Return of Light
REVIEWS, PLEASE!!! If I get a lot—but not all from the same person—I'll put up two chapters next time I update, which will be about three updates this week—one more after the two (if, there) and then none for a week because I'll be gone on vacation. Cheers!
"Pops!" Rikku said, a smile appearing on her face her father's voice called to her from the communicator.
"Rikku? That you? You sound different." Cid's voice, still gruff as ever, held affection for his daughter—and joy that it was her he was speaking to.
"Yeah, Pops, it's me. What's up?" Rikku tossed her head as she punched the button on the communicator to speak back.
"What in blazes isn't goin' on? Fiends are sproutin' up ev'rywhere I look! There're even some I have't even hurd of!" Cid exclaimed.
"New fiends? Oh, no! Chappu went off on his own! Do you think he's okay?" Rikku wrung her hands, thinking of the dark-haired young man.
"That kid's tough as a rock. He'll be fine. But, Rikku, fiends don't just start multiplin' like this. It's not natural!" Cid told her.
"Right, Pops. Yunie and I'll look into it. Don't worry. We'll put an end to all this!" Rikku said, clenching one fist and nodding.
"Good! In the meantime, you be careful. I don't like the looks of all this. Later, kid." Cid said, signing out.
Rikku turned the communicator call off and looked out the window of the Titan cockpit, her eyes roaming over the passing landscapes as they sailed for New Home, rebuilt on Bikanel Island.
"Rikku?" Yuna approached the blond from behind. Rikku spun her chair around to face her cousin.
"Yeah?
"Was that Uncle Cid?" Yuna asked, taking a seat and rolling closer to Rikku.
"Yeah, that was Pops. I don't like this, Yunie. New species of fiends and more of them massing? It's just not normal. I think… could the Shadow be rising again?" Rikku said, looking at Yuna.
Yuna's colored eyes widened in surprise. "The Shadow? But we defeated it three years ago! How could it rise again?"
"I don't know, Yunie, but it looks like it is. And if that's true, than we've got some major problems. Number one being no Tida, no Aeon of Light," Rikku said, sighing. She stood up and crossed her arms under her breasts, frustration appearing on her bright features. She stared out the window at nothing.
"This is may be more difficult than we know," Yuna murmured, crossing her ankles and staring at the floor, deep in thought. Rikku sighed again.
—
"Can you feel that Zeoron?" Lulu's voice interrupted Zeoron's meditating state. Her voice was so abrupt that it startled Zeoron, nearly making her fall from the tabletop.
"Feel what, Lulu?" Zeoron asked, uncrossing her legs and letting them fall to the floor where she stood. She tossed the pillow she'd been sitting on back onto the sofa.
"That darkness. I can feel it, clear as day. It's a little foggy to me, but it's so… dark, like it's pulsing with evil. I don't like it," Lulu said, closing her eyes and then reopening them to gaze at Zeoron with cloudy crimson orbs.
Zeoron frowned, closing her own eyes and embracing her magic source. It was if heaven itself was filling her as she let the blissful power coarse through her.
But then it changed. The pleasure began to fade to be replaced by a saddening gloom. Zeoron tried to force it away but it only came on stronger. She grit her teeth and felt sweat break out on her brow.
Her eyes flashed open. "It's the Shadow. It's taking up the magic. Or trying to, at least."
Lulu nodded. "That's what I thought. It's clearer for you to see, though, since you have more power than I."
Zeoron looked at her and Lulu smiled, shaking her head.
"It's completely understandable. You're younger than I am and I've been out of practice for a quite a number of years," she explained. One finger twirled with a strand of black hair.
"Thank you," Zeoron murmured softly.
"Now we've got a problem. Shadow is coming, but what can we do to stop it? Despite it, you and I are the most powerful Black Mages in all of Spira. What little power we have may hold it off a little while, but then what?" Lulu said, resting her head in one hand.
Zeoron shook her head and sat down across from the elder Mage. "I don't know. Without Tida and the Aeon of Light, we don't stand much of chance. Sure, Yuna can summon again, but I don't think even the aeons can stand up to Shadow."
Lulu nodded in agreement. "The aeons are strong, but no where near as strong as the Shadow is becoming—and quickly, at that. They may help hold it off, but no more."
"Light! What on Spira can we do then?" Zeoron growled, banging one fist onto the tabletop. She tossed her head, her eyes flashing angrily.
Lulu sighed. "I don't know, Zeo. There has to be something. Maybe Yuna can talk to the fayth; ask them for help. Until then, however, there is very little you and I can do. But even if we did cast against the Shadow, it wouldn't last very long."
Zeoron groaned. "Damn it!"
—
"Why is the Shadow coming back, ya? I thought we beat it!" Wakka said, glancing at Tidus, who was busily checking Caladbolg over for any marks.
Tidus paused and then went back to inspecting the sword. "I don't know, Wakka. All I know is that it is coming back. Maybe all we beat was Seymour using the Shadow's power. And now the Shadow's finally decided to take control itself."
Wakka nodded. "Makes sense, I guess. But I still don't like it."
"I don't either, Wakka. But right now, we've got to help out as best we can. As it appears, there's not much we can do to stop it as this time. But I'll be damned if I let it destroy Spira, and the Eternal Calm we've tried so hard to establish."
"I'm wit ya, brother," Wakka said, clapping a hand on Tidus's shoulder. He spun World Champion on one finger, frowning as he thought back to the Shadow.
Tidus sighed and held Caladbolg up to study it in the light.
The alarm cut his inspection sort, however, and the next thing was the voice following it.
"Tidus! Wakka! We've got a problem on starboard—and it's got teeth!" Rikku's voice yelled over the intercom. They could hear Yuna shouting in the background.
With one glance at each other, both men took off like a shot for the deck. They raced along the corridors before finally reaching the deck where they discovered what looked like a long black lizard about the length of almost half the Titan. It had long white claws and gleaming fangs at least five feet in span. The black proved be shimmering scales all along its body.
"Holy shit! What the hell is this thing?" Tidus cried, gripping Caladbolg tightly in his right hand. He grit his teeth as the thing roared and reared, now sailing along with the Titan.
"I don't know and I don't give a shit. All I know is that this thing's gettin' ready to die!" Wakka called back, the wind whipping his orange hair. He held World Champion firmly under his arm, waiting for the call to attack.
Yuna swung her staff around in her hands and Rikku stood beside her, the Godhand securely fastened on her arm. Her swirled eyes were dark with concentration. Lulu and Zeoron appeared next to them, Lulu clutching the Onion Knight and Zeoron playing with a small harp-like article clutched tautly in her left hand—a Pararin, a small marble figure that was used to cast magic.
"Ready, everyone?" Yuna said, raising her voice enough to be heard over the wind rushing past them. She held the staff in front of her.
"Zeo, Lulu, take the sides and attack with what you've got. Wakka, you take the point. I don't think I'll be able to do much, so I'll guard Yuna. Rikku, do what you feel will help," Tidus ordered, taking charge. He took up position beside his wife, holding Caladbolg steady.
"Firaga on my count," Lulu yelled to Zeoron, who nodded. Lulu brought her hand up and Zeoron clenched her fist, flames beginning to appear around it, licking at her hand.
"Now! Firaga!"
"Firaga!" Zeoron echoed, unleashing the bright red flames. The beast howled but it was obvious little damage was taken.
"This is gonna be a tough one!" Wakka shouted, letting loose with World Champion, hitting the fiend on the shoulder. World Champion's spikes sliced its shoulder, blood appearing to ooze forth and be strewn back into the wind.
Rikku flung a grenade as hard as she could at the fiend, aiming for its head. The speeds at they were traveling, however, caused the grenade to explode on the beast's hindquarters.
"Damn it!" Rikku cursed, readying another grenade.
"Hold! I'm going to summon!" Yuna called, swinging her staff in a wide arc. Tidus stepped back out of the way, his eyes still on the fiend.
Yuna closed her eyes. "Valefor, Keeper of the Skies, come forth!"
She brought the staff down swiftly, and, with a loud shriek, the flying aeon sailed toward them from a burst of clouds. With a second cry, it landed next Yuna, who patted its head and sent it into the air again.
Valefor surged forth, attacking with its claws. The beast rolled over in midair, successfully dodging the aeon's sharp talons. Valefor let out a sharp roar and swung its wings out, hitting the fiend with an unseen attack that did some damage, and more than two doses of Firaga had done, anyway.
"Thundaga!" Zeoron shouted, embracing through the Pararin and sending a reign of lightning down onto the beast. It howled with pain as the lightning ripped through its body.
Valefor vanished at Yuna's command and she opened her mouth to summon again but was thrown off at the fiend suddenly attacked, sweeping its tail along the deck, sending everyone landing hard against the outer wall of the airship.
Tidus grunted and pushed himself up on Caladbolg, gripping Yuna's arm to pull her up along with him. Wakka stumbled to his feet and flung World Champion as hard as he could. Lulu cast Blizzaga at the same time, her and Zeoron struggling to stand.
Yuna turned to heal them but Rikku stopped her. "We're fine! Summon!" Rikku yelled, getting unsteadily to her feet, cuts and bruises already showing.
Yuna nodded and held her staff out level. "Come to me, Bahamut!"
A deafening roar echoed in the sky around them as the dragon aeon appeared, its great wings beating in sync with the movements of the clearly surprised fiend. Quickly, Bahamut opened his mouth and a burst of flame shot out, catching the beast on fire. It howled in agony and fell. Bahamut disappeared as the party ran to the side to watch the fiend plummet to the ground below and die.
Yuna knees buckled under her and she fell to her rear in relief, sighing. Rikku soon joined her cousin and leaned against her for support.
"I'm afraid I don't have the energy for Cura, Rikku," Yuna murmured. Rikku shook her head. "It's all right, Yunie. I don't hurt so much anymore, now that's it over."
"Here," Zeoron said, handing Rikku a potion. She glanced at Lulu and Wakka, both of whom had already downed their own potions.
Rikku gave Zeoron a grateful smile as she tilted her head back and gulped the green liquid down. Exhaling with release as her cuts and bruises instantly healed, Rikku stifled a yawn.
"Let's go to bed, shall we? It'll be morning by the time we reach New Home," she said, blinking to try and force her eyes to stay open. She'd forgotten that with potions, sleep usually came afterward.
"Right, Rikku," Yuna said. Tidus smiled and picked his wife up in his arms, Caladbolg on his back. Yuna held the staff against her as Tidus began walking for the doors. Zeoron helped Rikku to her feet and slung the woman's arm over her shoulders, supporting her as she escorted her back inside. Wakka and Lulu followed, Lulu leaning against the muscular Besaidian for help.
Disclaimer: All belongs to Squaresoft. You people know what's mine, okay?