Disclaimer: "Damn the Disclaimer!"
Final Fantasy X-2 has me hooked for the present, so I'll update the chapters already written. By that
time I should finally be finished with the game. I hope so, I want to see the perfect ending. I mean the
'good' ending was good, how can the perfect one be any better? It's driving me insane. Maybe they
will kill Wakka. Just kidding!
Chapter 15
They had made it to the airship, leaving behind a self-sacrificing friend. Mikoto dragged herself
to the control panel, her right arm now numb. She keyed the launch sequence, setting the ship on
autopilot. She didn't care where they were going, as long as they got out of there.
She went to Blank, the thief was still clutching his ribs, looking for a potion. Her reckless tackle
had aggravated his injury. And even though she had shielded him from the spell, the powerful magic still
reached him.
"Hold still!" She tried holding him down with her working arm, but failed. So she got on top of
him, strattling his waist, pressing her hand into his chest, to hold him in place.
Blank grimaced in pain.
"Curaga."
The healing magic left her palm, diffusing into Blank's ribs. She felt him becoming more solid,
more real underneath her. She continued, giving him more and more, unable to stop. Her head felt
heavy, her heart slowing down.
"Mikoto!"
Blank grabbed her, shocking her out of her trance. She became more aware, realizing what
she had been nearing.
"I'm sorry." She apologized.
He shook his head, "Don't be, are you alright?"
She nodded absently, "I will be."
Then they both seemed to notice that Mikoto was still sitting on top of him.
"Uh...well..." Blank started.
But he couldn't finish, their awkward position forgotten as the ship rolled violently . They were
both nearly thrown across the room, landing on the metallic floor. The ship remained on it's side,
pinning the two against the wall.
"Now what?" Blank said, staggering to his feet.
Mikoto lay on the wall, hoping her bad feeling was unfounded. But, like most things, what you
hope for you don't always receive.
They hit the wall again, hard. Forces keeping them there. There was only one explanation...
They were going down.
-------------------------------------------
The airship groaned and shook, increasing velocity and air resistance tearing at the hull. Blank
and Mikoto were pressed against the wall, unable to stop their descent.
And for the third time in half an hour, Mikoto thought she was going to die.
The ship hit the ground. The impact rattling her bones. The metal hull tearing and screeching.
The airship came to a stop.
Mikoto was still alive.
She got up, every muscle and tendon protesting. Going over to Blank she checked to see if he
was still alive. He had a heartbeat, and was breathing. But he was unconscious, a large bump on his
head.
She sighed, relieved. Her liquidy limbs not allowing her stand up anymore. She sank to the
ground, her mind dizzy. She drifted off, hearing excited voices before losing her battle to stay awake.
-----------------------------------------------------
Mikoto awoke sometime later laying in a big soft bed, and covered in clean white sheets. She
was in an opulent bedroom, lighted by antique candlebras. The walls were gray stone with mahogany
wood inlays, the paneling matched all of the other furniture. There were tiny slit-like windows, but the
glass was so old you couldn't see through them. Large purple curtains hung heavily on either side of the
windows, covered in dust.
She sat up, cool air hitting her exposed skin.
Exposed skin?
Where her dirty, dusty traveling clothes once covered her, she now wore a sheer strip of white
cloth over her chest. The loose fabric draping. Her lower half had a skirt of the same material, just in
many more layers. Her skin felt fresh and clean, someone must have bathed and clothed her while she
was unconscious.
"I'm glad you have awoken My Lady."
A woman stood there, long, dark hair pulled neatly into a bun. She wore a simple white shift
that covered her down to her knees. No shoes covered her feet, her footfalls made little 'plopping'
noises as she walked.
"Please come with me, your companions are waiting for you."
The woman smiled patiently. Mikoto got out of the large bed, wrapping her arms around her
torso protectively, "Who are you?"
"I am one of the Chosen, Jane."
The woman pushed Mikoto through the door gently into an equally opulent hallway. They
passed others, all wearing white. They walked in single file, silently.
The genome was really confused, what the hell was going on? Hadn't she just been fighting for
her life? Now she was being treated like royalty? And where was Blank?
She continued to follow Jane, sensing no ill will from the woman. Come to think of it, she
wasn't sensing much at all.
"My Lady, I am pleased you are here. We have been waiting for you for a long time."
Her brows furrowed, "Who?"
"The Chosen." she answered simply.
The woman said no more as they entered a large dining hall. Many more like Jane passed by,
either sitting calmly and eating, or serving food on large platters. At the head table sat three redheads
she knew well. Blank, of course was up there. As was Lani and Amarant, the bounty hunters.
Amarant didn't seem to be enjoying himself, his aura bored. But Lani was in her element, shouting
orders and commanding others. The Chosen merely nodded and hurried off to perform their various
tasks. There was one more seated up there, an old man, looking none too happy to be at the table.
Blank looked up from his food, his head bandaged under the belt. He looked clean, dressed in
a white shirt and pants, and no shoes.
"Nice threads." He said as he came over.
She wrapped her arms around her chest even tighter if it were possible, "Where are we? And
why are Amarant and Lani here?"
He glanced back at the head table, "They can tell you themselves. I'll explain the rest while we
eat."
Blank then grabbed her previously useless arm, taking her to the head table. He seated her
between himself and Amarant.
The bounty hunter looked down at her, "How's the arm?"
Mikoto remembered that her arm had been crushed under the dragon's head, but now it was
fine, "Better."
"At least these fools did something right." he then turned back to being bored.
However Lani peered from around him, "Hey Mikoto, glad you're finally up, now we can have
a two on two battle."
"Oh no no no no no no! You cannot harm the Lady-" the old man started.
Lani backhanded him, "Quiet Paraphyses, no one asked you opinion,"
The old man, Paraphyses, bowed and hurried away, "Yes, of course lady Lani."
Mikoto waited until he was gone, "You didn't have to hit him."
"We have a love-hate relationship, he loves me and I hate him. Besides, it isn't as if it wasn't
expected of me."
She saw the confused look in Mikoto's green eyes, "Simply speaking, Red and me here are
two deities. He is supposed to be a benevolent father, and I'm apparently his vengeful wife."
"They are in charge of guiding the Chosen." Blank added.
Lani raised her goblet as if to propose a toast, then took a long drink of the liquid.
Mikoto turned to Blank, "The Chosen?" she asked.
He stopped eating to answer, "Yeah, I think they are some kind of cult or something."
Disbelief crossed her features, "Amarant and Lani are in charge of a cult?"
He shrugged, "Who would've seen that one coming?"
-----------------------------------------------
Mikoto now knew that they had nearly crashed into Ipsen's Castle. The ancient structure was
perfect for the cult. It was far from civilization, and uninhabited, at least by people. The previous
tenants being monsters.
Bright sunlight glinted off of the sheer sand stone cliffs. The scrub-like flora and fauna of the
Forgotten Continent scattered across the xeroscape. The air was dry, but not irritating. The perfect
cloudless sky creating a dome overhead.
She sat in her room later that night, practicing her black magic by lighting all of the candles and
the fireplace. Then methodically putting them out. It was a good exercise, putting out one candle is
easy, but putting out one among twenty took skill. She chanted the words, imagining the power coming
out of her hand-
"My Lady?"
She quickly cancelled the spell, turning to see Jane, "Yes?"
The woman came and sat next to her on the window bench, smoothing her shift. "I am very
excited, I am to be your personal assistant. So please, if you require anything, at any time, let me
know."
Mikoto took the chance, "I have some questions, if you don't mind."
"Of course not, My Lady."
Apparently Jane was one of the Chosen, a select group of individual who waited the coming of
their messiah. Superficially, the Chosen were many, but in collective spirit they were three: the woman,
Jane, the man, Todd, and the prophet, Paraphyses. They worked together, creating a utopia. Amarant
and Lani were discriminating deities, deciding whether the Chosen were ready to enter their Nirvana or
not. Once decided, either the Chosen would never know undying peace and love, or be taken into the
sky in a sky chariot. Blank and herself appeared in a fireball, so the Chosen thought their messiahs had
come.
"You said something earlier about our memories returning?" Mikoto prompted.
Jane nodded, "Yes, the prophecy says the messiah will come to us with no memory, in order to
judge us fairly." She swallowed. "I have been waiting a long time for this day. Being a Chosen is not
easy, but I feel it will be worth it."
Mikoto felt pity for the woman, almost empathy. Yes, that was it, she felt a kinship towards
Jane. The woman reminding her of herself all those years ago in Bran Bral, even up until recently. Just
obeying orders, not really being happy now, but hoping happiness would eventually come. She began
her journey, and she would help this woman too.
"Is it really worth it Jane? To put off happiness? If you have worked hard and led a good life,
shouldn't you be happy now?"
The woman looked up, surprised, "I don't know, I've never questioned the prophecies."
Mikoto put a hand on her shoulder, "Think about it, should your happiness rely exclusively on
others? Wouldn't it make sense for you to have a major part of it?"
"I...I don't know..."
The genome allowed some comforting emotions to enter Jane, calming the woman, "Just think
about it."
"Yes, My Lady." she as she bowed and left, quietly closing the door behind her.
Mikoto felt accomplishment enter her heart, a smile crept onto her face, "It's a start."
-----------------------------------------------------
The next day, Mikoto joined Blank, Lani and Amarant at the airship. She looked in disbelief at
it, "You two actually flew in this thing? Did you have to push it all the way here?"
Blank laughed at her remark. The airship was an antique, dilapidated and falling apart. They
would have a better chance of reaching Alexandria by growing wings and flying.
Lani spoke up, "What are you talking about? This is a classic, it's worth thousands."
"Thousands in repairs.' Blank whispered loudly.
The bounty huntress glared at him, you could almost see steam coming out of her ears.
"Calm down," Amarant said, "he's merely stating the obvious. You knew that thing was a
piece of junk when you bought it."
Lani gave him the evil eye, "When I bought it? I seem to remember having no choice in the
matter since you spent most of our money. And you still haven't told me what the hell you spent it on."
Amarant crossed his arms, the sign to drop the subject.
The bounty huntress threw up her arms, "Men!"
While the conversation was very interesting, they needed to get back on track, "We still need
to leave sometime."
Lani seemed to remember something, "Hey Red, don't the Chosen have some kind of 'sky
chariot' thing"
"We don't know where it is though."
"Is it an airship?" Blank asked.
She seemed thoughtful, "Actually, I got the impression it was some kind of advance shuttle."
Mikoto didn't care about the details, "If it can fly to Alexandria, then I don't care if it can go to
the moons! We need to find it."
"Well," Lani smiled, "maybe we can pull some 'godly' strings."
Mikoto raised a brow, "What exactly do you have in mind?"
Final Fantasy X-2 has me hooked for the present, so I'll update the chapters already written. By that
time I should finally be finished with the game. I hope so, I want to see the perfect ending. I mean the
'good' ending was good, how can the perfect one be any better? It's driving me insane. Maybe they
will kill Wakka. Just kidding!
Chapter 15
They had made it to the airship, leaving behind a self-sacrificing friend. Mikoto dragged herself
to the control panel, her right arm now numb. She keyed the launch sequence, setting the ship on
autopilot. She didn't care where they were going, as long as they got out of there.
She went to Blank, the thief was still clutching his ribs, looking for a potion. Her reckless tackle
had aggravated his injury. And even though she had shielded him from the spell, the powerful magic still
reached him.
"Hold still!" She tried holding him down with her working arm, but failed. So she got on top of
him, strattling his waist, pressing her hand into his chest, to hold him in place.
Blank grimaced in pain.
"Curaga."
The healing magic left her palm, diffusing into Blank's ribs. She felt him becoming more solid,
more real underneath her. She continued, giving him more and more, unable to stop. Her head felt
heavy, her heart slowing down.
"Mikoto!"
Blank grabbed her, shocking her out of her trance. She became more aware, realizing what
she had been nearing.
"I'm sorry." She apologized.
He shook his head, "Don't be, are you alright?"
She nodded absently, "I will be."
Then they both seemed to notice that Mikoto was still sitting on top of him.
"Uh...well..." Blank started.
But he couldn't finish, their awkward position forgotten as the ship rolled violently . They were
both nearly thrown across the room, landing on the metallic floor. The ship remained on it's side,
pinning the two against the wall.
"Now what?" Blank said, staggering to his feet.
Mikoto lay on the wall, hoping her bad feeling was unfounded. But, like most things, what you
hope for you don't always receive.
They hit the wall again, hard. Forces keeping them there. There was only one explanation...
They were going down.
-------------------------------------------
The airship groaned and shook, increasing velocity and air resistance tearing at the hull. Blank
and Mikoto were pressed against the wall, unable to stop their descent.
And for the third time in half an hour, Mikoto thought she was going to die.
The ship hit the ground. The impact rattling her bones. The metal hull tearing and screeching.
The airship came to a stop.
Mikoto was still alive.
She got up, every muscle and tendon protesting. Going over to Blank she checked to see if he
was still alive. He had a heartbeat, and was breathing. But he was unconscious, a large bump on his
head.
She sighed, relieved. Her liquidy limbs not allowing her stand up anymore. She sank to the
ground, her mind dizzy. She drifted off, hearing excited voices before losing her battle to stay awake.
-----------------------------------------------------
Mikoto awoke sometime later laying in a big soft bed, and covered in clean white sheets. She
was in an opulent bedroom, lighted by antique candlebras. The walls were gray stone with mahogany
wood inlays, the paneling matched all of the other furniture. There were tiny slit-like windows, but the
glass was so old you couldn't see through them. Large purple curtains hung heavily on either side of the
windows, covered in dust.
She sat up, cool air hitting her exposed skin.
Exposed skin?
Where her dirty, dusty traveling clothes once covered her, she now wore a sheer strip of white
cloth over her chest. The loose fabric draping. Her lower half had a skirt of the same material, just in
many more layers. Her skin felt fresh and clean, someone must have bathed and clothed her while she
was unconscious.
"I'm glad you have awoken My Lady."
A woman stood there, long, dark hair pulled neatly into a bun. She wore a simple white shift
that covered her down to her knees. No shoes covered her feet, her footfalls made little 'plopping'
noises as she walked.
"Please come with me, your companions are waiting for you."
The woman smiled patiently. Mikoto got out of the large bed, wrapping her arms around her
torso protectively, "Who are you?"
"I am one of the Chosen, Jane."
The woman pushed Mikoto through the door gently into an equally opulent hallway. They
passed others, all wearing white. They walked in single file, silently.
The genome was really confused, what the hell was going on? Hadn't she just been fighting for
her life? Now she was being treated like royalty? And where was Blank?
She continued to follow Jane, sensing no ill will from the woman. Come to think of it, she
wasn't sensing much at all.
"My Lady, I am pleased you are here. We have been waiting for you for a long time."
Her brows furrowed, "Who?"
"The Chosen." she answered simply.
The woman said no more as they entered a large dining hall. Many more like Jane passed by,
either sitting calmly and eating, or serving food on large platters. At the head table sat three redheads
she knew well. Blank, of course was up there. As was Lani and Amarant, the bounty hunters.
Amarant didn't seem to be enjoying himself, his aura bored. But Lani was in her element, shouting
orders and commanding others. The Chosen merely nodded and hurried off to perform their various
tasks. There was one more seated up there, an old man, looking none too happy to be at the table.
Blank looked up from his food, his head bandaged under the belt. He looked clean, dressed in
a white shirt and pants, and no shoes.
"Nice threads." He said as he came over.
She wrapped her arms around her chest even tighter if it were possible, "Where are we? And
why are Amarant and Lani here?"
He glanced back at the head table, "They can tell you themselves. I'll explain the rest while we
eat."
Blank then grabbed her previously useless arm, taking her to the head table. He seated her
between himself and Amarant.
The bounty hunter looked down at her, "How's the arm?"
Mikoto remembered that her arm had been crushed under the dragon's head, but now it was
fine, "Better."
"At least these fools did something right." he then turned back to being bored.
However Lani peered from around him, "Hey Mikoto, glad you're finally up, now we can have
a two on two battle."
"Oh no no no no no no! You cannot harm the Lady-" the old man started.
Lani backhanded him, "Quiet Paraphyses, no one asked you opinion,"
The old man, Paraphyses, bowed and hurried away, "Yes, of course lady Lani."
Mikoto waited until he was gone, "You didn't have to hit him."
"We have a love-hate relationship, he loves me and I hate him. Besides, it isn't as if it wasn't
expected of me."
She saw the confused look in Mikoto's green eyes, "Simply speaking, Red and me here are
two deities. He is supposed to be a benevolent father, and I'm apparently his vengeful wife."
"They are in charge of guiding the Chosen." Blank added.
Lani raised her goblet as if to propose a toast, then took a long drink of the liquid.
Mikoto turned to Blank, "The Chosen?" she asked.
He stopped eating to answer, "Yeah, I think they are some kind of cult or something."
Disbelief crossed her features, "Amarant and Lani are in charge of a cult?"
He shrugged, "Who would've seen that one coming?"
-----------------------------------------------
Mikoto now knew that they had nearly crashed into Ipsen's Castle. The ancient structure was
perfect for the cult. It was far from civilization, and uninhabited, at least by people. The previous
tenants being monsters.
Bright sunlight glinted off of the sheer sand stone cliffs. The scrub-like flora and fauna of the
Forgotten Continent scattered across the xeroscape. The air was dry, but not irritating. The perfect
cloudless sky creating a dome overhead.
She sat in her room later that night, practicing her black magic by lighting all of the candles and
the fireplace. Then methodically putting them out. It was a good exercise, putting out one candle is
easy, but putting out one among twenty took skill. She chanted the words, imagining the power coming
out of her hand-
"My Lady?"
She quickly cancelled the spell, turning to see Jane, "Yes?"
The woman came and sat next to her on the window bench, smoothing her shift. "I am very
excited, I am to be your personal assistant. So please, if you require anything, at any time, let me
know."
Mikoto took the chance, "I have some questions, if you don't mind."
"Of course not, My Lady."
Apparently Jane was one of the Chosen, a select group of individual who waited the coming of
their messiah. Superficially, the Chosen were many, but in collective spirit they were three: the woman,
Jane, the man, Todd, and the prophet, Paraphyses. They worked together, creating a utopia. Amarant
and Lani were discriminating deities, deciding whether the Chosen were ready to enter their Nirvana or
not. Once decided, either the Chosen would never know undying peace and love, or be taken into the
sky in a sky chariot. Blank and herself appeared in a fireball, so the Chosen thought their messiahs had
come.
"You said something earlier about our memories returning?" Mikoto prompted.
Jane nodded, "Yes, the prophecy says the messiah will come to us with no memory, in order to
judge us fairly." She swallowed. "I have been waiting a long time for this day. Being a Chosen is not
easy, but I feel it will be worth it."
Mikoto felt pity for the woman, almost empathy. Yes, that was it, she felt a kinship towards
Jane. The woman reminding her of herself all those years ago in Bran Bral, even up until recently. Just
obeying orders, not really being happy now, but hoping happiness would eventually come. She began
her journey, and she would help this woman too.
"Is it really worth it Jane? To put off happiness? If you have worked hard and led a good life,
shouldn't you be happy now?"
The woman looked up, surprised, "I don't know, I've never questioned the prophecies."
Mikoto put a hand on her shoulder, "Think about it, should your happiness rely exclusively on
others? Wouldn't it make sense for you to have a major part of it?"
"I...I don't know..."
The genome allowed some comforting emotions to enter Jane, calming the woman, "Just think
about it."
"Yes, My Lady." she as she bowed and left, quietly closing the door behind her.
Mikoto felt accomplishment enter her heart, a smile crept onto her face, "It's a start."
-----------------------------------------------------
The next day, Mikoto joined Blank, Lani and Amarant at the airship. She looked in disbelief at
it, "You two actually flew in this thing? Did you have to push it all the way here?"
Blank laughed at her remark. The airship was an antique, dilapidated and falling apart. They
would have a better chance of reaching Alexandria by growing wings and flying.
Lani spoke up, "What are you talking about? This is a classic, it's worth thousands."
"Thousands in repairs.' Blank whispered loudly.
The bounty huntress glared at him, you could almost see steam coming out of her ears.
"Calm down," Amarant said, "he's merely stating the obvious. You knew that thing was a
piece of junk when you bought it."
Lani gave him the evil eye, "When I bought it? I seem to remember having no choice in the
matter since you spent most of our money. And you still haven't told me what the hell you spent it on."
Amarant crossed his arms, the sign to drop the subject.
The bounty huntress threw up her arms, "Men!"
While the conversation was very interesting, they needed to get back on track, "We still need
to leave sometime."
Lani seemed to remember something, "Hey Red, don't the Chosen have some kind of 'sky
chariot' thing"
"We don't know where it is though."
"Is it an airship?" Blank asked.
She seemed thoughtful, "Actually, I got the impression it was some kind of advance shuttle."
Mikoto didn't care about the details, "If it can fly to Alexandria, then I don't care if it can go to
the moons! We need to find it."
"Well," Lani smiled, "maybe we can pull some 'godly' strings."
Mikoto raised a brow, "What exactly do you have in mind?"
