Hey guys! you're lucky I'm feeling better now or this wouldn't have happened!!! this update, I mean. I guess I shouldn't brag, but this chapter is sorta action packed. sorta. I'm not too great at battles and there's a HUGE battle scene in this chappie. gomen nasai for the not-so-greateness of it. enjoy! ~~~sa~~~
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Ch.7 Guadosalam's Last Battle
"WHOA! We've got a situation here, guys!" Gippal yelled, leaping into his seat on the Celsius. Brother hurried over while Buddy sounded the alarm. "That should get them back to the ship." Buddy muttered, sorta glaring at the mental picture of their three sphere hunters swimming in the Moonflow while they were stuck running an analysis. Gippal's console was flashing red and multiple windows were popping up on the main screen with all kinds of warnings on them. "WHAT IS IT?!?" Brother cried, hopping around desperately. Gippal, who was typing frantically, finally got the machina to stop beeping at him. "Its that energy thing in the Farplane. Its started to destory the very fabric of the Farplane. I know, I know. Hard to believe, but its true." His good eye widened significantly as he skimmed through some data. Buddy joined them at the desk, leaning in to read the info. too.
Brother was too busy yelling on the loudspeaker for Yuna to get back on the ship to be concerned with the suddenly somber air that had taken over the bridge. "Uh oh. Not good." Was all the tall genius was able to say. "Definetly." Agreed Buddy, in Al Bhed. Brother screamed some choice phrases in Al Bhed before hopping over. "WHAT, WHAT, WHAT is not good?" Blubbered the mohawked leader, also in Al Bhed. "What's all the alarms and yelling for? What happened?" Yuna called as she leapt down to join them, hair still wet from their frollick in the Moonflow. Tidus followed, shaking the water out of his hair as he jogged down the steps. Paine leaned against the frame of the door, moodily sulking about their lack of interest in finding Rikku.
"Uh, well, remember when I told you guys about that energy mass in the Farplane?" A chorus of nods was his response. Gippal cleared his throat, obviously nervous about his next statement. "Its destroying the Farplane as we speak, which could lead to all kinds of chaos. We're talkin' global blackouts and MAJOR fiend activity." Yuna gasped. "We have to stop this! Before any of those fiends can attack, we have to head to Guadosalam and increase the defense at the entrance to the Farplane." She looked to Tidus and Paine for support. Tidus hesitated, seeing a different angle to this problem. "But, if the Farplane runs sorta parallel to the rest of Spira," He indicated the two realms with his parallel hands. "Then won't the whole world be thrown into this? Not just Guadosalam?" Paine pushed off the wall, clicking down the stairs slowly. Her arms were trademarkedly crossed and she fixed Gippal with a stern stare.
"Rikku will be caught out there all alone if we don't find her. That should be our first priority." Yuna clapped her hands over her mouth, seemingly she had forgotten all about her "best friend" in the rush to save the world. "That's right! We have to save Rikku!" Yuna cried, clinging to Tidus' arm as if he had suggested they leave her out there or something. He nodded, of course agreeing with her. Brother seemed all for finding Rikku while Buddy and Gippal hesitated. "I dunno. Rikku's a big girl. She can take care of herself." Gippal muttered distantly. His eyes had taken a sort of glazed over look when he mentioned that. Doubtlessly, he was remembering that night on the Highroad when he had seen that guy and Rikku all cozy. 'Besides, she has a big, strong hybrid with her.' He thought bitterly. "She doesn't need us."
Yuna squeaked in a Rikku-like fashion. "How can you say that? Rikku is still our friend, even if she did run away like that! Leaving her out there would be horrible!" Before any further arguments could be launched, a distress call from Guadosalam pulled Buddy away from the crowd. "Guys, we'll just have to put everything on hold and investigate Guadosalam's problem. Apparently, those fiends aren't the only thing pouring out of the chaotic Farplane." Paine stayed with Gippal while the others discussed strategy with Buddy. Brother was moaning and rolling around on the floor. Paine rolled her eyes. "Drama queen." She growled, kicking Brother expertly in the groin before turning to her long-time friend. He was still distantly staring at his screen, his hands bunched together like one huge fist.
Sensing he wasn't telling her everything he knew about "big girl Rikku", she placed a hand on his shoulder. He jumped, glancing up at her like he was seeing her for the first time. "Gippal, I know you well enough to know when you're keeping something from me." She whispered in Al Bhed. Gippal shuddered, half from how mean she looked and half because how close she was to his ear. "I dunno what you're talking about. That's all the data I've got on this crisis." Paine tightened her grip on his shoulder. "I'm not talking about this crisis, blondie." She spat in Al Bhed again. Gippal narrowed his eye. 'So, she's talking about Rikku. Best to just tell her and get it over with.' He thought, refusing to let the pain in his shoulder get to him. "Rikku's off with some weird half-Al Bhed guy looking for something. The last time I saw them they were on their way to Macalania." He gushed in panicky sounding Al Bhed. Paine released his shoulder, but stayed close so the others wouldn't hear. "How long ago was this?" She whispered, switching to common speech. "A few nights. Ask Tidus. Its when I called to get picked up, remember?" She nodded, obviously remembering.
Paine stood all the way up, having made up her mind. She knew enough about Gippal and Rikku's past to know that they both cared about each other, A LOT. They were just too stubborn or stupid to admit it and would rather go through all the drama like this. Paine rubbed her temples in an attempt not to scream at how frustrating her friends could be sometimes. Gippal stood up, too, glancing nervously at the others who were flipping gil to see where they should go; search for Rikku or to Guadosalam. Judging by Yuna's gasp they were going to the guado hometown. "I say you and me go on a journey of our own while they investigate the Farplane crisis." Paine ventured confidently. She knew he'd agree readily. With Paine on his side, he'd beat that crazy halfing in no time at all. Gippal acted like he was thinking and then nodded emphatically. "Let's go!"
They brought this plan of action up to the others. Yuna was gushing praise while Tidus cast a knowing glance at Gippal who couldn't help but blush and look away. Brother was VERY supportive and Buddy prepared to take them to Guadosalam. "We can split up there, us taking the road to Macalania and you guys heading to Farplane for damage control." Gippal said, his confidence clearly displayed on his face. So, the remnants of the Gullwings soared off to Guadosalam for some fiend and Rikku hunting. Little did they know that their splitting up plan wouldn't be nessecary at all. Upon their arrival at the main entrance to Guadosalam, they noticed that they were too late.
Damage control was an understatement. Apparently, the Farplane had literally exploded and completely wiped out the whole guado race. Yuna burst into tears at the sight of all the death and carnage. Tidus quickly hugged her, trying to comfort her sobbing form. Buddy shook his head. "We're too late." He commented in Al Bhed, bowing his head for the loss of life. Gippal and Paine seemed to be the only ones not completely taken aback by the pyrefly streaming bodies and still aflame buildings. They hurried up the road towards LeBlanc's trashed place, noting the giant pink sphere left there. Paine picked it up, playing it back for the others as they hurriedly followed. An image of LeBlanc appeared on the sphere. She was trembling and looking around fearfully. "There are far too many, boss!" Cried Logos from behind her as he battled back some fiends. Ormi seemed to be too busy cowering behind his tall counterpart to speak. LeBlanc looked straight into the sphere, speaking timidly. "We're gonna blow this scene, loves! But let it be known that we fought to our last! Ta ta!" There was a flash and the sphere cut out.
"Do ya think that means she survived?" Gippal voiced all their concerns. Yuna nodded, wiping some tears away. "If we know anything about LeBlanc, its that she's a survivor." Paine nodded, setting the sphere back down for later retrival. "She most likely high-tailed it to Nooj." They all nodded this time. For a few mintues they took in the total destruction around them, not really able to comprehend the full scale of the damage until they saw the charred bodies of the musicians from Macalania strewn about the main square. Yuna shook from the tears she was holding back as she strode confidently forward. Almost from instinct, the others stayed back. She started going through the moves of a sending, even though she didn't exactly have that power anymore. It was more a gesture of respect for the dead all around her than an actual funeral dance. Tidus rushed to her just as she collapsed from the sobs wracking her. Paine shook her head. "This frickin' sucks!"
Gippal smirked. He had a weird feeling they weren't alone suddenly and how right he was. "There!" Cried a foreign voice to his ears. It was gruff and sounded more mature than Mr.Halfing's. A huge, mutated fiend sprung out of no where and attacked Buddy and Brother. They fought back as best they could, tossing grenades and firing at it until Gippal pulled out his massive, multi-barreled gun. Yuna and Tidus were frozen where they knelt, having heard that voice and were processing it. Gippal fired his gun and the fiend stumbled back, growling and sending a wave of poisonous gas out of itself. The wave would've caught them all if another gruff voice hadn't called out from somewhere above them. "ESUNA!" The spell hit all of them, combating the toxic effect that green gas would've had. Gippal, his attention distracted by that ever-angering voice, was caught off guard as the fiend charged at him.
"Gippal!" This time everyone recognized that voice. Yuna looked up, tears streaming. "Rikku?" And there she was, transforming into a Dark Knight just as she landed in front of the stunned Gippal. "No one messes with my friends but me! Take this!" She unleashed a Darkness attack and noted how badly it hurt the mutant fiend. She sent three more Darkness waves at it, stumbled to her knees as her strength waned. Gippal backed her up, shooting the fiend with the last of his ammo. Tidus joined the fray, slashing the fiend's hind-quarters while Paine and Yuna both hit it with simultaneous Darkness attacks. Just when they seemed to be causing some major damage, the fiend let out a mighty roar and pyreflies from seemingly no where flew into it. "Oversoul?!?" Cried Rikku, who was casting Curaga on the party every chance she got. "No way!" Paine screamed, transforming into a Samurai and using Fingersnap to attempt to chop its attributes back down before it got a chance to wipe them out.
Rikku leapt away from the fiend, glancing up to the Farplane entrance pleadingly. The sounds of a heated battle taking place over there drew her attention away from the fiends' new tentacles as it whipped them around. "Rikku!" Cried three voices at once, Gippal's and two other male voices yet to be identified. A huge, sickly green tentacle whipped towards the small blonde girl. Unfortunetly, their cry was too late because just as Rikku turned, the tentacle snapped her full force in the torso. She screamed and went flying towards the entrance to the Farplane. She hit the edge of the walkway up to the Farplane and fell to the ground, groaning as the Dark Knight dressphere flickered off of her, leaving her in her normal form. "Rikku!" Gippal cried, spotting the hundreds of bug-like fiends pouring out of the Farplane as he ran towards Rikku's fallen form.
The others desperately fought the Oversouled mutant fiend while Gippal used two smaller guns to protect Rikku from the bugs. Just when things were looking bad and HP was running low, two mysterious figures emerged from the cloud of bug fiends. Both were slashing at the fiends and making steady progress. Gippal squinted, trying to make out the two of them just as they emerged totally. One of them was the hybrid guy, wielding a cool looking glaive. He nodded to Gippal and cast an Ultima spell to wipe out a huge amount of the fiends. The other guy was like a celebrity you should recognize, but it was a little before your time. He checked on Rikku before hurrying off to help the others with the Mutant. Gippal suddenly put his finger on who that older guy reminded him of. "He looks like..." He trailed off, glancing at the hybrid guy for back up. The tall, dark haired guy nodded solemnly. "Sir Auron. He's back."
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AN: it was sorta a long one, eh? i was feeling especially creative after i took my medicine today. *skips around* WEEEE! just kidding! i hope you guys like this one since its sorta like a turning point in the story. questions or comments??? R&R THEN!!! *grins and winks* peace! ~~~sa~~~
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Ch.7 Guadosalam's Last Battle
"WHOA! We've got a situation here, guys!" Gippal yelled, leaping into his seat on the Celsius. Brother hurried over while Buddy sounded the alarm. "That should get them back to the ship." Buddy muttered, sorta glaring at the mental picture of their three sphere hunters swimming in the Moonflow while they were stuck running an analysis. Gippal's console was flashing red and multiple windows were popping up on the main screen with all kinds of warnings on them. "WHAT IS IT?!?" Brother cried, hopping around desperately. Gippal, who was typing frantically, finally got the machina to stop beeping at him. "Its that energy thing in the Farplane. Its started to destory the very fabric of the Farplane. I know, I know. Hard to believe, but its true." His good eye widened significantly as he skimmed through some data. Buddy joined them at the desk, leaning in to read the info. too.
Brother was too busy yelling on the loudspeaker for Yuna to get back on the ship to be concerned with the suddenly somber air that had taken over the bridge. "Uh oh. Not good." Was all the tall genius was able to say. "Definetly." Agreed Buddy, in Al Bhed. Brother screamed some choice phrases in Al Bhed before hopping over. "WHAT, WHAT, WHAT is not good?" Blubbered the mohawked leader, also in Al Bhed. "What's all the alarms and yelling for? What happened?" Yuna called as she leapt down to join them, hair still wet from their frollick in the Moonflow. Tidus followed, shaking the water out of his hair as he jogged down the steps. Paine leaned against the frame of the door, moodily sulking about their lack of interest in finding Rikku.
"Uh, well, remember when I told you guys about that energy mass in the Farplane?" A chorus of nods was his response. Gippal cleared his throat, obviously nervous about his next statement. "Its destroying the Farplane as we speak, which could lead to all kinds of chaos. We're talkin' global blackouts and MAJOR fiend activity." Yuna gasped. "We have to stop this! Before any of those fiends can attack, we have to head to Guadosalam and increase the defense at the entrance to the Farplane." She looked to Tidus and Paine for support. Tidus hesitated, seeing a different angle to this problem. "But, if the Farplane runs sorta parallel to the rest of Spira," He indicated the two realms with his parallel hands. "Then won't the whole world be thrown into this? Not just Guadosalam?" Paine pushed off the wall, clicking down the stairs slowly. Her arms were trademarkedly crossed and she fixed Gippal with a stern stare.
"Rikku will be caught out there all alone if we don't find her. That should be our first priority." Yuna clapped her hands over her mouth, seemingly she had forgotten all about her "best friend" in the rush to save the world. "That's right! We have to save Rikku!" Yuna cried, clinging to Tidus' arm as if he had suggested they leave her out there or something. He nodded, of course agreeing with her. Brother seemed all for finding Rikku while Buddy and Gippal hesitated. "I dunno. Rikku's a big girl. She can take care of herself." Gippal muttered distantly. His eyes had taken a sort of glazed over look when he mentioned that. Doubtlessly, he was remembering that night on the Highroad when he had seen that guy and Rikku all cozy. 'Besides, she has a big, strong hybrid with her.' He thought bitterly. "She doesn't need us."
Yuna squeaked in a Rikku-like fashion. "How can you say that? Rikku is still our friend, even if she did run away like that! Leaving her out there would be horrible!" Before any further arguments could be launched, a distress call from Guadosalam pulled Buddy away from the crowd. "Guys, we'll just have to put everything on hold and investigate Guadosalam's problem. Apparently, those fiends aren't the only thing pouring out of the chaotic Farplane." Paine stayed with Gippal while the others discussed strategy with Buddy. Brother was moaning and rolling around on the floor. Paine rolled her eyes. "Drama queen." She growled, kicking Brother expertly in the groin before turning to her long-time friend. He was still distantly staring at his screen, his hands bunched together like one huge fist.
Sensing he wasn't telling her everything he knew about "big girl Rikku", she placed a hand on his shoulder. He jumped, glancing up at her like he was seeing her for the first time. "Gippal, I know you well enough to know when you're keeping something from me." She whispered in Al Bhed. Gippal shuddered, half from how mean she looked and half because how close she was to his ear. "I dunno what you're talking about. That's all the data I've got on this crisis." Paine tightened her grip on his shoulder. "I'm not talking about this crisis, blondie." She spat in Al Bhed again. Gippal narrowed his eye. 'So, she's talking about Rikku. Best to just tell her and get it over with.' He thought, refusing to let the pain in his shoulder get to him. "Rikku's off with some weird half-Al Bhed guy looking for something. The last time I saw them they were on their way to Macalania." He gushed in panicky sounding Al Bhed. Paine released his shoulder, but stayed close so the others wouldn't hear. "How long ago was this?" She whispered, switching to common speech. "A few nights. Ask Tidus. Its when I called to get picked up, remember?" She nodded, obviously remembering.
Paine stood all the way up, having made up her mind. She knew enough about Gippal and Rikku's past to know that they both cared about each other, A LOT. They were just too stubborn or stupid to admit it and would rather go through all the drama like this. Paine rubbed her temples in an attempt not to scream at how frustrating her friends could be sometimes. Gippal stood up, too, glancing nervously at the others who were flipping gil to see where they should go; search for Rikku or to Guadosalam. Judging by Yuna's gasp they were going to the guado hometown. "I say you and me go on a journey of our own while they investigate the Farplane crisis." Paine ventured confidently. She knew he'd agree readily. With Paine on his side, he'd beat that crazy halfing in no time at all. Gippal acted like he was thinking and then nodded emphatically. "Let's go!"
They brought this plan of action up to the others. Yuna was gushing praise while Tidus cast a knowing glance at Gippal who couldn't help but blush and look away. Brother was VERY supportive and Buddy prepared to take them to Guadosalam. "We can split up there, us taking the road to Macalania and you guys heading to Farplane for damage control." Gippal said, his confidence clearly displayed on his face. So, the remnants of the Gullwings soared off to Guadosalam for some fiend and Rikku hunting. Little did they know that their splitting up plan wouldn't be nessecary at all. Upon their arrival at the main entrance to Guadosalam, they noticed that they were too late.
Damage control was an understatement. Apparently, the Farplane had literally exploded and completely wiped out the whole guado race. Yuna burst into tears at the sight of all the death and carnage. Tidus quickly hugged her, trying to comfort her sobbing form. Buddy shook his head. "We're too late." He commented in Al Bhed, bowing his head for the loss of life. Gippal and Paine seemed to be the only ones not completely taken aback by the pyrefly streaming bodies and still aflame buildings. They hurried up the road towards LeBlanc's trashed place, noting the giant pink sphere left there. Paine picked it up, playing it back for the others as they hurriedly followed. An image of LeBlanc appeared on the sphere. She was trembling and looking around fearfully. "There are far too many, boss!" Cried Logos from behind her as he battled back some fiends. Ormi seemed to be too busy cowering behind his tall counterpart to speak. LeBlanc looked straight into the sphere, speaking timidly. "We're gonna blow this scene, loves! But let it be known that we fought to our last! Ta ta!" There was a flash and the sphere cut out.
"Do ya think that means she survived?" Gippal voiced all their concerns. Yuna nodded, wiping some tears away. "If we know anything about LeBlanc, its that she's a survivor." Paine nodded, setting the sphere back down for later retrival. "She most likely high-tailed it to Nooj." They all nodded this time. For a few mintues they took in the total destruction around them, not really able to comprehend the full scale of the damage until they saw the charred bodies of the musicians from Macalania strewn about the main square. Yuna shook from the tears she was holding back as she strode confidently forward. Almost from instinct, the others stayed back. She started going through the moves of a sending, even though she didn't exactly have that power anymore. It was more a gesture of respect for the dead all around her than an actual funeral dance. Tidus rushed to her just as she collapsed from the sobs wracking her. Paine shook her head. "This frickin' sucks!"
Gippal smirked. He had a weird feeling they weren't alone suddenly and how right he was. "There!" Cried a foreign voice to his ears. It was gruff and sounded more mature than Mr.Halfing's. A huge, mutated fiend sprung out of no where and attacked Buddy and Brother. They fought back as best they could, tossing grenades and firing at it until Gippal pulled out his massive, multi-barreled gun. Yuna and Tidus were frozen where they knelt, having heard that voice and were processing it. Gippal fired his gun and the fiend stumbled back, growling and sending a wave of poisonous gas out of itself. The wave would've caught them all if another gruff voice hadn't called out from somewhere above them. "ESUNA!" The spell hit all of them, combating the toxic effect that green gas would've had. Gippal, his attention distracted by that ever-angering voice, was caught off guard as the fiend charged at him.
"Gippal!" This time everyone recognized that voice. Yuna looked up, tears streaming. "Rikku?" And there she was, transforming into a Dark Knight just as she landed in front of the stunned Gippal. "No one messes with my friends but me! Take this!" She unleashed a Darkness attack and noted how badly it hurt the mutant fiend. She sent three more Darkness waves at it, stumbled to her knees as her strength waned. Gippal backed her up, shooting the fiend with the last of his ammo. Tidus joined the fray, slashing the fiend's hind-quarters while Paine and Yuna both hit it with simultaneous Darkness attacks. Just when they seemed to be causing some major damage, the fiend let out a mighty roar and pyreflies from seemingly no where flew into it. "Oversoul?!?" Cried Rikku, who was casting Curaga on the party every chance she got. "No way!" Paine screamed, transforming into a Samurai and using Fingersnap to attempt to chop its attributes back down before it got a chance to wipe them out.
Rikku leapt away from the fiend, glancing up to the Farplane entrance pleadingly. The sounds of a heated battle taking place over there drew her attention away from the fiends' new tentacles as it whipped them around. "Rikku!" Cried three voices at once, Gippal's and two other male voices yet to be identified. A huge, sickly green tentacle whipped towards the small blonde girl. Unfortunetly, their cry was too late because just as Rikku turned, the tentacle snapped her full force in the torso. She screamed and went flying towards the entrance to the Farplane. She hit the edge of the walkway up to the Farplane and fell to the ground, groaning as the Dark Knight dressphere flickered off of her, leaving her in her normal form. "Rikku!" Gippal cried, spotting the hundreds of bug-like fiends pouring out of the Farplane as he ran towards Rikku's fallen form.
The others desperately fought the Oversouled mutant fiend while Gippal used two smaller guns to protect Rikku from the bugs. Just when things were looking bad and HP was running low, two mysterious figures emerged from the cloud of bug fiends. Both were slashing at the fiends and making steady progress. Gippal squinted, trying to make out the two of them just as they emerged totally. One of them was the hybrid guy, wielding a cool looking glaive. He nodded to Gippal and cast an Ultima spell to wipe out a huge amount of the fiends. The other guy was like a celebrity you should recognize, but it was a little before your time. He checked on Rikku before hurrying off to help the others with the Mutant. Gippal suddenly put his finger on who that older guy reminded him of. "He looks like..." He trailed off, glancing at the hybrid guy for back up. The tall, dark haired guy nodded solemnly. "Sir Auron. He's back."
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AN: it was sorta a long one, eh? i was feeling especially creative after i took my medicine today. *skips around* WEEEE! just kidding! i hope you guys like this one since its sorta like a turning point in the story. questions or comments??? R&R THEN!!! *grins and winks* peace! ~~~sa~~~