CHAPTER NINE: FINAL CONFLICT!

Tifa looked in shock! Her two closest friends where just taken prisoner. She looked at her other friends.

"We have to go after them!" she announced.

"Stay calm hon." Zazha assured her. "Willow will take you all there right Willow?" The woodelven druid shook her head.

"Been trying to teleport there since he left and I simply can't." She stated.

"Another way then." Katejina said.

"Isn't one." A voice called. Shara came down and landed with grace. "The stone won't work and from what I heard all ways to this Nexus are down."

"What about the scions?" Relanna asked.

"Down." A voice whispered. The all looked Tamiril came to them she bled from her arms and her choker was missing. Marjorie went to her and supported the young elf.

"What do you mean down?" Katejina asked.

"The scions are unconscious." Tamiril replied weakly. "some say the end…." Tamiril slumped forward. Marjorie half carried her.

"That house." Willowcroft said pointing to a big house behind her. "She can rest there." Marjorie nodded and carried Tamiril there. Zazha followed a quivering Tekana by her side. Willowcroft looked at the body of Ssorsha.

"Poor girl." She muttered.

"So what do we do now?" Rimoru asked. "We have to save Yuna and Lenne!"

"How?" Marjorie asked as she came out. "How do we get there?"

"I can take you someplace that leads there." Willowcroft replied. "I'll even fight with you."

"I will to." Relanna said.

"That's great!" Rimoru exclaimed.

"No." Tifa said. Rimoru looked at Tifa in utter disbelief.

"Why?" she demanded.

"One innocent is already dead because of us." Tifa stated. "Another is badly hurt. It's not right asking those not even involved to fight our battles for us."

"Hon." Willowcroft said. "We are willing to help you."

"You have." Tifa replied. "You've done a great deal for us and I'm grateful for that. If you will take us to this place it will be more than enough."

"How will you find your way to the nexus?" Relanna asked.

"We'll guide her." Shaden said coming forth with Drassalana by her side.

"Two Tier'Dahl?" Relanna asked.

"Why not?" Tifa asked. "Shaden has been my friend for two years. I trust her lead and her judgment. I don't want any of you to suffer because of us." Katejina watched all this unfold and watched Tifa with admiring eyes.

'Yuna's wisdom has rubbed off on us all.' Katejina thought. 'But Tifa has her nobility as well.' Willowcroft sighed.

"Very well." She conceded. "But at least take our offer to lodge you for the time you're here." Tifa nodded.

"Thank you." She said. "We accept your offer. Whenever your ready Willow we are set to go." Willow nodded as Tifa, Katejina, Marjorie, Rimoru, Shaden, and Drassalana all gathered around. They where then encircled in leaves as they left to retrieve their taken friends.

Yuna awoke with a soft moan, she tried to move her arms bound found she was tied down to an altar. She looked to her left she saw Lenne in the same fix she was in. Lenne's head was turned the other way so Yuna didn't know if Lenne was awake or still unconscious. She studied where she was, around her where about a dozen people in gray armor she thought she saw Hail lurking about but could not tell. As she was about to say something Yuna heard a bone-chilling laugh.

She heard it before in the caverns bellow Mushroom Rock road on Spira. It chilled Yuna to the core. She then saw the face, the person she mistook as her lost love Tidus. The person she tried to trick but wound up fighting. Shuyin laughed again at seeing the person who defeated him helpless.

"So tell me." Shuyin said as he placed a hand in a casual leaning mater by Yuna's head. "Is this misbegotten world worth saving, are all of these worlds worth you saving?"

"Yes." Yuna replied. Shuyin sighed as he placed his finger on Yuna's chin.

"It's no wonder I mistook you for her." He continued. "Your just like her in every way. In the end she turned on me as well, I came back looking for her but you had already taken her from me!" he moved his hand to Yuna's throat and slowly began to apply pressure.

"STOP!" a voice yelled, Shuyin looked and Lenne looked at him "Shuyin please, stop this." Lenne's eyes held a silent plea, one that Shuyin ignored as he approached her.

"You left me." He said. "You tricked me into coming to the far plane then you turned on me!"

"It was you who left me." Lenne said there was no hint of fear in her voice. "It's over Shuyin, I loved you once, I loved the noble man you where. But this, how can I love a man so full of hatred he can't find rest." Shuyin's lips turned in a snarl, but before anything could be done a voice rang out.

"Don't do anything to hurt them." A thin man with long dark hair and a jewel in his forehead said. "you can tell your master these two will play their part." Shuyin hesitated his eyes fixed on Lenne. "go on." The man continued waving his hand in a shooing motion. Shuyin left. Lenne looked at Yuna.

"You ok?" she asked. Yuna nodded Lenne looked at the man. "Who are you?"

"I'm the Visionary." He said. "I do hope my over zealous partner didn't harm your friend."

"What do you want with us?" Yuna asked.

"You two fine ladies are going to help me." The Visionary replied. "A drop of blood from you both and it will be set into motion."

"What will be set in motion?" Lenne asked.

"His arrival of course." The Visionary responded. "You two should feel honored to have a part in this." Yuna struggled to try to free herself, she prayed Lenne would keep him busy enough so he wouldn't notice.

"Your crazy if you think we'll help you!" Lenne cried out.

"You have no choice my dear." The Visionary responded. "On that note let it begin!" Yuna struggled more, she had to free herself! Yuna then heard something, the guards gathered around turned their heads.

"Master." One said. "We have breachers!"

"They can't disrupt the ceremony!" The Visionary replied. "Blood drawers prepare to do your duty." For the first time since they woke up they looked straight above them. Two hooded men stood above them ready to draw their blood.

"You where planning on waiting for me where you?" a voice asked as he came onto the main center of the Nexus.

"Most certainly." The Visionary said. "You may take their blood." The two men started to act, however he both paused and fell to the ground! Yuna saw one and an arrow was in the back of his throat.

"What is this?" Brimstone demanded. "Kill them! Kill th…" he was cut off as an arrow pierced his throat! Brimstone looked up and saw two Viera archers as well as some others.

"Things just got good." He muttered to himself.

Tifa lead the others to where their friends where kept. Thanks to Shaden they where able to get here from The Dawnshroud peeks and The Netherbain Lair. She noticed there were people in the Nexus but they seemed to be in a trance like state. Tifa saw Rimoru take off in pursuit of something, she didn't have time to chase her freeing Lenne and Yuna came first. She ran to where she saw them Drasalana on her heels. She saw the same person who brought them here, taking an opportunity she flew at him with a kick and knocked him down! Brimstone was dead Tifa saw his corpse his throat pierced with an arrow.

"You get Lenne." Tifa ordered Drasalana. "I'll untie Yunie!" Dras nodded, as she cut loose Lenne, Tifa untied Yuna.

"You haven't won the day yet!" The Visionary crowed. "Xantas awaken and server your MASTER!"

The very ground of the Nexus quaked as a gigantic bone dragon emerged. It let out a bone-chilling howl as he began his attack! Marjorie who was fighting noticed this and fear consumed her. She fell to her knees shivering and quaking. Shaden who was fighting by her side noticed this, she quickly called Katejina over and tried to hold the attackers at bay.

"What's wrong?" Katejina asked as she came to them.

"Marjorie is acting odd." Shaden said.

'I fought that bone dragon before.' Katejina thought. 'I could defeat it again, but if I can't we might need Marjorie to help us.'

"It's too big!" Marjorie cried out.

"Marj!" Katejina said. "Please don't do this, get over your fears girl! We need you!"

"I can't Katey!" Marjorie protested. "It's too big, I'm so scared!"

The Dragon looked to where the two Viera's where, he noticed Katejina. With a casual swipe of his large tail he sent the former sniper flying against the wall where she impacted and lay still. Shara saw her cousin fly across and the room and even surprised herself when these words came out of her mouth.

"KATE!" she screamed. As Shara tried to take an offense against the gigantic dragon Marjorie ran to her friend.

"KATEY!" she cried as she shook her friend. Katejina awoke with a moan.

"Y..you need to f..face your fears g.girl." Katejina stammered weakly.

"Your hurt." Marjorie noted. "I need to heal you."

"I've taken worse than a love tap from a pile of bones." Katejina replied. "Do what you have to do girl." Marjorie nodded and left her friends side.

Hail staggered away, he though he found a perfect ambush spot, he was surprised when she found him and attacked him. She was vicious more fierce than ever! Hail bled badly as he tried to retreat.

"Run and I'll catch you!" Rimoru snarled as she approached him. Hail looked at the priestess. He had no choice better he do this than die.

"I yield." He said bowing his head. Rimoru said nothing, Hail smiled to himself. He then made the mistake of looking up at the blades coming to him. "What are you doing? No sstop! I yield! I YIELD!"

As if fate itself had a role the howling of intense winds drowned out the blood-curdling scream!

The Visionary smiled, the fool Brimstone was dead but the coming would still happen just like predicted. The Bone Dragon Xantas was here and fighting well. Nothing could stop him now, he smiled as he grabbed a sacrificial dagger, all he needed was the two girls blood on the dagger. Then a wind picked up, he looked and saw a Viera standing there her eyes glowed a bright white.

"I CALL UPON THE HOLY JUDGE!" Marjorie called. The ground around her shook with violent force as a gigantic metal giant burst through the ground! Yuna paused in her fighting and look up as did everyone else in the area. The sight of the giant sent the enemy fleeing!

"What is that?" Drasalana asked as she came next to Yuna.

"Alexander." Yuna replied. Yuna thought back to her days as a summoner very few where skilled enough to summon him. Yet here Marjorie was calling him to aid her. Xantas the bone dragon moved in to attack Alexander, he simply glared at him and let loose a powerful burst of holy energy! The Visionary dived for cover, his arms over his head. The bone dragon was destroyed as where any of the solders in the way of the blast. After the blast the Holy judge vanished and the young viera fainted to the ground.

"I'll bring her to Kate." Drasalana offered. Yuna nodded as Drasalana left with the young viera in her arms. This fight wasn't over yet, The Visionary still had to be stopped.

A minute ago everything was going his way, now just the opposite held true. Xantas and half of his troops where blasted into nothingness. Still The Visionary had to make the coming happen. The singer was the one closest to him, she didn't seem to notice him. He then lunged at her a quick slice to her arm! Lenne yelped in pain, but it was done.

"Lenne!" Yuna cried.

"Keep back!" Lenne warned. "He gets your blood and whatever he has planned goes through!" The Visionary had to get to the summoner however he was attacked by a flying kick from Tifa! She threw a punch desperate he sliced at Tifa and got her blood on the sacrificial dagger.

"Not what I planned but it will do in a pinch." The Visionary said. Tifa cried out as she fell clutching her arm. Yuna saw her friend get sliced and saw her fall, Yuna raced to her side.

Meanwhile The Visionary began carving something in the air. A vortex then opened!

"I win!" he crowed.

"Stop him Yunie!" Tifa begged. Yuna nodded and grabbed the madman in a flying tackle! However in the tackle her hand got caught in the vortex. She screamed it was a soul-piercing scream. Still Yuna fought to stop him! Yuna gritted her teeth and continued to fight. Shara watched from where she was, her cold eyes betrayed no emotion. However her mind raced back to a time when she was younger.

Shara shifted her weight impatiently as she waited outside the temple in Bevelle on the world of Spira. She saw him come out of the temple a bundle in his arms.

"Is this why I was waiting?" Shara asked nodding to the bundle. The man nodded he was dressed in red and white.

"Shara let me introduce you to Yuna. My daughter." Lord Braska said. Shara looked with little interest.

"Why show her to me?" Shara asked. Braska sighed as he handed his newborn daughter to a priest.

"Walk with me." He said as he walked from the temple. Shara followed him; she wondered why he did this.

"My daughter is destined for great things." Braska said as he walked. "I won't be here to protect her."

"I don't understand." Shara said. "Why tell me this?"

"You've been loyal to me as a guardian for the short time you've been with me." Braska said. "When I am not here I trust you to watch over her and keep her safe." Shara sighed but in the end she nodded.

"I'll do my best." She agreed.

"Thank you." Braska said.

Shara's mind drifted back to the present, The Visionary was getting away, Yuna still fought to keep him in the nexus.

'Well Braska," Shara thought. 'She's your blood alright, time for me to live up to my end.' With deadly and exact aim her arrow flew right where aimed!

Yuna felt the pain getting the best of her. The Visionary was overjoyed, so much so he didn't see the arrow slam into him! He fell backwards with an angry scream! He was sucked into the vortex, Shaden pulled a barley conscious Yuna away? Shara came to the others.

"Is it over?" Yuna asked weakly.

"For now." Shara responded. "We didn't stop the coming, we simply prevented it. For now you all need to rest."

"What about you?" Yuna asked.

"I'll be fine daughter of Braska." Shara replied as she left. Yuna reached for her but faltered and fell. Tifa rushed to catch her.

"Take it easy Yunie." Tifa told her. "Let me and Lenne help you." Yuna nodded and let her two friends help her. Both Tifa and Lenne draped an arm of Yuna over their shoulders. Tifa saw Katejina and Marjorie, but no sign of Rimoru.

"Shaden?" Yuna asked. "Can you and Dras help Kate and Marj?"

"Of course." Shaden replied and the two dark elves helped the Viera. Around them the occupants of The Nexus came out of their trance like state. The group saw Shara return.

"I thought you left?" Tifa asked.

"Follow me." Shara said. Tifa glanced at Yuna who simply nodded, Shara lead them to a gruesome sight. Hail lay dead his body riddled with blade marks and his throat was cut several times. Imbedded in his chest where two blades next to him lay a breastplate.

"Those blades?" Lenne asked. "That breastplate. Are those Rim's?"

"Yes." Yuna responded. "But why would Rim do this?"

"She's changed." Tifa observed. "Looks like she's totally turned away from her old way of life."

"I'll see what I can do. To track her down" Shara said. "In the mean time take care of the injured ones. If I find anything I'll find you." Shara then left.

The others then returned to Plane of Knowledge via the pedestal. Where Yuna, Marjorie and Katejina where set into beds. Tifa and Lenne got bandaged. The concerns weighed heavy on all of them but they would wait. Yuna, Katejina and Marjorie all needed rest. Tifa and Lenne both got hurt, Shaden and Dras where lucky enough not to get hurt. They won a small victory this day that would have to be enough. Outside the small house the wind howled and it grew colder. Was it the sign of an early winter or something with a darker message?

END OF THE COMING.

AUTHORS NOTE:

Well that's all for The Coming, thanks for reading and to those who sent reviews which are always more than welcome. Forsaken is the next in the series and I'll start posting that here in the next week or so. Questions, comments, critique all welcome a variety of way. E-mail I have 2 e-mail addresses my main one is my secondary one is I also have AIM my screen name is Kremis002 and I have yahoo messenger Rick00106074 and MSN at I am always willing to talk when I am at home. Thank you all for reading and enjoy.