OCAdam: Well, whatever. I wasn't being accusatory, just wondering.
DarkKeitaro: Done. Anything else?
Luin: (reading over the script for the epilog) Well, that's interesting…
Sandstone: (Holding a holy water sprinkler in one hand, a AK-15 in the other) And you'll keep that to yourself.
Luin: (Sweatdropping) Uh, sure. I thought you said you'd end with the...
Sandstone: Shaddup.
Inside Sin:
As we floated through this… weird place, Seymour's laughter rang in my ears. I looked around, and then his ugly mug appeard before us. The laughter became louder (I would have killed for five fingers – so I could flick him off), and we somehow entered the image's eye, fire flashing all over the ship.
Everyone was somewhere between screaming and yelling, myself included. And a MENTAL scream isn't something to sneeze at.
After a few moments (things had settled down), Rikku asked what everyone else had on the tip of their tongues "What… was that… Seymour?"
Tidus growled "Probably" Yuna was hanging onto him by this time – she knew that their time together wasn't going to be very long. I wish I'd kept my yap shut, to be honest. Stupid mindprobe.
I shuddered. Does anyone else just wish that the bastard would just DIE for good?
Rikku wasn't much better, though. She leaned on me, and asked, "Luin… uh… are you going to go away too?"
I wish I knew. The Fayth brought me here. If they become basically powerless… I'm not sure.
Somehow, the wind swirled, and Suicune added to the two of us Actually, the Fayth brought you to a middle point. You brought us the rest of the way, somehow. You might lose your ability to transform… you probably will. So the weaker...
"Yu Yevon becomes, the weaker your transformations become?"
I shook my head. Not like that, no. Once the Fayth become weaker – Yuna's going to summon them for Yu Yevon to possess, to weaken him… I'm not sure. The Fayth granted me the overdrive...
&&&&&
As soon as we got off the airship, Tidus shouted "Dad! Where are you?"
Auron said "We must go to him."
Tidus pushed his way through the crowd (there was a crowd, too – none of the pokemon were in their pokeballs, so that meant 14 bodies in the way), and said "Then we will! Let me take front!"
Yuna walked up to him, and kissed him on the cheek, making him blush slightly. "Good luck."
Tidus looked at the two paths, and then shut his eyes. After a few moments, he took the left-hand one. "Follow me"
I didn't crack a wiseass comment. It was tempting, but no. Now was not the time. Too many fiends, too little energy.
&&&&&
Lulu said weakly "doublecast… Ultima!", and the nearby fiends were surrounded by two spheres that exploded. One managed to survive that – but then was roasted by a stray flame from Erastrani's Fire Blast. It was nearly dead, anyway…
I fired another Psychic blast at the fiends Tidus was finishing off, destroying 4 of the 6 by the simple method of making them move REALLY fast into each other. Tidus and Rikku took care of the other two. Then the purple things I'd just killed roared to the sky, and meteors appeared.
Oh, shit.
&&&&&
&&&&&
A bunch of bodies lay on the ground. Suicune, and a few of the other pokemon had managed to shield themselves… but not the Mewtwo, or anyone human – nor Mindstrike, Erastrani, or Vib. Luin had tried to shield everything, and the Protect had broken under the strain. They lay dead from the meteors.
Suicune shook her head bitterly… and then Luin's pack (Rikku had it) lit up. Particals of light spread from it, and entered each corpse. Each stirred, and started to act as if they were waking from a deep sleep.
&&&&&
&&&&&
"What… happened? I saw mom…"
I blinked, and finally said, I think we died. Nevermind, let's keep going.
"Lucky something brought us back, ya?" Yuna and Rikku looked over questioningly at me, and I nodded. I suspect so, yes. But it's a one-shot, so we can't screw up like that again.
&&&&&
We were all tired, we'd been swarmed by fiend after fiend… and then being broght back from the dead took it out of you. Luckily, the staircase that was in sight didn't have any fiends nearby it.
Yuna raced over to a blue sphere that was floating nearby, and held her hand out to it. Blue light ran into her body, and from her, waves of healing (and re-energizing) light ran over the exhausted group of guardians (myself, Auron, and the pokemon included).
I looked up at the stairs, and shook my head. Mewtwo's form was beginning to not feel as alien anymore, I was used to the tail. Does anyone else have a feeling that something is scaring off the fiends?
Auron looked over at me from his contemplation of the blue-sphere. "Of course. I can tell you it's an unsent."
Tidus cracked his knuckes loudly, saying "Seymour."
Suicune paced over to me, a carnivor's grin on her face.
We spent a lot more time recuperating there than normal. Everyone wanted to go at Seymour with everything.
&&&&&
Tidus shouted "Don't you ever give up?", as soon as Seymour came into view. He had an exhultant look on his face, as if he'd been blessed. "Sin has chosen me. I am part of Sin. I am one with Sin, forever. Immortal!"
I'd say he's just gone off the deep end. No, wait, he's been completely stark-raving mad for awhile now.
Tidus must have thought he was as crazy as I did, he said dismissivly, "Sin just absorbed you."
Seymour laughed madly. "I will learn to control it, from within. I have all the time in the world. Since you were gracious enough to dispose of Yunalesca...the only means of destroying Sin is forever gone. Now nothing can stop us!"
Seymour disappeared, and a crystalline form made of light replaced where he had been. Grids hung from it's back – four balls that reminded me of the hairpieces that Lulu wore. More like four of those hairpieces. The first thing I was going to do was RIP those things out of it's back, and then destroy them.
Tidus shouted "Well, we can!"
I stepped forward, not hovering on the ground. I idly raised my hand, and a ball of pure shadow energy. It was a Shadow Ball, and massive one. Ghost energy tends to be dark – and obsure light.
Seymour looked unafraid. His ego must have jumped by leaps and bounds. "By all means, try! You should thank me. Your death means your father's life!"
Feh. I reached out (I'd already thrown the Shadow Ball at Seymour), and ripped out one of the four hairpiece things. Seymour shouted in pain as I purposely collapsed the pyreflies that kept it in existence. I grinned, and then turned to the pokemon.
Lulu struck next, using Doublecast to hurl two Ultima spells at Seymour. Then Tidus with Blitz Ace, and so on. You get the idea, everyone used their toughest attacks. We didn't want to give him a chance.
Seymour didn't seem affected after everything we'd tossed at him. Actually, he was staggering, but he cast spell after spell, not giving Tidus, Yuna, and the rest a chance.
But he'd ignored someone again. I nodded, and Suicune activated her Hydro Cannon, beginning to have a watery light around her. It's kinda my fault she got that attack, when I was Lugia; I purposefully dived into their brains, and unlocked those attacks. Her, Balrog, and Sunseeker. I dunno HOW I did that for Balrog, my memory's kinda fuzzy on that bit.
Tidus grinned at us as he saw us standing as a group. Seymour looked over at us, and I caught the crystalline eyes widen.
Seymour, meet Elemental Strike. Guys?
The others fired their elemental attacks at Seymour, and I did the same. Earth, grass (well, it was a massive tree that launched hundreds of killer leaves – close enough), psy-lightning, dark-tinged fire, water, steel, dragon-fire, and ghost mixed with muscle-power… and of course, myself. I provided the psy-lightning.
Seymour tried to ward it off, but Mindstrike had anticipated that, part of the muscle-power was a Brick Break.
Seymour's form wavered between existence and not existing. Auron shouted, "Enough!", and struck him once in a cleaving blow.
The form collapsed, and regular dead Seymour lay on his hands and knees, looking up at us.
Seymour cried "No."
Wakka said to Yuna "Now! Yuna, send him!"
Yuna nodded quickly, and started up a Sending "Right!"
Seymour said as he faded "So it is you, after all, who will send me. But even after I am gone, Spira's sorrow will prevail."
I said calmly No, it won't.
Tidus added "Sin will be right behind you."
I nodded, and added my own tidbit. And without the Terror of Death, Spira's sorrow will be no worse than life's growing pains… and that is not sorrow. It is life.
I looked down, and sighed. Rikku touched my back, and then smiled at me. "You're not alone."
Suicune said sadly He never has been. But he needed a human companion; a friend at least. Without Ashley to balance him out… there is only so much I can do… I am not human, I lack certain human emotions, and common understandings.
Yuna listened to Suicune (Seymour was GONE FOR GOOD now), and looked sadly off into the distance. "That's so sad... Luin, how long were you alone?"
To be honest, I'm not really sure anymore. I never was, I just remember fighting Rockets. A matter of years… could be months… I lost my sense of time when I was on Mount Silver, or at war with the Rockets. Could've been months, or years. Dunno anymore. Heck, I don't even know my own age.
&&&&&
When we reached Tidus's dad (Jecht), T didn't look happy to see him. Jecht was facing away from us, his arms crossed. He said crossly "You're late, Auron. Kid, did you hold him up?"
Auron said "I know", and I shrugged. Tidus looked at me, and I shrugged again. I just knew he was referring to me. Sort of, yes. But who can adjust to the ability to take on the abilities of the titan of Ice?
Jecht turned around, and looked directly at Tidus. He didn't seem surprised at the presence of pokemon. "Hey!"
Tidus said weakly "Hi."
Jecht laughed. "Hah! You got tall, but you're all bones! You eating right, boy?" His voice became a bit softer, and full of more emotion. "You've really grown."
Tidus smiled weakly, and said "Yeah, but you're still bigger." Yuna grabbed his left hand, and he seemed a bit reassured.
Jecht looked at the two of them, and I caught a flash of a smile on his face. "Well, I am Sin, you know."
Tidus glared at him, "That's not funny."
Jecht sighed "Well, then... I mean...you know. Let's end this."
Tidus sounded teary. I could tell that he was taking comfort from Yuna's close proximity. "Dad?"
Jecht sounded irritated. "Yeah?" Tidus replied slowly, "I hate you." He sounded serious, but not angry.
Jecht laughed. "I know, I know. You know what you have to do."
Tidus looked over to Yuna, who was looking down. "Yeah."
Jecht said "I can't hear the Hymn so well anymore. Pretty soon, I'm gonna be Sin. Completely. I'm glad you're here now. One thing, though... When it starts, I won't be myself anymore. I won't be able to hold myself back. I'm sorry."
Tidus said in a frustrated tone, "That's enough. Let's finish this, okay?"
Yuna said softly, "Tidus…"
Jecht nodded at his son. "You're right." He stepped towards the edge. "Well, then... Let's go!"
He fell, plunging. Tidus rushed over to him, trying to catch him. I used my powers to hold him in the air, but I heard his voice say, We have no choice. Kid… make sure he stays with her until the end.
I nodded to myself, but kept him hovering. That isn't too far away. Will he have a way to come back?
Jecht's mind-voice laughed. Who'da thought, that coming from the kid with the Symphony of Sadness as his soulsong. If she wants him back… it's very possible. But if you tell her…
It's not likely. At that, I released him. Tidus looked over at me desperately, and I morosely shook my head. I'm sorry, Tidus.
&&&&&
A massive figure rose up from the lava pool, a sword inside of it. We all exchanged looks of worry, and then Yuna stepped forward. "Let me try first."
Three flowers burst into bloom around her. Yuna touched each one with her staff, and then the flowers exploded, revealing three female Aeons styled as insects.
Each of the three did their own thing. The one that looked like a Mantis (Scyther to my eye - sorta) constantly barraged Braska's Aeon with fiery blades, while the bee one fired stingers that made Pin Missile look like a joke.
When Braska's Final Aeon struck back, the ladybug one healed them. Even after the Final Aeon drew the sword from within it's body, it still lost to the three Aeon Sisters when they used their overdrive to smash it.
&&&&&
The Final Aeon disappeared, and Yuna dismissed the three Aeons. Jecht reappeared in the center, looking really weak.
Tidus ran over to him, holding him up from the ground. I only watched… this was family. I knew the value of them… thanks to the Rockets. No one would miss me if I died, they'd gotten killed because of me.
&&&&&
&&&&&
Jecht said weakly "You'll cry. You're gonna cry. You always cry. See? You're cryin'."
Tidus (who was crying), said through his tears "I hate you, Dad."
Jecht said softly "Save it for later."
Tidus stopped crying, and remembered why they were all there. "Right... We've got a job to do, don't we?"
Jecht nodded. "Good. That's right. You are my son, after all."
Tidus flashed a small smile. "You know...for the first time, I'm glad...to have you as my father."
Jecht laughed weakly.
Yuna walked up to Tidus, and rested her hand on his shoulder. He smiled up at her, and she tentatively said "Sir Jecht... I should..."
Jecht shouted "No, Yuna, there's no time!"
Yu Yevon's form began to circle around them, waiting. Tidus noticed, and shouted "You stay away!"
Luin followed the form's path with his eyes, then waved one hand at it. It stopped in the air, and flew a good distance away. Take your time, I never got to say goodbye.
Rikku seemed to think something over, then rushed over to Luin, and squeezed him in a hug. She'd realized what he meant.
Jecht watched Yu Yevon fly away, and began to speak to his son softly. Yuna and Tidus quietly responded to him. They had enough time for goodbye.
&&&&&
After a minute's worth of time, Jecht finally said "Yuna, you know what to do. The aeons..."
"We aeons..."
Jecht continued "Call them!"
"Call us!"
Jecht disappeared, and Tidus nodded to himself, then waved to Luin. He returned the nod, and his eyes stopped glowing.
Yuna said "Yes."
Lulu, who had been watching Yu Yevon with a close eye, said "Here it comes!", and they disappeared, reappearing somehow on the blade that the Final Aeon had used against the Magus sisters.
&&&&&
&&&&&
Yuna called her first Aeon, Valefor. Suicune, who was nearby me (Rikku was the closest, considering she still was holding me in a hug), said simply Forgive us.
Yu Yevon entered it, and the Aeon became black, but looked a lot weaker. Yuna, crying, struck it down with a single holy.
Infrit fell to a Doublecast: Blizzaga from Lulu, and Ixion fell to Suicune using Surf (I dunno where that tidal wave comes from… it just appeared).
The beautiful and icy Shiva was engaged by Balrog. They exchanged blows (she struck with ice, but he melted the Heavenly Strike before it connected), and then he fired a return blow. The Fire Blast did a massive amount of damage to the Aeon, and she staggered her knees. She looked up at Balrog, as he finished with a Flamethrower. But the 'demon' didn't like his duty any more than the rest.
&&&&&
I said softly now comes the trouble. Yuna, are you prepared?
Yuna nodded, and called Bahamut. The same thing happened to that Aeon, and I looked over at the two dragons, who were looking ready to attack.
Let Erastrani and Vib take Bahamut. Dragons deal with Dragons, after all.
Tidus looked at me like I was mad, but Yuna nodded – as the two flew over her head at high speed, launching Dragonbreaths at the Aeon. It tried hurling spells at them, but they were agile enough to evade most of them.
And when it closed in to rake them with its claws, they struck with THEIR claws. And Dragon Claw is a powerful attack on a dragon-type.
After that happened several times, Bahamut flipped over, and started to charge up, energy forming at it's mouth.
The Flygon had seen that before, so they landed next to each other, charging up Hyper Beams as well.
They launched their attacks at the same time. The energies hit each other, forcing one back, then the other… and finally, exploded.
When the smoke cleared, Bahamut was collapsed on the ground, pyreflies leaking out of it. Vib looked tired, and I could tell that Erastrani wasn't feeling her best. But they finished off Bahamut before it could recover.
&&&&&
Yojimbo was next. And rather than having a showy face-off, we just blitzed him with everything we had. He might be agile, but not agile enough to dodge 3 attacks at once. Since we had LOTS of people / pokemon ready to attack, he didn't have much of a chance. He did get Tidus and Auron with his shortsword, but Yuna healed them before anything serious happened.
&&&&&
Anima went the same way. We'd faced Oblivion before, and didn't want to feel that particular attack. Except that this Aeon went for our spellcasters (Lulu and Yuna), rather than those on the front lines.
And me as well, but I was the annoyance. Whenever she shot an energy beam, I intercepted it, and turned it right around, back at her. Confusion is quite a useful attack, even if it isn't as strong as Psychic
&&&&&
"The last Aeon…"
I nodded, and looked over at everyone. We were in excellent shape, considering – well, better than excellent. No one was seriously hurt, and our energy levels were fine. Lulu wasn't even tired, and she was the one that used the most magic.
Yuna summoned the Magus Sisters. I wondered how Yu Yevon could possess three, but the spider-thing split into three, and each entered one of the sisters. Each charged into our lines, the mantis one rushing for me.
That was, until Rikku dropped about five grenades into her. That sent the Aeon back aways, and I caught it in a Psychic grip, throwing her into her ladybug sister, damaging both of them severely (she'd been charging up that fire-scythe trick, and the other accidently cast Flare on her sister).
Tidus was fighting off the bee one. Wakka helped him out, and she fell to the ground.
The other two shakily rose, but then were blasted by two Ultimas, Auron's blade, a few grenades, and Yuna's holy spell.
Then they collapsed as well, and Yu Yevon floated in front of us.
&&&&&
Tidus looked over at us, and said "Everyone! This is the last time we fight together, okay?"
I glanced over at Yuna. Tears were streaming from her eyes… but she would live. I wish I could do SOMETHING to help… but I can't.
Wakka, who wasn't there when Yuna had learned what would happen, said "Huh?"
Tidus watched Yuna, who was still crying silently (though her shoulders were shaking) "What I'm trying to say is...after we beat Yu Yevon, I'll disappear."
Lulu looked over from Yuna to him. "What are you talking about?"
Tidus drew his sword, and pointed it at Yu Yevon. I said softly He's saying goodbye.
Tidus nodded, and added "I know it's selfish...but this is my story!"
Yu Yevon laughed, and said in a remarkably acidic tone "You have no chance now"
I cocked an eyebrow at him – well, sort of. Yu Yevon, you're outmatched, outnumbered, and underpowered. You'll beat us… how?
Two pillars of rock sprung up behind the spider, but I crashed them together, shattering them. They drained my strength to a great degree somehow… I couldn't do anything more.
Everyone… I'm exhausted. Between Sin and this… finish Yu Yevon, I cut off his support. I'll do what I can to jam his efforts… but it might not be much. The Fayth have been weakened, and I relied on them to provide my overdrive.
Lulu nodded, and then everyone began to strike at Yu Yevon. Every time they hit him, he'd heal himself… but still, he was taking more damage than he was healing. And Yuna cured the damage from his attacks without too much trouble. But it took awhile for Yu Yevon to fall. But the pokemon helped some – as did I. I managed to insinuate myself into the thing's mind, and disable its magic-channels after a LONG time, by a blast of pure Psychic power.
It died shortly after I managed that feat with the little power I had remaining.
Luin: Why'd you have most everyone die due to that Behemoth King?
Sandstone: I felt like it. You had Sacred Ash, after all. Though it was tempting to leave a few characters dead...
Luin: That would ruin a sequal.
Sandstone: Duh, that's why everyone came back.
