muwahahahahahahahahah! i'm back, did you miss me? well regradless, sorry it took so long to update again. now, onto the review replies!
Shadow Beastl- welcome! thanks for the compliment. i'm glad you think this is one of the better FF10 AU's out there.
Sephirothxx- yes, convincing wakka and tidus that rikku and i were having sex was... easy? especially when matt leant me a hand. and as for the yellow cloud... you'll have to read to find out. muwahahahahahahah!
Sejast Fanel- yes, i know you hate me. most people who know me do for some reason. and i'm glad i have addicting plot lines. and i didn't know that you still had all SoC and my LoD one. what's the other one you were talking about, my LoD one with Soa in it?
labrat-seph- sorry, strike one, care to guess again? i don't have anything to do with the yellow cloud. and yeah, we all love good old Cid cursing at every one. yes, wakka and tidus are thick enough to fall for such a trick. that's why it was them that fell for it. as for the guado destorying home thing, i understand your point. i just don't like'em, that's all. or at least, i don't like those ones that were at the attack on home. and as for seymour, yeah, he had a messed up child hood. and he's a halfbreed, but still, wouldn't that be a reason to be MORE accepting of people? maybe that's just me, and your are entitled to your opinion. as for the proofreading... "THANK YOU!" i would like that. leave your e-mail when you review this chapter.
Da KeR MysTeRr- man, that sux. Sephirothxx was having problems reviewing too. but i don't understand why the server would be overloaded... maybe i have lots of fans that just aren't reviewing? that'd sux, so if i do, please review. anyway, yes, everyone has like the part with ryan and rikku and matt's trick on wakka and tidus. in the words of labrat-seph: how thick do you have to be to fall for that old trick? and i'm glad you're still reading it, and so excited.
and now, on to the chapter!
Chapter 12:They have Wings!
Tidus couldn't believe that it was over. He'd been so close to saving Yuna. And then he got knocked of a flying ship by a stupid dragon. 'This is so stupid! I can't die here!' He thought as he raced towards the ground.
"Tidus!" Ryan yelled. The blitzer looked over at him dully. "Up there!" Ryan informed him, pointing up towards the airship. Tidus looked up and saw lights coming towards them.
'No. Those are… pyreflies!' He realized as the first one touched him. 'What are pyreflies doing here?' More and more continued to come until a ball of the things surrounded the two boys. "Ryan, what is going on?"
"I have no idea." Ryan admitted. There was a bright flash, so bright that it hurt the boys' eyes even after they'd squeezed them shut as tightly as they could.
"So you two are her guardians." A man called out as the light faded. "Well, you certainly don't appear to be much from where I'm standing. But then again, appearances can be deceiving I suppose. And you have protected her no matter what the danger."
"You look familiar…" Ryan stated uncertainly.
"Yeah!" Tidus agreed. The man smiled, his long robes shuffling gently in the slight breeze.
"Do I? I'm sorry, I forgot that neither of you are from Spira." The man said.
"Now I remember!" Tidus shouted. "You were with Auron and my Dad! Your Yuna's dad!"
The man nodded. "I am High Summoner Braska, one of the few who has defeated Sin."
"So what does a dead High Summoner want with the two of us?" Ryan questioned. Braska chuckled.
"The next part of Yuna's road will be the most dangerous yet. By killing Seymour, and being branded a traitor of Yevon, she will find little welcome anywhere in Spira." Braska said gravely. "She will need all the help she can get. The two of you can't die now."
"Well, we don't have much of a choice." Ryan pointed out. "But if we can't die now, that must be why you're here."
"It is. I cannot sit by ideally and watch my own daughter die. So I will give you my wings." Braska told them quietly.
"Your wings? You've got wings?" Ryan asked in surprise. Braska chuckled and shook his head.
"You'll understand soon enough. Just remember always that they are not the Fayth's dream alone. They are the dream of anyone who wish for their help, and truly wish to defeat Sin." Braska said as the light began to brighten again. "Remember, they will always be there when you need them…"
And then they were falling again. "Shit!" Ryan cried out when the pyreflies disappeared. Panic began to rise inside him, and he struggled to force it back down.
"What he meant by 'I will give you my wings' is something we need to know now!" Tidus yelled out.
"I know!" Ryan cried out. He started going over the conversation in his head. 'Braska had said that they weren't the dream of the Fayth alone, and that they're the dream of anyone who wishes to defeat Sin, or wishes for their help. What was he talking about?' Ryan wondered. 'Sin, the Fayth, and dreams. Wait!'
"Hurry up!" Tidus shouted.
"The Aeons are given to the Summoners by Fayth so they can defeat Sin, right?" Ryan yelled back. Tidus nodded. "That's what he was talking about! He gave one of us an Aeon!" Tidus stared at him like he'd just grown three more legs and another nose, but Ryan didn't care. 'They'll be there for anyone who needs help. Well, I think that qualifies as us right now.' Ryan thought. He closed his eyes and pictured the only Aeon that he could think of with wings. 'Please, help us.' He thought, concentrating on the image of Yuna's first Aeon.
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Even Auron was quickly being worn down by the guardian's powerful attacks. After disposing o f Tidus and Ryan, Evrae had decided that the group was dangerous. Once it had decided that it decided to use the same attack it had used on Suzaku. Repeatedly. The entire deck of the airship was covered in black scorches from where the balls of energy had touched it. And the remaining guardians weren't in much better shape then the deck was.
'This isn't working.' Auron thought, frantically trying to find a weakness in the monster's fighting style. It was fast, agile, armored, and resistant to Magic. And it had survived more missile attacks then Auron thought possible for anything short of Sin.
"We're not gonna make it, are we?" And questioned quietly.
"Perhaps." Auron admitted. "It certainly wouldn't seem like we will."
"Well, at least you're--" Andy stopped in mid-sentence. "Auron. What the hell is that?" He asked, pointing to a spot nearly hidden behind Evrae. A glyph was forming in the air, slowly growing brighter and larger.
There was a loud shattering sound as a blur shot through the glyph, flying down beneath the ship before anyone aside from Andy and Auron could see it. "What was that?" Rikku cried out in surprised.
Auron smirked and Andy grinned widely. "Hope." They said in unison, drawing confused glance from their allies.
"Hope?" Wakka repeated.
"Yeah. We may not be dead after all." Andy told him.
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Ryan and Tidus heard the shattering of something, even from so far below the airship. Ryan opened his eyes in time to see a silver blur flying towards them. "What is that!" Tidus yelled to Ryan. Ryan was about to say something when a familiar calming presence washed over him, the same feeling he'd gotten every time he'd seen Valefor.
"That's our ride." He yelled back as the thing flew down in between them. Suddenly they landed on a large, muscular chest, and turned around to see an Aeon that looked like Valefor, bud was black in the center and slowly faded to silver. "Well, I guess it's time we made our last minute rescue, eh?" Ryan asked as the Aeon began to fly up towards the airship.
"Yeah." Tidus agreed eagerly.
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"Hey, what happened to that hope you guys were talking about bruddas?" Wakka demanded. He was exhausted from battling the dragon that refused to fall.
"Good question." Andy admitted as Evrae came in for another attack. "Damn you. Why don't you die?"
Evrae roared its reply, twisting so that it was ready to use the same attack that had knocked Ryan and Tidus off the airship earlier. As it was about to hit the group there was a gunshot and Evrae's head jerked, then it jerked again when there was another gunshot. It tried to retreat but the blur returned, slamming into and driving it higher into the air.
"What the hell is that?" Matt questioned, not sure whether to be worried or relieved by the appearance of the blur. Evrae screeched in pain as the blur raked it with its claws, drawing blood from Evrae for the first time in the battle.
"An Aeon?" Auron wondered in a surprised voice. Everyone looked at him but he didn't explain.
888
Ryan and Tidus were desperately trying to not be thrown off of the Aeon's back as it circled around Evrae to attack again. "Maybe we should get onto the airship?" Tidus suggested, starting to lose his grip.
Suddenly the Aeon flew over to the airship, still facing Evrae. "I think it heard you." Said as the two let go of the Aeon and dropped to the deck of the airship.
"You're alive!" Lulu said in a surprised voice.
"Did you expect anything else?" Ryan asked sarcastically. "It's the whole hero thing. Last minute rescues and stuff like that. I'm sure you understand." He added, earning a chuckle from everyone in the group. "Okay! Energy Ray, Kaze!" Ryan yelled to the Aeon.
"Kaze?" Auron repeated in an odd tone. "That's its name?"
Ryan shrugged. "Dunno, but it seems fitting for a flying Aeon. It does mean 'wind' after all." Ryan informed them. Another cry from Bevelle's guardian drew the group's attention back to Evrae who was falling towards the ground and disappearing into pyreflies.
"Finally!" Wakka said thankfully as Kaze started to disappear in pyreflies.
"Thanks." Ryan whispered quietly as he watched it go. Suddenly he was tackled from behind, both him and his assailant falling to the deck from the attack. He looked over and noticed a familiar glove pushing his attacker up off the deck. "Nice to… see you too Rikku." He said as he turned around and saw the grinning Al Bhed girl.
Before Tidus could make any snide comments Cid's voice came over the intercom. "We're losing power. Get backing here!" He ordered the group.
"Tough luck you two." Tidus said with a grin as he passed, causing both of them to blush before getting up and joining their friends.
"Ryan, come here." Auron requested before Ryan could enter the bridge.
"What's up?"
"That Aeon you and Tidus were riding. That was Braska's." Auron informed him. "How did you get it?"
"From Braska." Ryan said simply. "Did you see the yellow cloud in the sky?" Auron shook his head. "Well it was a cloud from the Farplane. And the pyreflies it was letting out, those were Braska. He said that Yuna was going to need all the help she could get, and that we couldn't die now."
"I see."
"Yep." Ryan finished before going into the bridge. "So what's up?"
"We're almost to Bevelle!" Tidus informed him.
"And blonde won't calm down." Matt muttered. "He's gonna get hurt soon."
"Well that's not good." Ryan said as he watched Tidus who was constantly pacing around the bridge.
"Alright we're pretty much there. Get yourselves to the cargo bay." Cid informed them. "We'll get you there, the rest is up to you."
"Right pops!" Rikku said happily, leading the way through the airship. When they reached the cargo bay they could hear the sound of gunshots coming from outside the airship. "They're using guns!"
"Oh yeah. That's great." Andy complained. "So how are we getting down to Bevelle anyway?"
"On those!" Rikku was pointing towards two harpoons with long, thick cables attached to them. "Dad's gonna shoot them into the bridge, and then we've got to slide down them."
"Oh boy." Matt muttered, sharing an uncertain glance with Ryan and Andy.
"Something wrong?" Lulu questioned.
"No, just never done anything like this before. We don't have as good balance as the rest of you." Ryan explained, Matt and Andy nodding in agreement.
"Don't look down." Auron said quietly as the hanger bays opened up. The harpoons fired out and struck the bridge. Everyone jumped onto the cables except Matt, Andy, and Ryan.
"This is gonna be hell." Ryan stated before jumping onto the cables uncertainly. He was more then a little surprised at how quickly he picked up speed on the cables. And something he found even more surprising was that despite his lack of balance compared to the rest of Yuna's guardians, he didn't have much trouble staying on the cables. Nor did Matt or Andy who were yelling for him to speed up. He grinned and leaned forward, being careful to keep his balance. Up ahead his friends had just reached the bridge and were battling some guards and machina. 'What are Machina doing at the city that's the heart of Yevon?' he wondered as he jumped off the cable and drew his sword.
"What kept you?" Auron grunted to them as he blocked a kick from one Machina before countering with an overhand swing that cut it in half.
"Sorry, took a wrong turn." Andy said as jumped into the fray. The first guy he met with fell to the ground gripping his bloodied hand and screaming in pain, while the guy behind him ran off with flames covering his uniform.
"Jeez, overkill Andy." Ryan muttered as he flipped his blade around and charged a group of soldiers who were leveling their guns at the guardians. There were mummers of confusion when he disappeared, but they were quickly silenced when Ryan appeared behind the group, his sword knocking people out with each swing.
'Who are these people?' Kinoc wondered as he watched in horror as his security force was slowly being beaten back. Growling he grabbed a gun from a nearby soldier and fired it at Tidus, nearly hitting the blitzer. "This has gone far enough." He growled as guards surrounded the guardians.
"Stop, Tidus!" Auron ordered the blitzer who looked like he was going to charge Kinoc.
Behind Kinoc Yuna pulled out her rod, and stepped away from Seymour. "You would play at marriage just for a chance to send me? Your resolved is admirable. All the more fitting to be my lovely wife." Seymour told her.
Yuna was about to begin her sending when Mika spoke up. "Stop! Do you not value your friends' lives? Your actions determine their fate. Protect them… or throw them away. The choice is yours." The ancient man informed Yuna.
"That's low." Ryan muttered as Yuna dropped her rod.
"You are wise." Seymour commented as he leaned in. Everyone in the group felt a wave of disgust roll over them as he kissed their friend, whose fist was clenched to keep her from backing away. "Kill them." Seymour ordered when their kiss ended.
"I am sorry," Kinoc said as he raised his gun towards Auron, "but it is for Yevon."
"Aren't those weapons forbidden by Yevon?" Auron asked, apparently noticing Yuna who was quietly backing up towards the edge of the podium.
"There are exceptions." Kinoc replied calmly, a grim smile creeping onto his face.
"No!" Yuna yelled, having finally reached the edge. "Throw down your weapons! Let them go, or else…" She left the rest up to the imagination of the people present.
"Lower your weapons!" Seymour ordered the soldiers and Kinoc.
"Leave now, please!" Yuna begged Tidus who was walking towards her.
"You're coming with us!" Tidus stated firmly.
"Don't worry! Go!" Yuna told him.
"This is foolish. If you fall you'll die." Seymour pointed out calmly.
"Don't worry. I can fly. Believe." Yuna told Tidus and his eyes grew wide when he realized what she was going to do. With that she jumped off the edge of the bridge.
"Yuna!" Tidus yelled over the gasps of surprise. Suddenly Valefor flew down, catching Yuna the way Kaze had caught Tidus and Ryan earlier. Realizing that he was in the middle of the enemy Tidus turned and sprinted back to his friends.
"Cover your eyes!" Rikku yelled, putting her goggles on. The group did just as she threw something at the ground right in front of Seymour. There was a bright light, even though the group had shut their eyes as tight as possible.
"Wh- what was that?" Wakka stammered.
"An Al Bhed flash bomb!" Rikku informed them as everyone but Tidus turned to run. Realizing what Tidus was planning on doing, Kimahri and Andy grabbed Tidus and dragged him off despite his protests.
"Lemme go! I'm gonna kill that Seymour!"
"Yuna said leave. We leave." Kimahri said flatly.
"Besides, we already killed him once and that took all of us. You really think you could kill him alone?" Andy added. The comment hit home and Tidus stopped protesting.
"We'll join up with her later!" Lulu informed Tidus.
"Break through!" Auron yelled, readying himself for a fight.
"With pleasure." Matt said as a couple of lightning bolts struck the group of guards, scattering them and consuming them in a cloud of dust.
"About time." Ryan muttered as he took off into the dust. There were a few screams, three gunshots, and the sound of steel on steel a few times.
"Is he okay?" Tidus wondered aloud. "Guess so." He said when the smoke settled to reveal Ryan with only a cut on his arm.
"What kept you?" He asked Auron teasingly. Auron just grinned as the group ran onto a quieter part of the bridge, away from the stupid guards who they'd lost too easily.
"Where'd Yunie go?" Rikku wondered
"Bevelle palace is temple. Yuna go to only one place." Kimahri told the Al Bhed.
"The Chamber of the Fayth!" Tidus said.
"That would make sense. But if we've figured it out, you can bet that Seymour has too." Ryan added.
"Then we'll just have to get there first, won't we?" Tidus said as he and Kimahri headed towards the temple. Ryan grinned, glanced over at Matt who was also grinning, and then at Andy who was grinning as well.
"This should be fun." Ryan said as he started after Auron and Lulu.
"So," Lulu started, drawing both men's attention, "exactly how closer are you and Rikku, Ryan?"
Ryan thought about the question for a little. "You know, I'm not exactly sure." He admitted. "Why?"
"Just wondering." Lulu replied with a small smile.
"Yeah, sure. And I'm a Maester of Yevon." Ryan replied, drawing a chuckle from both of his friends. As they rounded a corner they saw their friends, who were starring at them in confusion since Auron never laughed. "What?" Ryan asked in an innocent voice.
"What kept you?" Andy asked.
"We took a wrong turn." Auron replied, drawing a laugh from the entire group as they entered the temple.
"It's too quiet." Lulu noted. "A trap?"
"Who cares? Yuna's waiting for us!" Tidus stated as he started towards the entrance to the cloister. Only it didn't open.
"Huh?" Rikku said, walking over to something next to the door. Her hands moved for a few seconds and then the door to the cloister opened.
"What's a machina doing in a temple?" Wakka demanded.
"I suppose it come in handy." Rikku replied.
"That's not what I meant! The teachings, what about the teachings!" Wakka demanded.
"Hey, don't look at me." Rikku said innocently.
"I guess Yevon's not as pure as you though, is it Wakka." Ryan questioned aloud. Wakka didn't reply as they entered the cloister. The platform didn't take them right into the cloisters though. Instead, Rikku had to activate another panel. "Another Machina? Man…" Wakka said in disbelief.
"So this is Yevon's true face. They betray their own teachings." Auron muttered in an amused tone.
"They treated us like dirt too!" Wakka added.
"Well aren't they typical bureaucrats." Ryan complained. "They say one thing, but do the exact opposite." He explained as they walked onto another platform that lead to the entrance to the actual cloister.
"The entrance to the Trials." Lulu pointed out.
"I wonder if Yunie's really in there." Rikku questioned.
"Let's go an see!" Wakka said, forgetting about Yevon's betrayal for the moment.
"Yeah. We certainly aren't going to find out if she is by staying out here, now are we?" Ryan asked as he walked into the cloister.
Unlike the others, this cloister was insanely large. And it was a maze, making it annoying. The group spent more time riding platforms made from pedestals then fighting fiends. After having found another sphere, and a new spear for Kimahri the group entered the room they always waited for Yuna in.
"Yuna?" Tidus called out when they were in the prayer room.
"Inside maybe?" Wakka questioned.
"Then what are we standing here for?" Tidus demanded as he ran to the door and tried to open it. It didn't budge.
"H-Hey!" Wakka stammered.
"You can stuff your taboos." Tidus replied as he tried again. This time Kimahri and Matt gave him a hand, and between the three of them they were able to open the door to the Chamber of the Fayth. Immediately Tidus sprinted into the chamber, stopping when he saw Yuna kneeling in front of some floating kid. "Wh-what is that?"
"A Fayth," Auron told him. "They join with the Summoner, and together receive the Aeon. They are human souls, imprisoned in stone by ancient Yevon rituals. The dead should be allowed to rest."
"Ain't that the truth," Ryan agreed as the Fayth floated into Yuna. There was a flash and then Yuna collapsed.
"Yuna!" Tidus yelled, running over and picking her up. He turned and quickly headed for the door.
"Wait! Don't come out!" Rikku yelled suddenly, but Tidus was moving too quickly, and Auron wasn't going to stop when Yuna was in danger. Ryan was between the two, and had little choice but to keep moving.
"There's the last of them." Kinoc said when they came out to find their friends surrounded by the guards they'd managed to ditch earlier, each one with a gun leveled at the helpless group. "You are to stand trial."
"I expect it will be a fair trial?" Auron asked.
"Oh, of course it will." Kinoc replied with a grin. "Take them to the detainment area." He ordered with a wave of his hand. The guards didn't bother to take their weapons, apparently confident that their numbers would assure them a victory if the group decided to rebel against the orders.
"Well this is wonderful." Matt said dryly as they were led into a room with three hanging cages. The group was split up into three groups and shoved into the cages. "So, Andy idea what we should do now?"
"Wait for our trial?" Ryan asked nobody in particular. "I mean, unless you're an amazing lock pick then we don't have much of a choice."
"What do you think they'll do to us?" Rikku wondered aloud, voicing the question on everyone's mind.
"Who knows? We did kill a Maester. And we broke up his wedding. And beat up and humiliated the royal guard of Bevelle. And killed the sacred guardian beast of Bevelle. I suppose they're pissed by now," Ryan said helplessly.
"That last part did annoy us a great deal, young guardian," Kinoc stated as he walked into the room, signaling for them to be released. "Take them to the Judgment Hall."
"Yes sir!" one of the guards said, saluting the Maester who was already gone. "This way," he said as he led the way down a different hallway, one that seemed to stretch on forever.
"I see a light at the end of the annoying long, dark tunnel." Andy muttered as a door opened in front of them.
"Stay away from the light." Ryan said with a sigh as the group walked into the room where the Maesters were waiting. Seymour was there, and so was Kinoc. Mika was on the highest pedestal thing, and a Ronso filled the other.
"The high court of Yevon is now in session," The Ronso stated. "The sacred offices of this court seek nothing but absolute truth, in Yevon's name. To those on trial: believe in Yevon and speak only the truth."
"Maester Kelk Ronso." Lulu informed the four that weren't from Spira.
Kelk Ronso turned to face Yuna more directly. "Summoner Yuna. You have sworn to protect the people of Yevon, true?"
"Yes," Yuna said automatically.
"Then consider: you have inflicted dire injury upon Maester Seymour Guado… conspired with the Al Bhed and joined in their insurrection," Maester Kelk Ronso informed them. "These are traitorous and unforgivable crimes that disturb the order of Yevon. Tell this court what possessed you to participate in such violence."
"Maester Kelk Ronso, Seymour's the real traitor!" Ryan said quietly, drawing in the Ronso's attention instantly.
"A bold claim for one so small. What proof do you have," Kelk Ronso wondered.
"First off he killed is father, the late Lord Jyscal, with his own hands." Ryan said calmly, throwing on a disarming smile as Kelk Ronso spun on Seymour.
"What is this?"
"Hmm? Hadn't you heard?" Seymour replied in a tone as calm as Ryan's.
"Not only that. Seymour's dead too," Andy stated, a grin starting to form on his face.
"And it is a Summoner's sacred duty to send the souls of the departed to the Farplane," Lulu added. "Yuna is only doing her job as a Summoner!"
"Grand Maester Mika… please send Seymour now!" Yuna pleaded with the ancient man.
"Send the unsent to where they belong?" Mika asked with mock innocence.
Ryan and Matt nearly fell over as the Grand Maester started to chuckle. "No way," They whispered in unison.
"What?" Tidus questioned. "What's wrong?"
"Send the dead… hmmm?" Mika continued as pyreflies started to leak out of his body.
"That's what's wrong." Ryan growled back to Tidus.
"You would have to send me too," Mika informed the group.
"What?" Wakka cried out in disbelief.
"Grand Maester Mika is a wise leader. Even in death, he is invaluable to Spira," Kelk Ronso explained.
"Enlightened rule by the dead is preferable to the misguided failures of the living," Kinoc added.
"Life is but a passing dream, but the death the follows is eternal," Seymour pointed out.
"Men die. Beast die. Trees die. Even continents perish. Only the power of death truly commands in Spira," Mika said in an amused voice. "Resisting its power is fut--"
"Grand Maester?" Kinoc asked, turning to see why the Maester had stopped.
Mika shook himself out of his surprise. 'I must be seeing things.' He thought before glancing back at the group.
"Grand Maester? Is something the matter?" Maester Kelk Ronso asked in a more forceful tone.
"Yes, sorry. I lost my train of thought for a moment." Mika liked. He looked at Ryan again and still the outline of wings was faintly glowing behind him. 'A concern for another time,' He decided. "As I was saying. Resisting its power is futile."
"But what for Sin? I am a Summoner, my lord, like my father before me!" Yuna yelled. "I am on a pilgrimage to stop the death that Sin brings. Are you… are you telling me that, too, is futile? Grand Maester Mika, I am not alone! All the people who have opposed Sin… their battles, their sacrifices, were they too in vain?"
"Not in vain," Mika informed her. "No matter how many Summoners give their lives, Sin cannot be truly defeated. The rebirth cannot be stopped. Yet the courage of those who fight gives the people hope. There is nothing futile in the life and death of a Summoner."
"Never futile…" Auron agreed, "but never ending."
"Indeed, that is the essence of Yevon." Mika stated.
"Lord Mika!" Yuna yelled.
"Yevon is embodied by eternal, unchanging continuity Summoner." The Grand Maester replied.
"No… that can't be right." Yuna said in a defeated tone.
"That's because it isn't right." Ryan stated firmly.
"Yeah, no matter what there is always some way to kill your enemy!" Matt added.
"And Sin's just another enemy." Ryan finished. "Perhaps it's not Sin that prevents the Summoners from killing it, but Yevon itself?"
"What are you saying?" Mika demanded.
"The final Aeon kills only the Summoners. It doesn't kill Sin." Ryan pointed out. "Is the final Aeon not part of Yevon's tradition? Has anyone bothered to try and kill Sin on their own, without the final Aeon?"
"You were at operation Mi'Ihen!" Kinoc roared. "You saw what Sin did there!"
"Yeah, it ran away." Matt replied. "And it hasn't shown up since then, has it?"
"Enough!" Mika yelled, his face beet red with anger. "All of you are traitors to Yevon! I hereby sentence you to the Via Purifico!"
A group of soldiers came in and split the group up. Rikku, Tidus, Wakka, and Ryan were taken down one hallway while the rest of the group was taken down another.
"Wonder what the Via Purifico is." Tidus wondered aloud as they reached a hole in the floor.
"Some kind of road." Ryan told them. His three friends looked at him oddly. "Sorry, Via is the word for road in a language from my world. I'm pretty sure Purifico is too, but I never came across it in my short study of the language."
"Enough talking, traitors. Get in there." One of the guards ordered, motioning towards the hole with his riffle. Then he pointed to Tidus. "You first."
"What's down there?" Tidus demanded.
"Water." One of the guards said with a smirk. Then he proceeded to shove Tidus into the hole with the butt of his gun. "You next." He said, pointing to Rikku. Before he had the chance to shove her in she jumped, landing in the water next to Tidus.
"I'm next, right?" Ryan said, walking over to the edge of the hole. "Clear a spot!" He yelled down before jumping in, making a much larger splash then Rikku had. Wakka quickly followed him, making the biggest splash of all. "So now what? We get over-hydrated, swell up like a balloon and pop or something?"
"I think they expected us to give up and die down here." Wakka said.
"That's a lame way to kill someone." Tidus complained.
"Where do you think they took Yunie and the others?" Rikku asked.
"Dunno. But they'll probably be waiting for us at the exit. We shouldn't keep them waiting too long." Ryan said as he started to swim forwards slowly.
"Yeah, I agree." Tidus said as the others quickly caught up to him. The friends swam, and swam, and swam. "So how long is this thing anyway?"
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"How fares the Ronso Maester?" Mika questioned Seymour in the courtroom.
"It seems my father's murder troubles him." Seymour replied.
"Ever the Ronso." Mika replied with a sigh. "Hard-headed, and hardly useful."
"However… the Summoner Yuna, daughter to High Summoner Braska… she may be of some use to us alive."
"She has disturbed the order of Yevon. She cannot be allowed to live. Surely you understand this Maester Seymour." Mika replied calmly.
"Of course. And speaking of disturbing… what disturbed you so at the audience with the traitors?" Seymour questioned.
"The boy in black. He has wings." Mika replied slowly.
"Wings, Grand Maester?" Seymour replied doubtfully. "I didn't see them."
"Nor did I, Grand Maester." Kinoc added. "But even so, why would that unnerve you so?"
"They were… his wings." Mika whispered. "The Wings of Death."
Kinoc laughed and Seymour regarded the Grand Maester oddly. "The Wings of Death? As in the wings of Lusniec, the gods' killer and protector? That is only a child's tale."
"No Maester Kinoc. Lusniec is very real." Mika replied, ending the fat Maester's laughter. "That boy… he may very well escape."
"Then perhaps Lady Yuna will escape as well." Seymour said quietly. Both his fellow Maesters turned on him and looked at him oddly. "If Lusniec is real, then would that mean that all of the gods are?"
"Indeed, they all are as real as you and I." Mika agreed.
"Then the tall boy with black hair, and the tall boy that was unarmed. They are the gods of thunder and fire." Seymour summarized.
"What makes you think that?" Kinoc questioned.
"They were able to defeat Anima. At the time I thought they were just talented, but now I know better. They must have received the power of the gods themselves." Seymour informed them. "Had I known that, I would have destroyed them earlier, before they had a chance to develop their powers further."
"Have guards placed at the exit. Kill any who emerge from the Via Purifico." Mika ordered.
"Sir," Seymour said, "Leave that to me."
"First your father, now your bride?" Kinoc asked in mock surprise.
"Allow me to do this because she is my bride." Seymour replied evenly. He turned and started to leave.
"Wait! I will go too," Kinoc announced, running to catch up with Seymour.
"You do not trust me?" Seymour questioned.
"Would you trust a man who murdered his father?" Kinoc asked simply.
"Very well. As you wish." Seymour said smugly. 'You will be long dead before they ever reach the exit.'
"Lady Yuna, forgive me." Kinoc pleaded silently as he walked unknowingly to his death.
888
"Do any of you hear that?" Ryan questioned as they entered a large, rounded room with a high ceiling.
"Hear what?" Rikku asked.
"There's waves in here. I heard them before we got here too." Ryan added before Rikku could say anything. "And we're not swimming fast enough to make waves that are the big."
"So there's something here?" Wakka asked, glancing around quickly. "I don't see nothing."
"Below!" Tidus yelled, swimming backwards to avoid a giant snake looking thing with claws that was charging up at him.
"Evrae?" Rikku cried out in disbelief. "Again? Didn't we kill that thing?"
"We killed Seymour too." Ryan pointed out as he drew Wind Cutter. Swimming forward as fast as he could, but still slower then his three companions, he cut Evrae's now blue-green skin. The creature shrieked in pain and swam away quickly. Wakka was ready for the retreat. His blitzball soared through the water and hit the guardian beast, but did nearly no damage.
"What?" Wakka cried out in disbelief. "Why are they always strong against my attacks?"
"Because you use a blitzball?" Ryan asked as he charged Evrae again. This time the beast was ready for his charged. It swiped at him with its tail, missing deliberately so that Ryan's blade didn't bite into its flesh. The wave that the thing's tail created slammed Ryan all the way back into the far wall. 'Damn. Its not gonna let me get close enough to attack it again.' Ryan thought as he looked around for Evrae.
"Underwater!" Rikku yelled, pointing below them. She popped a blitzing pill into her mouth and dove down to continue the fight. Tidus and Wakka followed suit, Wakka diving only after he'd thrown a pill to Ryan.
Underwater Evrae held a great advantage. It was fast, and could turn quickly while on the move. Wakka's blitzball didn't really do any damage, and neither did Rikku's glove-blade thing. Tidus did about as much as he normally did, and Ryan couldn't get close enough to hit Evrae.
"Energy Rain!" Tidus yelled. His sword blade glowed for a few seconds as he held it over his head. When he swung it at Evrae it launched a bunch of little balls of energy, almost like the attack Evrae had used on the group last time they'd fought. With nowhere to run because of the number of balls, Evrae was peppered, each impact searing its skin.
"When did you learn that?" Ryan questioned as he watched Evrae wither in pain.
"I've known how to do it for awhile now. Just never found a good opportunity to test it out. Until now that is." He added as a side note.
"Oh. Ok." Ryan said simply as Evrae turned on the group. It returned Tidus' attack with his own energy ball attack. Ryan felt like someone was poking him with a branding iron every time one of the yellow balls hit him.
'Damn!' He thought bitterly as he started casting Curaga on the group, barely noticing the more effective healing power of the spell. First he cast it on himself, then Rikku and Tidus. When he went to cast it on Wakka, Evrae swam between the two, taking the full blast of the powerful healing spell. 'Shit!'
Relief flooded through him when Evrae howled in pain. "It must be a zombie!" Rikku yelled. Wakka nodded, grabbing a healing potion and pouring it on his blitzball. He threw it at Evrae, who cried out in pain when the attack connected.
"Yep," Wakka confirmed. "It's a zombie."
'That's why Wind Cutter hurt it.' Ryan thought with a grin. 'Because it's a holy blade forged by the gods themselves.
:Would you stop messing around and finish this: Lusniec asked bitterly, the water being replaced by the familiar blackness that always accompanied him. Sure enough, several seconds later the angel appeared, looking extremely annoyed.
"Yes… finish a fight where I just now learned how to attack." Ryan muttered sarcastically, rolling his eyes. "Any suggestions?"
"Yeah, the fucking Wind Cutter you dumbass." Lusniec snarled in reply.
Ryan took a step back. "Whoa, chill out. What's your problem?"
"My problem? My problem is that while you four are wasting time in this pool Yuna is fighting for her life against Issaru, who was chosen to execute the rest of your group." Lusniec was yelling by this point. Ryan narrowed his eyes and Lusniec smirked at him as his eyes changed from their normal blue color to silver. "What's the matter, truth hurt or something?"
"Fuck you!" Ryan replied simply. "I don't see your ass down here teaching me anything."
"I can teach you nothing but how to kill, kid." Lusniec told him bluntly. "And if I do teach you that, you'll become a mass murderer." Ryan's eyes widened in horror at the statement. "Yes, you've begun to understand that, haven't you? You lie to yourself by telling yourself that you don't like killing, but it's just a lie. You're starting to enjoy it, the spray of blood washing over you." Lusniec was walking closer to Ryan now, covering the ground surprisingly quickly. "If that's what you want then yes, I can teach you. You know you want me to. I can see it in your eyes."
Ryan was shaking now, the words sounding horrifyingly true to him. "Shut up." He whispered, stepping back, looking a lot like a deer caught in the headlights.
"Still lying to yourself? Fine, have it your way." Lusniec said with a sigh. "But you know that what I've said is the truth. You can't deny it."
"What are you?" Ryan demanded. "You talk about killing like it's the right thing to do!"
"It is, for me at least." Lusniec said with a grin. "A sword is a tool. A tool good for nothing but killing. You're beginning to understand it. Every time you draw your sword your heart soars, doesn't it?" Ryan nodded numbly, finding himself unable to deny the truth. "Interesting. We're not all that different then."
"What?" Ryan questioned oddly.
"I said we're not all that different," Lusniec repeated, smiling genuinely. "Okay then. I'll teach you the technique that got Wind Cutter its name. It's called the Wind Cutter."
"Go figure." Ryan muttered.
"Yeah. All you have to do is focus holy energy into the sword until it starts to glow. The next swing will send off a silver blade of energy that can cut through anything other then another holy weapon." Lusniec told him. "Now, go kill this thing. Its ugly mug is starting to annoy me."
"Right." Ryan agreed as the darkness and Lusniec started to fade away.
888
"Is that really all there is to the Wind Cutter, old friend?" Dnortih asked as Lusniec returned to his part of Limbo. "And here we thought you were an amazing swordsman."
"No, you fucking retard." Lusniec growled his reply. "Why the hell would I have such a simple technique?"
"So what he performs won't be a perfect Wind Cutter?" Vena asked, materializing out of thin air on Lusniec's other side.
"We'll see. If he really is worthy of my power, he'll perform it flawlessly. If he isn't, then it'll still be strong enough to finish off that fucked up zombie." Lusniec said bluntly.
"You're in a bad mood lately. Ever since Ryan took over your job you've been really irritable." Vena noted.
"Yeah, what's up with that? You didn't freak out like this when the others took over your job. What's so special about this one?" Dnortih questioned. Lusniec just turned and glared at him coldly for nearly a minute before Dnortih smiled. "Could it be… does he remind you of yourself, before you became the Angel with the Wings of Death?"
"What are you talking about? I've always been the Wings of Death, even when I was a mortal. That's why you guys chose me, remember?" Lusniec questioned.
"Yes, that's true." Dnortih admitted. "However… after we chose you, you changed. For a long time you did what you were told, without question, so I never brought it up before. You lost your path, your reason for both living and fighting, didn't you?" Lusniec growled at Dnortih. "I see, so that's it. You're afraid that he'll make the same mistake you made. You're afraid that he'll become a low-life killer like you did."
"What are you talking about? If I became a killer, it was because of you guys." Lusniec said with a sneer.
"Perhaps, but Ryan's not the kind of guy to leave his friends. He's the kind of guy that tries to carry all the problems of everyone around him on his shoulders. Unless I'm mistaken… that's how you were before you died and started working for us." Dnortih accused. "And you see him walking down the same path you walked down, thousands of years ago. And you're afraid that his power will corrupt him. Just like it did you."
"Me, care about what happens to him? I don't think so." Lusniec said, despite the fact that Dnortih was right. "I'm still a guardian angel, remember? If he dies, your reckless successors will die too. If that happens, Yevon will return with his full power. Even we won't be safe."
"So it's self preservation then?" Vena asked skeptically. "If you say so."
"You don't believe me?" Lusniec questioned.
"Should I? It's pretty obvious that you're trying to protect him Lusniec." Vena stated firmly, drawing a glare from the angel. "Just like you did with him all those years ago."
There was a flash as a sword appeared in Lusniec's hand. Before it was fully physical the blade was at Vena's throat and just as the blade became completely solid Vena burst into flames, the blade passing through him harmlessly.
"Don't ever say that again. Or I'll show you a hell eternal." Lusniec warned, leveling the blade at Vena as he reformed out of the fire, safely out of Lusniec's striking range.
"Still so touchy after so many thousands of years?" Vena asked with a sigh. "Well, if you say so. I'll play along, for now."
Lusniec watched as the two gods disappeared with in a flash of their respective elements. As soon as he was sure they were completely gone he let the sword fade away and sat down.
888
'Focus holy energy into the sword until it glows.' Ryan thought as he found the same reserve of power he used to create the shield Lusniec had shown him how to use. He concentrated on pulling it out of his body and putting it into the sword. After a few seconds he felt the water around him grow warmer. He opened his eyes and found that the fight against the new Evrae had halted for a moment as everyone stared in amazement at his now glowing sword. He grinned as he raised the sword over his head. "Out of the way!" He yelled, his friends complying instantly. "Wind Cutter!" He yelled as he brought his sword down as fast as he could, concentrating completely on the swing. For a second nothing happened. Then the water rippled violently as a silver shockwave looking thing passed through the water, effectively splitting it in two.
"What is that!" Wakka and Tidus yelled in unison as the silver line hit Evrae. There was a second where time seemed to stand still, then Evrae shrieked in agony as the wave continued to pass through it.
Ryan sighed and let himself float in the water, looking much like Wakka after the game against the Goers. 'It worked.' He told himself several times, almost expecting Evrae to pull itself back together and continue fighting. But when he looked up there were pyreflies coming out of its carcass, which was now floating to the surface.
"Ryan, what was that?" Tidus questioned again.
"I think it was the Wind Cutter. But I'm not sure if I did it right. Either way though," Ryan said with a glance at the quickly fading corpse, "it got the job done."
"That's… probably a little bit of an understatement." Tidus admitted to his friends. There was an awkward silence for a few seconds before they burst out laughing from relief. "Okay, okay. Let's go find Yuna!"
"Um… which way did we come in from?" Ryan questioned, having been turned around too many times to keep track of which way they'd been going.
"That way, brudda!" Wakka pointed towards the far wall. "So we go this way, ya?"
"Works for me." Ryan agreed as they took off down the long tunnel. After more then ten relaxing minutes of swimming and no fighting the small group found itself at the exit. "Damn, and here I was expecting this to be the wrong way." Ryan said sarcastically.
"Hey, hey, what's with the insults, ya?" Wakka complained jokingly as they climbed out of the water tunnel and found their friends waiting for them with smiles.
"What kept you?" Matt asked from his position next to the exit.
Ryan just grinned as Rikku ran over and embraced Yuna in a hug. "Sorry, we had a little zombie problem."
"Zombies gave you a problem? Thought you were a cleric, man." Matt said sarcastically.
"Nah, I'm a rouge, remember?" Ryan continued with the sarcastic statement and Matt nodded. "Besides, this was Evrae. Damn thing didn't stay dead for very long."
"Is it dead this time?" Andy asked.
"Yeah, I think it's safe to say that it's dead for good. I did cut it in half after all." Ryan informed them.
The sound of a bunch of feet marching in unison drew a groan from everyone present. "You must be kidding me…" Andy muttered as Seymour and a group of guards came around the corner, two carrying Kinoc's dead body.
"Kinoc!" Auron yelled as they threw the dead Maester's body to the ground.
"Why you!" Tidus yelled, drawing his sword.
"Just stay dead this time, would you?" Ryan questioned, Wind Cutter flashing out of its sheath with a white glow that drew everyone's attention.
"I don't know why you're so upset. I have saved him." Seymour replied calmly. "He was a man who craved power. And great power he had, but he feared losing it. Trembling at unseen enemies, he spent his days scheming petty schemes. Chased by his fears, never knowing rest. You see… now he has no worries. He has been granted sleep eternal. Death is a sweet slumber. All the pain of life is gently swept away… Ah, yes. If all life were to end in Spira, all suffering would end. Don't you see? Do you not agree? That, Yuna, is why I need you. Come, Lady Yuna. Come with me to Zanarkand, the lost City of the Dead. With death on our side we will save Spira, and for this… I will take from you your strength, Yuna, your life, and become the next Sin. I will destroy Spira! I will save it!"
"He's getting a little too into this for my liking." Ryan muttered.
"You're totally nuts!" Tidus yelled. Before anyone could stop him Kimahri jumped forward, stabbing Seymour with his spear.
"Unpleasant… Very well. I will give you your death. You seem to want it so." Seymour said simply as pyreflies from Kinoc and the guards drifted up and into him. Slowly his skin changed to a blue the same color as his robes, he grew about a foot taller, and sprouted wings.
"Tidus! Get Yuna out of here! Kimahri and me will take care of this bastard once and for all." Ryan said as he slowly stepped forwards, Wind Cutter sitting on his shoulder.
"No way! I'm fighting too!" Tidus complained.
"It's called a tactical retreat, now move!" Matt yelled as he grabbed Tidus by the back of his collar and dragged him away from the fight that was about to unfold.
"He's your friend, how can you just leave him there?" Rikku whinned to Matt and Andy.
"This is what he wants." Andy told her flatly. "He's the kind of guy that would die before letting his friends get hurt. And he's almost always got something up his sleeve. And if he doesn't, it's in his pocket."
Yuna stopped running suddenly. "I don't care if Ryan has something up his sleeve, or in his pocket, I won't leave Kimahri and him behind." She said defiantely.
"They are guardians, protecting you is everything!" Auron argued.
"Auron!" Yuna yelled back, but Tidus intervened.
"That's right! We're all guardians! You know what that means?" He asked, turning to face the Summoners. "Yuna… anywhere you go, I'll follow!"
"Anywhere I go?" She asked hopefully.
"Yeah, anywhere!"
"Well then." Yuna said as she turned back the way they'd just come from.
"Let's go!" They both yelled. Like the words were a gun to start a race the two took off down the long stretch of Walkway.
"Kimahri! Leave some for us!" Tidus yelled.
"That's more like it!" Matt yelled as he charged down after his friends, Andy close behind.
"Hey! Wait for me!" Wakka yelled as he started after them.
"Me too!" Rikku added, easily passing Wakka.
"I'll go too." Lulu said in her usual voice, calmly walking after them. Auron grunted, grinned to himself at their determination, and followed the black mage.
888
"Well, are you going to remove your spear, or shall I remove it for you?" Seymour asked as he stared down the shaft of Kimahri's spear. Kimahri growled at the dead Maester and pulled his spear out. "Well then. I suppose I'll be forced to kill you now."
"What are you talking about?" Ryan asked with a raised eyebrow. He stepped forward, watching the Maester carefully for any signs of an attack. "What, no anima this time? Finally learned that one Aeon doesn't make you a Summoner?"
"What would you know of being a Summoner, boy? Not only are you not from this world, but you're a guardian to a Summoner! You know nothing of the sacred arts!"
"Ah, and you would know, because you stalk Yuna, right?" Ryan countered. Seymour sneered at him, but said nothing else. "But you know, I do know a little about the "sacred art" of summoning…" Ryan said as he closed his eyes. He brought his left hand up in front of his chest and lowered his head a little bit before bending his ring finger and pinky into a fist while his middle and pointer fingers stayed straight. For a few seconds nothing happened, but just as Seymour was about to make some comment silver lines of energy started drifting lazily out of the boy's body, and Seymour saw the outline of silver wings, massive, six foot wings, sprout out of his back. "Come to me, Kaze." He whispered as Seymour watched in horror.
"What are you doing?" the Maester demanded. He heard the sound of glass shattering high above him, and a silver and black version of Valefor landed in between him and Yuna's guardians. 'But he never used it before! Why wouldn't he want to something as powerful as an Aeon?' Seymour wondered.
"Ryan summon Valefor. Kimahri not see Ryan pray to Fayth on Besaid." Kimahri told Ryan.
"I didn't. I got it right before we arrived in Bevelle. This is the Aeon that saved me and Tidus after Evrae knocked us off the airship. It was also one of Braska's Aeons."
"What!" Seymour gasped in surprise. "That is an Aeon used by High Summoner Braska?"
"Yeah. He told me and Tidus that we couldn't die yet. That Yuna would need our help in the future." Ryan said while glaring icily at Seymour. "And I'm not one to leave my friends when they need me."
Seymour had regained his composure by this time, and was smirking at the two guardians. "Well then by all means, show me how you plan to protect Lady Yuna. And do so without the help of your beloved Aeon!" he yelled as a wave of magic hit Kaze. Instantly the Aeon burst into pyreflies. Kimahri and Ryan watched in horror as the Aeon slowly faded away. "What's wrong, you don't seem so confident young guardian!" he yelled, lashing out with two fire spells simultaneously. Kimahri and Ryan scattered, barely dodging the flames that burst into life where they'd been a second earlier. "Now die! Die and be freed of your suffering!"
"You talk a lot for a dead guy!" Ryan yelled as he picked up speed, charging right for the Maester. He stopped less then two feet away and swung his sword up in an uppercut like motion. "Hiten Mitsurugi Style Dou Ryu Sen!" He yelled as the ground between the two erupted up and into Seymour, slamming the Maester with hundreds of pieces of concrete.
Suddenly Kimahri was behind Seymour, dodging pieces of rubble and jabbing Seymour every time he got the chance. "Be gone, you annoying Ronso!" Seymour yelled, backhanding Kimahri in the face and sending the Ronso guardian back a dozen years. Slowly he turned to face Ryan, smiling evilly. "It would seem you're the only one left." He said before launching a Blizzara spell at him.
Ryan jumped to the left to dodge, but it didn't matter. With so little space he didn't dodge it in time, and he felt one of the cold icicles fly through his side. He twisted his body as quickly as he could, his instincts taking over. Time seemed to slow down as he fell to the ground, watching as a bolt of lightning heading out of Seymour's hand towards him at a crawling pace. He brought his arms up in front of his face defensively, and shut his eyes. He heard a loud hissing sound, accompanied by his hair standing on end.
And that was it. He opened one eye slowly and saw Wind Cutter glowing white with the lightning spell arching around it. "What fell magic is this?" Seymour demanded in a startled voice.
"Don't know. Don't care." Ryan stated simply as he placed a hand over his wound. He felt the healing magic rush through it, and although it was enough to close the wound without the risk of it reopening in the middle of the fight, it wasn't strong enough to dull the pain. "Now, my turn." He said as he sheathed his sword, watching Kimahri nod in remembrance as he got back to his feet. He pulled the sheath and the sword out of their holder and dropped into a Battou Jutsu stance. "If you don't want to lead, I'd be glad to."
"By all means, please do." Seymour said in an amused voice. Ryan disappeared from view for a second, and Seymour glanced up casually, watching the swordsman fall towards him at speeds he'd thought impossible before they fought in his Temple. Ryan's sword flashed out of its sheath towards him, and he simply stepped to the side, letting gravity and momentum drive Ryan into the ground. As soon as he landed Seymour kicked him in the ribs as hard as he could, sending him farther then he'd sent Kimahri. "Is that all?" He asked as Ryan raised himself to his hands and knees, coughing up blood in the process. "A shame really. You had so much talent too." Seymour raised both his hands. One crackled with lightning, while the other held a fireball nearly as big as a blitzball.
He launched the lightning at Kimahri, and threw the fireball at Kimahri. The Ronso jumped over the ball, surprising Seymour with a downward thrust, which Seymour dodge easily. In return he sent Kimahri flying through the air with a Watera spell. He watched as Ryan raised his sword in hopes that it would absorb the magic again. Just before the lightning hit Ryan a shadow jumped in the way, and although he knew it was one of Yuna's guardians, the bright light from the spell hitting him kept Seymour from seeing exactly which guardian it was.
"That it, Seymour?" Matt's voice cut through the air, almost as quickly as his axe flew through the air. It embedded itself in Seymour's shoulder, nearly taking it off in the process. Seymour howled in pain as he staggered backwards from the force of the impact. "What's wrong? I thought you'd be able to see that, I mean since you dodge Ryan's attack and all."
"Hey, you weren't supposed to see that." Ryan muttered as he tried to stand up. He managed to stay on his knees, but only by leaning on his sword. "And now I owe Seymour one. Step aside."
Before Seymour could laugh at Ryan's comment a phoenix appeared in the sky above him. He stared at it in confusion for a moment before trying to banish it as he'd done to Kaze. When it didn't work his face fell.
"Didn't you know Seymour?" Andy asked as the rest of the group reached the scene of the fight. "Suzaku isn't an Aeon. It's the strongest of the phoenix, gods of fire. And its here for you!" Andy added as Suzaku dive-bombed the warped Maester of Yevon. Seymour smirked, erecting a barrier around himself as the god plummeted towards him. His smirk faded as soon as the barrier was shattered by the powerful phoenix, which then proceeded to explode from less then a foot in front of his face.
"Damn you!" Seymour yelled when he recovered. He hurled three ice spells at the teen. Andy's eyes widened in surprise and fear as the attack drew closer. "Now die!"
A flash of silver flew past Andy from behind, slicing the icicles in two and heading for Seymour. "I've got a better idea," Ryan stated as the attack connected with Seymour, "why don't you go to hell?" The last part was nearly drowned out by the animal like screams that erupted from Seymour as the holy energy tore into his demonic body.
"What in the name of Yevon was that?" Lulu questioned as she glanced back at Ryan uncertainly.
"Apparently very painful for Seymour." Ryan muttered as Seymour dropped to the ground.
"Might have gone a little overboard though." Andy pointed out as Seymour's corpse began to glow.
"Better--" Ryan's words were caught off by a maniacal laughter from Seymour's glowing corpse. The sound sent the entire group's moral plummeting through the ground. "You have got to be shitting me." Ryan gasped as Seymour pushed himself off the ground, revealing not a scratch on him.
"You know, that hurt." Seymour sneered. "And now I'm going to have to pay you back for that."
"Oh damn." Ryan muttered as a flare spell sped towards him, weaving through his friends impossibly fast. He tried to spin out of the way, but the spell still slammed into his chest, knocking him out instantly.
"Seymour!" Matt yelled, hurling Lightning Edge at Seymour as hard as he could. It collided with the axe that was already in the demon's arm, sending it completely through and cutting the arm off. Seymour howled in pain as the limb fell to the ground, flopping around helplessly.
"Seymour!" Auron yelled, stepping forward. "Although he was not the man I once knew…. Kinoc was still my friend! You will pay for his death!"
"Really? And how do you plan on doing that?" Seymour gasped as he began to glow again. Auron roared and charged towards him, his sword trailing behind him at the waste. As he reached Seymour he brought it up over his head and swung down as hard as he could. There was a splash of blood, a cry of pain from Seymour, and a sudden end to the glowing. "You damnable man!" Seymour wailed as he backhanded Auron, knocking the man back more then a dozen feet.
Kimahri snarled and leaped forward, his spear launching through Seymour's remaining shoulder. With another feral growl he snapped the shaft of the spear and slammed the jagged part into part into the back of the Maester's stomach.
"Damn you!" Seymour roared as he spun on the Ronso, trying in vain to hit Kimahri with his useless arm that was hanging limply at his side.
"Seymour!" Rikku yelled as she charged the Maester. He turned and cried out in pain as she jammed her fingers into his eyes, easily piercing the fragile organs. "That's for hurting my friends," She said matter-of-factly, "and this is 'cause you're a big meanie!" With that she jammed a grenade into his mouth, jumped up, and kicked him in the chest. Kimahri added to the attack by dropping down and sweeping the Maester's legs out from under him, before jumping to safety himself.
"What happened?" Ryan asked as he started to sit up. The grenade exploded though, knocking Auron and Tidus towards him and forcing him to duck to keep his head. Despite ducking he still felt someone's shoe hit his chin, and when he opened his eyes next he saw twelve girls looking at him curiously rather then three.
"You okay now?" Yuna asked.
"Aside from just finding out all of you are triplets… I'd say I'm alright." He replied as he rubbed his temples and sat up, his sarcasm drawing a giggle from Rikku and smiles from the other two.
"We need to leave." Auron stated simply. Ryan sighed in annoyance but didn't argue. He had a bad enough headache as it was.
"Where are we going?" He asked as he cast his own Cure spell on himself. It managed to clear up his vision and get rid of his headache.
"Macalania Woods." Auron informed him, already heading down the started down the Highbridge.
As they sprinted away from Seymour's corpse Seph dropped down from the perch he'd been using to watch the fight. He smirked as Seymour began to revert back to his normal body, his demonic power leaving him.
"You're pitiful Seymour." Seph told the Maester, who, with much effort, managed to raise his head and glare at the assassin. "Get up, you've got work to do if you don't want everyone to know that they killed you twice."
"You were supposed to back me up." Seymour growled, slowly rising to his feet. "That was your chance to avenge your friend, why did you let them go?"
Seph glared at Seymour so coldly that Seymour's blood ran cold and he shuddered visible under it. "I will kill them while they're at their best. Otherwise it won't mean anything." Seph told Seymour in a measured voice.
888
Although it had taken them an hour, the group had managed to get out of Bevelle without any more incidents. Now they were tired, irritable, and hiding in the cool, familiar, welcoming shade of the forest. As soon as they'd gotten to a small camping area Yuna and Ryan had left, each saying they needed to be alone before they headed their separate ways.
"Well isn't this wonderful. We kill Seymour, now everyone's gonna wanna kill us." Matt muttered as he looked up at the forest canopy out of boredom. "Of course this makes twice for Seymour dieing."
"Yeah. Why the hell can't he just stay dead anyway?" Andy wondered.
"Because nobody wants to send a Maester of Yevon. No matter how far they've fallen." Auron declared.
"Right." Rikku agreed before standing up.
"Where are you going?" Matt asked from his lying position.
"Well Tidus went to cheer Yuna up right? And Ryan cheered me up after pops blew up HOME, so I figured I kinda owed him one, right?" Rikku asked. Matt smiled to himself and shrugged, an action that Rikku took as him agreeing to the logic. It didn't take her long to find Ryan, and when she did he was just sitting on the ground next to one of the pools of water, staring at his sword.
'Yes, you've begun to understand that, haven't you? You lie to yourself by telling yourself that you don't like killing, but it's just a lie. You're starting to enjoy it, the spray of blood washing over you.' Lusniec's words looped through Ryan's head constantly, consuming his thoughts. He felt hollow every time he heard them, and couldn't help but worry that there was more truth to them then he was willing to admit. 'What if he's right? What if I turn into some killer? If that's true, do I really have any right to be one of Yuna's guardians?'
"Ryan? You okay?" Rikku asked from behind him. He stiffened, having missed her walking up in his thoughts. "Hey, relax. It's just me." Rikku said as she sat down next time him. "So what's wrong?"
Ryan sighed and sheathed Wind Cutter. "Just something Lusniec said when I saw him in the Via Purifico." He said quietly.
Rikku looked at him oddly. "What? When did Lusniec show up?" She questioned. "I didn't see him."
"Yeah, I know. He does this annoying thing where he freezes time, and teleports me to another dimension or something. Then he says what he wants to tell me, and sends me back." Ryan told her. "It was right before he told me how to use the Wind Cutter."
"So he taught you how to use that?" Rikku asked. Ryan nodded. "So what'd he say?" Ryan's heart skipped a beat. He wasn't sure if he should tell her what he'd been thinking about. He sighed and she poked him in the side. "What did he say?" She asked again.
Ryan sighed before saying anything. "He said that I was starting to like killing. That one day I'd just be a killer, like him." He whispered, his hands clenching into fists on the ground. Rikku stared at him oddly. "I don't want to be a killer, but I can't help but wonder if he's right. I can't get those damn words out of my head. Every time I think about them I feel hollow inside." By now he could feel the tears running down his face as he let out his fears.
Rikku moved behind him and wrapped her arms around him gently. "You won't turn into a killer Ryan." She said gently as she leaned her head on his shoulder. "You're too nice to be a killer."
"How can you be so sure?" Ryan asked.
"Just trust me, ok?" She asked. "I won't let you turn into a killer. And neither will Matt, or Andy, or Tidus, or any of your friends. Lusniec can say whatever he wants, but as long as you have us, you're not going to turn out like him. So stop worrying about it, ok?"
Ryan looked at her oddly. "Jeez, and here I thought I was the psychiatrist of the group…" he muttered.
Rikku giggled. "Well, even a psychiatrist needs to talk to someone sometimes, right?" She asked. Ryan laughed quietly.
"I guess so." He said as he leaned his head against hers. "Thanks Rikku." He whispered.
"Hey, if you ever need to talk, or maybe a shoulder to cry on, lemme know, ok?" She asked. He nodded and smiled when he felt her hand in his. "Cause I'll always be there to listen."
"Yeah." Ryan agreed quietly.
well, there you have it! that's twice they've taken down seymour. and when is Seph going to attack? and how is Ryan going to cope with Lusniec's comments? and who did Lusniec try to protect so many thousands of years ago? you'll have to wait to find out...