Seven
The Siege of Meltokio
Raine got up and yawned. By the time they had left the library it had been almost midnight, but it had been worth it. Raine was sure from what she had gathered while skimming over the book that it held the answer to their problem. By the end of the day they would meet up with Lloyd and the others and the Lich would be gone… forever. She just hoped it wasn't too late.
The light of the sunrise crept into Raine's room from her window and Raine yawned again. She hardly ever stayed up so late, but she always got up at dawn. The Wise Woman dressed and went downstairs, trying to remember the way to the kitchen from her room; Zelos' mansion was huge. Finally, she found her way down and went to prepare some breakfast. She still couldn't cook as well as Genis, but she was good enough to be better than Lloyd. Raine sighed. Like being better than Lloyd at cooking was an accomplishment.
When she had put the pan on the stove she turned around and rolled her eyes at Zelos' carelessness. He had left the book on the kitchen table, in plain sight. Raine sighed and took the book up to her room and stuck it in her bag. When she came back down, Regal was at the stove.
"Oh… it's you Regal," Raine said.
"Yes. I put some more eggs on for me and the others, I hope you do not mind," he said.
"Oh, no of course not," Raine answered. "It was a stroke of luck that Sheena found that book, wasn't it?"
Regal nodded. "I just hope we are in time," he said.
Raine looked down at the floor. Don't cry, she thought. Don't think of what might happen to Genis. "Y—yes… I do, too."
"I am sorry if I have upset you, Raine. I did not mean it," Regal said.
"No, it's ok Regal…" Raine decided to change the subject. "It still amazes me how you eat with those cuffs on. It's been years… why don't you take them off?"
"Because I can never forgive myself for what I did. I must wear them because it reminds me to never do anything like that again," Regal replied.
"Right…" They ate in silence. Today they would leave Meltokio and return to Sylvarant, and Raine wished Zelos and Sheena would get up.
"Where the hell are they?" Raine asked after they had finished.
Regal shrugged. "I will go and wake them." Regal got up and left, leaving Raine to think to herself.
Genis, I hope you're alright, she thought. Don't die before we get this book to you. And Lloyd… you especially don't die, she closed her eyes and softly spoke the words she had read several times from the tome. It had taken a fairly long time to decode the cryptic message, but Raine had figured it out.
There were footsteps from behind, and Raine looked around. Zelos, Sheena and Regal entered the kitchen, holding all of their bags. "Sheesh, Raine. You really should be more prepared!" Zelos shook his head sarcastically. Raine looked around and lightly blushed. The plates were still on the table and her bag was up in her room.
"Oh… well enjoy your breakfast Sheena and Zelos. And eat quickly, we have to go as soon as you're ready," Raine nodded at them and walked up back to her room.
Raine sighed. She was almost reluctant to leave the comfort of Meltokio. Oh well, life was life… and people were in danger. Raine tried not to think of that as she put her bag on her back and picked up her staffs.
By the time that Zelos and Sheena had finished eating and they had made their formal goodbyes to the Emperor, it was almost noon.
Raine, Zelos, Sheena and Regal were walking out of the palace when they heard it.
Ding! Dong! Ding! Dong! Heaven piercing bells rung through the sky. Raine almost dropped to her knees from the sheer sound.
"NO!" Zelos roared. "The emergency bells can only mean one thing! Meltokio is under attack!"
Raine's eyes widened. Who would attack the Imperial City, but furthermore, what army could be great enough to lay siege to it? The four rushed out of the palace.
Raine gasped.
Fire roared around them, crackling in huge pillars. Women and children screamed and cried in the streets, and the royal army rushed forward with swords and lances. But what appalled Raine the most was the enemy. Cadavers. Skeletal warriors clad in ageing bronze armor battled ruthlessly. Some cast magic while some struck down all in their way. Tears came to Raine's eyes as babies, children, women and men alike were cut down by the ruthless army.
"We have to stop them!" Raine cried.
"No Raine! There are too many. Sheena and I will stay here," Zelos paused. "And fight. You and Regal must reach Sylvarant to get that book to Lloyd!"
"But… surely you and Sheena will die!" Raine yelled.
Sheena breathed deeply. "Death is a small price to pay for the salvation of the world. We all risked our lives before so that Colette could complete her Regeneration quest, and now Zelos and I are willing to sacrifice to destroy this evil. No doubt the Lich sent this army to burn Meltokio."
"No," Regal said. "To burn the book. Raine, keep it hidden. Zelos, Sheena… may Martel guide you."
They nodded.
"Come Raine, we must leave."
Reluctantly, Raine agreed.
Zelos and Sheena rushed into the middle of the street. Immediately, the undead warriors formed a circle around them. "I guess they know when they see a challenge," Zelos grimaced. "Sheena, if we die…" Zelos whispered something into Sheena's ears and pressed an object into her hand. Sheena smiled and nodded. "Let's do this…" Zelos smiled as he unsheathed the Last Fencer and Fafnir, his trusted weapons.
"Yeah," Sheena grinned, taking out the Divine Judgment cards. "Let's kick some Undead ass."
Zelos leapt forward and at least two-dozen Undead descended upon him. "Demon Spear!" he roared. As he slashed his blade forward, seven of them were knocked back by his attack. He leapt up into the air and thrust Fafnir into the ground, crying: "Thunder Blade!" Lightning crackled from the Devil's Arm and pierced through the ones that had fallen down. Zelos got back up and slashed at as many as he could. As he struck one down he whirled around to find himself facing a huge soldier wielding a mace. The mace swung and Zelos jumped, throwing Fafnir at the beast. The thing recoiled his mace and slammed it into Fafnir. The blade flew through the air. "AAAAH!" Zelos roared and charged forward. "Eurgh," he moaned a second later as the mace flew into his stomach, sending him catapulting through the air. He felt blood stain his clothes and felt one of his ribs snap as he landed on the ground. He moaned as he got up, but already the mace-wielding soldier and a sea of others were rushing at him.
Sheena whirled around as Cyclone Seal crushed several more of the soldiers in front of her. "Zelos NOOOOO!" she cried as the undead brought his mace up. "Summon: Fire!" she cried, holding up her cards. A seal of light formed around her and her eyes glowed pure white as red lightning crackled forth from the card to in front of Zelos. In front of the Chosen Efreet floated, his eyes roaring with fire. A wave of magma and flame washed over the cadaver army, making them scream icily as they melted away (A/N: hehe icily as they melted… just noticed the irony of that)
Sheena rushed over to Zelos, ignoring her own injuries and fatigue. "Zelos, no…" tears formed in her eyes as Zelos dropped to the ground, his eyes closed. Blood soaked the ground around him. "Don't die… dammit Zelos get up!"
Zelos coughed and his eyes opened slightly. "S—sheena," he wheezed. "We have to keep on fighting…"
"Oh, Zelos," Sheena knelt over him and put the Divine Judgment cards over his chest. "Purgatory Seal," she whispered. White light poured from the two cards into Zelos. He coughed a little more, but his eyes opened more widely. He slowly got up.
"We're not out of this yet," he grimaced, and Sheena could tell he was still in pain.
Sheena nodded and readied herself. Fire raged around them and the cadavers were so occupied with setting fire to every building they saw that they hardly paid attention to Sheena and Zelos. Bodies lay all around them, and she noticed with despair that most of the imperial army was dead. Smoke rose into the sky and all around them smelled of blood, sweat and flesh.
Meltokio would not fall.
Sheena and Zelos rushed forward to a clump of cadavers.
(A/N: Evil cliffie hehe don't worry you'll find out what happens to Sheena and Zelos… well Review and I hope you enjoyed it!)