Chapter XIII: Closer to the Rescue
Yuna could not believe she could not summon. Seymour's words burned her dignity and pride to the core. Now he laughed at her because of it.
With her defeat she fell to the ground stunned. Tidus was at her side in an instance.
Tidus needed to get Yuna to try again.
"Yuna try again. It was only a mistake. Seymour is wrong."
"No. He's right, and I couldn't face the truth till now. I had some inkling about this," she replied in defeat.
Seymour intervened their private conversation, "It seems you won't comply with my request, but I don't intend to die now."
He turned away, and faced Omega. The movements of his hands created a magical aura around him. He spoke in the tongue of the ancient Guado as he created his spell.
"Do you expect a mere incantation to stop me?" Omega spoke at last.
"Yes, because I know I will," he replied stoically.
Then a bright red flash from the sky struck the monster. Her whole body was now engulfed in flame as she screamed. After a few moments she fell to the ground still burning. From her burning body an aeon arose, but it did not go to Yuna.
"It repels you lady Yuna so it will return to its temple," Seymour directed to her.
The creature was Bahamet from the very temple they were upon now. It was over twenty feet tall and its wings were colorful of every color imaginable. Its wing span was beyond any comparison. Yuna stared in amazement at the beauty and power of the aeon. Before anything could be done the colorful aeon retreated to its ruined temple beneath them.
Seymour turned back to Yuna.
"You are weak Lady Yuna. Return to the Farplane or I'll force you to."
"You wish," Tidus intervened angrily.
He charged Seymour ready to strike him down. When he reached him an aura suddenly appeared around him, and when Tidus struck at him the aura threw him back. He was thrown to the ground, and fell unconscious. Yuna went to his side when she suddenly felt herself feel light and rise off of the ground.
Seymour was using telekinesis to make her rise into the air. Yuna moved towards Seymour in the air, and she had no control over her body. Her body came back down right in front him, and when her feet touched the ground she slid right into his arms.
"It is not your Yuna that I want any longer. You have no place saving...or destroying Spira," he said smirking.
Then sparks came from him and engulfed Yuna continuously. She screamed in painful agony, and there seemed to be no end to it all. Her mind was falling into darkness. She was losing her control, and knew Maylina would come back. She shed tears knowing that she couldn't keep to her duty, and hopefully live again with Tidus.
The body of Maylina fell into Seymour's arms completely in a deep sleep. Tidus was back up when he discovered that Yuna was gone, and Maylina's appearance was restored to the body. There was no reason for him to be here now so he decided to escape. He went to the ledge right of him and leapt off the side. Seymour didn't care about the young man's actions. He would die, because the temple was one of the highest buildings in Bevelle. Little did he know that Tidus only jumped to hang off the ledge.
Seymour left the temple roof carrying the unconscious Maylina, and headed towards his hideaway in the heart of Bevelle in his airship.
Connie and Renac found Cid at his shop in Luca. Within an hour they were on their way to Bevelle in Cid's fastest ship. Its name was Sin's Repentance, and worldly known for its speed. The wings were shaped like angel wings. Not only was it fast, but its color grabbed everybody's attention with a bright sky blue. It also worked as a cloak when on a clear day in the sky hiding away from other ships. On both sides angels holding golden scepters were painted, symbolizing the celestial power it emanated.
It only took an hour to reach Bevelle, and even Renac, favoring nature over technology, was relatively impressed. Before they actually reached Bevelle, Connie went to Cid to have a talk.
"Hey, big brother," she began embracing her brother.
Cid sat in the pilot seat maneuvering the ship.
"What's on your mind my little sister?"
"I wanted to talk to you about Mason," Connie replied sadly.
"I know where you are going with this. You've liked him since the first day you met him, but he has never returned the feelings. Then one day a young priestess comes along, and he becomes infatuated with her."
"That's what bothered me Cid. For the two years I've known him he hasn't once given the light of day to any woman. The closest girl in his life was me; I always listened to him, and gave him my advice. He knows I like him, but he is always afraid."
Cid looked serious now, "Connie, it's not worth your time and you shouldn't stress over him. When we find him and that priestess you can talk to him, but for now stay focused."
All Connie did was nod in agreement.
Then a flashing light exploded right in front of the ship, and caused it to shake immensely. Now more explosions were blasting off all around them. Obviously they were over Bevelle, and it seemed the cult followers had already taken the city. A voice began coming through the static on the communication system.
"Unidentified ship land immediately or be shot down."
The voice was of a man, but he sounded like a robot; no emotion, no fear nor hate. Cid spoke back to the man with resistance in his voice.
"We will land at the nearest platform. Just cease your firing."
The comm went dead with no reply, and the firing at last ceased.
"What are you doing Cid?" Connie shouted at him angrily.
"You make your enemy believe you're willing to surrender, but then you surprise them. Now go to the back, and tell Renac what's going on."
She nodded in agreement, and quickly headed to the back. Cid focused back to the controls, and slowly ascended into the hostile territory.
Over fifteen guards were waiting when the Sin's Repentance landed on platform B. Renac, Cid, and Connie came down the ship's ramp to face them with weapons in hand. Connie had her twin daggers, Renac had his spear, and Cid carried two custom made mana guns.
"Put your guns down now," the captain of the guards said.
"Ha, don't make me laugh," Cid retorted sarcastically.
Suddenly he jumped into the air, and it seemed time had slowed down. As he went into the air Connie rolled to avoid any shots, and ended up right in front of the guards and slashed at their legs. Renac ran to the side of them planning a side attack. The guards were no match for the trio, and only the captain was left. Cid went up to the Guado and confronted him. The young man fell to the ground onto his knees pleading for his life.
"I won't kill you. I want to know where the summoner and her guardian are at," Cid replied to the pleas.
"I am not sure. Lord Seymour took her to his large opulent house in the heart of Bevelle. Supposedly the young man is dead."
"What are you talking about?" a female voice said behind them.
They all turned to see Marie walking from an aircrusier next to Cid's ship.
"I won't even ask how and why you are here Marie," Cid said in defeat.
The captain finished cowardly, "He jumped off the ledge of the Palace of St. Bevelle."
Cid bound and gagged the guard, and turned to face every one else.
"Well it seems we need to separate to find both of them."
Marie spoke, "I will go to St. Bevelle. I need to find my brother."
"I'll go with her," Connie included.
"Then that means Renac and I am searching for your summoner."
The four divided into two groups, and headed in two different directions.
Marie and Connie made it to the palace in no time with any real trouble. It seemed the city had its own problems, and the city's people were in chaos. The Guado also had to fight the mysterious force of the Zanarkand Cult. What bothered Marie was how the cult was able to spread so fast. How were they able to take over huge cities and even small villages like Besaid, if they got to Besaid?
When they made it to the peak of the palace a man was standing there, but it was neither Mason nor the other young man; who was it? The Blitzball player from Zanarkand; this man looked almost exactly like Tidus and Mason. Except his eyes looked much colder, almost filled with an unfulfilled malice. Though the resemblance between the three was uncanny this man sent chills of darkness to anybody near him.
Marie approached slowly, and told Connie to stay back.
"Who are you?" she asked cautiously.
The man turned away from her, and spoke with certain malice.
"Their gone; his and my own love. Only the summoner can find them."
Then it seemed Mason had returned. His hair was the platinum color before all of this. He fell to the ground. Marie and Connie both ran to his side to help him.
To Continue....
