Death's Head - First thing first, I do not own Final Fantasy, nor do I ever intend to, I don't have enough money. Secondly, this is my first original Final Fantasy story. What do I mean by that? Simply put, this is a original story, with original characters, in an original world, with only some of the well known mascots (Job Class, Chocobo's, Summon Monsters and a Cid, amongst other things.) from everyone's favourite computer game series. Thirdly, all the characters, seeing as they're original creations of mine, are just that. I created them, they are mine.
All italic text, within . . . is the character's thoughts. Also, all italic text between … is the sign language Aberdeen and Ariel use to speak to each other without anyone else knowing.
Now that I've gotten the usual crap out of the way, on with the story, yes?
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Chapter Six :
Aboard the Eldorado :
Kye was leaning against the side railing, vomiting the remains of the morning meal into the ocean. As he stood back from the railing, he wiped the sweat from his forehead and swallowed. He wondered why he was on this ship, when his stomach lurched and he leaned back over the side, vomiting.
Ariel walked up to Kye, and gave him a flask of water she had received from Wyreema.
"Here, drink this."
Kye looked at her, face pale and accepted the flask, taking just a sip then handing the flask back to her.
"Thanks… Ariel…"
Ariel gave Kye a worried look.
"Perhaps you should lie down?"
Kye shook his head slowly.
"No. Bad, very bad. The swinging in the hammock… ugh."
Ariel nodded and leaned against the railing.
"Who would've thought we'd be out here like this. In the middle of nowhere…"
Kye glanced at her.
"Thinking that we can't trust this… Cid person?"
Ariel frowned.
"He's alright, it's his second I don't fully trust, as well as the rest of this crew."
"What about Wyreema?"
Ariel chuckled softly.
"She's alright Kye. For a thief, she seems to be… honourable"
Kye swallowed and closed his eyes tight, then opened them again. He took a deep breath and seemed to regain some colour to his face. He looked at the Red Mage.
"And what about Maya?"
Ariel turned her gaze towards the front of the ship, Kye's gaze following hers. Standing at the front of the ship, Aberdeen and Maya could be seen talking. Ariel sighed and ran a hand through her hair.
"Maya… To be honest, I don't really know how I feel about her. There's definitely more to her, than meets the eye."
Kye nodded slowly, and then leaned back over the railing, vomiting again. Ariel turned and put her hand on his shoulder.
"Take it easy, you don't want to send your innards over the rail either."
Kye moaned a reply, and Ariel chuckled as Wyreema joined them.
"How's the White Mage doing?"
Before Ariel could respond, Kye groaned violently as his stomach grew even more turbulent. Wyreema chuckled.
"Oh yeah, he's fine. All landlubbers are like this on their first ocean voyage."
Ariel smiled.
"You know, I think the head of the White Mages, should think up a spell to cure one of seasickness. It'd be very… useful, I'd say."
Wyreema nodded.
"Well, if I pass through Lugarnia, I'll make sure to stop by the White Mage Citadel and speak with the head of the order."
Ariel and Wyreema laughed at that, while Kye groaned. Meanwhile, at the front of the ship, Aberdeen and Maya were staring out over the waves. Both Mages remained silent as the watched the waves rolled against each other. Maya looked at the silent Mage next to her, from the corner of her eyes.
"This… is nice."
Aberdeen raised an eyebrow.
"What… is nice?"
Maya smiled and faced him.
"This, on a ship with a friend, watching the waves." She paused "At least, I hope we're friends."
Aberdeen faced her, a smile in his eyes.
"Well, you're not an enemy, that's for sure. To be honest Maya, I feel… more at peace, standing here with you. I'm not entirely sure as to why that is, and I'm hoping it's not because you've ensorcelled me."
Maya laughed.
"Aberdeen, out of everyone on this ship, you're the last I'd ensorcel. Besides," she smiled at him "Even though we just met a week ago, I have respect for you and I like you."
Aberdeen smiled and leaned against the railing, his arms folded across his chest.
"After a week and you feel like that towards me? Hmmm, I wonder if I'm losing my 'dark' side?"
Maya chuckled.
"I think THATS what I like most about you. You do things your own way and to Hades with anyone who disagrees with you." She leaned against the railing next to Aberdeen "You remind me of me, well, a male version of me that is."
Aberdeen looked at her.
"Maya my dear, I think that we should get to know a little bit more about each other. Figuratively speaking of course."
Maya nodded, smiling still.
"Of course, figuratively speaking that is."
Aberdeen was about to say something to her, when both the Mages froze. They could sense something dark and truly evil approaching. That, and something else, something which seemed… apprehensive.
Ariel, Wyreema and Kye joined Aberdeen and Maya at the front of the ship. Judging from the looks on his sister and friend's faces, Aberdeen knew they were sensing the same thing, he and Maya had sensed. Wyreema looked at the four Mages, then faced Aberdeen.
"What's wrong?"
Aberdeen noticed Cid and Sera had joined them as well, and he nodded in acknowledgement of them.
"Something's coming. Something which is dangerous, evil and extremely powerful. I haven't felt something like this, ever."
Cid placed his hands on his hips, a thoughtful look on his face.
"Powerful eh? I wonder…"
Sera looked at him.
"Cid, you don't know if it's them."
Cid glanced at his second, then faced Aberdeen and the others.
"We've encountered some powerful foes, during our travels. One particular group were extremely powerful. Thing is, they wore some kind of dragon like armour and were wielding powerful spears. Can't remember what they were called…"
Maya looked at Aberdeen.
"He's talking about Dragon Knights, also known as Dragoons. Extremely powerful, and dangerous, if you're an enemy of theirs."
Aberdeen nodded.
"This 'feeling' doesn't have the taint of the Dragoons. It's something more ancient, more primeval."
Just then, the waves picked up, growing more violent as the wind whipped through, tearing the sails of the Eldorado to shreds. Before Cid could shout orders, a waterspout erupted from the surface, a dark armoured figure standing on top of the spout.
Aberdeen and the Mages whirled and faced the figure, Kye already chanting some protect spells. Ariel had her eyes closed and was chanting the Fira spell while Aberdeen and Maya just stared at the figure.
The armoured figure laughed in a haughty, shrill like tone. When the figure spoke, it was in an evil and yet feminine tone.
"HAH, HAH, HAH, HAH! Fools! It has been decreed for you to die, by order of my lord!"
Aberdeen snorted, as his right hand grasped the hilt of his sword.
"Yeah right. Why don't you get off of your perch and come on down here, where we can discuss this, up close and personal, yes?"
The figure laughed and plunged her arms into the spout, and as she pulled her arms free, she was wielding two saber like swords. She laughed and then waved her arms, as the water around the Eldorado, whipped into a frenzy. Wave after wave smashed into the ship's hull, as the cannons of the ship aimed on the waterspout and fired. A wall of water appeared in front of the armoured warrior, deflecting the blows. The figure then gestured and four waterspouts appeared, surrounding the ship. Each spout then manifested itself into a water serpent. Ariel turned and cast Fira on the serpent directly in front of her, the spell striking the serpent in it's midsection. Unfortunately, the serpent lashed outwards and attacked her.
Fortunately, Kye's spell protected her from the attack. Maya had gathered her powers and focused her thoughts. After touching the pendent on her neck, she cast the boosted version of Fira on all the serpents. However, with the pendent's assistance, the spells repeated themselves four times, disrupting the flow of magical essence in the water on such a destructive level, the serpents were destroyed.
Aberdeen raised his right hand and cast the only third level black magic he knew, Thundaga. The magical elemental lightning gathered around his right hand, and erupted outward, not at the warrior, but at the water spout she was standing on, destroying her pedestal instantly. However, the figure leaped directly onto the ship, her sabers slashing into the crewmembers. Wyreema's brother, Weyan, charged at the warrior, the sailor with the spear as a hand by his side. Both warriors swung the weapons they had, only to have them bounce off of the protective spell. The warrior laughed and decapitated the one armed warrior, and lanced Weyan through the throat with one of her sabers.
Two throwing daggers landed on the deck, as Wyreema stepped backwards, eyes wide as she saw the figure pull the blade out of her brother's throat, blood clinging to the blade as Weyan's body fell to the ground. Cid snarled and grasped ahold of one of the many harpoons lying on the deck and hurled it at the figure, who laughed and deflected the lance.
"FOOLS! I am the Lady Nibilungi! The Dark Knight of Water! You are but mere insects to one such as me!"
Before Wyreema could do anything, Nibilungi glared at her through the eye slits of her helm. She looked at Weyan's body, then slashed with her sabers twice. With the rolling of the ship's deck, Weyan's head rolled to Wyreema's feet. The thief tried to speak, but found nothing could come forth. She was speechless and couldn't move and slowly looked up at Nibilungi who advanced upon her.
"Was he a friend of yours? A lover perhaps? Or maybe even…" she hefted her bloodied blades "the same blood which flowed in his veins, flows in yours?"
The sabers were raised and swung down, the dark knight's intent to slay Wyreema was interrupted by the clang of a mythril sword. Standing in front of Wyreema, Aberdeen had blocked Nibilungi's blades and with a kick in her armoured midsection, Nibilungi flailed backwards. Maya cast Fira upon Nibilungi, but before the spell hit its target, it had deflected by another water serpent, the dark knight had summoned.
Cid grabbed his niece by the arm and thrust her towards Kye and Ariel.
"Watch her!"
Kye nodded as Ariel cast Fira on another water serpent, trying to attack the ship from behind. It was then she saw another armoured warrior, standing on a cloud, watching. She grabbed Kye by the arm and motioned to the figure.
"Kye, look!"
The White Mage stared at the figure, and was surprised when the figure stared straight at him. The figure made a quick motion with it's armoured arm and the wind picked up dramatically. Kye, Ariel and Wyreema were picked up by a gust of wind and were sent flying through the air, miles and miles away from the Eldorado and their companions.
Back on the ship, Aberdeen and Cid were standing opposite each other, sword's drawn. In between them, Nibilungi parried each of their thrusts and responded with some of her own. Maya was assisting Sera is dispersing the water serpents, Maya using her Fira spells and Sera using her flame rapier. Both were combining their efforts to devastating effect.
Sera looked at the Black Mage.
"You fight well."
Maya smiled wearily as she cast another Fira spell, targeting all enemies.
"Thanks… but all this spell casting… it's starting to wear me out…"
Sera nodded as she decapitated a serpent, watching as it's body dissolved into the water which gave it a parody of life.
"I know, but we have to keep fighting until we win!"
Maya turned and saw Cid fall back, his weapon gone as Aberdeen fought one on one with the dark knight. Her face wore a grim determined look, as her hands clenched into fists
"We won't win Sera… until we defeat the cause of all this."
Sera nodded.
"Go, help Aberdeen."
Maya nodded, and made her way over the slippery deck towards Aberdeen, who had Nibilungi against the railing. Nibilungi laughed in her haughty tone.
"My, my, you fight well, for a human! But for naught!"
She pointed at Aberdeen with both arms and directed a spout of water at Aberdeen. Maya, who had made her way next to her friend and was hit by the blast of water. Both Red Mage and Black Mage were flung overboard, where they were pulled down below the waves by the effect of Nibilungi's spell. Aberdeen and Maya were slammed into each other thanks to the spell, and Aberdeen managed to grasp Maya tightly to him as they were pulled under. Maya clutched Aberdeen tightly, as he tried again and again to swim for the surface, but was pulled back.
As they were pulled deeper and deeper into the depths of the ocean, and both Aberdeen and Maya found it harder for them to breathe. As they still fought to try and swim to the surface, both of them blacked out and sunk deeper into the depths. After they were unconscious, a bubble of air appeared around them, pulling them out of the water. A gust of wind swirled around them, forming a tornado. The tornado flew off towards a remote isle, far to the south, by the same figure who had sent Kye, Ariel and Wyreema away.
Cid and Sera tried fighting Nibilungi, but for naught as the Dark Knight of Water leaped onto another waterspout and summoned numerous water serpents, which destroyed the Eldorado completely. Nibilungi watched in satisfaction as the ship was torn asunder and the crew scattered into the ocean. Laughing in her haughty tone, she let the waterspout turn into a wave and returned back to her domain.
Meanwhile, the other armoured knight standing on the cloud, quickly used the power at her command and scooped the sailors into the air and sent them to the nearest isle. Velermos, Dark Knight of Wind watched as her air servants did her bidding. As soon as the last two sailors, Cid and Sera were sent, Velermos turned her gaze to the south, towards the southern continent of Alginar.
This… I can't believe I'm allowing myself to follow Morthoseth's mad plan. But… it is too late… I've started down this road, and I have no choice but to follow this path… for now…
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