Disclaimer: I do not own the songs/themes used in this chapter, credit goes to the singers/songwriters, and whoever owns them.

Finally, the moment everyone has been waiting for! Seymour finally gets what he deserves! But first, the replies!

Iron Reaver: Yeah, laugh it up, laugh it up...you'll get yours.

Radzilla: Thanks, as always. The finishing move Blasting Zone isn't really one I made up, it's taken from Final Fantasy 8, as are Rough Divide, Fated Circle, and one more that hasn't been shown yet.For now, here's the moment you've been awaiting!

beastboy-had-a-brain: Yep, Seymour finally pays his dues this chapter.

Daniel Wesley Rydell: It's 'tomorrow at 6'. Heh heh heh...

anbu713: Yeah, Wakka always struck me as the 'speak before you think' type, even moreso than Tidus. So, I intended to make him pay for it.

MysticSuperSaiyanGohan: Yep, I know. I'll check out your fic if I have time, even though I'm not very familiar with either Buffy or FF7.

Now, without further delay, for those of you that can't wait, onwards!


Chapter 24—Icy Vengeance

The ride to Macalania Temple is amazingly short. At least, it seemed it. These things went pretty fast, but then again, they were made by the Al Bhed. I'd expect it. As we arrive at the temple, I just stop and stare at it. Winter is my favorite time of year, even though we don't get snow, so I am enthralled by this area. Stalagmites and stalactites everywhere, the temple itself stretching from the top of the cavern to the bottom. Peering down, I can see another walkway, although I don't remember where it leads.

"Alright, this is it. Let's go." I say, walking towards the door. A guard is posted there, and upon seeing Rikku, he immediately steps in front of us.

"Halt! The likes of her are not welcome in this hallowed place." he says, pointing at her. Glaring, I put my hand on my sword handle, but Auron steps in.

"She is a guardian." he states, causing the guard to snort.

"An Al Bhed, a guardian? Preposterous!"

"I've decided to be Yuna's guardian now, and that's all I want." Rikku says, stepping up beside me and Auron.

"And that's all one needs to be a guardian." Auron says, in a tone that explicitly said 'the matter is finished'.

"Very well." the guard says, stepping aside. I shoot him a final glare as I enter, everyone else behind me. As soon as I step in the door, Shelinda runs up. Just when I thought I couldn't hate this temple any more.

"Ah! There you are!" she says, looking at me and Tidus. "So Lady Yuna is getting married. You shouldn't kid around about these things." she says, attempting to joke around. And failing miserably, I might add.

"Yeah, I guess so." Tidus says flatly. Shelinda looks at him oddly, apparently confused as to why Tidus isn't happy.

"You're not happy?"

"Nah, it's complicated." he says. "Say...do you know where Yuna is?" he asks after a moment. Shelinda thinks a moment, before answering.

"I believe...she's gone to the Cloister of Trials with Maester Seymour." she replies, causing me to shake my head, and run towards the Cloister door. Just as I'm about to open it, however, a shout catches my attention.

"Lord Jyscal! A sphere, in Lady Yuna's belongings..." a girl cries, running out of a room, a sphere held in hand. Auron walks up to her, taking the sphere, and walks into the room, all of us following.

"This may well answer a few questions." Auron says, handing the sphere to Tidus, who places it on the floor and turns it on. An image of Lord Jyscal then appears, a cloudy background also in view. Flashes appear every so often, which I believe are lightning strikes. It's also raining, and that seems to be interfering with the sphere somewhat.

"What I am about to tell you is the unclouded truth." Jyscal begins. "I swear it on my honor as a Guado. Listen to me very carefully, for I shall tell you the truth about my son, Seymour. His mind is closed even to me, a maester of Yevon. But I can feel flames of darkness burning in his heart. He is using Yevon, the Guado, and even the summoners. If he is not stopped, he will surely bring destruction and chaos to Spira. I will leave this world soon, killed by my own son. But I do not fault him. Because I was not wise enough, he has suffered, and become twisted. I could not protect him and his mother from the world and its cruelty. I will accept death as punishment for my deeds. But whoever is watching this...I implore you to stop Seymour! Stop my son." After that, the sphere turns off.

"The last memoirs of Lord Jyscal. Revealing his son for the twisted, cowardly maester that he really is." I say, standing up angrily. "Well, now that you all know the truth about Seymour, allow me to tell you something I've known since Luca. Remember the fiends that appeared? Seymour was the one who set them loose in the first place!" I finish, everyone gasping except Auron.

"But...Maester Seymour would never do that!" Wakka protests, and I growl.

"Wakka, the proof is right there!" I yell, motioning to Jyscal's sphere. "You don't believe his own father? Fine. Stay here. I have an evil maester to stop." I say, walking out of the room, towards the Cloister of Trials. Before I can get to the door, though, I'm stopped by Rikku's voice.

"Ben, wait!" she yells, running to me.

"What?" I say, turning to face her, as she looks at me, the others right behind us.

"We all need to go through the trials together, remember?" she says, and I hang my head slightly.

"Yeah, you're right. Save the anger for Seymour, right?" I ask her, and she nods, grinning. I honestly don't know how she can smile after what she just saw, but that's why I like her so much.


The Cloister of Trials is cold. Very, very cold. Windy and icy all around, and the entire area is iced over. I have to be careful not to slip and fall. Walking across the ice bridge, I notice it disappear behind us, and I frown.

'No turning back now...' I think to myself, as I check my pockets and mental list, making sure I'm ready for the upcoming fight. I can't help but feel an overwhelming sense of relief, too. That soon, Seymour will get what he really and truly deserves. Yuna is already inside; praying to the fayth, I assume. I should be joining her, but I have a Maester to stop. Finally, we reach the door to the main hall, right before the Chamber of the Fayth. Giving a quick nod to everyone, I shove the door open and run in.

"Seymour!" Tidus yells, causing the Maester to turn to him, as well as gain the attention of the 2 guards in the room.

"Please be silent. Lady Yuna prays to the fayth." he says, smugly. Tidus and I just glare.

"Make me." we say, simultaneously. Seymour just smirks, walking down the steps to face us. Just then, the chamber doors open, and Yuna walks out, Seymour turning to face her.

"Yuna!" Tidus yells, and I look up at the summoner, ready to protect her should anything go off plan.

"But why?" Yuna says, looking at Seymour.

'It's my turn to make a decision. Confront him now, on my own, or let this chance slide by.'

"We saw Jyscal's sphere." Tidus says, glaring at the Maester, Auron looking at Seymour with hatred concealed by the glasses he wears.

"You killed him."

'I can't take this. He's done so much already, I'm not going to sit back and do nothing.'

"What of it?" Seymour asks, as if nothing is wrong with the fact that he committed murder. "Lady Yuna, certainly you knew of these things, did you not?" he says, and Yuna makes a series of noises, apparently unable to say anything. "Well then, why have you come here?"

Stepping over to us, Yuna gives her reply, gripping her staff tightly. "I came...I came to stop you!"

"I see. You came to punish me, then?" Seymour says, walking forward and extending his hand, causing Yuna to back away. "What a pity." Surrounding Yuna, all of us glare at Seymour, who smiles evilly again. "Ah, of course. 'Protect the summoner, even at the cost of one's life.' The Code of the Guardian. How admirable." Seymour says, his two guards stepping forward, weapons drawn. "Well, if you're offering your lives, I shall have to take them."

Yuna just glares, speaking again as she steps in front of all of us. "Maester Seymour. I trust my guardians with my life. But they are also my friends. I will not stand by and watch them be hurt. I will fight you, too!"

'That's it. I've made my choice. This isn't just their story. This is my story too!'

"No!" I say suddenly, causing everyone to look at me. Slicing a hand through the air, I turn to face the group. "This is my fight!" Turning to Seymour, I continue.

"Seymour, you were the ones who let the fiends loose at Luca! You've been behind so much, yet no one has noticed, just because of your position. Well, I won't stand for it! This is my story, and I won't let it be ended just because of a power-hungry maniac like you!" I say, eyes burning with rage, as I turn back to Yuna and the others one final time.

"This is my fight. I'm doing this alone. Trust me." I say, Yuna and the others reluctantly nodding, and stepping back, as I draw my katana and wakizashi, preparing for some long-overdue revenge.

"So be it." Seymour says, stepping forward, his two guards at his side.

(Play FF8: Liberi Fatali)

"Payback time, Seymour! This is for all the innocent people at Luca, and everyone else you've hurt!" I yell, casting a Haste spell and charging the Maester furiously. The two guards open fire on me, but I dodge the bullets,the Haste spell aiding my movements.

Bringing the sword up, I cut into the neck of the first guard, dodging a Blizzara spell from Seymour at the same time, before backflipping away twice, to fire off a Thunder spell, shocking the other guard. It gives Seymour the opportunity to hit me with a Fira spell, sending me back slightly. Gritting my teeth, I charge in, impaling the other guard in the chest, before kicking him off the blade of my sword.

"Just you and me, Seymour. No more tricks, no more help. One on one." I say, staring the Maester down, waiting on him to make his move.

"Thundara!" he cries, striking me with a bolt of powerful, magical lightning, sending me to my knees. Standing back up, I growl, sheathing the wakizashi.

"Renzokuken!" I cry, charging Seymour with double the normal speed, thanks to Haste and the Overdrive, before slashing at him as hard as I can. Unfortunately, he has a Protect up, and the strikes I land are nothing more than small cuts. Jumping back, I pick a finishing move.

"Phase Shift!" Running at Seymour again, I become ethereal, striking him and passing through to the other side of him, causing him to turn to face me, as I become ethereal. A small line of blood traces its way across Seymour's chest, and I grin.

"How does it feel? How does it feel to finally feel retribution at the hands of someone who won't stand by idly? I hope it hurts." I say, eyes narrowed.

"You will soon be the one in pain. Fira!" he cries, casting the magic on me again. I bring my sword up to deflect, but the force still knocks me back a few steps.

"You can try! Fira!" I yell, casting my own Fira spell back at him, the spell impacting, burning Seymour. Seymour just growls, casting a Cura spell on himself, and I frown, watching the injuries I inflicted vanish. "Two can play that game." I mutter, using a Cure spell on myself as well.

"Thundara!" The next bolt of lightning strikes down at me, but I dodge, and dart at Seymour, hammering away furiously at the Protect spell, noticing it weaken with every strike.

"Come...on...you...BREAK!" I bellow, the shield finally giving way, letting my sword pass straight down over Seymour's chest, cutting another line across it to replace the previous one. Seymour steps back slightly, not expecting me to be as powerful as I am, apparently.

(End Liberi Fatali)

"A worthy opponent, perhaps...no matter. Feel my pain! Come, Anima!" he says, doing the prayer gesture, before a massive anchor drops down from out of nowhere, dragging the massive aeon up from the depths of the earth. I just step back, looking up at the aeon in slight intimidation.

(Play FF8: Ultimecia's first form theme)

"Well...this is bad..." I mutter, knowing my only aeon is out of the fight for now. "Let's hope I can control this, just this once. Renzokuken!" I yell, running up to Anima, and bounding up the aeon in steps, to slash at the face several times, each hit leaving a cut. Slashing one final time at the eye itself, I jump down, preparing to use a finishing move. "Overdrive Reels!" Concentrating hard, I try to control the effects of the attack, and it actually works.

"Time to fight fire with fire! Grand Summon!" I say, slashing my sword in an X-pattern, before turning it over and driving it into the ground, the earth exploding beneath me to reveal the mighty aeon. The rock chunk I'm standing on explodes, and I fall out of the air, landing on Ifrit's shoulder, as the aeon roars. Jumping down, I sheath my sword, and prepare to give the first order.

"Ifrit, take him out! Meteor Strike!" The aeon growls, forming a ball of red energy in front of it, before launching it at Anima, the other aeon roaring in pain.

"Show him the true meaning of fear!" Seymour says, before Anima bellows, charging up energy in its one eye, and launching a powerful beam at Ifrit, sending it staggering back.

"Make him burn! Hellfire!"

Ifrit growls, and jumps into the air, firing two balls of energy at Anima, engulfing the aeon in a vortex of fire, before shooting another sphere of fire at it, causing the entire tornado to explode, Anima giving a mighty screech in response.

"Introduce him to oblivion, Anima!" Seymour cries, and I step back, eyes widening.

'Not good, not good at all...'

Anima roars, before the entire area turns to that of an empty, dark vortex. Anima's other half can now be seen, much like the top, but even uglier. The hands are bound with powerful chains, but the aeon roars, and the chains snap, as the bottom half faces Ifrit. It begins pummeling Ifrit with a shower of blows, causing large explosions over the aeon. Finally, the bottom half screeches, and unleashes a powerful blast of energy, causing another massive explosion. Shielding my eyes, I uncover them after a moment to find Anima, still in its former position, and Ifrit, sprawled on the ground, fading away.

"Man, what's it going to take to beat this thing..." I mumble, focusing again. "Thundara!" The attack hits the aeon, doing very little damage, if any at all. Anima looks at me, and charges up a beam in its eye, hitting the floor right in front of me. The explosion knocks me to the floor, and I hear Yuna cry out.

"I'm...okay...don't worry." I say, standing back up and curing myself with a Cure spell. "Let's hope this finishes the job...Renzokuken!" Charging up to Anima, I leap up to its face again, and continue where I left off the first time, drawing greater and greater bellows from the aeon, before I jump down and pick the move I hope will end it.

"Blasting Zone!" The familiar beam of energy blasts out of my katana, heading up to the sky and beyond, before I bring it down, smashing into Anima's unprotected head. The aeon gives another mighty screech, before it finally goes limp and fades away.

(End Ultimecia's first form theme)

"That power that defeated Anima...it will be mine!" Seymour says, stepping forward again, as I ready both my katana and wakizashi for a final time.

(Play Ben's theme, Numb)

"You can keep thinking that. I'm gonna send you to the Farplane!" I roar, charging Seymour, and bringing both swords down, one after the other. Seymour puts another Protect spell up, before blasting me off my feet with a point blank Blizzara attack, sending me skidding across the floor. While I'm down, I get hit by another Thundara spell, making me cry out in pain.

"Ben!" Rikku says, starting to run towards me, but she gets held back by Tidus.

"He said it's his fight. We'll step in if anything goes wrong, but not yet." Auron says, not calming Rikku down any.

Struggling back to my feet, I stifle another cry of pain, and use a Cure spell on myself, sheathing the wakizashi. "Man, but you're persistent. Blizzaga!" I yell, sending the spell at Seymour, which he takes in the chest, knocking the wind out of him slightly. I take that chance to charge back in, hammering furiously at the now reconstructed Protect spell. I keep up the barrage for a moment, and the shield weakens visibly, but doesn't crack.

"Fira!" Seymour yells, hitting me with one Fira spell, then another, almost sending me to the floor again. Stumbling back, I regain my senses long enough to pull out a potion and gulp it down, before channeling my anger into another strike.

"Renzokuken!" Running back up to Seymour, I slash away at the Protect, and after 4 strikes it shatters, allowing me to get 3 slices in on Seymour's unprotected body. Seymour staggers back slightly, and I tense up for what I hope will be the final strike.

"Rough Divide!" Charging back up, I channel every bit of the power I can into a final attack. "Seymour, you're MINE!" I yell, jumping up and slashing straight up Seymour's body, sending him to the floor, bleeding somewhat heavily now. Landing, I try and catch my breath, gulping down an Ether as well to regain some of my magic power. Seymour grunts, standing up slightly, and I tense again, awaiting another attack. Instead, Seymour falls back to his knees. Yuna immediately runs up to him, kneeling down beside him.

(End Ben's theme)

"Yuna...you would pity me now?" he asks her, before he slumps onto the floor, lying on his back. Yuna walks over, closing the eyes of the now dead Seymour, as the door to the room opens, Tromell and two other female attendants charging in.

"Lord Seymour!" Tromell cries, running over to the fallen Maester, as I sheath both my swords. "What happened here?" he asks, looking at us with hatred blazing.

"Wait a minute! It's not our fault at all! Seymour struck first! He's the bad guy!" Tidus says, stepping forward. Tromell just stands up, glaring at Tidus.

"You did this?"

"No. I did." I say coolly, staring at Tromell. Tromell turns to me, and advances, seemingly prepared to kill me himself. Before he can get far, I unsheathe my katana, holding it in front of me. "You can join him if you wish."

"Yuna, send him." I hear Auron say, and Tromell turns around, stepping in between Yuna and the fallen Seymour.

"No, stop! Stay away from him, traitors!" he says, and Yuna sinks to her knees.

"Traitors?" she says, in disbelief.

"We're finished." Wakka states, shaking his head.

"Now, hold on just a minute!" Tidus exclaims, looking at all of us. "Seymour's the bad guy, right? We'll just explain to everyone what happened!"

"It won't be that easy..." Auron replies, shaking his head. "Let's get out of here." Everyone moves towards the exit to the room, and I follow, but instead of leaving, I head the opposite way.

"Where are you going?" Rikku asks, running up to me.

"I'm going to the Chamber of the Fayth. I have an aeon to acquire." I tell her, and she grabs my arm.

"No, you can't! Come with us!" she pleads, and I look her in the eyes.

"Rikku, go with the others! I'll be fine, I promise." I reply, but she still doesn't let go.

"I'm coming with you, then!"

"Rikku, no! Go protect Yuna! I'll be okay, I swear. I'll meet up with you later, but you guys have to hurry and get out of here!" I say firmly. Reluctantly, she lets go of my arm, and I give her a quick kiss on the cheek, before vanishing into the Chamber of the Fayth.


As soon as I enter, I can hear the Hymn playing. Dropping into a kneeling position, I do the prayer gesture, before the image of the fayth appears. This fayth is a young woman, dressed in summoner's robes, but different than Yuna's. A hood covers her head, leaving only her face exposed.

"I see you have come." she says, and I nod.

"Please, I pray for you to give me the power I need to protect my friends, and help defeat Sin once again." I say, bowing my head. The fayth smiles, before nodding.

"Your resolve is strong, as is the trust you place in your friends. I shall join you, to aid you in protecting them." she says, and after a moment, I can feel the fayth entering my mind. It doesn't leave me woozy this time, as I expected, and for that I'm silently grateful.

"Thank you." I say, before leaving the Chamber, immediately being confronted by two guards, with short swords and shields.

"Murderer! You will not leave this place alive!" one of them tells me, and I draw both of my swords.

"You care to test that?" I say, jumping from the top of the stairs to bring both swords down, slamming into the bucklers of the two guards, before I drop and sweep their legs out from under them. As they fall, I sheath my swords and sprint out the exit, leading back into the Cloister of Trials. Two pieces of the ice bridge have been remade while I was in the Chamber, but the third still is unaccounted for.

"Hey! Down here!" I hear Tidus yell, and I look down, to see the rest of the group solving the Trials.

"You see the sphere over there?" I say, pointing towards the ice ramp. "Put it in the column!" I tell him, Tidus immediately sprinting over to grab the sphere, and placing it in the column. The last section of bridge reappears, and everyone runs back up the ramp. "Let's go!" Charging out into the main area, we're confronted again by several guards, and Tromell.

"Please..." Yuna begins, clasping her hands.

"Give us a chance to explain." Auron says, and Tromell holds a hand up.

"No need. I already know what I'll tell the other maesters."

"Meaning...?" Auron asks, voice dangerously calm.

"Lord Seymour was the leader of the Guado before becoming a Maester." Tromell replies.

"You're not letting us go." Tidus states, and Tromell barks a laugh.

"Let you go? Lord Seymour would never forgive us if we did." he says, and I growl.

"Then we'll just have to clear ourselves a path, now won't we?" I say, narrowing my eyes at Tromell while drawing my katana.

"Wait, wait!" Rikku shouts, jumping in front of us. "Jyscal's sphere! We can show it to them!"

"You mean this?" Tromell says, holding up the sphere, before crushing it in one hand. "The Guado take care of Guado affairs."

"Away!" Kimahri shouts, at the same time Auron does.

"Run!"

"I'll hold them off a moment, you guys get outta here! I'll be right behind you!" I tell them, as they all flee. "Well, who wants to go first?" I say, brandishing my sword, as two of the guards charge me with staves and short swords. Ducking under a staff swing, I parry a slice from the second, before kicking the staff-wielder in the leg, then in the face. Turning, I cut across the sword-wielder's chest, before high-kicking him in the head, and making a dash for the door, bursting out into the cold air. Looking back, I can see a small squad of guards pursuing me, but they're nowhere near as fast as we are.

"Gotta move, gotta move, gotta get back to the lake..." I tell myself, my lungs starting to burn from the running. It's a long run back to the lake, about 2-3 miles I'd say, and I am not very well known for distance sprinting. But, when you're in a life or death situation, you handle just about anything quite well. Up ahead, I can see the rest of the group running as well, no guards in sight. I can also see the last part of the path, right before the lake.

"Almost there!" I yell, and the group turns to look at me, before continuing to run. Finally, we reach the lake, and stop, everyone breathing heavily, even Auron, who seems to never get tired. "Everyone okay?" I ask, and they all nod, before we hear a noise behind us. Turning, we see two more of the Guado guards. Suddenly, a loud roar breaks the silence, and everyone, including the guards, turns to see a Wendigo bearing down on us. Everyone jumps out of the way, as the beast smashes a fist down into the ice. Glaring, I jump over and cut at the beast, earning a slight grunt. The Wendigo turns, and backhands me in the chest, sending me flying over to where the guards are. The next thing I know, I'm being held by both the guards, and the rest of the group is fighting the Wendigo. Growling, I stomp on one guard's foot, causing him to let go, before I swing my now-freed elbow into the bridge of his nose. The other turns, letting my arm go, and I swiftly chop him in the neck, before roundhouse kicking him in the face.

"You traitors! If we cannot dispose of you, we will make sure you die somehow!" one of the guards says, and I think a moment, before my eyes go wide. Suddenly, the two guards begin casting spells on the Wendigo! Shell, Protect, and Berserk go up, before I finally unsheathe my wakizashi and kill the two guards, regaining my katana from its place on the ice.The Wendigo gives a loud roar, before running over and slamming a fist into Tidus' face, knocking him out immediately. Yuna gives a cry, and casts a Life spell on Tidus, who shakes his head and gets back to his feet.

"Dark Attack!" Wakka yells, the blitzball slamming into the creature, but not doing anything other than blinding it. Auron runs in, slashing upwards with a Power Break attack, but the Wendigo blocks, and slams Auron back as well.

"Demi!" Lulu yells, and I silently thank Yevon, the spell knocking the Wendigo completely off its feet, and dealing a good amount of damage.

"Attack, now!" I yell, running in with my swords drawn, before slashing down at the Wendigo, cutting a gash across its leg. Standing up, the beast swings at me, but I duck and cut it across the stomach before jumping back.

"Get back!" I hear Rikku yell, and I hop back, before something flies in and explodes, cutting gashes all over the Wendigo's body.

'Frag Grenade?' I think, taking a moment to rest from all the exertion.

"Fira!" Lulu cries, and a ball of flame smashes into the Wendigo, almost setting it ablaze. Thefiend roars again, before charging Lulu, and throwing a punch at her. She barely gets out of the way, but the other fist swings around, sending her to the ground with a cry.

"Lulu!" Wakka yells, head snapping around to look at the fallen black mage. "You'll pay for that!" he cries, spinning his blitzball on his finger for a moment, as it bursts into flame, before he drops it and kicks it, the ball slamming into the creature with a fiery explosion, knocking it back. Tidus takes that moment to strike.

"See ya!" he yells, running up and cutting the Wendigo across the neck, the creature giving a loud roar of pain, and stumbling back. The Wendigo stops, burned, bleeding, and wobbling, before it cries out again, and slams its fists into the ice. Nothing happens for a moment, but suddenly, cracks appear in the ice, then small fissures. After a moment, the Wendigo falls and bursts into pyreflies, but the ice begins to crack even worse, splits appearing near us.

"We have to get off of this!" I yell, sprinting away, but the ice cracks faster, and we all yell, as we're all sent tumbling down into the darkness below the icy lake.


Well, the end of what I think is the longest chapter yet. They will probably start getting quite long now, as everything has somewhat hit the climax of the story. So, as always, please review!