A/N: I know, I know, this seems like it's coming along slow, and believe me, it is. But...I'm working every chance I get! So...R&R. And like I said before, if I screwed up, or if you love it or hate it, leave a messange when you review. And special thanks to kingleby for inspiring me to keep this fic going....right now, she's like my number one fan(LOL)! I feel...special!!! CRACKER JACKS FOR EVERYONE!!!

Disclaimer: I do not own the Final of Fantasy. Because if i did own the Final of Fantasy,

I would not be sitting here.

Chapter IV:

The Beginning of the End?

"Okay, now what?" Orion asked as he gazed up at the crimson glow of the ancient

planet Terra. He and Zidane shared knowing looks, as this was their birthplace. Amie

held onto her fiance, wanting the nightmare to end. But unfortunately for all of them,

the nightmare was just beginning....

Garland stood in front of the old Pandemonium observatory. His associate, a tall, dark

living shadow of sorts, prowled the grounds around them, searching for-prey? an

opponent? Garland wasn't sure. But it was perfect for what he had in mind. He

chuckled. This is excellent. Surely by now there is chaos on Gaia. In a few hours, I can

send the new shock troops down to destroy the four great nations-again he thought.

"Lyos! Are you ready?" "Yesssss," the shadow replied. "Then....go," Garland told it.

In a flash, the creature was gone, leaving Garland feeling bemused. "These Demonissa

will be perfect to attack Gaia....I've outdone myself again," the ancient warlock said to

himself, laughing. "They won't stand a chance...."

The party arrived at Alexandria Castle, only to find it seemingly deserted. Zidane

looked around, wondering. A sudden racket startled him. He turned to face it, only to

see Steiner and Beatrix running toward him. Of course, I could have guessed they'd

still be here, he thought. "What's up?" he asked, but they ignored him; rather, they

addressed Dagger. "Your Highness! Several soldiers have reported the presence of a

shadow-like being around the castle," Steiner reported. "Although I believe it to be

nothing, we should investigate it...all of us." As the overdressed knight spoke, Zidane

noticed an eerie glow around him, but just shrugged it off. Ahh, hell, it's probably just

me, he thought to himself. He looked at Orion and the others, and noticed a similar

puzzled expression on all of their faces. /Hey, what the hell is up with old Rusty?/ Kuja

wondered, using his brother's pet name for Steiner. Orion shrugged. "I don't know, but

we can all sense it. Something..." he replied, feeling a shudder run through Amie.

Beatrix, however, remained still and motionless the entire time. Orion and Dagger

noticed this as well, and shared looks. But before anyone could say anything, the world

exploded.

Regent Cid watched from the upper levels of the newly-renovated Lindblum Castle as

the huge explosion rocked Alexandria, hundreds of miles away. He sighed. So, it

begins again, he thought. "Erin!" he called, and the airship pilot rushed to his side.

"Yes, Regent?" she inquired, awaiting his command. "Prepare the Hilda Garde 5. We

leave for Alexandria in twenty minutes. Queen Garnet will most likely need our help

once she asseses the damages Alexandria has suffered-again," the regent said,

turning. "I shall go tell Hilda of our plans." "Yes, sir," Erin replied, going to round up

the crew of Lindblum's newest airship. I only hope they are all right, Cid thought to

himself as he left to find Hilda.

"Ugh...." Zidane slowly picked himself up off the ground and even more slowly looked

around in a mixture of shock, confusion, and slight bemusement. Why am I not

surprised...? It was only a matter of time before Alexandria was attacked again, he

thought. He heard a groan next to him, and looked to see Orion sitting up as well.

"...You okay?" the younger Genome asked. Zidane nodded, and went to check on Vivi,

Dagger, and Amie. They were all out cold, but still alive. He heaved a sigh of relief,

when he felt an immense shadow swoop over him. He whirled, drawing his Ultima

Weapon and readying it. "Who's there?! Show yourself!" he called, while Orion drew

his Serpentine Blade. A dark, malicious laugh permeated the air. Both Genomes felt a

shudder run through them, as they looked around, searching for an opponent. As if out

of nowhere, a huge shadow appeared before them. Zidane took a step back in doubt.

He couldn't believe his eyes. For the shadow....was alive. /Um....guys?/ Kuja said

nervously. /I think we're in trouble./

Thousands of feet in the air, Garland watched the scene between Lyos and the two

Angels of Death unfold from the deck of the Warlord. He chuckled to himself as the

Genomes prepared for battle. They have no idea what the Demonissa are capable of,

he thought. This should be amusing.

"What the hell are you?!" Orion demanded of the being. It merely smirked-if you could

call it that. It was hard to tell whether or not it even had a face. It just looked like a

huge shadow. "I am Lyos of the Demonissa, and your destruction," it hissed as it

attacked them. Zidane barely dodged the huge being as it swooped upon them, but

Orion was caught in it. As if in a vaccuum, he began to disappear. "No! Damnit!"

Zidane cried, slashing at Lyos in a desperate attempt to free his friend. Just when it

seemed tht all hope was lost for Orion, a huge light poured from the inside of the

creature as he Tranced, Kuja-style. It screamed in fury and pain as he emerged.

"Didn't like that, did you?" Orion snarled, in that odd voice that was his and Kuja's.

"Trust me...there's a lot more where that came from. You fucked up by attacking my

friends. And now..." he continued, looking first to Zidane and then to the Demonissa,

"...we're gonna destroy you."

Dagger slowly woke up, groaning. She looked around, seeing that Amie was still out,

and Vivi, Zidane, and Orion were gone. She then noticed the chaos in her city-again.

She sighed and shook her head, seemingly resigned. Then she saw an explosion of light

and a scream of rage, the sign of someone Trancing. But who---? She picked herself

up, and decided to find out. Before she could reach the others, she heard a cold voice

say, "....And now....we're gonna destroy you." That's got to be... she thought. As she

approached the battlefield, she noticed a bright orange glow, and a similarly bright

black/red glow. "That means both Zidane and Orion have Tranced," she said to

herself, giggling in spite of everything. "I feel bad for whoever they're fighting..."

/Okay, now what?/ Kuja remarked, as Zidane dodged another blast of abyssal lightning

from the shadow-creature. /Seems like we're outnumbered ten to one, with the way this

guy moves.../ "Yeah, but we'll figure something out," Orion replied. He backflipped

away from Lyos, then aimed a spell at it. "Firaga!" he cried, and the powerful Fire

spell hit the Demonissa full-force. It screamed in agony, but did not succumb to the

high-level magic. Rather, it attacked Orion directly with another blast of abyssal

lightning. Orion cried out as the otherworldly magic hit him squarely in the chest. He

flew backwards into a wall, then picked himself up. He felt odd, and not because of the

magic. /Hey.../ Kuja said quietly. "I know. What the hell-?" Orion stated. But before

they could figure it out, the feeling passed. Orion shrugged, and rejoined the battle.

Zidane plunged his Ultima Weapon into the unworldly creature, smirking as it cried out.

"So you're not so invincible," he bragged as it threw more lightning at him. "Getting

tired?" "Never," it hissed, then tried to swoop over him, but then a voice cried,

"Flare," and the extremely powerful spell hit the Demonissa full-force. It crumpled,

seemingly defeated, then disappeared. /Well, that was cheap,/ Kuja quipped. "No

kidding," Orion said as he reverted to normal. "Are you sure it's over?" an all-too-

familiar voice said from behind them. Zidane and Orion wheeled, to face..."Garland!"

Orion and Zidane snarled. /What in the ninth hell are you doing here?!/ Kuja cried.

"Oh, just doing a little...sightseeing," the ancient Terran overseer replied. He indicated

the flames nearby. "Beautiful, no?" "You fucking prick! You'll pay!" Zidane snapped

in fury, rushing to attack him. Garland yawned and held up one hand, suspending

Zidane in midair. With a flick of the same hand, Zidane flew back twenty feet. "You'll

find I'm not so easy to fight this time, my little Angels of Death," he said. "And with my

specially created Demonissa, I'll win. Just to let you know, it's not too late to join me,

like you were destined-" "I don't think so! You've got about ten seconds to leave Gaia

before I annihilate you," Orion interrupted. "Oh, dear. Do you think empty

threats will frighten me? Because I don't," Garland replied. With that, he rose into the

air, and disappeared, saying, "Remember...it's just a matter of time..."

A/N: Well....I tried....But I'm seemingly tired...-yawns- But whatever happened to Vivi-san? -sighs- Review please....