`*`*`*`*`
Author's Note: THE END!!!
Whooo!!! Whooo!....uh...WHOO!!! Cliffhanger ending, I know, please don't...you know....kill me or anything. One problem solved...but the question still remains....is Kuja gonna kill everybody!? AHHH AHH AH! *giggles insanely* But thank you to everyone that has reviewed and especially people who have actually IMed me! Especially.....
*`*`*`*`*`
Author's Note: LAST CHAPTER!!! Please don't kill me for the ending. It's a cliffhanger....but if I don't end here, I won't have enough material for a sequel and I continue with this story....trust me, I've typed it already and it pretty much sucks if I try working it into this. So please, don't throw flaming things at my head!
~NeoNaoNeo
*`*`*`*`*`
"Water sucks, it really really sucks! WAAATER SUCKS! IT REALLY REALLY
SUCKS!"~ 'Waterboy'
*`*`*`*`*`
Chapter 16: Easier to Forget
*`*`*`*`*`
The sunrise was a blood red on the morning of the black mages' planned attack
on Burmecia. The ripples on the shallow clear stream reflected the scarlet color.
Ipsen lazily awoke at the first sign of light, 289 still slumbering peacefully in his
lap. The waltz nudged him awake. "Come on," Ipsen whispered. "Get up. We're...
hello... what's this?"
Ipsen picked up an envelope that lay near his arm and examined it. 289 released
his grip on Ipsen and sat up, rubbing his dully glowing eyes. "...What is it?" the
small mage asked, his high pitched voice sounding much stronger and bolder
than the day before.
Ipsen ignored him and tore the envelope open, removing the letter. The waltz
read it over.
'I want you in Burmecia by mid-morning. And, because of your mistake with
Mikoto, I want you to capture a girl by the name of Robin for me.'
"Robin...?" Ipsen whispered to himself.
'She is sixteen years old. She has a tail and a horn, with short brownish blonde
hair.'
It was a perfect description of the girl from his dream. Maybe the other mage
with wings was him, but how? What....?
'Don't fail me Four. She will be there with at least four others. After you lead the
black mages into Burmecia and capture the girl, you are to bring her to Ice
Cavern. I've included a map, just in case you have a sudden mind lapse.
Kuja'
There was a PS, but it was written in red, smudging ink.
'PS Don't go soft on me. You're superior to the black mages, even to that runt.'
Ipsen crumpled up the letter and tossed it in the stream, slightly flustered by the
post script. 289 was still snuggled against Ipsen for warmth, his eyes starting to
close again.
"Come on, wake up," Ipsen ordered and jarred the small mage awake. 289
narrowed his eyes slightly, but lightened his stare and hopped from Ipsen's lap.
The waltz spread his wings in a long stretch, raising his arms high over his head
and standing on tip-toe. He loosened himself back into his usual stance and
realized his wing hadn't given him any trouble.
He undid the bandage and examined the wound. Quite miraculously, the gash
was almost completely healed, although many of his feathers were still caked in
dried blood. 289 smiled at Ipsen's surprised reaction.
"...I used a healing spell before I bandaged it," 289 explained quietly.
"I noticed," Ipsen grunted and spread his wings. He hated to admit it, but this
small mage had once again saved his hide. "Thank you. I owe you one."
"...No, I only did what I felt appropriate." the small mage murmured with a
wistful tone.
"Come on, we need to get to Burmecia," Ipsen said, lightly grabbing 289's wrist.
The two teleported to where the other mages were camping. Many of them were
awake, staring blankly into space.
"..to do what?" 289 asked naively.
"We're going there to kill the lot of them," Ipsen laughed. 289's eyes widened.
"...Why?"
Ipsen thought a moment. "That's what we're made for, we exist to kill." Ipsen
said stoutly. "You too."
"...no," 289 said. "Not me....not you either...or them."
"What do you mean?" Ipsen growled.
"...I won't kill...."
"Fine," Ipsen said, opening his wings. "You can fend for yourself, runt."
289 swallowed.
Ipsen shrugged and began walking towards the other black mages. 289
whimpered slightly, knowing he wouldn't last very long by himself out in the
wilderness. He began toddling after Ipsen slowly, somewhat ashamed of himself.
The waltz turned around as the other black mages began to pick up their brisk
pace once again, although fatigue and exhaustion from their previous endeavor stayed with them, magically and physically.
Ipsen narrowed his eyes at 289, somewhat amused. "You choose what you
wanted," Ipsen snarled at the runt and a strip of lightning struck right in front of
the small mage's face. 289 fell backwards with a frightened squeak. Ipsen
laughed. "Perhaps you should choose a little more wisely and not let emotions
get in your way little one. I haven't. Only the strong survive, perhaps you'll learn
that better out here than with us."
"....fine, be one of them...." 289 muttered contemptuously. "...fulfill your empty purpose..."
Ipsen had already spread his wings and was coasting over the black mage army
as they trampled over the field.
(A/N: Just when you start to like him again, Ipsen goes and has a butthole
relapse. *Eight Crazy Nights quote for non-Adam Sandler people*
*`*`*`*`*`
Freya watched as the bloody sun rose from a high perch atop a bell tower. Robin,
Zidane, Steiner, and Garnet sat at the bottom. Eiko and Vivi walked toward the
group, both holding their weapons high.
"Vivi? Eiko?" Zidane asked and looked to the two magicians. "I thought you two
were helping with the clean-up in Lindblum."
"What gave you that idea?" Eiko giggled.
"The letter you sent," Garnet said.
"We...didn't send a letter." Vivi said.
"Yes, you did," Zidane said looking from Garnet to Vivi and Eiko.
Eiko shook her head. "Nope, we didn't."
"Huh, that's weird," Zidane said. "I wonder who..."
"They're here!" Freya called from the steeple and jumped down, landing with a
soft thump. "Ready arms!" She shouted to the ready Dragon Knights.
Vivi, Eiko, Zidane, Robin, Steiner and Garnet held up their weapons, ready to
fight as the black mages began pouring into the streets. Burmecians who weren't
fighting ran into their homes and those who were charged at the army with a
shout.
Ipsen flapped over the clash over the army, scanning the crowd for his target, the
girl. He saw her attacking a soldier with her dagger. Ipsen swooped down and
knocked her over. Robin fell to the ground with a grunt and she quickly hopped
to her feet. "Cheap shot!" she scolded. Her eyes opened in horror when she
realized who the waltz was. "....Ipsen...?"
That name....it was so familiar, was it his. Yes, she called that mage in the dream Ipsen, maybe....
No! I am Black Waltz Number Four! Kuja said so!
What if Kuja was wrong?
No! He's not! He....
Remember! Try to remember!
It's easier to forget. Sometimes....it's just easier to forget.
No, remember!
His internal argument came to an abrupt end.
"I'm Black Waltz No. 4," he snarled and shoved Robin down again. His once kind yellow eyes glittered at her ferociously like two fire embers.
"Ipsen!" Robin said as the waltz closed in on her, but didn't continue. He ignored her and leaned over, grabbing her by the collar. Robin bit her lip. "Damn it! Remember!"
*`*`*`*`*`*`
Remember? Remember what?
Everything! Remember everything!
...why?
For her.
For...her...?
Yes.
But...Kuja?
No! Forget Kuja! Like you did her!
Remember her....?
Yes.
Remember...
Who?
Remember her.
Her?
Robin.
Yes, Robin.
Why?
Because...friends don't forget friends.
Friends?
Yes, friends.....
*`*`*`*`*`*`
"Ipsen, come on." Robin whimpered, holding the unconscious waltz in her arms as best she could. Freya walked up to her, laughing.
"We did it, we fended off the mages," the Burmecian sighed and noticed Robin, cradling Ipsen. "Robin....I'm sorry."
"He's not dead, he's still breathing," Robin snapped. "Help me get him to the church."
Freya was quite offended by Robin's sudden agressive attitude. "Robin, the church is being used to care for the wounded...."
"Yes, he's wounded. So are the Black Mages," Robin retorted. "They should be allowed in there too."
"What!? No, that's too dangerous," Freya scolded. "If they were to awake in there and...."
"I'll cast Silence on every mage you take in, that way they'll be harmless," Robin suggested.
"But what's the point then?" Freya said.
"We can't just leave them out here. Remember the black mages at the Black Mage Village?"
Freya nodded, not looking up at the princess.
"All of them were used as weapons, like these mages. And they woke up," Robin mused absentmindly, now stroking the delicate feathers that surrounded Ipsen's neck. "How do you know these mages won't? Just give them a chance Freya."
"Look out!" Freya said and pointed to Ipsen as his eyes opened slowly. She raised her weapon, ready to attack.
"Wait," Robin said, looking up to the Burmecian. His eyes had returned to their original, dreamy yellow color. The waltz reached up and touched Robin's cheek.
"....Robin..." he muttered with a smile and then slumped in her arms again, slipping back to unconsciousness.
*`*`*`*`*`
Author's Note: THE END!!!
Whooo!!! Whooo!....uh...WHOO!!! Cliffhanger ending, I know, please don't...you know....kill me or anything. One problem solved...but the question still remains....is Kuja gonna kill everybody!? AHHH AHH AH! *giggles insanely* But thank you to everyone that has reviewed and especially people who have actually IMed me! Especially.....