"This world is dead."
Angel lied in the main square of Northern Sandoria. Her surroundings were familiar.
"This isn't the material plane." Angel said
The Mithra stood up. Getting to her feet she could feel a deep hurt in her chest.
"What happened?" Angel asked herself
The city was empty. But it wasn't Sandoria. It looked like the grand city of the Elvaan. However, it was on a mirrored plane. Angel walked through the streets trying to get her thoughts together. Walking to Southern Sandoria Angel could hear something feint. It was a soft sobbing. Picking up her pace Angel started running trying to find the cause of this sound. Coming around a corner Angel spotted a female Elvaan sitting alone in front of the auction houses. Walking up to her Angel slowly uncovered something horrifying.
"Ginryu?" Angel asked
The Elvaan looked up with red eyes. Her cheeks were damp from the tears.
Apathy struck down at Terra. Her claw was repelled from Terra's flesh. A magical force warded it away. Apathy was in searing pain from the deflection. Struggling to get out of her grip, Apathy was still in Terra's grasp. Terra's aura grew vibrantly. It was engulfing Apathy at this point. Apathy stopped moving, her body fell limp.
"Damnit!" Envy yelled
Envy drew a long black spear. Wielding it in two hands she charged at the group, aiming for Terra.
Angel ran at Ginryu. The distraught Elvaan stood up, in her sobs she started to smile.
"Angel?" Ginryu said
Angel ran up, jumping to hold her she fell short. Grabbing her midsection Angel forgot how tall she was.
"What are you doing here, more importantly where are we?" Angel asked
"I don't know. All I can remember is that being killing me. After that I appeared here. I can't leave the city. And there is no one else here." Ginryu explained
Angel gritted her teeth. Her mind felt absent. Ginryu let go and stepped back. Angel's body was fading in and out. Angel noticed it too.
"No! You can't leave me here alone!" Ginryu yelled
Angel could feel something pulling her away. Trying to keep her mind in one place Angel yelled.
"Cifer is alive!" Angel yelled
Ginryu stopped. These words hit her. There was a small spark of happiness in her heart.
"And I am coming back to get you!" Angel yelled before she faded away completely
"Do you know what your doing?" Vivli asked
"No, but I don't have a choice right now." Terra said in a panic
Vivli took off the ring Cid gave to her. Handing it to Terra she put it on. With the ring on Terra could feel her magical energy and power being amplified. Summoning Carbuncle took little effort, if any at all. The blue summoned creature came to Terra's side. The two mages put their hands on Angel's body.
"Carbuncle!" Terra yelled. "Use Searing Light!"
Carbuncle nodded. Jumping into the air he gathered a large amount of light energy. A flash erupted from his ruby. It purified Angel's body. The corruption spell Envy had put on her bleed from Angel's body. The light faded and Angel opened her eyes. She looked up to see the two Mithra mages looking down at her.
"Wha… what just happened?" Angel asked
Leaning up she noticed her hands. They were stained black. The color would not leave her hands. Her mind fully connected with her body. Angel leapt to her feet. Seeing Envy stand there with her Spear trying to attack Elnroth. Angel was angry and had to make her promise real, and now.
She ran out to Envy. Running past Elnroth, Angel dropped low and swung a leg out tripping Envy.
"Damn wench." Envy yelled
Envy turned to Angel. This time Envy charged at Angel. Angel started to run as well. Envy thrust her spear at Angel. Angel ducked low, putting an arm out she caught the spear. Pushing it up she came to a stop a foot before Envy. Angel held Envy's spear. Speaking quickly the ground erupted behind Angel. Titan rose grabbing the spear breaking it. Envy dropped back. Using her own magic she threw orbs of negative energy at Angel. One hit her causing a large explosion.
"Ha. Yes!" Envy gloated
The debris cleared. There were two Angel's standing there, they rushed at Evny. Garuda used her blink spell to create multiple shadows of Angel. Envy had only destroyed one of the two. Envy ran back again. She threw a second orb of negative energy. The last shadow took the blow. Envy was left drained for a moment. Trying to run away from Angel she tried to turn but didn't move. Shiva had used her ice magic to freeze Envy's feet to the ground. Angel ran up with Carbuncle following closely behind her. Carbuncle instinctively cast his Searing Light. The beam of light flew from the glowing red ruby on his head. Hitting Evny it blasted the corrupted soul out of Ginryu's body.
Ginryu slumped to the ground. Her skin went back to a nice tan from grey. Angel was tired but smiled.
"Lets get you home." Angel said
She lent over grabbing her arm. Elnroth walked over and helped her up. He showed Angel to the boat. Once everyone gathered there the ship left the port. Ginryu was still unconscious. Angel had leaned her against the side of the wall in one of the rooms. She sat next to her waiting for her to awake. All Angel could do was stare at her black stained hands. But up above things were another matter.
Celphie was walking up on deck extremely aggravated. Vivli saw her and walked over to find out what was wrong.
"Hey… Celphie?" Vivli asked nervously
"What do you want?" Celphie shot back
"Umm… do you mind if I talk to you?" Vivli asked again
Celphie sighed.
"Go ahead." Celphie answered
"Are you upset?" Vivli calmly asked
Celphie gave her a dead glare.
"I'm bloody pissed off!" Celphie yelled
Vivli was scared now. Bring what courage she had Vivli continued to talk.
"Why are you mad though?" Vivli asked
Celphie grumbled.
"The leader of the last of the survivors is dead. Kotosumex and Amand are dead. And that damn woman killed them with her own hands." Celphie said
Vivli's mind clicked. Those two did come with them. Now she knows why they didn't return.
"And now, I have to take up this responsibility." Celphie said
In the dark Vivli could barely make out Celphie's face. Celphie turned away.
"I'm not sure if I can handle this much longer." Celphie said. Her voice was starting to crack. "This is all too much. Only a week ago I was in Bastok living a life I had always wished for. And now, I don't think this will ever be the same."
Vivli walked closer to Celphie. The moon had hit the peak over head. There was a clod wind blowing over the sea. Vivli shivered slightly. Andrew had turned around. He had a slight smile on his face. He took off his vest and put it around Vivli.
"Go under the deck and get some rest. The moment we arrive in Norg we'll be preparing to leave for Windurst." Andrew said. He was obviously faking this enthused act.
As Vivli walked away Andrew slumped against the side of the ship. He closed his eyes.
"Dear brother, if you are in so much pain why must you carry on. It can be ended." Celphie said
Andrew held his head in his hands.
"I can't. I just can't give up now." Andrew said
Celphie's spirit walked along the deck. In the moonlight her ghostly form could be seen. She slowly walked around. Andrew just sat with his eyes closed.
"Why can't it be like before? Every passing day I can't help but feel guilty." Andrew said. "I'm slowly ending your life."
Celphie just walked around on the ship. Under the moons rays she looked up engulfing the lunar light. She slowly took rhythmic strides. This grew into steps and soon she was dancing across the boards.
"For every day that we are together. It will bring us closer to the day that I may be with you in our next life." Celphie said
Andrew looked up from his hands. He could see his sister dancing in the night.
"I owe you for so much. I don't think there is anything I could do to make it up to you for all that you have done." Andrew spoke
Celphie continued to dance around the deck.
"There are only two things I could ever ask of you my dear brother." Celphie said. "And until I need to ask them of you, I must insist that you live happily."
Andrew laughed slightly. He stood up. Walking to Celphie he stopped and bowed.
"Mind if I have this dance?" Andrew asked
Celphie stopped and curtsied to him. Andrew knelt down. On one knee their body fell to the ground in a trance. Andrew's ghost form stood in the moonlight holding a hand to her sister. Celphie took his hand. Stepping in perfect unison the two danced across the deck of the ship. Slowly turning and stepping the two moved in circles. Celphie moved in closer to her brother. Putting her head on his shoulder she spoke softly.
"I just wish the world was the way it was before. That we wouldn't have to fight anymore." Celphie said
Andrew smiled.
"I remember a old warrior told me once. Peace can't be achieved without war." Andrew said. "If we get through this. If we can just get through this."
Vivli walked down below deck. She stopped. Looking back she turned around to walk back up onto the deck. She could hear two people talking. Peeking up she saw Celphie dancing around. She was in shock. Barely able to hear what they were saying. Vivli watched as Andrew walked to this ghostly figure. Andrew's body fell down, the Mithra almost went into shock seeing the two figures dance around on the deck. Vivli was in awe just watching them. But just as they stopped moving the two vanished. Vivli blinked. But they were nowhere to be seen. Andrew's body got up. It looked like he was struggling to get up. Vivli was tempted to run out and help him. But he would know she was watching them.
"To hell with it." Vivli said
She ran out onto the deck rushing over to Andrew. She helped him get up. Vivli was surprised at his skin. His whole body was ice cold. Vivli helped walk him down to a room. Getting him to a bed he just collapsed, too bad for Vivli. He had his arm around her shoulders as a support. Due to her size he just pulled her down with him. Andrew was sprawled out on the bed. Vivli was lying next to him; she tried to get out from under his arm. But it was incredibly heavy. She felt something on her back. It was prodding her. But it was inside Andrew's sleeve. Try as she might Vivli couldn't move. Andrew smiled. Lifting his arm Vivli rolled out. Quickly afterwards, his arm came back crashing down onto the bed.
"What are you wearing?" Vivli asked
Andrew laughed slightly.
"Two layers of thick cloth, one layer of fine silk, and a single layer of thick ceramic tiles." Andrew said
"How can you walk in that?" Vivli asked
Andrew's body started to regain its strength. He rolled over. Unbuttoning his trench coat he slowly pulled it off. Dropping it to the floor it landed loudly.
"That would be the ceramic tiles." Andrew said.
Unzipping the heavy coat he slipped it off as well. He dropped it to the ground over the coat. All he was wearing now was a thin black shirt. It had no sleeves and was cut off rather short. Vivli looked at his body. It was true what he said earlier. He shared the body of his sister. But there was something that Andrew was trying to hide.
"You don't have to stay here." Andrew said
There were scars covering her body, marks from swords, magic, and arrows. Vivli looked at them. It was saddening to see them. Andrew held his arms close to his chest.
"It is a bit easier to move around with out all of that armor on." Andrew said
He looked distracted.
"Well, I guess I'll be going to bed then." Vivli said
Vivli got up and walked to the door. Walking out into the main hall of the ship there was Elnroth sitting holding his sword meditating. Terra was sleeping next to Angel. Angel and Ginryu were leaning against the wall. Vivli sat down across from Angel. She tried to get comfortable but wasn't used to sleeping on a ship.
"You know, if you asked nicely, I'm sure Andrew over there would let you share his bed." Angel said
Vivli blushed.
"No… what makes you think he would do that?" Vivli asked
"You can't be that clueless." Angel asked. "Haven't you seen how he acts around you?"
"What do you mean?" Angel inquired
"No…" Vivli said. "I don't really notice anything."
"Never mind then." Angel said
She put an arm around Terra. Terra moved closer to her mother. The ship moved through the night back to Norg. From there the group would have to bring the news of a defeat and a victory.
Legal notice. I do not own FFXI. It is property of Square-Enix. All PC's and NPC's have thier respective owners.