Okay, I done an extension to the battle scene since several people had requested it. I hope it's to everyone's liking. And it is very different from what I had planned, but what I had planned I can save for another battle scene. I tried to squeeze as much into the chpt as possibly to get this story moving along a bit. Well, I hope everyone is liking this story so far.
And guys I want to thank everyone for their wonderful reviews. This story would not be where it is if it wasn't for your guys. So, I thank each of you very much.
The Celsius hovered over the Calm Lands as what remained of it collapsed only to create a gorge. Dust rose from the depths below as the plains continued to crumble near the edges. Brother was on the main top, looking down into the gorge below as he bellowed Yuna's name in hysterical sobs. He fell to his knees, only to fall forward while his head dangled over the side of the airship.
"YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Brother , wailed and sobbed. He sniffled loudly only to burst into sobs again. "My beautiful Yuna. . . gone! Paine and Rikku soon be gone, too, and it all sexy snake woman's fault!"
Meanwhile. . . below the deck. . .
Shrina heard Brother and just sighed as he shook his head. "Shouldn't someone go up there and get him?"
"And listen to his blubbering down here?" Buddy asked. "No way! He'll be alright." Shrina just chuckled at that comment.
Meanwhile, in the cabin, Paine was given a series of antidotes before the poison at last left her body. Rikku had suffered a bad concussion, which knowing Rikku, it was really hard to tell if she suffered one at all.
Rikku paced back and forth as she tried to come up with a plan to find Yuna. Paine sat resting on the bed getting annoyed at Rikku's constant pacing.
"You're beginning to make me dizzy." Paine said flatly.
"Then stop watching." Rikku teased. "We need to find Yunie. . . and now!"
A loud, screaming wail is heard all the way inside the cabin followed by a few sobs. Rikku and Paine just shook their heads, for they knew who and what that was.
"Is he ever going to stop that!" Paine asked. "He has been doing that ever since we boarded without Yuna."
"All the more reason to find her!" Rikku said. "He won't stop until we do."
"Errr!" Paine growled.
Meanwhile, in the gorge below all, a pair of mismatched eyes opened to be greeted by dust hovering overhead. She coughed a bit, groaning as pain shot down her spine and back up again.
Yuna rolled over onto her belly, rubbing the back of her head as she tried to adjust her vision. After taking a long sigh, she slowly rose to her feet and dusted herself off when suddenly she is grabbed from behind and almost wrestled to the ground, however, she wasn't about to let herself be overpowered. Therefore, Yuna reached behind her, grabbed herself a hand full of hair and flipped the person who had grabbed her over her shoulder. Yuna's eyes widened when she saw who it was that had grabbed her from behind There, lying on the ground before Yuna, was none other than Calandra who had transpired back into her true form.
Panting heavily, Calandra narrowed her eyes at Yuna. "It's just you and me now, summoner! Your friends are down for the count and no one can save you this time!"
"That just shows you what kind of a fool you are, Calandra!" Yuna said
Calandra slowly stood to her feet, tossing her caramel trestles over her shoulder as her pets slithered forth to cover her bareness. "A fool, am I?" Yuna narrowed her eyes at her. "You're the one seeking to raise the dead, sweetheart! How foolish is that!"
"As foolish as your attempt is to stop me." Yuna spatted. "You came back from the dead, sent forth by this Mistress of Death, to stop me! You crossed that thin line that as I intend to do."
"You will never be able to cross that line nor will you even reach it because your journey ends here!" Calandra shouted as her eyes began to glow a dark crimson.
Remembering what happened last time, Yuna quickly stooped down, grabbed herself a handful of dust and dirt and threw it straight into Calandra's eyes who screamed, stepping back as she rubbed her eyes where she was instantly speared to the ground by Yuna who straddled Calandra only to punch her in the face two times before being knocked off.
Yuna rolled on the ground about four or five times before coming to a halt only to see Botherhood lying on the ground just inches away from her. Calandra managed to wipe her eyes free of dirt only to see a steel blade coming forth. Her eyes widened as she screamed, rolling along the ground just as the blade came in contact with the ground below her. She continued to crawl backwards as Yuna tried to strike her down until she at last felt her back press against the stoney formation of the mountain side. Yuna immediately pressed the blade of Brotherhood to the side of her neck as she stood over Calandra like a fiend over its prey. Sweat glided down Calandra's face only to come in contact with the blade and glide down it.
"This is it." Yuna said. "This is my story. It will go the way I want it to or I will end it here."
"What do you mean to do to me!" Calandra asked, trying to play the victim in the matter at hand.
Yuna narrowed her eyes in pure anger and almost hatred. "I'm sending you back to your Mistress. And when you see her, tell her that Yuna's coming for her."
Calandra cackled. "You have an evil eye about you, summoner, but not an evil soul." She sighed smugly. "You don't have it in you to strike me down as you so threaten to do."
"I wouldn't be too sure of that, Calandra." Yuna said through clinched teeth.
Calandra's eyes widen in utter shock and fear, for she knew that Yuna was as serious as that blade pressed against the side of her throat, however, she was unwilling to let Yuna defeat her for sure this time. Acting fast, Calandra took her foot and kicked backwards, only to knock Yuna's feet clean out from under her and she fell to the ground, giving Calandra just enough time to stand to her feet.
"You cannot defeat me!" Calandra shouted as she watched Yuna push herself up from the ground. "Behold the power within!"
Yuna watched as Calandra raised her hands high above her head, crossing them over each other, which instantly brought forth a radiating luminosity of colors. Yuna shielded her eyes from the brightness as they danced around Calandra only to grow in length and height when suddenly beads of chalcedonies and chrysoprases sprung forth from the bottom of the glowing colors as they spiraled all around in an elegant dance around Calandra. Then, without a second to spare, a series of moonstones, bloodstones, and mystic onyxes swirled down and danced all around as a glittery hue of stardust rained down upon her. Her skin glistened like a shimmering star at night. Extending out her arms, the semi precious gemstones glided outward, twirling around her arms as they broke free from within the light, which instantly caused them to turn to balls of fire.
Meanwhile, still hovering above the gorge below, Brother gazed down upon the glowing light and once he saw the boulders of fire, his instantly sprung to his feet.
"Goodness gracious! Great balls of fire!" Brother shouted as he then tuned into his headset. "GULLWINGS! FRONT AND CENTER!" He then darted into the ship below, which soon set flight towards the gorge below.
A few fire balls collided into the mountain sides closest to them, which created huge, gaping holes. The Celsius flew downward at a deathly speed, twirling around as it dodged oncoming fireballs, however, to their dismay, as one was dodged, the Celsius collided with a fireball head on, dealing great damage and the airship went down instantly where its fall was broken by the ground, which it scooted along on till it crashed against the mountain side. Yuna screamed, for she feared the worst for her family and friends aboard. Calandra only cackled sinisterly as she released the magic that was dancing around her. Pure shock and horror rose within Yuna as smoke rose from it.
"Say goodbye, Summoner!" Calandra said smugly as she raised her hands only to guide a remaining fireball in Yuna's path.
Yuna thought this was it for sure. She was backed into a corner with no where to run and no where to hide. She shielded her eyes from the roaring ball of fire as it came flying towards her, however, just before it was to collide with her, pyerflies spiraled and danced around as they took shape when Braska appeared before Yuna.
Yuna's eyes widened. "Father? Wha- -"
"Your reign of terror ends here, Calandra!" Braska said bravely. "Burn like the evil being you are!"
Extending his hands forth, a rotating spherical force field appeared and grew at a rapid pace, which instantly reflected the fireball back towards Calandra who screamed as she watched the fireball head straight for her, and without being able to do anything, the fireball collided with Calandra only to burn into her where they both vanished without a trace.
Panting a bit, Braska turned to his only daughter, extended out his hand to her and helped her up to her feet. Yuna was baffled and could not believer he eyes. Her father stood before her and seeing him after all this time brought tears to her eyes, however, as she attempted to pull him into an embrace, the attempt was done in vain, for her hands went right through him. Sadness filled her eyes as she gazed upon her father.
"Why?" Yuna asked as tears streamed down her face. "Why is this happening? Why does everyone have to suffer because of me?"
"Listen to me, Yuna." Braska began and Yuna listened very carefully. "You are my daughter. My very blood flows through your veins. Fight for what you know to be right and make your dream come true. Do not give up no matter the cost."
"I intend to keep going even if it means defying or even facing certain death." Yuna said.
"Be well, my daughter." Braska said as he then stepped back and faded away.
An hour had nearly gone by. . .
Help was called, however, no one had showed up as of yet. A few were hurt in the collision, but everyone escaped with their lives. Kimahri, Garik and few other Ronso were giving Brother and the others a helping hand at trying to repair the Celsius, but all were at somewhat of a loss.
Yuna stood off in the distance trying to consume all that has happened since her search began. From hearing Tidus' whistle only to feel his lips upon hers once again, from Spira being destroyed to her father coming to her rescue, things were certainly beginning to get out of control and she alone knew this as well as many others, but no one had the nerve or courage to tell Yuna to give up this search, for they knew that her will to keep going was stronger than anything Spira had seen since the defeat of Sin and Vegnagun.
Rikku cautiously approached Yuna who heard her footsteps and quickly wiped her tears away.
"Yunie?" Rikku said.
"Am I crazy, Rikku?" Yuna asked.
"Yeah!" Rikku said. "Crazy in love." Yuna chuckled at her comment. "Yunie, four elemental fiends have been defeated. We've come a long way to turn back now."
"But as with many adventures, Rikku." Yuna began. "This is only the beginning."
Meanwhile, beyond the heart of the Farplane where the dimension of souls dwells, a certain someone is more than furious now, for she was growing more desperate by the mere second.
An angered growl echoed throughout the realm as she tossed her cape aside in frustration.
"This cannot be!" the mistress of death shouted. "A mere mortal has defied the odds and overcame certain mayhem!" She then sighed in frustration. "It's time I took matters into my own hands and seek out this High Summoner myself, for if my Gatekeeper should fail, I shall be there waiting." And with that said, she faded into the mist that surrounded her.
Meanwhile, back in Spira, help has arrived, however, it's not to Rikku's liking, for someone who annoyed her very, very much had arrived at the scene.
Rikku stood talking to Yuna about the events that have occurred when she heard someone approach.
"Well, if it isn't Cid's girl?" came a cocky voice from behind.
Rikku gritted her teeth as she turned only to see Gippal behind her. "I have a name! USE IT!"
"Since when?" Gippal asked.
"Since- -" Rikku bit her tongue. "I am not going to give you the pleasure of getting under my skin." She then turned away.
"Wouldn't be the only thing I was under at one point in time." Gippal said boldly. Rikku's face turned a bright crimson as she turned to Gippal and started yelling at him in Al Bhed. "Hey, chill, babe! I was only kidding."
"We all know who the joke is, Gippal." Paine said as she approached the trio. "So, what do we do now?" We aren't flying out of here anytime soon."
"We're not going to Djose before anyone even brings that up." Rikku said swiftly as she eyed Gippal who just snickered at her.
"Is there any way we could get to Macalania?" Yuna suggested. "We could stop in on O'aka and gather some needed supplies and possibly get a place to rest for a while."
Gippal eyed the mountain side a bit and noticed that a narrow path had been created in the wake of the destruction. "If we stay along that narrow path, we should be fine."
"We?" Rikku asked.
"Sure!" Gippal said as he threw his arm over Rikku's shoulder. "I'll come along to protect you three gals from any so called man eating fiends that we might run into along the way."
"We managed to survive four elemental fiends without you. I think we can manage." Rikku said.
"Nonsense!" Gippal said. "Let's get going!" And with that said, Yuna, Rikku, Paine, Gippal, Buddy, Shinra and Brother began to walk the narrow path of what used to be the Calm Lands.
Gippal began to linger behind a bit and once Rikku walked passed him, he grasped the side of her thongs only to give them one huge pull, causing them to ascend was up the crack of Rikku's butt as she screamed. Gippal laughed as he dashed away with a very angered Rikku hot on his tail as she cursed and ranted at him in Al Bhed.
A while later. . .
Everyone made it safely to O'aka's shop where supplies and such were being gathered, however, unbeknownst to everyone except Rikku, Yuna had slipped out, for she need to be alone for a while.
Yuna stood in front of the spring, tears cascading down her cheeks. She slowly wiped them away as she began to walk into the depths of the water until it became knee deep upon her. She eased herself down, kneeling into the water.
"I feel you so near, Tidus." Yuna said sadly. "But yet you are so far away." She closed her eyes as one solitary tear escaped her eye and fell into the water before her. Tiny ripples appeared and quickly grew into large ones.
Suddenly, from within the depths of the water, grew a shimmering light of pure gold. Yuna watched in bewilderment as the light came closer and grew brighter. She squinted her eyes a bit as the light rose and floated out of the water, hovering over its very surface. Yuna focused her eyes on the light and within it, she saw a sphere. She instantly gasped at what she saw before her. Was that the sphere she that she has sought all along? The one sphere that could possibly aid her in her search for Tidus? Yuna's eyes widened in curiosity and enticement as she slowly extended out her hands to grasp the sphere within the luminous light of gold.
