The Song of Eternity
Canto 2 : Gaia
Verse 7
Reclamation
They spread to the ends of the land,
To retake what was once theirs,
At the cost of the life of the one.
Eiko and Deklin materialized on the streets of Linbulm with a dozen mages and genomes. "Spread out and wait for the signal," Deklin ordered the others. Their mission was to wait for the signal to attack, but none of them knew what it was. They had spent the last two days in Treno preparing to take the cities. The mages and genomes arrived en masse six hours before they left for Lindbulm. Kuja had been recovering the entire time, but stayed to help in retaking Treno with what little magic power he could muster. Nathan had told them to wait until their reinforcements arrived, he said they would know it when they saw it. "What the hell are we waiting for?" Deklin asked out loud angrily.
Suddenly an airship came swooping out of the sky and hovered over the market area of the town. Deklin squinted and could see soldiers exiting the ship via ropes. "The Invincible!" Eiko cried out happily.
"That's the sign, go to it!" Deklin ordered as he and the others all dashed off into the city to retake the lost town.
Amarant and Lani materialized with a dozen mages and genomes in the rain in Burmecia. "Great, I forgot it always rains here," Amarant grumbled as he squinted through the rain at the palace. "Start counting!" he ordered the closest genome who was already looking at a watch.
"Take it easy boss man," Lani joked as she stretched and unhooked her axe. "This place is almost deserted, can't you tell?"
"I know. It means the plan worked," Amarant said in a deep voice. "Which means Starmore is on his own," Amarant said with a voice full of sorrow. The genome tapped him on the shoulder and directed him to look at the watch. Amarant watched the seconds tick by, finally acting when the six o'clock hour struck. "Okay people, you know the drill, spread out, neutralize the Terran forces and find Freya," Amarant ordered as he and the rest of the forces charged into the city.
Mikoto and the rest of the genomes and mages were busy killing off the remaining Terran forces in Treno. Mikoto was amazed with the power she wielded with the weapon from Danguerro that she took. She looked behind her to see how her partner for this battle was faring.
Kuja was sweating. He woke up several hours before the battle began and was told to stay in Treno. He was having trouble. Ever since he used the Starlight Blast on Parm, he had been having trouble casting magic spells. Still, there were not enough enemies to cause a big problem for their forces.
"Are you okay Kuja?" Mikoto asked her old enemy, noticing his physical exhaustion.
"No, I am not," he wheezed as he collapsed. "Something is draining me," he whispered before passing out.
Nathan materialized on the roof of Alexandria's castle with a mage. He quickly dashed into the castle itself and made his way to the throne room. He had his sword out, ready to cut down any enemy that stood in his way, but was surprised to see his job already done for him. "What the hell?" He asked out loud as he entered the throne room, noticing several faces he did not expect.
Garnet sat on the throne and spoke to him. "Nice for you to arrive, but we have already taken care of the situation," she smiled at him.
"Understood, care to explain this a little?" he gestured at the three figures behind her. "Beatrix, I can understand. She was in the dungeon and the rest of you freed her, but I have been out of the loop with those two," he pointed at the others.
"Allow us to explain this," one spoke. They stepping in between the queen and Nathan, allowing Nathan to get a good look at them. The first was human, dressed all in black, his face covered by a black mask and a huge sword strapped to his back. The other was definitely not human. It was the earth elemental that had been supplying the resistance with information over the last few years.
"Allow me to begin," the elemental started. "We came here to retake what was once rightfully ours," he continued as the others looked on, wondering what was going to happen next. "As to who we are, you need to go back four years, to the day of the great battle with the WEAPONs."
"My men were killed during the battle. I myself was badly injured and had to retreat to the woods for protection," the man in black continued. "There, I met him. I pledged to help him retake what was ours someday and have been killing all Terran troops near the woods whenever I could, waiting for this chance, for them to leave the city." He reached up and pulled off his mask. "Albert Steiner has returned, your majesty," he finished causing Garnet to burst into tears and race to hug him.
After they had settled down, the elemental continued. "I was born the day of the great battle. King Zidane Tribal was destroyed that day. He was caught up in an energy blast when the Alpha WEAPON and Starmore disappeared," the elemental stopped speaking. Nathan gazed at it, seeing how it was nothing but a rough body, made of sap, wood, grass, dirt, and other forest elements. "He was killed, but I was born. And now, after four long years of waiting, I can shed this form, knowing I have done all I can with it," he finished. The dirt and biological matter began to fall from the shape of the man. "I could not save your brother Starmore. I am sorry. But after four years of holding a soul," he paused as more matter fell from him, revealing a human shape under the brown and green matter. "His body has returned," the elemental finished as the remains of his body fell to the floor, revealing a dirty, sticky, groggy, and confused human shape on the floor.
The form got up and looked around oddly. "Why am I at the castle? Wasn't I just in a battle with the WEAPONs?"
"Zidane…" Garnet whispered before fainting. Zidane caught her before she hit the floor and held her close, not fully understanding what happened to him, but knowing his wife's emotions.
Garland listened to the report from a soldier. "All the cities have fallen sir!" the soldier reported.
"They chose to let their best hope die. How foolish," Garland laughed as he stood to leave the room. "Bring the prisoner to the area, we have an execution to broadcast."