Ch 13 – Knock, Knock, Knocking On Heavens Door
Zell stepped forward cautiously, approaching Julius' heaving body as his cries of anguish rang out around the silent stadium, the crowd of Crisps absolutely flabbergast at the power that this tiny man had emanated. Carrie's dead body was gripped tightly in Julius' arms, so tightly it seemed like it was almost bent out of shape, her lifeless eyes staring up into space, her arms flung around his neck limply, almost like she was hugging him back.
Zell placed a hand on the man's shoulder, his voice cracking as he spoke. "Dude…let her go."
Julius' sobbed reply was muffled by Carrie's bloodstained clothing. "I…cant."
"You gotta, dude. You gotta let her go."
Julius continued to cling onto Carrie's body for a second longer…before placing her down on the ground gently, his eyes looking down at the bloody, gaping hole in her chest, the look of terror and agony etched onto her face. He tore himself away from her, literally throwing himself at Zell, who caught him effortlessly, unable to say anything else.
They stood like that for a moment more, Zell watching as two Crisps came out of small doors and placed the corpse on a stretcher, picking up the spine and placing it next to the body too, before carrying it off out of the arena.
Zell pushed the taller man away from him gently, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Go to Squall. I'll be with you in a minute."
Julius nodded, still sobbing, before staggering towards the unconscious Squall, his eyes fixed on the ground before him, his steps seeming to take all the strength he could muster.
Zell watched him go, and took a step towards him as he paused, falling to his knees – to pick up his spectacles, the glass in the wire frames shattered, the wire bent almost completely around. Taking the glasses in his hands, Julius gripped them tightly to his bare chest – before laboriously standing to his feet and tottering the rest of his way to their corner, where he collapsed next to Squall. Falling to his knees, he simply keeled over, the anguish too much for him to bear, and he curled up into a ball, unable to even cry anymore – only able to grasp the glasses carefully, firmly, as if they were the last things on the planet holding his shredded sanity together.
Zell turned to Dianna, standing and looking down at Julius, her face full of shocked wonderment – but also containing a certain degree of disappointment. Zell could feel his anger burning within him, the rage slowly boiling beneath his soul, warming his spirit and making his heart burn. "You bitch…" He spat, looking up at Dianna. "You cold, cold bitch…"
She had placed Carrie and Julius together, confident in the love that Julius had felt. His blind loyalty to Veronica would obviously be conveyed to her – no matter what form she took. He had carried her in the block of ice for half a decade – his love was unmeasurable. If his battle against Carrie wouldn't destroy him, defending himself would have.
The Queen of the Crisps looked down at Zell, her eyes unreadable. "She was the second best fighter, Hunter. There was no choice in the matter."
"You bitch…" Zell repeated, taking a step forward, his hands erupting into flame – to stop as the sound of a gun being cocked echoed around the silent arena.
The man carrying the gun stepped out of the shadows within the box, his gun placed on the temple of Trish's head. "The other two are prepared to die, Zell – Emily especially. But I'm sure you don't want this one to die just yet."
Zell looked at Trish, her face full of horror and grief for Julius, her eyes darting over at the gun barrel placed almost delicately at her head – and looked down at Zell, her muffled cries pleading for him to stop.
Zell let out a slow breath, feeling his rage building even more as the flames died down. "Fine. Lets get this over with." He said, looking over at Form, who waited patiently in the centre of the arena.
* * *
Zell walked over to Form woodenly, feeling like somebody who had just been told he had cancer and had only three months to live. Damn her…damn them all. He thought to himself, feeling the anger building within him. Something told him to repress the anger, force it down, make sure it didn't consume him – but Zell was never one for self-control when it came to these kinds of things. Dianna had played with his friend's love, and had caused his best friend to almost be killed– she would not go unpunished.
That right, Hunter, feed the rage. Diablos' voice muttered darkly, the tone almost gleeful. Feel the rage burn you up inside…and release it. Just like you release it against Sam. Just like you released it against Sheran. Just like you released it against the soldiers in the Ragnarok.
Zell's mind felt like it was splitting, tearing in two, the emotional onslaught not being helped by Diablos' coaxing. Damn you, demon. Suck on eggs. You'll not bend me.
You forget, boy – I'm a part of you now. Just like a rock must grow from sand, you're rage must grow from me. Trust in me, boy – I'll deliver you from these evils, and everything else. You just have to trust me.
The day I trust you, Diablos…Zell pulsed so forcefully, so powerfully it made him wince, Is the day hell freezes over.
* * *
Form stood patiently as Zell approached him, his arms crossed, his face full of compassion. "I am sorry for you friends plight."
Zell looked at him, feeling slightly surprised. "Come again?"
"I am sorry for your friend. He seems to be in grief over killing Carrie. I am offering my condolases."
Zell's face twisted in rage, his arm waving out before him as if to bat the offering away. "Damn your kind! You thrive on dead and carnage! I hope you all burn in hell like the devils you are!!"
Form sighed sadly, looking down at the green sand. "Pity…"
The final tone rang out over the speaker system connected to the stadium, and the announcer's voice rang clear. "Fighters, you may begin…"
That was all that Zell heard as he suddenly erupted from his spot, flying towards Form like a bat out of hell.
* * *
Dianna watched as the fight began, Zell's fist slamming into Form's stomach before smashing across the Crisp's face, the Crisp retaliating by kicking Zell's feet out from beneath him and smashing his fist into the SeeD's chest, sending him flying across the stadium to hammer straight through one of the pillars holding the stadium roof up, the green stone crumbling around Zell as he flew straight through the sheer rock and into the arena wall.
She had been amazed at his face when she had first seen him, basked in the green glow of Row's Curaga. Everything had been as she had remembered – his boyish blue eyes, his cute yet sharp nose, the smooth features of his face. The only things she hadn't recognised were the tattoo – the ugly thing slapped onto his face like a great, rusty wound – and the look in his eyes. His eyes had then been full of fear and confusion, something Bard would never had had in his eyes.
His eyes had always been full of the rage, of a warriors pride – just like the Hunter's only a moment ago.
She watched as Zell picked himself up effortlessly, as if the trip through the pillar hadn't even hurt him, and blasted a Firaga at the figure of Form, who was walking slowly toward the SeeD. Form slapped the Firaga away effortlessly, before drawing his hand back – and letting loose his own Firaga, this one heavier, more intense then Zell's, Zell having to put up a Shell to protect himself from the attack as it washed over him.
Watching Zell battle, Dianna suddenly felt a twinge of guilt – had she condemned them all?
No, she figured. If this man was half of Bard, then Form would be no match.
Sighing wistfully, she remembered…as the battle waged on.
* * *
Zell lowered his Shell – to watch as Form walked right up to him, grabbing him by the face and pushing it right into the wall that Zell had used to put his back against as the powerful Firagas had hammered him Shell, again and again and again.
Zell's head hammered into the wall, burying itself deep into the green crumbling stone – before Zell's leg kicked out, slamming straight into Form's stomach. The Crisp champion doubled over, the wind knocked out of him – and Zell took the opportunity to pull his head out of the wall. Shaking the green dust from his head, Zell looked down at Form – who suddenly reared up, his uppercut snapping Zell's head back and his body off it's feet.
Flipping over and over, his senses reeling with the attack, Zell quickly gathered his wits and held his hands out, the Blizaga blasting straight out and slamming into Form, blowing the Crisp over to the other end of the arena where he slammed into the wall, disappearing into the rocks like Zell's head had. Zell's job done, he allowed gravity to take over, crashing his body straight into the sandy ground painfully.
Grimacing but still moving, Zell flipped up to his feet – to spy the crater on the other end of the arena.
"Lets end this…" He muttered, drawing his hands back – before firing the Meltdown, the attack screaming through the air like a premenstrual banshee to explode into he crater, reducing that side of the arena into rubble as the magic ignited brilliantly, blowing rocks and sand everywhere. People ducked and ran as rocks flew from all sides, the onslaught against the crater immense…
…Before Zell gasped in surprise, his arms being forced back slowly. Zell watched in shocked horror as Form stepped slowly from the eradicated crater, the Meltdown caught squarely in his hands!
"Your magic is nothing!" Form yelled over the howl of the magic – before lifting it up and over his head,, the Meltdown flying up into the air to explode with enough force to take down three Red Dragons.
Zell watched it fly up – before looking down at Form once more. Spitting on the ground with contempt, Zell ran forward, his steps making the sand beneath his pace explode out behind him. Form ran forward too, his footsteps creating miniature explosions as he ploughed his way towards the SeeD.
Both drew their arms back, their fists flying forward as they met in the centre – to hammer into each other, knuckle meeting knuckle, the sound of flesh hitting flesh echoing meatily around the stadium like someone hitting a sack of bone and flesh with another sack of bone and flesh. The force of the hit resonated outward, blasting the sand up beneath them and causing the rocky walls around them to literally crumble.
Spinning on his heel, Zell's foot ramming across Form's face once more, sending the Crisp spinning – to land perfectly, coming up and forward to smash a fist into Zell's face, knocking the SeeD back a few steps – before he grabbed out for Form's shirt, pulling him with a vicious head butt screaming "Booya!!" as he did.
Staggering back from the last attack, Form fell backwards – to be rammed into the ground by a vicious punch, the attack slamming straight into the Crisp's chest and blasting the sand out from around them, the crater growing to an immense size as Zell's fist dug deep into the chest – before crackling with electronic energy, the Thundaga coursing straight through his arm and directly into Form's chest, giving him the shock of a lifetime, the blue light flickering out from the crater as the smell of cooking flesh began to grow…
Before Form grabbed Zell's fist and threw him off, Zell's body spinning through the air to land outside the crater in a heap.
Form pulled himself up and out of the crater – to be launched back into it by an enraged Zell, the SeeD tackling him school-ground style and slamming him right back into the crater. Lifting himself up from Form's body, Zell began to pummel his face relentlessly, his fists making wet smacking noises as he rammed them again and again into Form's face, his rising screams increasing to a bellow of power as his attack continued uninhibited…
…Before Form smashed his palm into Zell's chest, the Thundaga shocking the life out of him before blowing him straight off of Form, Zell's limp body flying straight through the air – into a green wall untouched by their fight so far, Zell embedding himself almost a storey and a half from the ground…to fall unconscious.
* * *
Form pulled himself up and out of the crater once more, staggering slightly – before regain his footing, looking about to compose himself. The arena, cracked and dishevelled as it had been before, was no almost completely destroyed. The lesser of the Crisps had fled from the crowds, leaving only the foolhardy and the experienced still in their seats. Dianna and the prisoners still sat in the private box, Dianna still as cool as before – but now looking amused.
Searching, Form finally found Zell – stuck in the rocks like a diamond stuck into a silver pendant.
Walking forward slowly, Form raise his hand and took aim, the energy flashing around his hand building and forming quickly. Stopping at point-blank range, Form aimed the Flare at Zell's unconscious body, grasping his wrist for support – before the sand around him erupted as he fired the paramagic, blowing away from him and the magic as it shrieked towards Zell – to envelope him completely, blasting him straight through the rocks and up into the sky, the Flare blowing right out of the stadium.
* * *
Wake up, Zell! You're about to die!
Wake up, please! Our survival depends on it!
Consciousness rose in Zell – before being washed away by a searing pain surrounding his body, something pressing against his body crushing him against a powerful wind whilst at the same time tearing the flesh from his chest at an alarming rate.
He opened his eyes – to shut them once more, the searing pain suddenly skipping from his chest to his face, reducing it to nothing more then a smouldering mess.
You're riding a Flare, Zell!! Get off it now!!
Zell didn't know who was speaking to him, and he didn't care – all he cared about was doing as it told him. It was true – what little he had seen before the magic had robbed him of sight has indeed been Crisp slowly decreasing in size.
His body was laid out spreadeagled over the Flare's burning head, making almost any movement impossible…almost.
Summoning all the strength he could muster, Zell pushed his arms into the Flare – before screaming the word of power, his voice slashing out over the sound of the rushing wind and the burning ball of death.
"Holy!!"
* * *
On the ground, Form held onto the Flare as long as he could – before letting it go, the magic blasting up and out of the arena into the air, following wherever Zell had gone, into the infinity that was space.
He realised that he was breathing heavily, and touching his face he winced in pain. Not that the notion of pain was old to him – he had felt pain almost continuously since he had been born – but he had never been hurt with such fury and animosity as the alien being had done to him.
That was, not of late.
Drawing his hand back and seeing it covered in his blood, he flicked it lightly, watching the droplets stain the green sand – before turning and looking up at his Queen. He placed his fist to his chest and bowed to her, before looking up and speaking. "I am victorious, my Queen."
"Evidently, Form." Dianna said, her voice surprisingly icy. "You may kill the other now."
He nodded curtly, before making his way over to the injured Squall and the mentally wrecked Julius. He did not favour killing defenceless people – but his Queen had demanded it, and he would follow her orders to the ends of the earth…for now. Already visions of him defeating her in single combat flashed behind his eyes, the graduar of the event as he was proclaimed king. He smiled slightly at the vision, and looked over at the two SeeDs…
…Before looking up, horrified, as a searing whiter light obliterated what was left of the ceiling and engulfed him completely, his screams reaching a crescendo as the Holy hammered directly into him.
* * *
Dianna blinked, shaking her head as she picked herself up off the floor. The explosion had come unexpectedly, the white light as blinding like nothing she had ever seen, the shockwave of the explosion blowing her and the others off their chairs and onto the ground.
Standing abruptly, she looked over the side – to see Form still standing, his hands and upper torso smoking and burnt almost beyond recognition – but standing nonetheless. His arms had been raised from when he had nullified the Holy, stopping it in it's tracks with sheer strength and will – but that hadn't kept him form the explosion.
The stadium, too, had been almost completely obliterated, the floor burnt to a glassy sheen from the sheer energy of the Holy wave, the walls and seating reduced to smoking rubble, the private box the only part of the stadium left standing.
She turned, amazed, to watch as her magical bodyguards and advisors, the ones holding the massive shell the entire time, crumble to dust, the Holy completely destroying them on the spot, the Shell only barely able to hold out before the Holy finally dissipated.
Suddenly a figure shot down form the blue sky, slamming straight into the glassy ground with resounding crack, the body hitting the ground with such a force that it sent a shockwave throughout the remains of the stadium.
Dianna ran to the edge of the box and looked down – to see the battered body of Zell lying in the middle of rhe crater, his clothing burnt and torn almost beyond recognition, his face and chest scorched almost black, his arms blistered and burnt almost beyond recognition. She looked on, mercifully wishing him dead – before he coughed, black smoke spouting from him mouth to curl up and wisp away in the breeze.
* * *
Zell rolled over onto his stomach – before instantly regretting it, the shards of shattered glass rubbing into his raw skin like someone running a cheese grater all over his chest and face.
"Oh gods…" He croaked. "I think I really did it this time…"
The sound of cracking glass sounded, and Zell looked up painfully – to see Form stagger forward.
Zell, using every tiny once of strength he had left, stood upright, swaying slightly. "Hyne…why wont you die?"
"I could…say the same…Zell…" Form coughed, blood running freely from his burnt lips as he moved up to the badly injured SeeD. "But…I still…need to…defeat you…"
With that the Crisp warrior raised his hand high, and Zell saw as he performed the action that the Crisp still had at least a quarter of his strength left. Zell was digging into his reserves just to breathe, let alone defend himself, and as the fist began to pull itself through the air towards him, he closed his eyes, waiting for the final blow, waiting for it all to end…
No! Don't give up! You cant give up!! The voice screamed in Zell's head.
Form gasped as Zell's arm shot up, catching Form's attack squarely, and Zell raised his head – to shoot a look at Form, his eyes glowing steadily with an energy unseen in the Crisp universe for eons.
Suddenly the unshattered glass around them shattered – the rocks that were still whole crumbled – the very earth shook as Zell's screams began to rise, his wavering energy suddenly building, turning from a flickering flame into a full blown inferno.
Form watched as the glass surrounding them began to rise slowly into the air, the air itself seeming to grow thick as a paramagical energy washed over them all, Zell's screams still rising, his fist tightening it's grip on Form's hand – before his hand gave way, the bone shattering beneath Zell's powerful grip.
"You'll die now!!" Zell screamed, pulling his hand back. Drawing it back behind him, Form watched as it began to vibrate, the fist shaking steadily – before disappearing completely, the fist vanishing into a whir of movement, the forearm simply fading away as the fist moved at such speeds it could not be seen by the human eye.
"Knocking!!" Zell yelled, pulling his vibrating fist back further, amazingly increasing in speedas he drew it back further, drawing on his Limit Break power.
"On!" Form watched, amazed, as the area where the invisible fist was supposed to be began to smoke a blue smoke, static electricity beginning to flash up and down Zell's arm as the energy he needed kept building."Heaven's!" Zell's eyes widened as his fist began to move forward, ever so slowly, as if he was pulling the entire atmosphere of the planet along with him. His muscles felt like they were on fire, his wounds seeming to spew blood, his energy fluxuating around him in such a way as to hurt.
"Door!!" Zell's fist suddenly slashed forward, the slowness he felt only nanoseconds before disappearing as his fist slammed straight into Form's chest, the hand literally passing through the chest to exit from the back. Amazingly, there was no blood, no rupturing skin, no bodily organs flying all over the place – Form looked completely fine, apart from having the nub of an arm rubbing against his chest.Then physics caught up with him. His chest exploded backward, his sternum, lungs, heart, oesophageus, windpipe and spine suddenly exploding from his back in a big bloody mess, his mouth unable to scream as his vital organs followed suit, sucked straight out in speeds incalculable – to disintegrate in mid air, Zell's attack literally killing Form on the spot.
His energy waning, Zell withdrew his vibrating, electrostatically charged hand, watching as Form looked up at him in disbelief. Form blinked twice, before passing a hand into his chest, withdrawing it to see it covered in blood – before falling backwards, his body flopping to the floor like a wooden dummy.
Zell allowed his energy to return to their original levels, and looked up at Dianna softly, unable to even speak – before an ear-splitting crack resonated around the destroyed arena, Zell's arm literally bending in on itself, the skin tearing to reveal the white bone beneath splitting from the massive amounts of pressure place on it – before the fist-fighter fell to the ground, unconscious.
Dianna didn't know what had just happened – but she knew that she had a promise to fulfil.
* * *
Rinoa fell out of the hover-car onto the dusty ground, falling on top of the unconscious body of Zell. Looking up with anger in her eyes she watched as Dianna turned to Emily, the last of them.
They had all been bundled up by some Crisps and thrown unceremoniously into a hover-car, where they had been taken on a half-hour trip into the desert. The only people in the car were Dianna and another Crisp – the rest were the SeeDs, beaten, bloody, and unable to speak. Rinoa, Trish and Emily were still bound and gagged, their magic dampeners strapped to their necks not seeming to be giving way anytime soon. They reached their destination shortly – what seemed like an ancient ruins, the rocks and pillars depicting some kind of ancient race have lived here.
Emily was also tossed out of the car unceremoniously, before the man jumped out too, opening the trunk and pulling out all their packs, tossing them beside the pile of SeeDs.
"I think you'll find everything there…" Dianna said, crouching down next to Rinoa, her voice stony. "You're magic dampeners will be deactivated in a little while…you'd better hope you can free yourself before then. This place is the Crisp's main training ground – the last Lunar Cry hit here, you see. There are countless monsters roaming these ruins…well, good luck."
And with that, Dianna turned and jumped into the car, her male counterpart doing the same – before flying off, kicking dust up into Rinoa's face as they went.
* * *
Rinoa had had enough of this universe. It was a bleak, isolate, angry place, and the planet had gone through too much trouble for a race that didn't even care for it. It had hurt the ones she loved, and had almost killed her beloved Knight. Given the opportunity, she would destroy it in a heartbeat.
As the time passed, however, her anger died down to be replaced with anguish as she heard someone cough. Looking over at the pile next to her, she watched as Squall pulled himself out from an apathetic Julius, reduced to nothingness as he still clutched his glasses.
Squall's usually impassive features were twisted with agony, which was more then enough to make Rinoa cry. It saddened her even more to watch him look up at her and, painfully, pull himself out from the pile of beaten bodies and make his way slowly to her.
Please, Squall, save your strength! When my magic returns, I'll get us out of here!!"No…time…" he croaked, pulling himself forward. Rinoa saw that he was only using his arms to pull himself forward – and realised that his legs weren't moving.
The wounds are incurable now…She realised, horrified. He's…he's crippled…
Squall finally reached her, fumbling with her gag erratically, his black-gloved hands seeming to twitch irrationally. Finally pulling the piece of cloth from her mouth, he leaned forward and kissed her deeply, his bloodstained lips touching hers in one brief moment of passion – before he fainted, the strain of pulling himself forward too much for him.
Rinoa wailed out loud, looking down at him as the tears streamed out of her eyes, her mind suddenly shambling out of control. He's dead Squall's dead he cant be he cant be he's my knight I don't believe it hes dead my Squally is dead I wont believe it I cant believe it Squall's dead I don't believe it…
Suddenly the sound of a car began to hum from the distance, and Rinoa looked up with tear filled eyes to see Dianna screech to a halt just before her. Rinoa blinked in disbelief, unable to comprehend the reason behind it as Dianna jumped out of the car, leaving the door open – and pulling a knife out from her belt.
Rinoa suddenly understood. "Come to finish the job?!" She spat – before Dianna moved around her, cutting the bonds on her legs and hands.
"The Hearts will be coming soon – you must help me." Dianna said quickly, moving over to the bodies and, grabbing Julius, began to pull him into the ruins.
Rinoa just stood there, unable to understand the meaning of it – before Dianna looked up at her. "Damn you, help me! We must act quickly!!"
Shaking her head, Rinoa reached up and ripped the magic dampener off her throat, all her powers suddenly flowing back to her. Squeezing her eyes shut, she sighed audibly as her wings exploded from her back before she pointed at the packs and the rest of the team, all of them levitating. Floating/walking forward, Rinoa followed Dianna, the SeeDs Floating behind her.
* * *
They didn't need to go far before they came across something familiar. An Arch…Rinoa pulsed out loud, looking the magic portal over with curiosity – before turning to Dianna. Why have you helped us?
Dianna shook her head, waving her hands at Rinoa, her words exasperated. "I have no time to explain! Just activate it and go through!"
Rinoa looked at her suspiciously, her smoking white eyes narrowing thoughtfully…before turning to the Arch, looking the symbols over on the pillars and arch. I will need time…about five minutes.
Dianna kicked at the ground angrily. "Dammit, that's too long!!"
If I want to open it properly, then I need time to prepare.
The Crisp Queen sighed audibly…before looking upon at the winged creature floating before her. "Very well. I'll hold them off until you can make good your escape. But for Gods sake, hurry!!"
Rinoa nodded curtly, before turning to the Arch, raising her hands, electricity speaking off them as she began to sort and build the necessary energies.
* * *
They came sooner then Dianna expected, and she threw her hand out to blast the first car out of the air as the hover-convoy began to draw nearer to the ruins, the car flipping up and into the air as the Firaga destroyed it in a ball of flame. She threw a look at the Sorceress – "Hurry, damn you!!" – before throwing her other hand out, this one destroying yet another car as it neared them.
Rinoa finally drew and cast her final magic into the massive ball she held before her, and launched it at the Arch, the stone arch arresting the magic almost as soon as it had collided with the magical portal - and sucked the energies into it, activating it and allowing passage to the next universe.
Rinoa didn't know where this universe led – but she hoped it was a good one. Psychically picking up the Orihalcon packs, she threw them in first, before turning and picking up Squall's body. Feeling a bright white tear trickle down her dirty cheek, Rinoa threw the body through, feeling a shockwave as Dianna fought off the Hearts behind her.
Throwing the rest of the SeeDs after Squall, Rinoa paused at Zell, turning to Dianna who had managed to force the Hearts back with her magic. Come with us! Rinoa almost regretted to say. You'll certainly die if you stay here!!
"I was dead the moment I gave you the opportunity to escape, woman!" Dianna screamed over the roar of the wind…before looking down at the unconscious Zell, his bloodied features as calm as they were in regular sleep.
Dianna turned around fully, placing a hand on Zell's chest and tracing a finger across his cheek, a tear running down her face. "Goodbye Bard." She whispered, even Rinoa unable to hear the words – before she stood and roughly pushed Rinoa through the Arch, Zell following her through thanks to the psychic hold she had on him.
Turning and aiming high, Dianna then summoned all her energy and unleashed hell at the Arch, the Holy screaming out of her fingertips to blast a chunk out of the green rock. Almost instantly the blue portal which Rinoa created disappeared, and the Tidus itself fell to pieces, tumbling to the ground like building blocks smashed apart by an angry child.
Dianna watched as the Arch finally rested easy, before turning – to look up at ten Heart warriors, each clad in shining metal armour.
The first stepped forward. This one looked different from the others – instead of having the Orihalcon look like it was worn like a jumpsuit, this one was dressed in plates, like a knights armour. A red cloak flapped around his legs, latched onto the shoulders by twin golden brooches with winged women embossed on it. On his hands were gauntlets – one a shining silver, the other blood red, each etched with an insignia on the back of the palm.
The insignia of the Ehrgiez.
Dianna stood to her full height, breathless from battle the Hearts by herself. "I am Queen Dianna Forelore of the Crisps. When I die I will go to the hallways of Marvels, where I shall spend the rest of eternity feasting and dancing with my warrior brethren. Do your worst."
The Heart Commander looked down at her, his shining mask seeming to be considering something – before one of the gauntlets rose, the fingers open, the palm flat. "So be it." The robotic voice announced as the Flare erupted from his hand.
* * *
As the ash of the woman fell to the ground, The Heart Commander looked over the ruins, his mask making his face or thoughts unreadable.
One of his men ran forward, saluting formally. "Commander Dincht, Sir! The energy readings confirm that the Sorceress did access and pass through the Tidus into the Immortal world! They've escaped, sir!"
Commander Dincht turned to the man. Although the man was about an inch taller then him, The Heart Commander seemed to look down at him, as if he was inferior. "They haven't escaped yet, soldier. They've simply hidden themselves for now." He looked over at the crumbled Arch, before pointing at it. "Take the Tidus and load it onto the truck. The Queen will wish to examine it."
The man saluted efficiently, before gathering several of his comrades and moving to pick up the heavy stones.
* * *
Zell opened his eyes, squinting in the light, blinding as it was, before closing them again. Damn, but that was one intense dream… He thought to himself.
"Ah, you're finally awake." A woman's voice said quietly. It was light, the tones tinkling out and into Zell's ear like honey pouring into a honey pot. "How are you feeling?"
"Like a million gil…" Zell murmured, wanting to roll over but finding he couldn't. "Why…why can't I move?"
"We've had to replace a lot of your epidermis, as well as reconstruct your muscle structure almost from beginning. It is best that you don't move, in case any of the new muscles tear."
"New muscles…?" Zell questioned, trying to open his eyes but finding he was unable to once more. "Why can't I see?"
"We've had to give you new eyes too. You're last ones were burnt almost straight through…you were lucky to be seeing out of them at all when you can through the Tidus. But don't you worry, we'll make sure you're completely recovered in no time."
Zell smiled then. "Oh, I get it. I'm still dreaming. I suppose this is the part where you tell me that Squall will be alright too?"
"Oh my yes. His stomach and most of his internal organs were almost completely eviscerated – but we'll be expecting a full recovery in about a day after you're out and about. Once again, we were amazed that he was still alive – it would have taken a miracle to survive such an injury."
"Yeah, he's a hard bastard, that Squall. Did you know that he survived a Flare blast point blank by one of the most powerful Sorceresses around?"
"I know now."
"Yeah, Squall's cool…hey, I'm kinda tired now. I suppose if I'm dreaming…feeling tired would mean…I'd be waking up…?"
"I've just increased your dose of anaesthetics. You need your rest, Mr. Dincht."
"Mr. Dincht…I like that…kinda…What's your…name?"
"My name is Aries, Mr. Dincht. Welcome to the Immortal World."
But Zell was out like a light.
* * *
Whoo!! Tantalising!I would have liked to put all that into a single chapter – but since Tournament Revisited was getting pretty big in itself, I decided to let you read this one separately.
How do you like Knocking On Heaven's Door? It came to me just as I was writing the descriptions of the move. Now it has a name. Although, unfortunately, it had the same side effects as My Final Heaven – if Zell uses it, it has dire consequences. He can still use the watered down version, as you've seen numerous times – but now it's an official Limit Break.
Well, Semper Fi, peeps – and keep reading/reviewing!!
PS – if anybody didn't like me reducing the team to a pile of mush in the last battles, they can suck eggs. The SeeDs are facing off against super-powerful forces. Don't like it? Then tough. Oh, and if you find any spelling mistakes or grammar errors in this or the previous chapter, please don't point it out. I've been writing for a good eight hours straight, and I don't wanna go through proof-reading right now.
