Disclaimer: There is no ownership, there is no spoon. Sorry, The Matrix Reloaded is on.
Keep those reviews coming! They make me feel good and tingly inside.
Chapter 10
Mikoto, Blank, and Marcus rushed to the stone elevator, the colossal tree collapsing around them. Their breath caught in their throats, their feet stumbled in their haste. Hearts raced as the pace quickened, trying to avoid being buried alive.
"Can't this piece of crap go any faster?" Blank muttered, disgusted.
"Would you rather be down there?" Mikoto replied icily.
That shut him up.
The three stood impatiently on the platform, hoping daylight would still greet them when the ride was over. Mikoto glanced at her two companions, unable to block out their overwhelming emotions. Both were anxious and worried, for their hometown, the rest of Tantalus and even her. She was flattered by their concern, but had no time to deal with the issue.
Sunlight shone down on the trio when the platform returned to its original position.
The Tree of Life was deathly quiet.
Blank stepped forward, looking around, "What's going on? Where'd he go?" he asked confused.
"Don't know," Marcus said, "but I don't like this, it's too quiet."
Mikoto barely registered their conversation, she was too focused on the movement in the treetop.
There it was again.
She dove into her inner self, summoning the necessary spell, "Thundaga!"
Lightening streaked out of the cloudless sky, striking the overhead branch, shattering it to bits.
A cry was heard, piercing the stillness.
A cry she had heard before…
One she had hoped to forget…
A silver dragon.
No, not just one…thousands.
(The dragons fell out of Iifa, cascading and tumbling.
Then one by one the dragons opened their great leathery wings, gliding into the open air.
It would have been beautiful, if it wasn't so terrifying.)
Mikoto blinked, her trance but a memory.
The three stared into the sky, the thousands of dragons hurtling towards Lindblum, the image burning into their memories.
Kuja was leading them into oblivion.
------------------------------------------------
They pushed the Prima Vista II to her limit. Approaching Lindblum that night.
Mikoto stood with Tantalus on the prow of the ship, waiting to pass the mountains that blocked the city from view.
The evening sky sparkled with stars, the moonlight shone down on the weary travelers, lulling them into a hypnotic state, where they only existed to wait to see the city.
All feared what lay ahead.
-----------------------------------------------
They heard the explosions long before the city could be seen. The great shockwaves jostled the airship, setting her passengers swaying. Firelight lit the gigantic plumes of smoke curling high into the air.
They passed the mountain of rock and earth…
And saw the city of fire.
Mikoto's eyes widened, the destruction reflected deep within their verdant depths. She breathed slowly and deeply, trying to suppress her raging emotions.
She had failed, failed in her duty.
Terra and Leo were in great danger.
She sat down on the deck, unable to stand.
Her purpose…
She had failed in her purpose.
She had sworn no harm would come to her charges. That she would protect them with her life. She wished now to be able to change the past, to be able to stay with the children. To protect them.
She wished with all of her heart that they were alright.
Mikoto stared ahead with a heavy weight in her chest, unable to do anything but wait.
-------------------------------------------
Mikoto walked through the smoldering ruins of Lindblum. They were forced to land on the plains since the docks had been destroyed.
Death and destruction met them at every turn, the debris cascaded into the streets, blocking the way. Water pipes spurted columns of water high into the air, and power lines cackled, their ends dipping into the puddles of water. The sparks started more fires.
People wandered around, covered in mud and blood, looking for their lost loved ones. They sifted through the debris, searching for remnants of their shattered lives. Many were crying, and many were shouting. The only outlets for their emotional overload.
The group came to the Tantalus playhouse, at least what was left of it. The once proud clock had fallen, the glass shattered across the cobblestones. The doorway was partially caved in, blocking the inside form view.
Baku stepped forward, an authoritive tone coming to his voice, "I'll go and check inside, you all stay here."
Mikoto's brows furrowed, concern entering her being.
The Tantalus leader started crawling inside, quickly disappearing into the darkness. Crashing and banging sounds were heard. After a few moments he crawled back outside, covered in dust.
He had a look of hopeless desperation, "They're dead."
Baku sank to the ground, his face shadowed, "I failed them! I fucking failed them! They're dead because of me. If…if I had just let them come along, they would still be alive. Damn it!" he accentuated his words by pounding his massive fists on the ground, creating cracks in the rocky pavement.
Mikoto looked to the rest of the group, they all eyed the ground, misery staining their auras.
So she went to Baku, trying to soothe his troubled heart, "It's not your fault, you didn't know this would happen, don't blame yourself."
"What do you know! Lucelle and Bunce were like my own kids, hell they were just kids! They didn't deserve this fate."
Mikoto became angry, "None of these people deserved this! I know that! Do you think I feel good that thousands have died? That I didn't stop it? That I couldn't have stopped it? Don't make the mistake thinking you that you are the only one who feels that they could have, should have done more."
At that she closed her eyes tight and clenched her fists until her knuckles turned white. Her tail swished wildly behind her. She then turned abruptly around and stormed off, disappearing into the night.
The members of Tantalus stood there in shock. They had never heard Mikoto raise her voice in anger.
They stared after her, speechless.
Fire climbed into the sky, like the spires of hell reaching for heaven. The cries of human suffering echoed across the mountains, buildings, and heart. But the heart could hear their pain.
--------------------------------------------------
Mikoto raced to the castle, her concern filling her lungs with air.
Terra and Leo were alright.
She kept repeating the line like a mantra to herself as she ran.
Her trip went by like a blur.
Keep those reviews coming! They make me feel good and tingly inside.
Chapter 10
Mikoto, Blank, and Marcus rushed to the stone elevator, the colossal tree collapsing around them. Their breath caught in their throats, their feet stumbled in their haste. Hearts raced as the pace quickened, trying to avoid being buried alive.
"Can't this piece of crap go any faster?" Blank muttered, disgusted.
"Would you rather be down there?" Mikoto replied icily.
That shut him up.
The three stood impatiently on the platform, hoping daylight would still greet them when the ride was over. Mikoto glanced at her two companions, unable to block out their overwhelming emotions. Both were anxious and worried, for their hometown, the rest of Tantalus and even her. She was flattered by their concern, but had no time to deal with the issue.
Sunlight shone down on the trio when the platform returned to its original position.
The Tree of Life was deathly quiet.
Blank stepped forward, looking around, "What's going on? Where'd he go?" he asked confused.
"Don't know," Marcus said, "but I don't like this, it's too quiet."
Mikoto barely registered their conversation, she was too focused on the movement in the treetop.
There it was again.
She dove into her inner self, summoning the necessary spell, "Thundaga!"
Lightening streaked out of the cloudless sky, striking the overhead branch, shattering it to bits.
A cry was heard, piercing the stillness.
A cry she had heard before…
One she had hoped to forget…
A silver dragon.
No, not just one…thousands.
(The dragons fell out of Iifa, cascading and tumbling.
Then one by one the dragons opened their great leathery wings, gliding into the open air.
It would have been beautiful, if it wasn't so terrifying.)
Mikoto blinked, her trance but a memory.
The three stared into the sky, the thousands of dragons hurtling towards Lindblum, the image burning into their memories.
Kuja was leading them into oblivion.
------------------------------------------------
They pushed the Prima Vista II to her limit. Approaching Lindblum that night.
Mikoto stood with Tantalus on the prow of the ship, waiting to pass the mountains that blocked the city from view.
The evening sky sparkled with stars, the moonlight shone down on the weary travelers, lulling them into a hypnotic state, where they only existed to wait to see the city.
All feared what lay ahead.
-----------------------------------------------
They heard the explosions long before the city could be seen. The great shockwaves jostled the airship, setting her passengers swaying. Firelight lit the gigantic plumes of smoke curling high into the air.
They passed the mountain of rock and earth…
And saw the city of fire.
Mikoto's eyes widened, the destruction reflected deep within their verdant depths. She breathed slowly and deeply, trying to suppress her raging emotions.
She had failed, failed in her duty.
Terra and Leo were in great danger.
She sat down on the deck, unable to stand.
Her purpose…
She had failed in her purpose.
She had sworn no harm would come to her charges. That she would protect them with her life. She wished now to be able to change the past, to be able to stay with the children. To protect them.
She wished with all of her heart that they were alright.
Mikoto stared ahead with a heavy weight in her chest, unable to do anything but wait.
-------------------------------------------
Mikoto walked through the smoldering ruins of Lindblum. They were forced to land on the plains since the docks had been destroyed.
Death and destruction met them at every turn, the debris cascaded into the streets, blocking the way. Water pipes spurted columns of water high into the air, and power lines cackled, their ends dipping into the puddles of water. The sparks started more fires.
People wandered around, covered in mud and blood, looking for their lost loved ones. They sifted through the debris, searching for remnants of their shattered lives. Many were crying, and many were shouting. The only outlets for their emotional overload.
The group came to the Tantalus playhouse, at least what was left of it. The once proud clock had fallen, the glass shattered across the cobblestones. The doorway was partially caved in, blocking the inside form view.
Baku stepped forward, an authoritive tone coming to his voice, "I'll go and check inside, you all stay here."
Mikoto's brows furrowed, concern entering her being.
The Tantalus leader started crawling inside, quickly disappearing into the darkness. Crashing and banging sounds were heard. After a few moments he crawled back outside, covered in dust.
He had a look of hopeless desperation, "They're dead."
Baku sank to the ground, his face shadowed, "I failed them! I fucking failed them! They're dead because of me. If…if I had just let them come along, they would still be alive. Damn it!" he accentuated his words by pounding his massive fists on the ground, creating cracks in the rocky pavement.
Mikoto looked to the rest of the group, they all eyed the ground, misery staining their auras.
So she went to Baku, trying to soothe his troubled heart, "It's not your fault, you didn't know this would happen, don't blame yourself."
"What do you know! Lucelle and Bunce were like my own kids, hell they were just kids! They didn't deserve this fate."
Mikoto became angry, "None of these people deserved this! I know that! Do you think I feel good that thousands have died? That I didn't stop it? That I couldn't have stopped it? Don't make the mistake thinking you that you are the only one who feels that they could have, should have done more."
At that she closed her eyes tight and clenched her fists until her knuckles turned white. Her tail swished wildly behind her. She then turned abruptly around and stormed off, disappearing into the night.
The members of Tantalus stood there in shock. They had never heard Mikoto raise her voice in anger.
They stared after her, speechless.
Fire climbed into the sky, like the spires of hell reaching for heaven. The cries of human suffering echoed across the mountains, buildings, and heart. But the heart could hear their pain.
--------------------------------------------------
Mikoto raced to the castle, her concern filling her lungs with air.
Terra and Leo were alright.
She kept repeating the line like a mantra to herself as she ran.
Her trip went by like a blur.
