by: Amisha N. Smith
Well, things seem to have taken a turn for the worse, haven't they? I believe this is where we cue the entrance of yet another cool character. Whom, you ask? Well, I won't spoil it for ya. But I will say he's my favorite; the best, in my opinion. He's pretty much the reason I love Final Fantasy. Hell, he's the reason I started loving RPG's! And now, on with the story!
Final Fantasy: Quest of the Elements
Chapter Five
I can't believe this is happening to me.
Filled with rage and sadness, a young man contemplated his fate as his consciousness sailed weightlessly within the heart of the Lifestream of the Planet. His existence was no longer his own; he was now a part of the bloodline of his world. He looked to the left and the right and watched the souls of others who had passed from life drifting at his side.
The souls of others who had… died…
The young man's heart flooded with unquenchable hatred and he gritted his teeth. This was not right. He should not be here. By all rights he should have been ruling over these pitiful souls and the entire planet by now. In life he had machinated a plan. A glorious plan, to take back what had been usurped from him and his mother by the evil traitors of the past. The plan had seemed so sure. So foolproof. So… perfect. But in truth, it was not perfect. There was one major flaw that he did not count on to be a threat. One major snag that was ultimately the undoing of him and all his plans.
That bastard puppet, the young man thought with immeasurable malice. When he was alive he had many puppets, clones infused with the blood of his mother, that he could control and force to do his bidding just by thinking. But there was one puppet that was different from the rest. He was stronger, faster, deadlier. This particular puppet and his ragtag crew of hangers-on were able to track him and cut him and his mother down, even when he had morphed into his more powerful forms. In a last desperate move, he had called the puppet down to him within the dark shadows of the Planet's belly, hoping to kill the meddling bastard and steal enough of his energy to heal and regain the great power he had lost much of. He was extremely surprised when, instead, the puppet slashed him with his sword all over his body in blinding, inhuman speed, just before leaping in the air and delivering a final, fatal blow.
The young man remembered how he fell backwards, the image of the traitorous puppet standing over him in triumph still etched into his mind, before he took his last breath. And now, here he was. Drifting on the wings of time with the souls of the dead descendants of traitors. Souls that he had planned to steal the power of after he forced them to emerge to the surface of the Planet. Had his plan worked out, he and his mother would have been gods. But his plan failed. All was lost. And it was all because of that annoying, persistent puppet. That third-rate failure clone who became a much more dangerous enemy for him than he could possibly have imagined. The puppet's very name was enough to draw out bestial rage from within the core of his heart.
Cloud…
The young man threw his head back and screamed in utter despair. A few souls that floated at his side turned their heads and regarded him with curiosity for about three seconds, then turned back around and continued their journey through the Lifestream. The young man glared at them in contempt. They had already surrendered their individuality, assembling themselves into the Lifestream and connecting with the other souls there to become one entity. I'll never be like you, the young man swore to himself. I am the ruler of this world. You are not worthy to be in my presence. He closed his eyes, gritted his teeth, and focused on the hatred in his heart. If he could just hold on to that, he could keep his individuality. He could keep his own mind. And maybe, just maybe, he would be able to find a way to return to the Planet and take revenge for the way he and his mother were wronged. He refused to surrender who he was to the Lifestream. He yawned loudly and blinked his eyes. First I shall rest, he thought to himself. Once I have regained my energy, I will put my plan of vengeance into motion. The traitors will rue the day they trifled with us! That thought put an evil smile on his face, even as his eyes began to grow heavy with fatigue. He closed his eyes, relaxed, and allowed himself to fall into a deep sleep.
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"Aaaah! Wha…? I… I'm falling?"
The young man awoke with a start as he felt himself falling downward. Indeed, he was plummeting down and away from the Lifestream at breakneck speed. "What… what is this? What is going on?", he asked himself, alarmed. He looked downward and saw he was falling towards a huge mass of bright light. That's when he truly started to panic. He knew what that light was. He instantly recognized it from when he had once used his powerful essence to keep it imprisoned within the core of the Planet, so that it wouldn't interfere with his plan to usurp the power of the Lifestream.
Holy? What are you doing here?
The young man continued to descend until he was hovering right in front of Holy, only two feet away from touching the bright, powerful essence. The young man shivered, in spite of all his hatred and contempt. Here he was, helplessly facing the guardian of all life on the Planet, the guardian he had once in life held hostage in order to further his and his mother's ambitions of ruling the world. Would Holy take revenge now? Would the essence of the Planet tear his soul apart so that he wouldn't exist even in the afterlife? That thought terrified the young man. If he were to be completely destroyed now, he wouldn't be able to avenge himself and his mother later.
"Do not fear. I have come bearing joyous news to you", Holy announced in a voice that sounded like a thousand people were speaking. The omnipotent being's voice was as soothing and smooth as silk, yet so powerful and clear it seemed to the young man to surround and subdue him with a power all it's own. He was far too proud to let Holy know how awed he was, however.
"Oh really?", he spat in contempt. "And just what is this 'joyous news'?"
"You are to be given a second chance", Holy replied, seemingly unaffected by the young man's obvious disrespect. "You will receive the gift of life again, as well as a chance to atone for your past sins."
"My past sins?", the young man snarled, enraged. "What of the past sins of the many traitors that now inhabit the Planet? What of the sins of the people that tried to enslave me and my mother and rob us of our right to rule the world?"
"My dear child, you have been wronged and deceived most of your life", Holy responded with sympathy and kindness in His voice. "Those who had power over you since you were a young child are responsible for what you had become in life. You were driven insane, and committed many treacherous acts for which you might never be forgiven. And now here you are, your own life taken from you, and perhaps soon, your very soul."
That statement sent a cold arrow through the young man's heart. "What do you mean by that?", he snapped, trying unsuccessfully to disguise the fear in his voice.
"The souls of those whom you've murdered cry out to me for justice", Holy answered with regret in His voice. "I have a duty to come here and execute your soul by rending your very essence to pieces, so that you will no longer exist." So, Holy has come here to destroy me after all, the young man thought in terror. He opened his mouth and tried to reply, but realized he was too afraid to talk. "But do not despair, my child", Holy said. "For I also have the right to give you a second chance to redeem yourself. And if you can succeed in atoning for your wrongdoings, you can be forgiven for all and began anew."
The young man began to consider what Holy had told him. I have done nothing wrong, he thought in resentment. And yet this being has the gall to come and try to give me a second chance? His eyes then narrowed as he began to consider his other option; Complete and total death. If he refused, Holy would be well within His right to tear his soul apart and destroy it. And if that happened, he would never be able to find a way to return to life and destroy his and his mother's enemies. The young man smiled inwardly. I can simply tell Holy that I wish to have this 'second chance' to redeem myself, he thought. Then, once I have returned to the Planet, I will hunt down that traitorous puppet and his friends and kill them all. Once I have done that, I will be free to conquer the Planet without interference from anyone.
"Well?", Holy inquired. "Have you decided?"
"Yes I have", the young man answered, doing his best not to smile. "I will accept the second chance you are giving me and atone for my past sins."
"Wonderful!", Holy replied joyously. "I am sure that you will succeed in redeeming yourself. We shall began without delay." Holy then surprised the young man by suddenly surrounding and completely engulfing him. The bright light of Holy cradled him, making him feel comfortable and warm all over in spite of himself. "Now just relax, my child. I shall take you to meet my brother. Once there, He will explain to you your new mission."
"Uh-huh", the young man replied with a huge yawn, barely hearing what Holy had said. Being blanketed by the warm, gentle glow of Holy was slowly but surely lulling him to sleep. It was odd to him that he felt so relaxed and warm and yet so full of bloodlust and a powerful thirst for vengeance. Yes, Holy. Give me back my life, he thought to himself. Give me another chance to redeem myself after being defeated by that unworthy puppet, Cloud. For when I find him and his friends, my sword and I will send them all straight to hell. That thought put a wicked smile on his face as he surrendered his senses and drifted off to sleep.
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"Awaken, chosen warrior! Rise from your sleep!"
The young man awoke with a start when he heard an impossibly huge and loud voice bellowing for him to wake up. He opened his eyes and beheld the most frightening and yet most magnificent being he had ever seen. It was what looked to be a god in the image of a man. It seemed large enough to be a small planet. It's upper body glowed a bright blue and it's chest and head were both encircled by two light-blue halos, each one seemingly emanating a tremendous power. From it's arms sprung two huge black wings that made the very atmosphere around the god-like being quake every time they slightly moved. The lower part of it's muscular body seemed to be like a tail; an extension of it's mass, and was encircled by two rings of power. The rings were not unlike the other rings surrounding its head and chest, they also seemed to emanate great power from them, but unlike the light-blue rings, these were black. They also moved as they encircled him, seeming to both intimidate anyone who looks upon them and protect their master, whom they revolved around.
"Who… are you?", the young man asked the great entity.
"I am Necron, deity born from the void before existence itself and guardian of the ninth offspring", the entity answered in a voice that could crumble mountains.
"The ninth… offspring?", the young man replied, confused.
"Your reality is not the only reality in existence", Holy explained. "Your world exists in many different realities, or dimensions, thereof. Each dimension is created and ruled over by a different deity. I created the reality you're from, the seventh dimension. Or, as we gods often refer to it, the seventh offspring. My brother, Necron, is the creator and ruler of the ninth offspring."
"Ah", the young man replied. "So… what does this have to do with me?"
"Rise to your feet, young warrior, and listen to me well", Necron commanded. It was at that moment the young man looked down at himself and realized his physical body had returned. He was no longer merely a consciousness floating on the winds of time. His arms, his legs, the flesh on his body, the hair on his head… everything was as it was before he had died. Even the clothes he was wearing in life were the same; a long leather coat and pants uniform that was black all over and included high boots, steel padding about the shoulders, and a huge scabbard in his belt that held an unbelievably long sword. The young man slowly stood up on his legs and put his hand on the hilt of his sword. His other hand brushed a strand of his long silvery hair out of his face and his mouth stretched into a twisted and deadly grin. Ever closer I draw to vengance, he thought, gleeful with anticipation.
"You and a few others like you have been chosen to defend my offspring from evil unbridled", Necron continued. "A sinister force threatens to upset the balance of the elements on my planet. As you may already know, the elements are the essence of what each offspring is comprised of. There are six elements altogether; earth, wind, water, fire, light, and darkness. These six elements exist to keep balance and harmony within the nature of each and every offspring. This balance is very delicate, and yet all of life itself depends upon it. Should either of the elements become stronger or weaker than the others, or should any of the elements disappear altogether, the results would be catastrophic. Nature would be thrown into chaos and the offspring itself would begin to implode, rotting away to it's very core."
"Mmmhmm", the young man interrupted, folding his arms across his chest. "So, this is the part where you tell me what exactly is threatening the balance of nature on your 'offspring', and how exactly you expect me to be able to stop it." Not that I really give a shit, he thought to himself. As soon as I have been returned to the Planet, I will be too preoccupied with getting my revenge to care anything about you and your 'offspring'.
"Indeed", Necron affirmed with a nod. "Nearly all life on each offspring is comprised of an equal amount of the six elements of nature. However, after a cycle of every thousand years, there is born on each offspring six exceptions to that rule. Six people, each one comprised of a massively larger amount of one element than any of the others. These people we gods have named the Elementi, people of the elements. They are extremely powerful, for each one has the ability to completely control whichever element they are most comprised of." Necron seemed to lean forward slightly and his eyes stared right into the eyes of the young man. "You, young warrior, are comprised of an extremely large amount of darkness. You are a dark Elementi."
The young man raised one eyebrow but kept listening. Is there some power I have that I didn't know about?, he wondered. If there is some great new power that rests inside of me, perhaps I can use it to help me defeat my enemies after I have returned to the Planet. He had to hold back a wicked smile at that thought. I'd best listen to what this 'Necron' has to say. It may prove beneficial later on.
"I shall teleport you to the ninth offspring, where there are five more Elementi that you will have to deal with", Necron told him. "You will meet with the Elementi of wind, water, and light. Together, you four will save the ninth offspring from the evil that threatens it."
The young man's heart skipped a beat and he inhaled sharply as he just realized something: Necron was not planning to send him back to his own world. He was going to a completely different dimension. An unquenchable anger filled his heart as this disappointing fact just dawned on him. He couldn't allow this to happen. He had to get back to his own world. He had to avenge his mother. He had to settle the score with that bastard puppet Cloud. "What about my world?", he asked in a sharp and enraged voice. "When will I be able to return to my dimension?"
"That question we cannot answer", Holy chimed in. "The seventh offspring has rejected you, and the souls of those that died at your hand cry out for your destruction. As the guardian and ruler of the seventh offspring, it is my duty to destroy you. Yet I could not bring myself to do it, so great was my pity for you. It is good that you happened to be an Elementi, and that my brother has need of your service."
"Indeed", Necron said. "The Elementi of darkness that was born on my offspring had died recently. It is well that you yourself are an Elementi of darkness, because now you can be of good use to me and it gives Holy an alternative to completely annihilating your soul."
The young man quivered with rage as he listened to Necron and Holy. Who were they to determine his fate? What rights did they think they had to do such a thing? However, a survival instinct within him told him to keep his reservations to himself. Who were they? They were gods, that's who they were. And they had every right to completely destroy him if they wanted to. And if he were destroyed by them here, there would definitely be no chance of him ever finding a way to return to his own world."Well? Are you ready to be teleported to the ninth offspring?", Necron asked the young man. "Or would you rather face the ultimate judgment of Holy?" The young man lowered his head and sighed angrily when he heard Necron's proposal/threat. "Fine. I'll do it", he snarled. I shall do as you ask for now, he thought with malice. But I will find a way to return to my own world someday. My mother and I will rule the Planet. And we will get our revenge.
"A truly wise decision", Holy said, obviously pleased. "Once you have been teleported to the ninth offspring, you will join the Elementi of wind, water, and light. With them, you will redeem yourself by saving the ninth offspring and restoring order within the balance of nature."
"Wait a minute", the young man interrupted. "Aren't there more Elementi than that? You have only mentioned three others. What of the Elementi of earth and fire?"
"They are the danger that now threaten the ninth offspring", Necron replied. "You see, the earth and fire Elementi have found a way to use their elemental powers to try to gain dominance over their planet. They have joined together and are now using their servants to hunt down the other Elementi in order to usurp their powers so they can control all the elements on their world. They have already murdered countless people whom they felt had the potential to be Elementi, yet after they killed them and stole their souls for their unholy ritual they realized none of the people they murdered were Elementi. Unfortunately, their powers have become greater and their senses much keener over time. They can now use their powers to sense and find the true Elementi wherever they are. When I realized this, I used up a massive amount of my power to revive an Elementi that had died a little while ago. He is almost as powerful as you. His name is Kuja, and he is an Elementi of wind. I sent him to find and protect the Elementi of light and water and to meet up with you, the Elementi of darkness, whom I would send to meet them later. Unfortunately one of them is currently in great peril, thanks to one of the soul-stealing monsters sent by an Acolyte of the Elementi of fire, and she will die if she is not rescued. Your very first mission when you have reached the ninth offspring will be to save her life. Once you have done that, you and your comrades will travel north to the Sanctuary of Souls. There, within the very core of that temple, I will explain more to you and your comrades. Understood?"
"Whatever", the young man growled, so angry he could have spit fire. He did not like being forced to jump through hoops for anybody, not even a god. "So how exactly are we supposed to find this 'Sanctuary' anyway?"
"Kuja will show you the way", Necron replied. "Simply tell him what I told you, and he will guide you to the temple. Are you ready for teleportation?"
"Like I have a choice?", the young man sneered. "Let's just do this already."
"Very well", Necron answered. "Remember, the first thing you must do is save the Elementi of light. Do not fail, for she will be the key Elementi to stopping the evil that threatens her world. She must survive."
"Farewell, my child. And good luck", Holy said before the young man was once again surrounded and engulfed in a bright light. Necron and Holy vanished from his sight and he felt his body become weightless as it floated up into the air. Suddenly he felt his body drop and begin to fall. "What the…?", the young man said, startled. Another flash of light engulfed him, and in an instant it disappeared… and the young man found himself plummeting down out of the sky into a huge canyon.
What the hell is this?, the young man wondered. Did Holy and Necron send me here to die? No, that doesn't make sense. Why would they when they could easily have destroyed my soul? He began to look around him, wondering what was the purpose of his being sent to this specific location. They told him he would have to save someone, but he didn't see anybody in danger, except himself. He was the one falling down into a canyon. Suddenly he saw something falling far beneath him. He squinted his eyes and tried to make out what it was.
"That's a person!", he said to himself. "Hmph, no doubt this 'Elementi' that I'm supposed to rescue. How did they wind up in this predicament, anyway?" With a sigh he shrugged his shoulders. "This is exactly why I hate humans. They are so helpless and useless. Oh well, I'd better save this Elementi person. I don't want that arrogant bastard god Necron to destroy my soul for failing my mission." The young man straightened his body out to make himself more aerodynamic and shot downward like an arrow. He flew downward faster and faster, quickly closing the gap between himself and his quarry. As he got closer, he could make out the shape of the body of the person he was trying to rescue. A young girl. More than likely in her late teens, he thought. Huh? Is that… a tail growing out of her rear end? Is she human? He then felt something wet hit him in the corner of his mouth. It tasted salty. Tears, the young man observed. This girl knows she's gonna die. The young man smiled wickedly to himself. He wished he could simply watch her fall, or better yet, cut her in half on the way down. But he knew Necron was probably watching, so he wouldn't dare let any harm come to her, much less harm her himself.
He finally caught up to the girl and wrapped his arms around her. He heard the girl squawk in surprise. "Wha…? Who are you? Where did you come from?", the girl asked in a shocked voice.
"I've been sent here to save you", the young man snapped at her. "So be quiet and let me do it."
"Who the hell do you think you are?", the girl asked him angrily. The young man could not believe the girl had the balls to get impudent with him in the situation she was in. "Who do I think I am?", the young man replied in a cold voice. "I think I'm the person who will leave you to your death if you don't shut the hell up." That seemed to silence the girl and the young man was pleased. With one arm still around the girl's waist he held his other hand out with his palm aimed downward. Almost immediately their descent began to slow down dramatically, and not a second too soon, for they were barely twenty feet above the bottom of the canyon. He saw the young girl look at him in amazement and almost smiled. Yes, marvel at my powers, you human weakling, he thought. Marvel at your species superior.
"What… are you?", the girl asked him in wonderment. "Are you a great sorcerer? Are you even human?"
"I could ask you the same thing", the young man replied in a dark voice. "What's with the tail? What are you, some species of monkey?" The girl narrowed her eyes at him and the young man smirked. Once they finally finished their gentle descent to the canyon floor and their feet touched ground beside the narrow river the girl pushed herself away from him. "Just who the hell are you calling a monkey?", she snarled.
"Well that's an easy one to answer", the young man replied with an arched eyebrow. "After all, you're the only monkey around here." The girl looked like she was about to explode when suddenly something huge fell into the river behind him with a huge splash. The young man turned as quickly as lightning and halfway drew his sword from it's hilt. "What was that?", he asked as he sharply eyed the river.
"The reason I was falling from the sky in the first place", the girl answered as she drew her blades and stood ready to do battle. She didn't have to wait long. A few more seconds went by before out of the river leaped a huge behemoth. It hit the ground on all fours, shook itself, and lowered it's head and growled as it stared at the young man and woman with a predatory glare.
"Just stay back, I'll handle this", the girl said urgently.
"Yeah, right", the young man said with a snicker. "You mean like you handled it before I came along? Just stay out of my way. I don't want to have to save your worthless ass more than once today."
"That's it!", the girl yelled angrily. "Look, I have had it with your attitude! I can deal with this just fine without your help, Mr. Whoever-you-are!"
The young man looked at her, not able to help being impressed with her spirit and courage. He then turned his gaze back on the monster. "My name, if you must know, is Sephiroth", he said in a cold voice. "And you can do whatever the hell you want. Just don't blame me if you wind up dead. And don't get in my way, unless you wanna get cut."
"Tch, whatever", the girl sneered. She turned around to face the behemoth, seething with anger inside. I'm not gonna let this 'Sephiroth' push me around, she thought angrily. I'll be the one that kills this monster. I'll show him who's worthless! He can kiss my ass! Both of the warriors and the behemoth tensed themselves, ready to do battle yet again.