Chapter 15
Fiona was feeling sick. It wasn't because of any ailment, it was because she was afraid.
She had just seen Carlo drop from a single spell from Ultimecia and he was a seasoned, experienced SeeD. What chance did she, a newly appointed member, have against her.
As Zell continued his attack, Cid appeared near Carlo. He checked him then sighed and looked at Fiona. He must have seen something.
"What's wrong, Fiona? You scared?" Cid said in a soft voice.
Fiona could only nod.
"Good" Fiona's head jerked up at that statement, Cid didn't stop "It's okay to be afraid… Hell, I'm always afraid when I go into battle."
"You! Why?"
"Because you acknowledge your fear. You know it's there."
"I don't understand…"
"Let me tell you about someone I know."
Cid looked over at Zell, he seemed to be fine. So he went into his story.
"Her name was Aeris, she was the last survivor of an ancient race on my planet." "Was…?" But Cid ignored her "We were faced with a crisis, a powerful spell called Meteor had been cast and was threatening to destroy the planet."
Cid checked Zell again.
"Aeris decided to go to a special place to call upon her ancestors and the planet to destroy the threat." Cid paused "She knew she would die, because the enemy that cast the Meteor spell was listening. But she went anyway… and she was able to make it possible for myself and a few others to destroy this enemy and free the planets power to destroy the Meteor." "I don't understand" Fiona said confused "I'm meaning. That even though she knew she would die and was scared, she went forward because she couldn't just stand back and do nothing. That's what Carlo did, I could see it in his eyes. And it's also what you should do, because you may help, even if it's only a little, you may help."
Fiona was silent for a bit, then she remembered "Wait… Carlo's magic got through…"
"See, as long as you see what he accomplished, he helped… It was probably because her shield will only defend against either Physical or Magical attacks, not both at the same time."
"How…?"
"I was watching her when it happened." He pulled out a small green jewel from his pocket. "How are you with magic?"
"Okay, I guess. But I don't have a Guardian Force junctioned, so I can't use magic."
"I don't know what Guardian Force's are, but this is how we use magic on my world." He held out the jewel and gave it to Fiona.
"Huh? What's this?"
"It's called a Materia. What you do is concentrate on it, feel it's power. Then with your spirit, call the power out and target it at the enemy."
Fiona looked and felt the materia, it was smooth and shiny but she couldn't sense anything unusual.
"I can't do it, Cid. You know this better, why don't you do it?" "Because I'm useless with magic. Give me a science solution any time and I'll use that. But with magic? Get someone else."
Fiona wasn't listening, she was still trying to get a response from the jewel.
"Pardon? You say something?"
"Never mind." Cid said "Anyway, keep trying. Me and Zell will distract her until you get it. Once you have, try to synchronise your attack with one of ours."
Fiona nodded, not taking her eyes off the jewel. As Cid ran to Ultimecia to assist Zell. She started to feel something from the jewel. She looked carefully and saw it had started glowing slightly.
Fiona smiled.
………
Cid looked back at Fiona one last time before charging Ultimecia, Fiona was still concentrating on the materia he had give her. He saw a faint glow from the green jewel and smiled.
As he reached the enemy, he struck forward with his spear. As expected, the barrier around Ultimecia absorbed the blow, he quickly spun away from a punch and pushed his spear back and surprisingly, to both him and Ultimecia, the butt end of the weapon struck the leg of the Sorceress.
The two stepped away from each other. Seeing an opportunity, Zell ran forward and attempted a kick. Ultimecia raised her hand, but Zell's kick hit true in her stomach sending her back a few paces.
Ultimecia had a look of total shock on her face "WHAT IS THIS!"
Zell laughed, adopting a different stance "Just a little present for you. We all know of your power." He looked around "So, we've blocked you from it."
"What! How?" Ultimecia didn't look afraid, and there was a note of curiosity in her voice.
"A little device. It negates all magical energies, meaning, you're no more powerful than a normal person now."
Ultimecia lifted her head back and laughed.
From her sleeve she removed two small objects. Cid almost immediately recognised them and readied himself. Ultimecia threw them to the ground and a monster emerged from each.
But before they could attack, they burst into flames.
………
Ultimecia looked at the burning creatures and then at Zell and Cid "How?" She demanded.
Zell was silent, but Cid just burst into laughter "Behind us." Was all Cid said.
Both Ultimecia and Zell looked. Fiona was smiling
"It worked!" She said happily Zell was puzzled "How? What worked?"
Cid took a small object from his pocket, which he raised for all to see. It was a small jewel, which glowed a pale pink colour. Zell suddenly realised that Fiona held a similar jewel in her hand, only green in colour.
"With these. This is magic from my world. From what I've seen, it's completely different from this one." He placed the jewel into a slot in his weapon "Our magic is also quite flexible. The one that young lady holds, over there, is Fire magic." He said indicating Fiona "While this one… boosts agility."
Without another word, he ran at Ultimecia. Zell was shocked at the speed, Even he couldn't be that fast.
But for some reason, Cid only hit Ultimecia lightly with the side of his spear.
Ultimecia grunted, but didn't move. There was a bewildered expression on her face "Why? You could have easily killed me." "You're right, my girl…" "CID, what are you doing!" "I won't kill a defenceless woman, even an evil one!" Cid went into his bag and pulled out a rope and started to bind Ultimecia.
Behind Zell, the rest of the SeeD were running up to the palace entrance.
"But Cid…" Zell ran up, and went to hit Ultimecia. But before his could, Cid grabbed his arm and held it firmly.
"Don't do that, Zell." Cid said, angrily "What's the problem anyway? As long as that device of yours is active, she's practically harmless, right!"
"Harmless… Device? AHH!" Zell quickly turned to the SeeD group, picking someone at random "You, go to the president's office and tell him to keep that device on!"
The SeeD member saluted and started toward the palace.
"HURRY!"
The person jumped slightly and started running.
………
Ifrit jumped back from Griever's fist. Just as Sacred and Minotaur tried to attack from behind.
The problem, Shiva had noticed, was not that they were having trouble holding Griever back. It was that they were destroying the city. Shiva was wondering if they were really doing any good, or just adding to the problems.
Shiva had always liked Esthar, it reminded her, of her own Queendom of Ice. With the buildings reflecting the sun's light into beautiful colours.
A blast from Griever in her direction snapped her out of her daydream. Shiva quickly dodged and countered with an Ice spell. It hit Griever in the arm and froze it. But due to Griever's strength, he quickly broke free.
Off to her left, Carbuncle, who was using his hiding abilities to distract Griever caught Shiva's attention. He was shaking violently, and with a strange expression on his face. Vanished.
Concerned, Shiva looked around. Each of the Guardian Forces, including Griever, were pulsing, like they were having trouble holding their forms. To take her eyes away from that scene, she looked down. Her gaze came to her hand. That too was shimmering.
One by one, like Carbuncle before, the Guardian Forces disappeared, eventually leaving just herself and Griever. Finding it hard to hold her thoughts, she realised that this was not Grievers doing. As it was obvious that he was affected by whatever had caused this as well.
A few moments after, her vision became black.
A familiar wind awoke her as it fell on her face. She opened her eyes and looked. Somehow she was back in her Queendom. The place where she always returned to, after her duties were done. But something was wrong, she had not finished, she had not been given leave.
"Why am I back here?" Shiva asked into the wind "How did I get back?" But all that answered was silence.
………
Bahamut and Tiamat looked across the sky at each other, they were breathing heavily. They had both been attacking with all their strength.
Tiamat had been looking at Esthar on a number of occasions, but had never been too worried. Until now.
"MISTRESS!" He screamed at the city "Where are you! Mistress?" Bahamut wondered what was happening "What it the problem, my brother?" "I've lost my link. There is something wrong!"
Bahamut was feeling something different as well, but couldn't place what had changed.
As a test, Bahamut flew toward Esthar. But his instincts told him to stop a little way outside the city.
"What is this?" He put his arm forward and after it crossed an undefined point, it started to distort and shimmer.
Tiamat joined him "Bahamut, my brother. I do not want to say this, but we should put our contest on hold at this time. Both you and I know that we must protect our summoners, and they should be placed above our conflict."
"I have to agree, but from what I see, we cannot enter the city, I do not know what might happen if we did. We can only hope that everyone inside is alright."
………
"Where'd she go?" Wedge asked
"Did she get blown apart completely?" Biggs countered
"No, you two, I doubt that." Laguna said picking up a chair and then sitting in it.
"Shouldn't we go after her then?"
"No. I say we rest and leave it at that."
"But why?"
"Just let it go, Biggs." Laguna snapped angrily, causing everyone to step back in surprise "You may not have noticed, but she was not taking damage. Yes, we were hurting her. But if we couldn't damage the body… we'd never be able to kill her completely."
Biggs lowered his head "Oh… I should have noticed that, I'm sorry…"
"Hey, no apologises. You should be proud of yourself. Without most of your plans, we probably wouldn't have come out of that battle."
Biggs face brightened "Thank you, sir." He said, beaming.
Ward put a hand to his jaw, trying to be secretive about it. But Laguna saw.
"Her punch hurt more than you let on?"
Ward looked surprised, then embarrassed and nodded slightly
Laguna laughed "Don't worry about it. I was having trouble standing myself after her shot at me."
"WHAT!" Kiros cried "You mean you were acting?"
"Of course." Laguna was looking strangely at him "Come on, Kiros. Don't tell me you were surprised by that? You know me better than myself, most times."
"Laguna…"
"Yeah?"
"You never change…"
Laguna was just about to answer that when a pop was heard by the desk. The five went over to look. A small panel smoked and burned.
Behind them, the doors burst open. A man in a SeeD uniform running in.
"Whatever you do, don't turn off the Anti-Magic Field!" The panel crackled and then went dead. Laguna looked down at it and grimaced "Too late."
………
Ultimecia felt her power return. It was time.
'Tiamat.' She said silently, guiding her mind to the dragon outside the enormous city
'Who is this?' Came the reply
'I am Ultimecia. I offer you an opportunity. I know of the feud with Bahamut, your brother. I offer you the chance to come with me to the distant future. So you may claim the place which you are destined of, there.'
'All know of our feud. It is not secret. And what difference is there to gain my destined place then, instead of now?'
'The dragons are without a King. I need one such as yourself to bring the dragons together.'
'No king? My fellow dragons… My rightful place… I will accept.'
'Junction with me, I will take you there.'
'Agreed.'
'Griever. I sense you around me. It is time to return.'
'I understand. I return to you now, my mistress.'
………
"Okay Cid, now what do we do with her?" Zell asked "Haha. Here's an idea. Nothing." Came the sorceress's voice from behind them.
The SeeD and Cid looked at Ultimecia. She was standing straight and smiling broadly. The rope that once binded her, now around her feet.
"I had fun today. I'll remember you all." She laughed and disappeared. It was almost as if she was never there.
But one look at the, now, covered body of Carlo. Told them otherwise.
………
"Hi there, Cid. You wanted to see me?" Zangan said as he entered the office.
"Zangan, good to see you. I'd just like to thank you for training some of the SeeD's a little."
Zangan laughed "I've got to keep busy somehow." He had been working with a few of the students and incorporating some of his basic techniques into their fighting. He was pretty pleased with how it had turned out. "Besides, you've got a great outfit here, be a shame for me not to help in some way."
"The teachers have appreciated it too. The students you've trained a little have applied themselves more in their studies too."
"I did sort of have a hand in that too…" Zangan smiled "A couple of defeats to an old man will do that to you."
"I guess it would." Cid smile was a broad as Zangan's
"But enough of that… what did you want to see me for? I can tell it's not about my actions."
"It shows?" Zangan nodded "Need to work on that then. I was thinking about the other people from your world."
"What about them?"
"If my SeeD's succeed, they may be able to find a way back."
Zangan looked straight at Cid "You're right, but wasn't that one of the objectives of the mission?"
Cid looked a little shocked "You knew?"
"It wasn't really tough to figure out."
"I guess not. At any rate, I've been getting a feeling lately about that."
"A feeling?"
"Yeah, it's weird. I keep thinking you need to be with them."
Zangan shook his head "It's not weird at all. Always trust your feelings. They usually save you in the long run."
"Looks like another lesson for me." Cid grimaced
"You'll never stop, Cid." Zangan looked out the window "I've travelled my world a hundred times over. But I'm still learning new things." Zangan thought for a few seconds "What would be the best way to get me to that Esthar place?"
"Well, all the airships are out on missions at the moment. So the best way would probably be…" Cid rubbed his chin in thought "The Horizon Bridge Railway, I guess."
"Then it looks like I'm taking the train. When do I leave?"
"Actually," Cid smiled "We'll be arriving in about 30 minutes."
"Zangan laughed "That's what I like about you, Cid. You're always thinking ahead."
"One tries his best." Cid's smile turned into a grin
