Disclaimer: Final Fantasy 9 belongs to Squaresoft.
********
Prophecy
********
"So our next stop will be Sephiroth's Mansion then," said Zidane.
"Well, duh, since the monster obviously came from that place then the person that set it free stays there," Mikoto answered.
Zidane ignored Mikoto and continued, "And it's supposed to be near Iifa Tree, right?"
Dagger nodded, "But there's still a problem. Ever since we've defeated Necron, the Iifa Tree…Who knows where it is now?"
"That's why we're counting on your dreams to be able to locate it," Zidane replied.
Dagger smiled at him.
"Uh guys, I have a question," Mikoto said.
Kuja nodded to show that he was listening.
"Who's Sephiroth?"
Zidane shrugged, "Never heard of that name before."
Kuja stepped forward and started, "I've read about him. He lived a very long time ago. It was told that he destroyed most of Gaia, only a few were spared, the Mist Continent among them. He was invincible; nobody was able to defeat him. Nobody knew what he wanted or why he did that. Everyone feared him, until someone was finally able to conquer him and kill him…"
"…No one knew what happened to him or the hero after Sephiroth's death. Rumor says that his body was buried inside his manor, which up to now cannot be found. But people got over it since it happened for more than a century already."
"So we're going to have a hard time then, but where will we start?" asked Mikoto.
"The stranger the place is, the better," Kuja said.
"But we've been to almost every place in Gaia," Dagger said.
"I've heard that some sort of island appeared somewhere near the Forgotten Continent," Kuja answered back. "Sources say that many peculiar creatures live there. Besides, it's been a long time since any of us traveled. I'm quite sure of that"
"He's right," agreed Zidane.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Mikoto said.
**********************************************************************************
After two hours…
"Seen anything yet?" Zidane asked.
The crewmember shook his head. "Wait, what's that?"
He took the binoculars from the table and looked into it.
"What did you see?" Zidane inquired.
"An island, some kind of gigantic island. I think this is what we're looking for."
"Good, tell the whole crew to prepare," Zidane said. He then went out of the room.
**********************************************************************************
"Where will we start?" Freya asked.
"There seem to be small huts over there, maybe we can get some clues there," Vivi suggested.
"So it's decided then, we'll just have to choose our party. Dagger and Mikoto will be with me. Then…"
"I'll go with you, who knows what childish pranks you might do," Kuja said.
"Ouch! That hurts, but fine!" Zidane said in a hurt kind of voice.
"Let's go!" Mikoto shouted jumping up and down.
"Okay, just stop that," Zidane said.
Mikoto stood still.
"Come on," Zidane muttered as he started walking.
They met some monsters on the way but they didn't have a hard time defeating them. When they reached the place…
"What happened here?" Mikoto said.
The whole place was ruined. Roofs lay on the ground. Broken furnitures are scattered everywhere. There was no sign of any living thing.
"Better start looking for any survivors," Zidane said.
Mikoto nodded. They set out in pairs. They didn't get too far when Dagger spotted an old man sitting alone on a broken fountain. Dagger went near him and talked to him.
"Are you alright?" asked Dagger.
The old man merely nodded.
"Do you know what happened here?" she asked again.
The old man sighed and answered, "I've warned them again and again, but they were stubborn and foolish. None would listen to me. The same thing happened in another place before, the people who lived there were as obstinate as the villagers here. Ah…but that took place a long time ago."
"How did you know?"
"Know what?"
"How did you know that this was going to happen?" Dagger asked.
"Let's just say that I saw it coming," the old man replied.
Dagger stared at the old man for some time.
"I know that face, I've seen it before," Dagger thought.
Then she remembered what he had said: The same thing happened in another place before, the people who lived there were as obstinate as the villagers here. Ah…but that took place a long time ago.
"But he couldn't be!" Dagger shook her head.
"Yes, I am the same person whom you were thinking about," the old man said.
"H-how did you know?" she asked.
"Of course I knew, you've grown a lot since I last saw you…Sarah," he answered.
The old man rose and started walking. Dagger ran after him.
"Wait! Don't go! Please," Dagger shouted.
**********************************************************************************
"Where is she?" Zidane thought. "She told me that she was going to be here."
Zidane sat at the fountain and waited. He left Dagger behind for awhile because he saw something moving, which turned out to be a moogle. Then he heard Dagger's voice that seems to slowly fade away. He rose and followed the direction of her voice. He kept on running until he saw her hair.
**********************************************************************************
"Please, stop!" Dagger cried.
The old man ignored her and kept on walking. What was surprising was that he seemed to gain more speed at each step he takes.
"Your friend has come for you," he said.
Dagger did not mind what he said and continued running after him. He finally stopped and faced her.
"You want to know? If you do, then you must be prepared to face the truth," the old man said challengingly.
"I'm prepared," Dagger replied in a firm voice.
A smile crept into the old man's face.
"Then follow me," he said.
The old man walked forward and disappeared. Dagger stood still for sometime then did the same thing.
"What the-"
Dagger was astounded by her surroundings. She was inside a beautiful garden with a small hut in the middle. She saw the old man inside and trudged towards it. The old man beckoned for her to enter and told her to sit. She did it obediently.
"As you can see," he began, "I am a sage who have lived for a long time. What you see now is merely what's left of me. And I find it quite surprising that you are able to see me."
"What do you mean? I can't understand," Dagger said.
"You can't? Then let me explain it. I, along with the citizens of this village, perished at the hand of an unimaginable power. It really made me sad when none would listen to me after I warned them. I decided to perish with them since the people have taken great care of me and loved me. Besides, I am tire of this world anyway," he said.
"I am merely the spirit which is wandering aimlessly now," he continued.
Dagger nodded to show that she understood everything he said.
"I remember warning a village before, the people were very nice, they loved and took great care of me," he said. "But there's something different about them…they have horns."
Dagger looked at him, she was stunned.
"I told them that a strong force was about to come and destroy the whole place, unfortunately, nobody listened. They treated me nicely although they thought I had gone mad. Of course I remembered everyone there…especially a young girl who always visited me and would tell me all sorts of tales."
His eyes flickered while saying this. He then smiled at her afterwards.
"Well, enough of the past. You said you want to know the truth…which is quite brave of you, since many are afraid to learn about the future…" he said.
Dagger listened patiently and nodded.
"I know that you are getting tired already, so let me get straight to the point." He said again.
The old man raised his left hand and placed it above Dagger's head. He then closed his eyes. For a while, there was silence, then he chanted,
"Two great powers within you, waiting to be unleashed
Strong their strengths are, with cravings to diminish
Cease them fast, that you must do
Or vast destruction will redo"
Author's Note: Hope you guys really liked it! Thanks to those who reviewed!!! ^_^
Really sorry if it takes awhile before I can update since… ^_^
Anyone with a friendster account? Add me…please!!! ^_^ Here's my e-address: lexie@tri-isys.com
Thanks!!! ^_^