Well, lots of reviews this time as well...I feel pretty happy that people are actually liking this so much.
Iron Reaver: You don't wanna know. We'd probably all die, but that's just me.
Daniel Wesley Rydell: Uh...trying to cure your short-term memory loss?
anbu713: Thanks for paying attention, that little error has been rectified. I'll review your story too, I haven't gotten the chance to read again yet.
MysticSuperSaiyanGohan: I don't know...I haven't planned that far ahead yet.
ShadowStar05: Thanks.
Gester: Well, I try, they did a great job in the original game giving me plenty to work with, and so I try to make it a little more elaborate.
desert-tiger: Well, here's Bevelle, hope you enjoy it!
beastboy-had-a-brain: Yeah, I think it's better, hopefully you will too.
gsa: I would say welcome, but it seems like you reviewed simply to flame, and not very well at that. Your reason was a very poor one, based on the fact that if you have played the game, which I am assuming you have, you would know it's more of a drama. Not much cursing, either, and I don't intend to deviate from that. Read on if you wish, but don't flame anymore with a reason such as that.
Jiranto Valsis: Yeah, what's that saying about curiosity killing something...heh heh heh...anyway. This chapter will be a little longer, and a lot more action. Enjoy.
Bracey Face Anime Gurl: I have no idea as to what you are referring to. My evil laughter was purely in the most innocent sense, you know. (coughs)
Harry4: Welcome to Destiny's Call, Harry! Nice to see someone else reading. I'm not gonna kick Seymour's tail at Bevelle. Maybe later, but he doesn't get it just yet.
Alright, now, finally on with the chapter! Enjoy!
Chapter 27—Delusions Of Grandeur
About 30 minutes later, or at least I think that's how long it's been, I stand up from my chair, stretching. Between my knowledge of computers, and a good bit of trial and error, I've managed to figure out the controls for the auto-pilot, and the destination settings. The coordinate system works one of two ways. You can either put in a specific set of coordinates, or move a set of arrows over a specific location, and scan it. The former is more accurate, but the latter is better to use when you aren't completely sure where something is. As I stand up, I notice Auron walk in the door to the bridge, and walk up to Cid, looking him in the eyes.
"After rescuing Yuna, then what? You want to keep her safe, correct? Would you seek to stop her pilgrimage?" he asks, and Cid looks up at him, with what appears to be a twinge of anger in his eyes.
"Of course! If she continues this fool pilgrimage, she will die!" he says, emphasizing the last three words. "Sure as if you killed her yourself. No hair-brained law or teaching can send my little niece to her death! When I save her, I'll make her give up being a summoner faster than a desert melts ice!" he exclaims, and Auron nods.
"Even against her will?" he questions, and Cid nods.
"Better than a dog's death! And I'll take down anyone who don't agree!"
"Wound you be willing to take down your own niece, then?" I cut in, looking over at the elder Al Bhed. Turning to me, Cid gives a mixture of a confused look and a glare.
"What are you talking about, boy?" he asks, crossing his arms.
"I'm saying this. Yuna is strong-spirited. I've been around her since she started her pilgrimage, and I can see that, clear as day. If you try to make her give up being a summoner, I'd be willing to bet everything I have on me right now that she would go against you to continue anyway." I tell him, and he does glare this time.
"You think she would?" he says, voice low.
"I don't think. I know she would." I say, and Cid gives another look at me.
"Vydran! Fa vuiht Yuna!" Brother exclaims, and I smile, knowing where we are.
"Frana?" Cid yells, and Brother looks back at him.
"E femm cruf oui!" After a moment, a fuzzy picture starts playing on a sphere screen over the bridge. Yuna is standing at the top of a large set of stairs, with an enormous building behind them. She's also dressed in a somewhat skimpy wedding dress. Seymour is standing beside her, dressed in a rather elaborate set of robes. Maester Mika is also there, standing to Seymour's left, and two armed guards, holding rifles, stand to either side of Yuna and Mika. Numerous other guards are there as well, all armed with various weapons, and several civilians are also present. The screen goes white after a moment, and I notice Tidus' mouth hanging open.
"Yuna?" he says after a moment, before turning to Brother and Cid. "Where was that?"
"The Palace of St. Bevelle." Lulu responds, the rest of the group walking up to us. "Heart of Yevon."
"Gramps, let's move!" Tidus insists, looking at Cid enthusiastically, as Cid just shakes his head.
"Easy, kiddo. Bevelle's defenses are top-notch." Cid responds, waving a hand in the air to dismiss the comment.
"What's the matter, Gramps?" Tidus says, clenching a fist. "You scared? Yuna's there, so we go and get her! And that's all!" he yells, Cid looking at him as if he were crazy, before sighing.
"You got guts." he tells him, turning to Brother. "Cad luinca du Bevelle! Vimm cbaat yrayt!" Cid yells, Brother nodding in agreement.
"Nukan!" he replies, the airship suddenly speeding up, everyone staggering a little, Tidus falling, and the rest of us having to grab onto something.
"It'll take a while to get to Bevelle." Cid says. "Meanwhile..."
"We prepare for battle!" Tidus interrupts, Cid looking at him with a nod.
"So, exactly what happened to Yuna? Did you guys find her, and then they took her, or what?" I ask Cid, the older man turning to me.
"They grabbed Yuna back in the Sanubia Desert. One of the Guado squads that attacked Home found her." he replies, and I give a look of acceptance.
"I see." I say, Rikku turning at us with a slight look of shock and confusion written on her face.
"What's Seymour doing alive?" she asks. "Didn't we take care of him in Macalania?"
"He's dead, Rikku." I say, speaking before Auron can. "He's now unsent, though. He's attached to this world, and refuses to go to the Farplane in peace."
"Whoa, scary!" she exclaims.
"Yuna must be trying to send him." Auron states, and I nod.
"She is. That's the only explanation. I don't think it'll work, though. He'll be expecting it." I say, Auron nodding slowly. "Seymour might be evil, but he's not as stupid as we think."
"I'm glad Yuna's okay and all, but what's with those fancy clothes?" I hear Wakka ask Tidus, causing me to facepalm. I can't believe he hasn't caught it.
"It's called a wedding dress." Lulu says, bluntly, causing Wakka's eyes to go wide.
"What?" he says, and I shake my head, groaning.
"Wakka, ed'mm pa y senylma ev dra dfu pnyeh lammc eh ouin rayt ajan lummeta ykyeh, yht lyica druikrd." I mutter to myself, Rikku laughing, Cid chuckling a little as well. I just take a deep breath, looking around the bridge again. Suddenly, the airship shakes a little, and Rin walks into the bridge, looking at us.
"We're being attacked from within. Some of the Guado that attacked Home must have snuck on board." he says, and everyone looks at him, slightly shocked. I'm more shocked at how he's so calm.
"You're awfully calm about it!" Cid exclaims, voicing my thoughts.
"I am calm about most things." he replies, nodding slightly.
"Fiends! There's nothing to do but..."
"But destroy the ship and all go down together!" Rikku says, jumping in front of her dad, and imitating his voice.
"Huh?" he asks, and Rikku turns to him.
"You gotta learn a little restraint, Pops." she says, shaking her head. "If you crash the ship, we can't go rescue Yunie! Leave the fiends to us professionals!"
"Yeah! Let's go!" Tidus says, pumping a fist into the air, and I nod, drawing my katana.
"We've got some stowaways to dispose of." I say, walking out the bridge door, and towards the top cabin.
Making it up the first stairwell, we're suddenly confronted by a trio of Guado, who have one of the Al Bhed pinned near a wall, and are beating him severely.
"Hey! You creeps! Pick on someone who can fight back!" I yell, running in and swinging my katana, smashing the first in the head with the side like a baseball bat. Even as he goes down, Lulu has cast a Fire spell on the second, and Wakka has hit the final one with the blitzball, knocking him out cold. As the last Guado slumps to the ground, everyone looks around, before we sprint up the next set. There, we find a quartet of Guado, armed with swords. With a quick series of slashes from myself, Tidus, and Auron, along with Kimahri's poleaxe, they're quickly dispatched.
The next few sets go by much the same way, Guado attacking, and being incapacitated or killed by the 7 of us. Reaching the cabin, I look out the window, and my jaw drops at the sight. An enormous, dragon-like creature is flying outside, near the airship, but far enough away to render it unable to attack, for the moment.
"Huh, now there's a rare sight." Auron says, and I turn to him, still shocked at the sheer size of the creature.
"Whoa, that's huge!" Tidus exclaims, stepping back, as Rikku gasps.
"What is that?" she asks, Lulu looking at the three of us.
"The guardian wyrm, Evrae. The great sacred beast—protector of Bevelle!" she says, and I take another look at the massive dragon. It's so much bigger than I thought...
"The red carpet has teeth." Auron says, and Tidus suddenly snaps out of his shocked state, looking at us.
"Wait, that means we're close to Bevelle!" he exclaims, and Cid's voice suddenly crackles over the intercom.
"Rikku, you read me? We're going to fight that thing! Get on deck and show him what you've got! Go!" he says, and we all nod, Rikku sighing.
"There he goes again."
"The ferryman asks a high price." Auron says, and I almost groan at his use of over-dramatic phrases.
"Well, if we have to kill it, let's get up there and do it! The faster we're done with it, the faster we can save Yuna!" I yell, running towards the elevator leading up onto the deck, everyone else behind me.
Arriving on the deck, we're immediately buffeted by powerful winds, pushing us back because of the airship's speed. Evrae is right beside us, and it gives a powerful roar, causing me to cover my ears. That dragon looks mean. Looking at it again, I can say that for the first time since being here in Spira, I am really and truly afraid.
"We gotta keep our distance, boy, but we can't let her get too far away!" Cid says over the intercom, talking to Tidus. "You all have to tell me when to move! But tell me quick, eh? This rig ain't so nimble, you hear?"
"Roger! I'll give the commands!" Tidus shouts, and Rikku steps up beside him.
"Not alone, you won't!" she yells, and we all draw our weapons, as Cid brings the airship closer to Evrae.
'No time for fear now. The time to act is now...if we don't, we won't be able to save Yuna.'
(Play FF9 theme Hunter's Chance)
"Alright, you overgrown lizard! Time to die!" I yell, sprinting in, Auron, Tidus, and Kimahri beside me, as we all begin to slash at Evrae, getting several in, before Evrae brings a massive claw around, forcing all of us to duck and roll away.
"Blizzaga!" I hear Lulu cry, and I see a massive burst of ice slam into Evrae. Thankfully, Lulu has her third level spells now. Wakka's blitzball also flies in, striking the dragon and bouncing back.
"Haste!" I yell, casting the magic on myself, before continuing to strike at the dragon, Kimahri doing so from a slight distance with his poleaxe, and suddenly, we're joined by Rikku, slashing away at the creature with her claw.
"Got anything we can hurt this thing more with, Rikku?" I yell over the noise, and she nods, stepping back a moment, before throwing a grenade at the creature, which explodes, scales flying off of it as it roars in pain. Kimahri gives a roar, before standing up straight, a blast of water flying from his mouth and slamming into Evrae. The creature roars again, before flying away for a moment, then flying back and slashing at all of us, all 5 of us being thrown back to where Wakka and Lulu are standing.
"Ouch..." I mutter, casting Cure on myself, as Rikku yells.
"Take us away from it!" she yells, Cid responding with a 'Roger!' over the intercom, as the airship moves out of range of Evrae. Taking a moment to cure everyone, I begin to fire my own spells at it.
"Blizzara!"
"Thundaga!" Another duo of spells from myself and Lulu hit Evrae, mine doing little, but Lulu's angering the creature. It roars, and suddenly, the missile pods on the ship open up. About 2 dozen missiles fly out, and connect with Evrae, the dragon giving a mighty screech, before flying towards us again. Inhaling, the dragon suddenly breathes out a green mist, and I recognize it as poison. Unfortunately, we can't dodge, and all of us fall to the ground, coughing and weakened. Pulling out a spare Antidote, I drink it, everyone else doing the same, before standing up again.
"Armor Break!" I hear Auron cry, running up to Evrae and striking down, the creature taking a significant amount of damage.
"Take this!" Tidus yells, running in and slashing, and I notice Evrae slow down, the effect of Tidus' Delay Buster attack. Wakka also throws the blitzball again, and a dark cloud appears over Evrae's face, the Dark Buster taking hold instantly.
"Alright, hit it with everything you've got! Renzokuken!" I scream, running in and jumping onto Evrae, slashing at its back 8 times, before running and leaping off, landing in a crouch, before turning around.
"Blasting Zone!" I yell, the beam of energy extending from my katana into the sky, before coming down on Evrae, dealing even more damage to the creature.
I turn around, and see Lulu focusing intently, before Firaga spells begin to rain on Evrae, two, four, six, then a seventh hitting in quick succession, the result of Lulu's Fury Overdrive. Auron jumps into the air, and brings the sword down into the airship, an orange explosion overtaking Evrae as the Dragon Fang connects.
Giving another powerful roar, Evrae slashes at us again, but misses, and Kimahri cuts into its arm while it flails, Tidus and myself running up to cut at the dragon again. It might be weakened, but it's tough as nails.
"Demi!" Lulu cries, and a black bubble covers Evrae, collapsing and expanding again, the dragon screeching, before inhaling and breathing another cloud of poison gas at us. Everyone falls again, but quickly cures themselves, getting up, as Rikku throws an Ice Gem at the creature, a Blizzaga blasting into its tough hide again. Evrae growls, and turns to face us, the blindness having wore off, before it looks directly at me, and I freeze, its eyes glowing. The last thing I see is the piercing gaze, as I feel my body freeze up.
It could've been a minute, it could've been an hour, but I regain my senses, to find Evrae still hovering, but farther away from us, Rikku looking over at me.
"What...happened?" I ask, and everyone looks at me.
"Petrified. One of Evrae's most dangerous attacks, or any fiend that possesses it, for that matter." Lulu informs me, and I cringe. That was almost as unpleasant as being knocked out back at Kilika.
"Alright, I'll have to be careful of that." I say, as another barrage of missiles fly in, striking Evrae, causing the creature to give another loud roar, and begin to descend, obviously too badly hurt to continue the fight. "Or not..." I mutter, watching the wyrm fall.
(End FF9 theme Hunter's Chance)
"Hey, look! I see the city!" Tidus says, pointing off into the distance. Indeed, I can see the towers of Bevelle, looming before us, as the airship ascends into the clouds, before diving down towards the city.
"Come on! Let's do this!" I yell to everyone, clenching a fist and sheathing my katana, everyone nodding as we walk closer to the side of the airship. Wedding bells can be heard chiming below, as a figure, presumably Yuna, walks up the stairs, soldiers on every side of her, as well as civilians. A veritable sea of pyreflies, thousands upon thousands of them, are flying over the majestic city. We brace ourselves, as the airship continues to dive, and suddenly, bullets begin to whiz by us, some missing, others bouncing off the metal, as the airship swoops down and hovers, barely moving, beside the area. Suddenly, two harpoons lance out and smash into the ground, near the bottom of the stairs. Everyone dives off the airship, beginning to slide down the cables to the ground below, as guns fire madly around.
"I'm gonna hate this..." I say, following, and landing on one of the cables, leaning forward to keep the wind from blowing me off balance. Tidus flips from the left cable to the right, the one I'm on, and I can't help but imagine how crazy he is. Finally, we reach the bottom, and dive off, Tidus and I drawing our weapons in mid fall.
"Yuna!" he screams, and I glare at the Maester.
"Seymour...I'm coming for you..." I mutter, as everyone takes a fighting stance, several guards approaching with swords.
Tidus is the first to strike, lunging at one of the guards, striking him in the chest, then the neck, sending him down, bleeding heavily. I run in and slash at another guard, spinning around to slice at the other, who ducks. Unfortunately, he ducks right when Auron stabs over with his katana. It impales him in the skull, and he slumps, dead instantly. The second guard steps back, wounded from my strike, as Lulu casts a Thunder spell on him, killing him as well. Running up a set of steps, we're confronted by another set of guards.
"Blizzaga!" Lulu cries, the ice spell slamming into one guard, sending him against the stairs. He's dead on impact, his ribcage crushed.
"Farewell." Auron says, running in and slashing another guard across the throat, as Wakka's blitzball takes care of a third, and Rikku slices a fourth open, Kimahri finishing the job.
"They're slowing us down!" I yell, pointing my hand at another set of guards. "Blizzara!" The spell lances out, striking in the midst of the enemies, scattering them, before they kneel and open fire. "Agh!" I scream, feeling a bullet slam into my leg, but not piercing, thanks to my Sphere Grid. Another strikes my arm, and this one does pierce, lodging itself into my left forearm.
"Thundaga!" A massive lightning bolt descends from the sky, ripping into two guards who were kneeling close together, killing them and knocking their charred bodies back. Casting a Cura spell on myself, I feel the bullet dislodge itself, falling to the ground, and I wince softly, running up the third set of stairs. Rikku runs up beside me, and we take down another duo of guards, getting closer to Yuna with every set of stairs.
Seymour looks down at us, now less than a hundred feet away, and waves a hand, more guards armed with swords and rifles throwing themselves at us, Mika and Yuna standing by idly, the face of the latter frozen in horror. For some strange reason, the machina that were firing at us are now immobile, not firing, giving any movement, or making any attempt to attack, either.
"Get out of my way!" Tidus screams, cutting through two more guards furiously, before kicking a third in the stomach, sending him to the ground, Kimahri stabbing him in the chest as he falls. Rikku cuts across another's throat, toppling him, as Lulu casts bursts of magic to pick off any others. After another 12 guards fall, we reach the top of the stairs, and Maester Kinoc, who I hadn't noticed, raises a hand, several guards beside them raising their rifles at us menacingly.
"This has gone far enough!" he cries. "Stop!" We all stop, glaring white-hot daggers at the three Maesters, as Yuna suddenly brandishes her staff, holding it out before her. Seymour smirks.
"You would play at marriage just for a chance to send me? Your resolve is admirable. All the more fitting to be my lovely wife." he says, Yuna beginning to perform the sending, a couple pyreflies leaking from Seymour's body.
"Stop!" Mika yells, turning to Yuna. "Do you not value your friends' lives? Your actions determine their fate. Protect them...or throw them away. The choice is yours." Yuna looks at Mika, before lowering her head, and dropping her staff, it falling to the bottom of the stairs.
"You are wise." Seymour says, looking at Yuna. Seymour approaches Yuna then, grabbing her shoulders, and pulling her into a kiss. Rikku gasps, as well as Wakka, and Lulu looks away, as I clench my teeth at the sight. Tidus looks angrier than I've ever seen him, and wedding bells ring in the area, several people clapping slowly. I notice Yuna clench her hand into a fist, and Seymour pulls away from the kiss, motioning to a guard.
"Kill them." he says, and suddenly, 2 shots ring out, Rikku giving a cry and falling, as her chest suddenly sprays blood, the bullets having hit her squarely.
"Rikku! NO!" I scream, running over to her side, as she bleeds heavily from the chest wounds. Yuna gives a scream as well, beginning to run over, but Seymour grabs her by the arm. As Rikku goes limp, I stand up, glaring murderous rage at the trio of Seymour, Kinoc, and Mika.
"I'll KILL YOU! Shadow Blitz!" I yell, angry beyond words, not even thinking about my actions as the entire area turns to blackness. Running up before anyone can move, I slash a duo of the riflemen across the stomach, turning to a third and stabbing him in the chest with both my katana and wakizashi. The remaining five look at me, before opening fire, and I take the hits, wincing as the bullets strike me, some bouncing off, but some piercing. Continuing to charge, I smash a foot into the stomach of one, opening his neck up afterwards with a quick slash, then stab the closest guard in the throat with my short blade.
"Get him!" another yells, and pulls out a sword, but before he can strike, I cut his hand off at the wrist, the sword falling to the ground, and he gives a short cry before I slice upwards, cutting across his neck and face as well. The other two give a look of surprise, and drop their weapons, running off, but they don't get far before I've stabbed them down as well, several wounds in their backs causing them to bleed profusely, as my anger begins to calm, the area lighting itself up again.
"Now, for you three!" I yell, charging in, but Seymour, seemingly unfazed by my bloodbath, holds up a hand, and points. I stop, and turn, to see Rikku, being supported by Lulu and Tidus, blood all over her chest, but the wounds gone. The holes in her shirt remain, and she gasps for breath.
"Ben! She's okay!" Tidus yells, and I look at them, realizing they must've used a potion or a revival item to heal her. Another guard is sticking a gun in Auron's face, the older man seemingly unfazed by the action, and suddenly, Yuna's voice breaks the tense silence.
"No! Throw down your weapons! Let them go, or else..." Turning, I see Yuna standing on a windowsill, not far away from the group of us. Tidus runs up, Seymour lowering his hand, the guard lowering his weapon as well.
"Leave now! Please!" she begs Tidus, who ignores her.
"You're coming with us!" he tells her, and she shakes her head.
"Don't worry! Go!" she replies, Seymour walking towards her slowly, and I tense, ready for anything after what just happened.
"This is foolish. If you fall, you'll die." he tells her, and Yuna wipes her lips, apparently just as appalled by the kiss as the rest of us.
"Don't worry. I can fly." she says, turning to Tidus. "Believe." she tells him, before smiling, and falling backwards out the window, everyone gasping in shock.
"Yuna!" Tidus cries, as we all rush over to the ledge. Yuna falls towards the ground, but summons Valefor, the aeon descending from the sky and moving under her, Yuna falling safely onto its back.
"I'm going with her!" I say, hopping onto the window ledge. "Get out of here, now!" I say, looking down at Yuna. "Yuna!" I yell, motioning to her, and she nods, Valefor stopping below the window, as I leap off, landing on the aeon with a grunt, before sitting down, as we fly off towards the temple, headed for the Chamber of the Fayth.
Man, this was a hard one to write. I debated with myself a while on exactly what should happen at Bevelle, and wrote the part with Rikku, almost scrapped it, before deciding to keep it and see what everyone thought. As always, please review!
