Bevelle:
Auron walked into the area he'd seen Icewind run off to, and stopped in the doorway by what he saw. Icewind was holding Rikku in what looked like a loving embrace.
He'd never figured on him recovering, from what he had seen earlier of the young man. Or caring deeply for another again.
&&&&&
&&&&&
The ship shook, and I narrowed my eyes as I saw what looked like a Rayquaza (I studied legendaries, remember), plus or minus a few things. "Uh… Rikku? That looks like trouble."
She said something in Al Bhed. It sounded like a curse.
Another voice said "The guardian wyrm, Evrae. The protector of Bevelle… this carpet has teeth." I turned, and scowled at Auron. "How long were you there?"
"Long enough."
Cid's voice came over a loudspeaker "Rikku, do you read me? We're going to fight
that thing! Get on deck and show him what you got! Go!"
Rikku looked out the window. "If that's what's keeping us from Yunie, it won't be here for long!"
I nodded. "Let's see how much it likes a Big Bang to the face. Let's go." She smiled, and led the way to the ship's roof-thingy.
&&&&&
I looked at Evrae again. "Nope, not like Rayquaza. More ugly." I let out all my pokemon. "We don't have time for the likes of you, bastard. Go away!"
It shot a ball of energy at me, which I managed to duck. "Fine, your funeral!"
Cid said over the speakers "We gotta keep our distance, boys, but we can't let her get too far away. You all have to tell me when to move! But tell me quick, eh? This rig ain't too nimble, you hear?"
Tidus nodded. "Roger! I'll give the commands!"
Rikku pitched in "Not alone, you won't!"
Auron glanced at me, and everyone else. "Are they ready?"
I shook my head. "Give us some time. We'll power up, and blast the bastard with a more powerful attack than last time. If that doesn't kill it, it sure will hurt it!"
He nodded. Everyone charged the thing but me. I glanced at everyone. "Power up moves. Sunseeker, Sunny Day. Mindstrike, use Bulk Up, you get to use Shadow Ball this time… Balrog, hit yourself with an Ember. Suicune, Calm Mind… Psymachine, you do the same… Erastrani, power up your Hyper Beam."
They nodded, and charged up their attacks. Evrae spat a poison attack at everyone as they attacked it, and Rikku used an item to cure them. I stayed out of it, I needed to have a clear head for when to yell.
(A/N: Balrog doesn't have Early Bird, he has Flash Fire, which is why Icewind is ordering the self-ember attack. Just clearing things up.)
"Cid! Pull the ship back, we're using a risky move! Everyone else, OUT OF THE WAY!"
Auron called everyone back, and the ship got enough distance away. I turned to everyone, and nodded. Mindstrike called forth his Shadow Ball, and it hovered a bit away from the airship. It would be the focus, and direct the attack. It bent into a lens under Mindstrike's control.
A Solarbeam, Ice Beam, Fire Blast, Psychic (it was an energy burst, rather than a TK attack, for purposes of using Big Bang. Psymachine's worked on doing that), and Hyper Beam hit the floating ball. It glimmered darkly, then a black beam of energy burst out the other side, scoring a direct hit on Evrae. The energy continued to pour out for about five seconds, then the Shadow Ball lit up, exploding from handling too much energy. Luckily, the airship wasn't hit.
&&&&&
When the smoke cleared, a ragged form trailed the airship. I whistled softly. "Damn, that thing's tough. Ah well."
Cid's voice crackled through the speakers "Kid, whatever the hell you did, it sure worked! We'll take care of it now!"
Missiles flew from the airship, and impacted Evrae. It screeched, began to fall from the sky. I shook my head softly. "I told you to get the hell out of our way."
"Cruud! Fa'na mucehk bufan" I shook my head, even if I couldn't understand it. "That doesn't sound good…"
"Rao! E caa Bevelle!"
&&&&&
Gunfire and shells opened up on us. I swore, not amused. "God damn hypocrites! Balrog, Psymachine, use a Protect… make sure we don't get hit! You too, Mindstrike!"
A green shield covered the ship. It rattled from a few impacts, but managed to stay intact. They've faced worse than anti-aircraft fire.
Cid fired some weird harpoons with cables at the city, and Tidus was the first to jump on. I returned everyone except Erastrani. "Keep an eye on us, and no getting shot." I then jumped on a cable myself.
&&&&&
When I got there, Tidus was fighting guards with guns. Damned hypocrites – didn't they bitch about Al Bhed using the same thing? Rikku had Vib out, to my surprise, and he was disabling guards with Dragonbreath.
We fought our way through them, until we got close to Yuna. Kinoc drew a gun, and pointed it at us. "This has gone far enough!"
Auron grabbed Tidus, who nearly rushed Kinoc. "Stop!" Vib landed on Rikku's head, and stayed there.
We were surrounded by guns. I glared at them, and began to charge up my energy. I certainly was pissed enough to use an overdrive… but I needed time. I'd already done it once (I'd used a Flareon's abilities to breathe a LOT of fire at guards, making them scatter). Yuna drew her staff, clearly trying to send Seymour. She looked incredible in the wedding dress… but sad.
Seymour turned to Yuna. "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."
I snorted, trying to distract them from Yuna. "Your wife, Seymour? You're the most conceited bastard half-breed I've ever met, and that's saying something."
Seymour turned away from her, anger flashing in his eyes. I smirked. "Whacha gonna do, try to kill me? Don't make me laugh." I caught Yuna readying herself, and tried to stall for more time "Your Aeon's a joke, and so are you. How the hell you managed to kill your father is a wonder of this world." Kinoc clearly was pissed by the end of that. "Stop! Do you not value your friends' lives? Your actions determine their fate. Protect them...or throw them away. The choice is yours."
Yuna dropped her staff, defeated. Seymour smiled, turning to her at the sound. "You are wise."
I locked my eyes onto her, hoping she could understand. 'Don't believe him, he'll kill us anyway!' Yuna's eyes revealed that she got the message – they were full of sadness, and she nodded slightly.
He tried to kiss her, but she backed away, evading him. He turned to the guards, but his eyes locked onto me as he said, "Kill them."
Kinoc aimed his gun at Auron. "I am sorry, but it is for Yevon."
Auron said softly "Aren't those weapons forbidden by Yevon?"
Kinoc smirked. "There are exceptions…."
Yuna cut him off, shouting "No!" She was standing near the edge "throw down your weapons! Let them go, or else..." She stepped a bit closer to the edge, her intent clear.
Seymour waved his hand, and the guards lowered their weapons. Tidus tried to go closer to her, but I restrained him. Yuna cried "Leave now! Please!"
Tidus shook his head. "You're coming with us!"
"Don't worry! Go!"
Seymour said "This is foolish. If you fall, you'll die."
Yuna smiled softly. "Don't worry. I can fly. Believe." She then allowed herself to fall. Tidus screamed her name, but Valefor caught her and brought her down. I figured on that – she used it like I woulda used Erastrani.
&&&&&
I smiled softly, catching the look in Seymour's eyes. Seymour thought he'd won – he still had us. "My turn. I'm no hostage." I raised my right hand in a fist, then pointed it at Seymour. A Hyper Beam struck him, and threw him into a wall. I guess you become tougher when you're dead, I think that would have killed any living human – or Guado. "Consider that payback for thinking of that stupid idea. Just die already." The guards drew their weapons, and pointed them at the sky, thinking I'd summoned an Aeon. I shook my head – there was no way they'd hit Erastrani with those pieces of crap.
Rikku whispered to us "Cover your eyes!"
I shut them, and there was an explosion. When I opened them, the guards were blinded. "Now, we run!" "Rikku, call back Vib!" She returned him to his pokeball, and we ran for it. I recalled Erastrani from the sky – I doubted anyone could see the pokeball I used.
&&&&&
While we ran, Tidus gave me a look. I grinned at him "I knew you'd want to kill him. Hell knows I'd like to do the same. So… that was for you. He'll be feeling that, even if he IS dead. So, where'd Yuna go?"
Kimahri said (holy crap, he's TALKING again!) "Bevelle Palace is temple. Yuna goes to one place only."
"The Chamber of the Fayth…"
We exchanged looks, and ran for it.
&&&&&
Lulu looked around worriedly. "It's too quiet. A trap?"
I shrugged. "Who cares?"
Tidus added, "Yuna's waiting for us!"
Rikku walked over to a panel, and pressed a few keys. A hum was heard as the platform activated. Wakka glared at the machine. "What's a machina doing in the temple?"
Rikku shrugged. "I suppose it comes in handy."
"That's not what I mean! The teachings! What about the teachings?"
Rikku backed away from him. "Hey, don't look at me!" I softly tapped him on the side, and he blanched. "Sorry."
&&&&&
We took the platform down, and Rikku went to go 'play' with the next control panel.
Wakka didn't bother to glare at the control panel this time. "Another machina? Man..."
Auron sounded amused. "So this is Yevon's true face. They betray their own teachings."
Wakka looked down. "They treated us like dirt."
I shrugged, not bothering to poke fun of him. "Surprise surprise. I figured they were hypocrites."
The platform came down, and we took it to the entrance of the Cloister of Trials.
&&&&&
The Cloister of Trials was quite a trial (pardon the pun) on my nerves – it was annoyingly long, and a MAZE. What's more, I couldn't cheat by using Erastrani or Psymachine; we were enclosed in an energy barrier. By the end, I would have been asleep if I wasn't so worried and pissed off.
&&&&&
Tidus ran into an empty room, "Yuna?"
Wakka looked at the closed door. "Inside, maybe?"
Tidus ran to the door, and tried to open it. "Then what are we standing here for?"
Wakka tried to pry him off "H-Hey!"
Tidus pushed him away. "You can stuff your taboos!" Kimahri helped him, and they managed to force the door open. Tidus ran inside, as did everyone else (even Wakka).
&&&&&
A ghostly form was hovering near Yuna, who was bent in prayer. Tidus's eyes widened at the figure, as if he'd seen him before. I knew I had – he was one of the Fayth. "Wh-What's that?"
Auron answered him. "A Fayth. They join with a summoner, and together receive the Aeon. They are human souls, imprisoned in stone by ancient Yevon rites. The dead should be allowed to rest." Auron, you almost slipped there. Geez, and you wondered WHY I knew you were dead.
The Fayth entered Yuna, and she passed out. Tidus ran over, and picked her up in his arms.
He ran out, then swore. I was the last out. I figured we'd been caught… but I was supposed to protect Yuna. So I'd be damned if I just sat there.
&&&&&
Turns out I was right. A firing squad was there, as was Kinoc. "There's the last of them. You are to stand trial."
I snorted. "A fair trial, or one of those rigged ones you hypocrites are so fond of?"
Kinoc pointed his gun at me, but lowered it. "You'll pay for that remark."
"With what? You bastards have no idea WHERE I summon my Aeons from. And I'm the only one that knows. Shoot me, you loose more than win. Because they're not really Aeons…"
Rikku tried to elbow me in an effort to make me stop, but I caught her eye. She hung her shoulders, but I stopped. Luckily, Kinoc didn't think that we were anything other than just friends.
&&&&&
We were detained for a while, then dragged out to the court. A Ronso declared "The High Court of Yevon is now in session. The sacred offices of this court seek nothing but absolute truth, in Yevon's name." I whispered softly "Yea, right." "To those on trial: Believe in Yevon, and speak only the truth."
Lulu whispered, "Maester Kelk Ronso."
Kelk said "Summoner Yuna. You have sworn to protect the people of Yevon, true?"
Yuna nodded "Yes."
"Then, consider: You have inflicted dire injury upon Maester Seymour Guado..." "He's dead, thank you very much!" I interrupted, but he just continued, "conspired with the Al Bhed and joined in their insurrection…" "What insurrection?" He scowled at me, and I glared right back. He flinched, Ronso and all. And I didn't even have Suicune helping me out with a Leer! "These are traitorous and unforgivable crimes that disturb the order of Yevon. Tell this court what possessed you to participate in such violence!" His voice was terse at the end, apparently I'd pissed him off.
Yuna said carefully "Your Grace... The real traitor is Maester Seymour! He killed his father Jyscal with his own hands!"
Kelk turned to Seymour in shock. "What is this!"
Seymour smiled at Kelk, his head on his hands. "Hmm? Hadn't you heard?"
Yuna continued, a bit braver this time "Not only that... Maester Seymour is already dead!"
I grinned "Told ya. But no one ever listens to the guy with blue hair unless he's a complete asshole, and has killed his own father."
Lulu gave me a look that said 'you're making it worse' "It is a summoner's sacred duty to send the souls of the departed to the Farplane! Yuna is only doing her job as a summoner!"
Yuna spoke to Mika "Grand Maester Mika... Please, send Seymour now!"
Mika smirked "Send the unsent to where they belong?"
Yuna sounded confused as she said, "Yes! Maester?"
Mika continued to smirk "Send the dead...hmm?" He began to fade, as pyreflies began to float out of his body. "You would have to send me, too."
I growled "Why am I not surprised? Damn it all!"
Kelk spoke grandly "Grand Maester Mika is a wise leader. Even in death, he is invaluable to Spira!"
Kinoc smirked along with Mika. "Enlightened rule by the dead is preferable to the misguided failures of the living."
I snorted, glaring at Kinoc. "If you're enlightened, then I'm Mewtwo." Oh crap, that partially applies. When I get strong enough, I can take on his form for awhile – and I sure as hell want to try it. But that's not true yet. "You're dumber than I am, and you've been around longer." Lulu gave me a look, and I grinned. I was enjoying this chance to vent on them. They couldn't cut someone down in public, it would draw WAY too much attention.
Seymour smiled softly, clearly amused by the look on Kinoc's face. "Life is but a passing dream, but the death that follows is eternal. Wouldn't you say so, guardian? You have sent enough to their grave…"
"I just wish that you would STAY in your grave!"
Mika continued where Seymour left off, "men die. Beasts die. Trees die. Even continents perish. Only the power of death truly commands in Spira. Resisting its power is futile."
Yuna spoke softly, "but what of Sin? I am a summoner, my lord, like my father before me! I am on a pilgrimage to stop the death that Sin brings." Her voice grew louder "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 all in vain?"
Mika seemed to shrug, saying lightly, "Not in vain. No matter how many summoners give their lives, Sin cannot be truly defeated." I smiled softly, and whispered "want to bet on that?" "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."
Auron shook his head. "Never futile...but never ending."
Mika smiled, "Indeed, that is the essence of Yevon. Yevon is embodied by eternal, unchanging continuity, summoner."
I said softly, "nothing's eternal…"
Yuna looked down. "No… that can't be right!"
Mika smirked. "Those who question these truths-they are traitors!"
Yuna opened her mouth, but I cut her off "Don't you mean heretics, you hypocrite! At least get your terminology right!"
"Take them away!"
&&&&&
I sighed, in the lockup they'd put me in. Since they thought I could summon Aeons now, I was alone – but the others were nearby. They'd said that I couldn't use magic in this cage – not that it mattered. I never used magic anyway, just a blade (wait… is my overdrive magic? I don't think so, I saw Tidus and Auron use their overdrives on the machine when the anti-magic thing was up…). My pokemon used something they might call magic – but guess what, it wasn't.
Tidus whispered "can you spring us out?"
I nodded, but footsteps stopped my reply. Kinoc was there, escorted by a mass of guards. "Come out. Your sentence has been decided."
I could swear I heard Auron snort. "Sentence? Don't you mean execution?"
"Really, now, what person would execute a dear friend?"
Auron deadpanned "You would."
His face reddened. "You two…" He pointed to me and Auron "will be sent to the Maze of Sorrow. You…" He pointed to Tidus "will drown in the Aquifice of Despair."
"Aw… and I was just going to tell you how I called my Aeons. Oh well, too bad. Now I'm taking THAT secret to the maze…"
Kinoc drew his gun, and I smirked. "Go ahead, do that. Of course, my Aeons don't die when I do, and they're unaffected by anti-magic crap. They'll pop out and rampage here. I don't think that even a dead guy could live long when they're pissed at you. You'd have to be Sent to escape their wrath."
He lowered the weapon, and scowled.
&&&&&
The solders near me wore strange amulets – probably magic deflectors. I smiled softly – they hadn't even bothered to take our weapons away. An open pit was before us, and they pointed their weapons at us. "In." I smirked, and felt ghostly wings form again.
Auron jumped in, and I followed him. He must have landed weirdly, because he passed out when he landed.
I landed with a thud (the wings hadn't fully formed, because I wasn't pissed off), and walked away. I figured that if they sent one summoner here, they sent another here. The wings faded after I landed. I guess that my overdrives fade after I don't need them anymore – or when I set down when it's a flying pokemon.
&&&&&
Turns out I was right. Yuna was passed out only a short distance from where we were forced in. I heard some machinery growl, and a hum. Yuna woke up, and gasped. "Where…"
I shrugged. "Maze of Sorrow, whatever that is. Suicune!" Suicune burst out next to me, and made a soft growling noise. Yuna looked at me, then shook her head, apparently trying to clear it. "Do you know where…"
"Tidus? He'll be fine, they sent him to drown. Like that'll happen."
Yuna nodded, and slowly got up. "Traitors…"
I frowned slightly. "Yuna… don't let it get to you. I've been called… many things before. You can't let what others think stop you. You're in the right, I promise you."
She nodded, and started to walk off. I followed her carefully.
&&&&&
Lulu, Auron (he'd woken up), and Kimahri were also sent here. I dunno why they were so idiotic to send the people who could swim forever to drown, and us to a maze. Stupidity?
I just hoped Rikku was alright. I've never known if she could swim well.
&&&&&
Yuna turned to me, as we still walked in the semi-darkness. "Where… what happened when we were fighting lord… Seymour?"
I shrugged. "I must have ripped open a hole in the fabric of reality, because I came to in a bizarre white space. Two of the most powerful pokemon from my world were there, as were the Fayth." I smiled softly "and they're the ones that gave me the overdrive I've been using. It basically lets me shift my form… and draw on the powers of a pokemon from my world." I shrugged, and said softly "and I learned from Mewtwo that my world's doing better. He's been working to foil the remaining two teams – Aqua and Magma. I'm even kinda becoming a hero to some people."
Lulu asked, "What did you do?"
I shrugged. "I… took out a nasty gang, called Team Rocket. I dismantled their organization, took out their leader. They'd been terrorizing everyone… and killed my fiancée, if you didn't hear."
Yuna asked me slowly, "Mewtwo… you've mentioned that name before. Who is that?"
I smiled. "Mewtwo? Mew's clone. He's a superpowerful pokemon – almost a god, in terms of power. He used to be the Rocket's slave, until I took out their boss and freed him. I'll explain more when we're out of this place, if you remind me. Suicune, got a route?"
She nodded, and led the way. I turned to Yuna "and… one other thing. I'm not going to use my pokemon unless we really need them. It'll make sense later."
&&&&&
Suicune stopped, and I shook my head. "Isaaru." Damn.
Isaaru gazed at Yuna in something akin to horror. "Lady Yuna... So it is you!"
Yuna looked down. "Why are you here?"
Isaaru held his head like he had a headache. "We rode the airship to the Calm Lands, then came to Bevelle. Maester Kinoc summoned us then. Ordered us to "deal with the traitors.""
I sighed. "That would be us. You gonna try something?"
Isaaru looked down, then at Yuna, his face a mask. "The temple's orders are law. Even if you are Lord Braska's flesh and blood... You're a traitor!"
I rolled my eyes, then stepped between the two of them. "According to who? Yevon? They don't even send their own dead. They use forbidden machina whenever it's convenient. They're a bunch of lying hypocrites. You want to follow them? And it's heretic, not traitor." I continued sadly, "There's a difference."
Isaaru hung his head, his mask slipping. But he had his mind made up "I will do this unhappy deed. Forgive me, Lady Yuna."
He began to make the motions of summoning an Aeon. I stepped aside, letting Yuna come forward. Before she started, I whispered to her "Never give up, even in the darkest times. We're not going down now, and not going to stop until Sin is dead and buried for all time."
She nodded, and summoned her own Aeon to face of with Isaaru.
&&&&&
Isaaru called three Aeons. Yuna managed to defeat all of them, and Isaaru dropped to his knees in defeat. Yuna ran over to him, looking worried. He said spitefully, "Stay away!"
I shook my head, but Lulu said softly to Yuna "Yuna, let's go."
The way to the surface is up ahead. Go, we'll follow.
Yuna, Kimahri, and Lulu ran ahead. Auron and I stayed behind. I said softly "beware those who brand others as traitors. Whenever they say that, you have to worry if they are actually traitors, or people fighting for a just cause. Sorry to say Isaaru, you tried to kill people who are on the right side…" That was something, coming from me. I'd done all the right things for the wrong reasons – and the wrong way. Some hero I am… but at least Giovanni's dead. I'll take that.
Auron stood over him. "Your pilgrimage is over." I gave him a worried look (I'd said something like that – to a Rocket Executive that I killed a few moments later), and he went to go catch up with Yuna. I sighed, and gave Suicune a sad smile. She shook her head softly, and we walked off.
&&&&&
I heard Rikku cry "Yunie!" I ran into the room, and saw Rikku catch Yuna in a tight hug. "You're all right? We were so worried! It's good to have you back!"
Yuna slowly peeled her off. "Thank you."
I smiled softly. "No hi for me? Aw… what I do this time?"
Rikku turned, and said something in Al Bhed. She then kissed me on the cheek, and whispered "Hi."
I chuckled, rubbing the spot she'd kissed. "Hi yourself."
Tidus looked at us, then turned to Yuna. "Um...I...uh..."
I grinned wickedly. "He missed you, Yuna." Rikku began to giggle.
Tidus opened his mouth to reply, but pounding footsteps cut him off. Everyone turned to stare as Seymour and a group of soldiers rushed in, carrying the dead body of Kinoc. The soldiers threw the body to the ground.
Auron looked from the corpse, to Seymour. "Kinoc…"
I quietly swore, and suggested that Seymour go do several anatomically impossible things to himself.
Seymour smiled grandly, ignoring my profanity. "I have saved him. 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. You see...if all life were to end in Spira, all suffering would end." So would happiness, idiot… "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!"
I shook my head. "Save the world? Heh, you're more deluded than Team Aqua and Magma put together." I glared at him, and started to fuel my rage. I'd need all the power I could to draw on.
Kimahri had the same idea, because he went to stab Seymour. The spear stuck in him, but Seymour didn't die. Instead, he backhanded Kimahri away, and frowned. "Unpleasant... very well. I will give you your death. You seem to want it so." Seymour glowed darkly, and transformed into a demonlike form. The soldiers and the dead body of Kinoc disappeared. A floating parasite like thing of machinery hovered near him.
I smiled darkly. "You want to play with dark energies? I'll take you on!" My skin turned green, and spikes began to burst from my back, shredding my shirt. The pain was intense – I'd never hurt when transforming before… I must be pushing my luck, trying to draw on a Tyranitar's power. I turned to everyone else "Get out of here! I'll deal with him!"
Kimahri added "Run! Protect Yuna!"
Tidus drew his sword "No way! I'm fighting!"
I shook my head, while the spikes continued to grow (even from the back of my head). "No you're not. GO! Suicune, make sure Rikku stays safe!"
I heard Rikku whimper, and I turned to her. "I'll be fine." A few holes opened in my body, and I turned back to Seymour. The demon was staring in something akin to amazement. Kimahri took the opportunity to take his spear out of the figure, but he didn't react. "Transformation…"
I could hear the others running off, besides Kimahri – Suicune along with them. I grinned in relief, then smirked when I felt my skin harden to a rock's toughness. "Surprise…" I then grinned as sand began to pelt the demon Seymour. "Sand Stream. Don't bother to…" White magic flared out of the form, and the sand fell for a moment, then whirled around him again. "…dispel it, it's not magic."
Kimahri looked between me, and Seymour. I guess we both were looking demonic by this time. Especially since I was about six feet six, green, my body had holes in it that emitted dark energies, and my skin looked like it was hacked from rock. Seymour hit me with a firaga spell, but I just chuckled as it fizzled, bouncing off. I then grinned darkly, and slammed my foot down. "Rock Slide!"
Parts of the ceiling fell onto Seymour, and obliterated the floating whatever. Kimahri made up his mind, and pointed his spear at the rubble, waiting for Seymour to show himself.
I stopped the transformation after I felt that I could use Earthquake. It was too painful, I wasn't going full Tyranitar. So no Hyper Beam… I doubted I could manage that, anyway.
&&&&&
&&&&&
Rikku looked back at the spiky figure. "What's happening to him?"
Wakka spoke "It's just his overdrive, ya? He's got a weird one, but it sure seems to work!"
Yuna stopped, and looked back. "I'm not leaving them behind!"
Auron cut in, trying to stop the argument before it started. "They're guardians. Protecting you is everything."
Yuna looked down. "Auron…"
Tidus grinned after a moment. "That's right! We're all guardians! Yeah, and you know what that means? Yuna... Anywhere you go, I'll follow!"
Yuna looked up hopefully. "Anywhere I go?"
Tidus grinned at her, and said, "Yeah, anywhere!"
Yuna began to smile. "Well, then!"
The two of them said "Let's go!", and ran off, hand in hand. Tidus cried, "Hey, leave some for us!"
Rikku ran after them "And me!" Suicune nodded, and dashed ahead of them all.
Wakka and Lulu exchanged a questioning gaze, and ran after them. Auron remained still for a moment, then followed the rest of them. He muttered quietly "children."
&&&&&
&&&&&
I growled as a wateraga spell hit me. I might not be fully a Tyranitar, but that still hurt. "Oh yea? My turn! EARTHQUAKE!" I concentrated with all my will, then stepped forward, slicing my sword in the air.
The earth rumbled under Seymour, then exploded (a small jet of magma bursting out – it missed him, though). He went staggering back, an outraged look on his face. "Your power shall…" A Hydro Pump cut him off, as he was thrown away by the sheer impact of the pressurized water.
I smiled softly, but it hardened when I heard Yuna and Tidus. "Oh, crap." Seymour began to smile. "It is good to see you again, Lady Yuna, but you don't seem pleased..."
Yuna cried, "I'll only be pleased when you're gone to the Farplane!" She then skidded to a stop behind me. I turned, and nodded carefully at them. "Hey. Want a…" I flinched as electricity ran through me for a moment, then continued in a pained voice (the wateraga spell had weakened my defense to electricity) "slice?"
Yuna cast a cura spell on me in response, then stood back. I turned to Seymour. "You know, that's low… even for you." Sand began to whirl even faster around him, and it then focused on his eyes, blinding him, aided by my concentration on the effects. "Tidus, slice and dice him. He's blind as a Zubat. Suicune, you want to freeze him?" I could feel a sense of dark humor emanating from her as she replied, Gladly.
Tidus nodded, and struck Seymour six times with his blade, then Suicune froze him. Midway through Tidus's slicing, Rikku ran right next to me. "What… is that? What's happening to you?"
I sighed softly. "Tyranitar. I'm drawing on the form of one of them – and their powers."
The ice surrounding Seymour rattled, then shattered. A blitzball nailed Seymour in the face, and then a Blizzara spell. "Hey, thought you were leaving some for us too, ya?"
I nodded. "Feel free. I'll take out the Sand Stream, you go vent some steam. Suicune, let them do it, ok?" Fine…
I sighed, and let the Overdrive elapse. Everyone else rushed Seymour, except Rikku, who stayed next to me (I guess I worried her). Even Auron went for Seymour. Seymour fought back, but the wounds he'd gotten from me were taking their toll on him. Having the ceiling collapse on you, then getting blasted by an Earthquake isn't exactly a fun experience.
&&&&&
Seymour fell, and disappeared. I swore. "Dammit… he'd just going to keep on coming back until we send him!"
Tidus clenched his fist. "Next time, for sure."
Auron cut us off with an annoyed comment, "Celebrate later. We must escape first." He then led the way out. I had to dig for another black shirt, mine was ruined.
