Okay, it's time for the next chapter. I really hope that everyone has enjoyed this story. I don't know when the next one will be. I might stick to stories like "Could it Be Love?" to help fill some of the empty spots I left in some of the stories. I know that when I leave for college in 3 weeks there won't be as much updating for me. So, it's been a fun ride with all the stories and I hope that everyone who is still reading this has enjoyed it as well. It might sound like I'm done, but I'm sure that I'll get some other crazy idea and we'll have another story, and you can count on that happening. Oh, and before I forget I made another montage on This one is about my favorite red-head Zelos! Anyway, check it out sometime. Well, here comes the last chapter. Enjoy!
Chapter 17: The Final Battle
"What are you planning on?" Lloyd asked his sister as she stared at the beast that stood in front of her. She had her glowing blue wings out and was ready for some sort of attack. When she heard Lloyd she looked at him. He could tell that she wasn't completely certain about what she was about to do, but he knew that she would try it even if he tried to talk her out of it.
"I defeated this spirit before when it was inside Pronyma with my mom. If all of us join our faith and the spirits return to aid us, I know that we can defeat it for good," Storm said as she clenched her fist. She was ready to take it on, no matter what the consequences were.
"I'm going with you," Storm looked behind her and saw Sutra coming up next to her. She stared straight at the beast, ready to do whatever Storm asked of her.
"We're all ready for this," Sheena said as the rest of the group came up behind the three of them and stared at them with a new and determined look. "What do we have to do?" she asked as she looked at the auburn-haired girl.
"With Mom's spirit I was able to defeat Spiritua's spirit before. If we all call out the spirits that have been helping us and ask for their power I know that I can use my Judgement attack and blow her away. It worked before, so it has to work now. You all just need to pray for their help and believe that we can defeat the darkness. They'll come...I know it," Storm told them.
"You're going out there by yourself?" Sutra asked bewildered by the information. "I'm going with you. I can handle a Judgement attack with this Cruxis Crystal. I won't let you go out on your own," Sutra told her stubbornly. Storm stared at her, knowing that she wouldn't change the young woman's mind. Storm couldn't believe how far Sutra had come since she met her. First, she was the one who destroyed all of Symphonia and turned all the worlds upside down, and now she was on their side willing to risk her life to help the person that she had once despised. Storm nodded her head silently as they both prepared to fly towards the dragon.
As Storm was ready to fly closer she felt a hand around her wrist. She looked backwards and met Zelos' blue eyes staring at her sadly. "Zelos...?" she asked quietly.
"Please come back. I don't want to see you hurt again," he told her painfully.
"I will, but why are you acting like this?" she asked him, he'd never done this before any battle. She was answered as he pulled her closer towards him, wrapping her up in a hug. They stood there for a few moments. Storm was a little overcome with what was going on, not to mention the fact that she was confused as to why he was acting the way he was.
"I was afraid that I lost you forever back at Origin's seal. I thought I'd never see you again. I can't go through that again," he said as he gripped her a little tighter.
"I'll be careful, don't worry," she told him. She hoped that what she said was true, she didn't want to lie to him. As soon as he let go she flew into the air with Sutra as they came closer to the dragon. The entire group on the ground began to concentrate as they struggled to call upon the spirits that had already helped them so much.
The dragon saw the two coming as it roared at them defiantly. Suddenly, Sutra and Storm heard Spiritua's voice echoing all around them.
"Fools! Do you truly believe that you can defeat me? There is nothing that will stop me from gaining that body of yours Storm and destroying every living creature on that pathetic planet of yours. I will gain revenge on those that caused me all my pain and misery," Spiritua screamed at them. The dragon replied with a loud screech that caused Sutra and Storm to hold their hands over their ears.
"Okay...I need you now more than ever Mom," Storm sighed as she began to pray, hoping that her spirit would come to her aid.
"Mithos, please come and help me correct the mistakes that I have made," Sutra whispered as she too began to pray.
"Martel, help save all the innocent lives that Spiritua attempts to destroy," Raine pleaded as she prayed on the other end of the battlefield.
"Mom, help Storm and Sutra so we can bring peace to Symphonia once again...like you wanted," Lloyd asked silently as he mustered up all the hope he had to summon her.
"Mother...Father...help send this evil spirit into hell," Sheena called as she prayed for her parents to come to their aid.
"Mithos...if you truly are my friend then come and defend us now in our time of need," Genis asked, hoping the half-elf friend he once had would answer his call.
"Anna...help our children defeat this evil so they may live in a peaceful world like we once dreamed of," Kratos pleaded as he tried to bring his wife's spirit to the battlefield.
"Mom, you have to help me and protect the woman I love. I didn't believe in you before, but now I know why you died. You died to protect me, and I would die to protect her. Please...you have to help us!" Zelos cried out, desperate to get his mother to come back and aid them.
"Alicia...please help end this battle," Presea asked as she prayed for her sister's return.
"Martel, we can't achieve the world you wanted as long as this evil is still around...you must help us defeat it," Yuan pleaded as he tried to bring back his beloved Martel.
"Please spirits...help us defeat Spiritua," Colette prayed to bring any and all of the spirits to the battlefield.
Suddenly, bright lights began to emerge from inside of everyone praying down below. The dragon watched curiously as they all glowed brightly. All of a sudden, the light flew swiftly into Storm and Sutra, leaving the others bodies completely.
"No...it can't be...," Spiritua stuttered as she watched was taking place in front of her.
Storm opened her eyes and stared at the beast with a smirk on her face. "Oh yeah, you remember this attack don't you," she said as she began glowing even brighter at the same time Sutra did as well.
Suddenly, Storm and Sutra began their incantation as they watched the dragon attempt to produce it's own dark attack.
"Sacred powers, shed thy light upon this land. Cast this corrupted soul into eternal damnation, so others may live peacefully. See you in hell Spiritua. Divine Judgement!" they both called out, Storm added her own little comment near the end. A huge explosion of white light erupted from the two of them as it completely blew past Spiritua's failed attempts at a dark attack to defend herself. All the strength of the group's faith powered up even more by the spirits' help was more than enough to wipe through Spiritua. The dragon cried out painfully, followed by the howling screams of Spiritua herself. They al watched from below as the dragon blew into dust as the light spread over it. Spiritua was finally back where she belonged.
Soon the light that had engulfed the entire area began to dissipate as the spirits themselves made their way back into heaven where they belonged. The group couldn't see Storm or Sutra anywhere in the sky, but soon saw them laying on the ground farther in front of them.
The entire group ran over to them to make sure they were all right. Things didn't look to good as they noticed that the two weren't really moving. Zelos picked up lifted Storm off the ground a bit and rested her head on his lap.
"Come on Storm, you have to be okay. You weren't going to leave me again," he cried as he tried to hold back his tears.
"Sutra...please wake up. All your friends are here, tell us you're all right," Sheena attempted to get her to wake up. Suddenly, she heard a groan as she looked down and saw the young girl begin to stir below her.
"Did we win, or are we all dead?" Sutra asked as she looked up at the group of people surrounding her.
"You guys won. Spiritua is finally gone. How do you feel?" Sheena asked her, laughing a little at her comment.
"I think I'm fine. I'm just a little tired," Sutra said as she closed her eyes and went back to sleep. She had used up an enormous amount of strength and she didn't have much left.
Zelos felt like he wouldn't be able to hold back his tears much longer. He looked over and saw that Sutra had already woken up, but when he looked down at Storm he saw that she still hadn't stirred. He closed his eyes a little as a tear escaped his eyes landing on Storm's forehead. With his eyes closed he didn't notice as Storm slowly opened her eyes. She stared at the man above her.
"Zelos...are you crying?" she asked him weakly. Zelos' eyes snapped open as he stared down and saw Storm looking up at him with her hazel eyes.
"You're okay!" he cheered as he bent down to hug her as he took her off his lap.
"Zelos...I can't breathe when you do that," Storm complained as he finally let her go.
"Sorry," he said he blushed a little. Raine came over after making sure that the two were actually all right as she used her healing powers to help them regain at least some of their lost strength.
"I don't think I want to spend too much time here waiting for you two to get your strength back," she offered as her reasoning.
They all couldn't disagree with her as they made their way back to where the portal was to the living world. They all jumped back into the gate before being spit back out at the Tower of Salvation. Once they were all through, they noticed that the gate disappeared behind them, leaving the realm of lost souls hidden from the living world once again.
"So now what?" Sheena asked. "That's another enemy defeated and the world is safe once again," she announced.
"I suppose we rebuild," Raine told them.
"Yeah, let's go and get back to our lives," Genis said enthusiastically.
The entire group began to make their way out of the Tower. Sheena, Lloyd, Kratos, and Yuan were all walking together when Lloyd suddenly asked a question.
"I wonder if Storm and Zelos finally forgave each other?" he asked.
All four of them looked behind them to catch a glimpse of the couple who were just coming out of the building.
"I have a question for you Zelos," Storm stated as she looked over at the red-head.
"Okay," Zelos asked cautiously.
"Were you crying for me back in there?" she asked him, a small smirk forming on her face.
"Well...I...I thought that you were...," he began nervously. He always tried to make himself out to be the strong person and didn't want Storm to see him crying. "I just had something in my eyes. Besides, I was worried about my hunny," he told her.
"You were worried about me?" Storm asked, flattered by his feelings.
"Yeah, I mean could you imagine if I never got to see your sexy self anymore. I mean...man...I would be missing out," he said as he looked her over a few times. When he got to that part of his statement anyone could see the irritation flowing out of Storm. Before Zelos even got time to react Storm thrashed him on the top of the head, causing him to crash to the ground below him.
Storm stared down at him, satisfied with what she had done. "Is that all I am to you!" she yelled at him when he managed to look up at her.
"It was a compliment," he yelled back.
"Well, it looks like they forgave each other to me," Sheena pointed out as the two continued to argue in the background. Before long they heard Storm give Zelos another lump on his already bruised head.
"Yeah, I'd say things are back to normal," Kratos added as they continued to walk, leaving the Zelos and Storm to bicker on their own.
Well, that's the end of the story. I hope you all enjoyed this. Now, don't forget this probably won't be the end of the Storm series, but there will be less updates in a few weeks. Anyway, thanks for reading and this concludes the Dark Age! Yay! Well, please review and thanks for all the reviews for the last chapter and through the entire story. I have the best readers ever! Thanks you guys!