FINAL DESTINATIONS
By Final Fantasy GX
Disclaimer: I do not own Cyberchase. It belongs to PBS Kids, among others.
Summary: Will the returned Crimson Blade, altered but still as evil as ever, achieve his ultimate goal? Who will become tangled in his dark designs? And, most of all, who will survive his vicious onslaught? New allies, new threats, and old enemies combine to make the Cybersquad's desperate fight against Crimson harder than ever…
Rating: PG-13 (minimal gore, death, violence)
Author's Note/s: Dudes and dudettes, I would like to welcome you to the Final Battle. I'm not very proficient in the creation of fight scenes, however, and on that point, I would ask you to forgive me.
However, enough with my mindless talk. On with the battle!
Chapter 12: The Final Battle: Part I
The desolate landscape of the Northern Frontier lay silent, lit by the glow of the setting sun that threw everything into an eerie, blood-red cast. An omen? Many of the superstitious would have thought so.
Even as the binary-coded clouds faded into stars, Crimson bade farewell to the Hacker.
It was a bitter parting at first that occurred between the two evil beings. Hacker, believing that Blade was abandoning him to seek his own fate, had yelled at him furiously, actually daring to lose his temper at the creature who could have quite easily caused his end.
That is, he was furious until he heard Crimson Blade's plan.
The creature had informed Hacker that, in fact, he was not 'abandoning' the cyborg, but merely "fighting the main part of the battle".
"I require your services once more…" Crimson had said, in a low voice that had chilled the eavesdropping Buzz and Delete to the bone. Of course, Hacker had readily agreed, for what Blade had asked him to do was very much in his department.
And so, the evil genius and the creature of darkness had parted.
The Cybersquad landed at the Northern Frontier a few minutes before sundown, when the light had darkened to a deeper scarlet. The wind that scattered the dust over the land blew gently in each of their faces, filled with an odd sense of foreboding.
No one spoke a word as they waited uneasily for Crimson Blade to arrive. The possibility occurred to Matt that maybe Crimson was already there. That maybe he was watching them right now: if he could shape-shift, then surely he could become invisible…
Now suspicious, the boy glanced around surreptitiously, surveying the landscape with a critical eye. Nothing. Just red-tinted rocks, red-tinted sky, a red-tinted figure…
A red-tinted figure.
Jerked into action, Matt grabbed Jackie and Inez's arm, while Digit flew in a nervous circle above their heads. "Jax… Nezzie…" he said in a low voice. "Here he comes."
Digit nearly fell from the sky in his concerned state. "What do we do, Mattie?" he asked shakily, after successfully regaining his balance.
The boy did not reply. He squinted into the distance, where the figure was making its way towards the group, gilded by the setting sun. Though its features were not visible, a sense of incredible evil beamed from it, causing Matt to shiver involuntarily. That was how he knew who it was. No other being – not even Hacker – emanated that kind of spine-chilling, unreasonable evil, except for Crimson Blade.
Scythe stood a little away from the group, face intentionally blank as he watched Crimson Blade draw closer. In that moment, however, the fear-inspiring creature dissolved like sand in an hourglass – obviously a ploy to cause more fear in the group. Still, the teenager watched unconcernedly – albeit carefully – as Matt jumped backwards in surprise, away from the group, as if he had been bitten by a snake.
Seeing that Scythe seemed fairly calm about the disappearance, the redhead collected himself once more. "We'll let him play his games," he said to his companions, even managing to sound hard and uncaring. "He brought us here for a reason other than to scare us to death." (Digit looked somewhat doubtful at this comment.)
Unfortunately, the boy failed to notice that Blade had reformed behind him, and had a furious scowl on his face at his words; his friends had no time to warn him before the creature struck. A lavender-coloured hand slipped deftly around Matt's neck, jerking him backwards. Recognising Crimson Blade's iron grip, he struggled (in vain), but the arm only tightened further.
"Games, Matthew?" Blade whispered maliciously, blood-red eyes flaring dangerously in his madness. "I play no games, you snivelling excuse for a mortal. This is serious. Deadly serious."
"If this serious, then you'd let go of my neck and talk to us properly," Matt responded heatedly. The arm loosened its grip for a moment, but regained its hold after brief consideration.
"Ah, weak human boy. You try to escape my clutches once again. But I will not release you. Not quite yet."
"Leave him be, Huor Melwasúl." Scythe spoke so quietly that Matt had to strain to hear him. Crimson Blade flinched at the second repetition of his Elvish name; the arm spasmed suddenly. "Your fight is not only with him. It is also with I, master of the labyrinth, as well as the Cybersquad." The last word left his lips reluctantly; he refused to consider himself as part of it.
Blade smirked. "You know nothing, Scythe," he said loudly, his old arrogance showing through the more composed mask he had worn ever since his return. "You are mortal, like these… children. And even so, you are a mere adolescent! If your armor is weak – and I speak not of the armor you wear – I will make sure it breaks…"
"What of you, Crimson Blade?" Scythe responded in the same calm voice. "What about your own armor, your own mask? For surely, after all these lives, all these years, it has been scratched and battered, cracked and ravaged by your own suffering and pain. Do not speak to me of breaking my mind, creature of evil. I am not weak."
Crimson spat bitterly on the dusty ground. "Bah!" he said grimly. "I refuse to take heed of a mortal's words. I spoke to you of fairness. I spoke to you of our final meeting. So it shall come to pass, this final battle." And he shoved Matt away from him in disgust.
Stumbling forwards in surprise, Matt quickly recovered and whirled around, not trusting Blade for a moment.
"What do you want to do about this?" he asked harshly, facing the creature boldly, not daring to show any fear. Both Inez and Jackie thought it was rather wasted on Crimson Blade: he thought all of them were weak no matter how brave they appeared or sounded.
"I propose…" Crimson trailed off, considering with relish the worst possible tortures he could come up with. "I propose…" The creature trailed off once more. Better to cause distraction and unease before I make my real move, he thought malignantly to himself. Without formulating an answer aloud, he swiftly and suddenly went for Jackie – the closest person standing near him.
In reality, it was the only way he could truly answer.
His metallic wingtips that formed his cybird arm dug into hers, drawing blood; unfortunately for Crimson, however, he misjudged the distance and slightly overshot the girl, letting go of her as he landed on his stomach behind the group. Making no sound of pain, least of all showing it, Blade immediately leapt up and dived for Jackie again, who backed away but was unable to evade the swift creature. This time, he managed to pin the girl against the ground, one knee on her chest, both mismatched hands grasping her wrists.
The rest of the group stared, hardly daring to move. Finally, Matt stepped forwards and yelled furiously, "Get your hands off my friend!" Gritting his teeth against the rage that was forcing its way up his throat, the boy clenched his fists, preparing to fight Crimson Blade if it was necessary.
It wasn't, as of yet; Crimson merely laughed at this show of bravado, ignored Matt, and brought his mouth right next to Jackie's ear to whisper: "You're the lucky one today, mortal girl, because you are going to meet your end first… you won't get to see your friends suffer…"
Jackie glared up at Blade with a look of pure, total hatred. Enough was enough; blood was running down her wrists and arms from the creature's lethal grip. There was only one thing to do at a time like this.
Steeling herself, Jackie brought her head forwards with about as much strength as she could muster, headbutting Crimson Blade so hard that he jerked back in sudden pain and – involuntarily – released her wrists. Trembling with anger, Jackie struggled to her feet and stumbled backwards, a little dizzy from getting up so rapidly. Digit, sensing that the African-American girl was in one of her angry moods, tugged at the hem of her skirt, pulling her back to their companions.
"Come on, Jackie," he panted, still trying to get her full attention, "Don't do anythin' you'll regret later… we'll just go back to Inez an' Mattie now…"
Still fixing Blade (who had recovered, or so it seemed – he was still rubbing his head absently, muttering about the insolence of mortal children) with a dangerous stare, Jackie finally turned to Digit and said, "It's all right, Didge. I'm coming." But she still fervently wished she could get the twisted creature back for attacking her…
"It seems we have come to a stalemate," Blade declared arrogantly, surveying the group triumphantly. "You dare not attack me. I dare not attack you all at once, nor individually. Therefore… I challenge the boy Matthew, who caused all this, to fight me alone. That means no outside help." He gave a meaningful look at Scythe.
Matt paled slightly and swallowed, hard; Inez, Jackie and Digit began to argue against Crimson Blade's request. Scythe, however, watched all of this from the back of the group, the cold wind ruffling his black hair. He could guess what would happen. He could not allow that future to take place. He could not allow this evil to dominate.
Scythe stepped forwards. "Jackie, Inez and Digit," he said expressionlessly, glancing at the trio with his icy, grey eyes. "I believe that Matthew is required to state his own opinion on the matter."
The three fell silent, exchanged looks, and nodded, falling back to stand behind the young man. Matt took a deep breath and let it out, slowly. He knew what he had to do. Perhaps he had known it all along.
"My friends," he spoke, almost as softly as Scythe himself, "I am going to fight him. Alone."
Crimson Blade's face broke into an ugly grin that was more like a grimace. Jackie, the blood on her arms still trickling slowly down, looked like she was about to say something, but upon second thought, she closed her mouth resolutely, her face the picture of concern. Digit shifted from foot to foot, trying to tell Matt with his eyes that he absolutely could not do this. Inez, however, stared at the red-haired boy and inclined her head in acknowledgement of his decision. She understood completely.
As Matt passed Scythe, he could have sworn that the teenager gave him a look that was also filled with understanding, but when he blinked and looked back again, Scythe was staring off into the distance, a familiar expression of faint but unending sadness on his face.
At length, the boy heaved a sigh and came to a stop in front of Crimson Blade.
"Let it begin," he said.
---
Jackie had begun to shiver in the slightly freezing wind that now blew steadily over the Northern Frontier. The blood dried rapidly on her arms, but was soon replaced by fresh blood. The long, deep cuts on her upper arms did not cease to bleed; something kept the wounds open, would not allow them to heal.
Still trembling, the African-American sat down on the ground and closed her eyes wearily, trying not to think of what was going to happen to Matt. As of yet, the sounds of battle were not heard – obviously, they had not began fighting – but she could still hear Crimson Blade's sardonic voice taunting her friend, words weaving around his opponent like a poisonous snake, constricting moment, strangling thought.
Suddenly, upon opening her eyes, Jackie saw Matt glance up, past Crimson Blade, who stood with unfailing confidence, grinning that hideous grimace. Directing her gaze to where the red-haired boy was looking, she gasped and started to get to her feet to do something to help –
- when the Grim Wreaker dived from the now-dark sky, so close to the ground that Matt had to throw himself backwards to remove himself from its path. Blade had dodged nimbly out of the way, but seeing that his enemy's attention was distracted, his scarlet eyes began to burn with the prospect of battle, and he bounded forwards. Dealing a hard kick to the boy's ribs, at which Matt choked in pain and staggered backwards, Crimson followed it with another kick, this time to Matt's chest.
The Grim Wreaker came around for another pass, and Scythe followed the black-and-green ship with a stare full of hatred. He took no heed of the battle in front of him, nor the frightened gasps of the others behind him, but in a split second had decided that Hacker desperately needed some of the stuffing knocked out of him.
Concentrating, he directed his mind below, to the winding passages of his labyrinth, to the darkness that lay there, to the underground lakes, to the unspeakable horrors, to the cavern where he resided. Blade, looking up from his battle, saw Scythe and recognized the expression of total concentration. His mouth formed a soundless scream of rage, his eyes flamed, but he did not dare to disengage from this essential fight. Not when he was winning.
Matt stood before him, blood trickling from a shredded sleeve where Blade had scratched it deeply with his metal wing. He bore a slight limp, the knees of his jeans were torn; a cut had been sliced down the side of his face from when he had fallen onto a sharp rock, after Crimson kicked him in the chest.
In answer to the silent screech of Blade's, Scythe turned his thoughts inwards, and smiled a mocking smile at the evil creature, although it was still rather tinged with a faint sadness.
---Dasariah, Vil,--- he thought in his mind. ---Your aid is needed.---
Beneath the surface, both the Kothos heard the unspoken words echoing in their heads, and immediately ran for the nearest tunnel in haste.
---We hear your words and obey, Master,--- Dasariah sent back.
The Grim Wreaker plummeted downwards once more, heading straight for the unsteady figure of Matt, who was struggling to keep himself on his feet.
At that moment, lightning shot out from a place that no one could see, and struck the massive ship, followed by another blast that set a part of it alight, as well as sending it flying uncontrollably, at top speed, in the opposite direction. Within a few seconds, the Grim Wreaker had disappeared over the dark horizon.
---Thankyou, Kothos,--- Scythe said silently, even grinning a little as he thought of Hacker's panic, as well as Buzz's and Delete's. He bore no more love for the two slow-minded robots than for the hated green cyborg.
---Your thanks are not needed,--- VKothos replied. ---Both of us enjoyed seeing that ship burn.---
DKothos interrupted his vicious companion with, ---Do you require any more of our help, Master?---
The teenager could imagine his servant cracking his knuckles loudly as he said this, and shook his head.
---No, Dasariah. This battle must be won by us alone…--- Scythe stopped speaking as he realized he had included himself as one of the group. ---You may return to the labyrinth,--- he addded quietly.
---Farewell, Master,--- VKothos responded, echoed by DKothos.
Scythe snapped out of his reverie as he heard a cry of pain coming from the battle that had been proceeding the entire time, and sought to find who had cried out.
Blade stood in front of Matt, who was on his knees, staring up at the creature with a look of passionate hatred so alike to Scythe's. He was splattered in blood, mostly his own, while Blade merely sported a few small cuts. Crimson had just raised his fist to deal another telling blow, one that would most likely render Matt unconscious.
The raven-haired young man strode forwards to halt this mindless violence, but Blade saw him coming and let the blow fall swiftly, grinning smugly at his triumph. His fist connected with the side of Matt's face… and the red-haired boy finally fell back, collapsed to the ground, unconscious, unmoving. His blood mingled with the dust and the dirt upon which he lay.
A yell of fury sounded from behind Scythe, a strangled yell that was so loud he whipped around to face the source in shock.
Inez stood in front of Digit and the now also unconscious Jackie, hands clenched into fists. "Stop it!" she shouted angrily. "Haven't you caused enough suffering? Why do you have to keep hurting us, again and again and again?"
Crimson Blade leered. "For that, all of you will suffer more than I had originally intended." He pointed down at Matt. "I will leave him to die, his only company your dying corpses. So you shall witness his death. So he will witness yours."
The Hispanic girl made no reply, only ran towards the evil creature with the full intent of fighting him. It did not matter that she would probably die in the attempt. The only thing that mattered now was that she made a difference. As Inez brushed past Scythe, the teenager reached out and grasped her arm, halting her mad flight.
Inez turned and looked at him, her gaze clear, but yet burned with an inner fire. At that single, piercing glance, Scythe let his hand slip off of her arm. He would always remember her words, that day.
"What has to be done, must be done," Inez said grimly. And she walked with firm resolve towards certain doom.