Start Date: April 8, 2022
Windwillow
Final Fantasy IV
Chapter Eighteen
The battle with Zemus nears, but now the task is to recruit the aid of the God of Eidolons: the dragon Bahamut. Rydia has passed his tests and now stands before him with the glory of a true summoner.
Except he doesn't want to help...
Scene One
"What the hell do you mean, you son of a bitch?!" shouted Edge. "We came all this way, beat up three big-ass monsters to get here, and now you say you won't help us?!"
Bahamut's maw licked with flame.
"I would watch my words, boy."
Edge cringed, as Fusoya stepped forward and knelt.
"Milord, I ask of you to reconsider... We have need of your power. Zemus plots to slaughter humanity, and we ask of you to lend us your strength... Please, for the sake of the Earth."
Bahamut shook his head.
"I don't care. Zemus is your problem, old man. I care only for a true summoner to call me; this stripling is scarcely out of diapers."
Rydia bowed her head.
"Lord Bahamut, I beg of you! I have passed the tests! I have bested the King and Queen!"
Bahamut paused.
"Leviathan sent YOU...?"
He sighed.
"He ought to have brought an offering better than you..."
Edge tightened his fist. He wasn't about to let him insult Rydia in front of him, damn the consequences.
"Come ON!" he shouted. "Rydia..."
Bahamut flicked a fireball at Edge, who narrowly dodged it. He narrowed his eyes.
"Silence, worm."
Edge swallowed hard, and stepped back. Rydia stepped forward with her hands clenched.
"Please, sir!" she begged. "I..."
There was a pause from Bahamut. He sighed. Rydia angrily tightened her fisted grip.
"I won't leave without your service!" she rasped. "I need to protect my friends, protect my world! If you won't listen to ME..."
She opened her hands and slammed them to the ground. A massive wave of water burst from her feet, growing into what looked like a small lake. As Bahamut watched with disinterest, the water broke open to reveal Leviathan's true, giant form. He roared, and quickly shrunk to the size he was when they had fought him.
Leviathan stared Bahamut straight in the eye.
"You always were a hard case," he said. "It seems a few eons of isolation hasn't softened your attitude."
Fusoya sighed.
"I had hoped it wouldn't have to come to this..."
Bahamut growled, his eyes burning with flame.
"So you DID send this one..."
Leviathan nodded.
"She has bested myself and my queen, and now has passed your trials. If you call yourself a GOD, why not act like one and show some benevolence?!"
Bahamut's claws tightened, and he roared.
"Know your place!" he snarled.
Leviathan shook his head.
"You were the one who told me, long ago... To bring to you a truly exceptional summoner, one worthy of you. She stands before you, so keep your word."
Cecil backed away, along with Rosa. Defying a god didn't seem to be a good idea...
Angrily, Bahamut turned to Rydia. He narrowed his eyes.
"Fine. Prove you deserve my service!"
He spread his wings and flapped, sending a gust that knocked everyone to their knees as he ascended to the sky. Rydia's eyes tightened, her resolve returning. She lifted her hand and pointed at Bahamut.
"Leviathan, Your Majesty! Let us defeat him! Together...!"
If Leviathan could have smiled, he would have. He roared, and looked up at Bahamut.
"Yes!"
Rydia hopped on Leviathan's shoulder, and clapped her hands together. The king of Eidolons swung his mighty tail and a torrential wave of water zoomed towards the dragon. As it neared, Bahamut breathed fire that turned it to steam.
Leviathan sprung up and opened his maw, his teeth clashing with Bahamut's claws and creating a sharp sound that cut through the air like a drill. Their talons met and clashed with a shattering pressure wave, and the two detached and returned to their starting positions.
As the spectators struggled to their feet, Bahamut licked his lips.
"You command Leviathan well..."
He snarled.
"Show me your OWN power!"
Bahamut opened his mouth and a great suction drew into his jaws, streaks of lightning zooming into his maw. There was a silence, before he belched a thunderous wave of energy that shook the entire cavern.
Leviathan shrugged Rydia from his shoulders as he took the blast, sending her crashing to the ground. The energy seemed to dissolve him completely, each particle bursting into flame as it flared and vanished.
"You killed him?!" shouted Rydia, in shock.
Bahamut shook his head.
"I sent him to the Feymarch where he belongs."
Edge narrowed his eyes.
"And what does that mean?!"
Bahamut flapped his wings and descended, hovering in midair just above Rydia. He glared at Rydia and licked his lips. The true test was her own Eidolon against the god: Leviathan's power was not her own.
Understanding, Rydia held her hands to her chest. She tightened her grip, and threw out her hands to reveal a gust of mist. The mist grew and pulsed with increasing force, each time deepening the air until it coalesced in the form of a dragon.
She hopped onto its shoulder, a spell forming in her hand. Rydia narrowed her gaze to meet the Eidolon's, and a silent respect was formed. They were both ready to fight with their own hearts and souls.
The Mist Dragon flapped its wings and soared upward, and Bahamut spewed out a blaze of flame. Rydia's Eidolon breathed a heavy breath and belched out a stream of mist that met the fire, clashed, and dissolved it... And its own attack as well. The battle was a draw.
Bahamut nodded.
"Your Eidolon has power," he remarked. "Show me how you deal with this!"
He opened his maw and drew in a huge breath, just as he did before defeating Leviathan.
"Rydia, WATCH OUT!" screamed Edge. "He's gonna do it again!"
Rydia tightened her fist, and a sphere of green energy surrounded it. She flicked her wrist and a green orb burst from her palm. Her eyes sparkled with resolve, and when they met Bahamut's a gleam formed in his.
The Mist Dragon soared upwards, straight towards Bahamut. It covered itself in violet mist, and it encompassed Rydia as well. Her left hand formed a claw-like grip.
"Wh-What the hell are you doing?!" Edge bellowed. "He's gonna wipe you off the map!"
Bahamut blasted his breath weapon, and it zoomed towards Rydia and her dragon. She continued her ascent. Edge gnashed his teeth, and Cecil gasped out loud. Rosa's eyed tears up and as they fell, the blast reached Rydia.
The Mist Dragon dissolved into a curtain of mist, and Rydia clasped it to swing herself up and over Bahamut. In doing so the Dragon evaded the blast, and Rydia slung herself high above Bahamut.
She leapt down and ground her power into Bahamut's head, a massive explosion throwing everyone to their seats. Bahamut met it with his fangs, and as they struggled more and more pressure began to break open the cavern.
Fusoya covered his head.
"She can't be serious! She's doing it now?!"
Rydia flicked her left wrist, and a group of small red spheres flickered in her palm. As she struggled with Bahamut she slung her hand downwards, a bright light blinding the Eidolon. From the impact point the Flare spells blew Bahamut to the ground, sending him crashing into his throne.
As she fell Rydia stretched out her hand and caught her Dragon's claw, steadily guiding her to the ground. She landed softly, and as the Mist Dragon began to dissolve a smile formed on her lips.
Bahamut burst from the rubble, his wings flexed. He narrowed his eyes at Rydia and hissed. Then he began to laugh.
"You have my loyalty!" he rasped. "I've never fought a summoner like you!"
The party stood in stunned silence. Cecil's eyes went wide and Rosa's tears flew from her face like a shower. Fusoya bowed his head and smiled. Edge's face broke out in laughter. He lifted his fist and threw it to the sky.
"You DID IT!"
Rydia staggered, but composed herself and smiled.
"Yeah... Guess I did!"
She stuck out her tongue and giggled.
Scene Two
In the aftermath, the Lair of the Father was left a broken mess. The trial platforms were torn to pieces, and Bahamut's throne lay in ruins. Smoke bellowed from the Eidolon's mouth, and the once-glorious gold and silver crystals of the cavern had shattered to pieces.
Bahamut flapped his wings and covered himself with them. He threw them out and he emerged healthy and clean. There was a bright shower and the cavern was bathed in light, and as it subsided the crystals once again gleamed. The cavern had returned to its previous splendor.
"You've proven yourself!" laughed Bahamut. "I offer to you my service and respect!"
Leviathan's human form slowly phased into view.
"I never thought I'd hear you say that!" he chortled.
Bahamut scowled. He really didn't want to hear it said like that, but in the glory of the moment he let it slide. For the first time he had met his equal. This was the summoner destined to wield Bahamut's flames.
Rydia caught her breath, but staggered. As she fell she was caught by Edge, who swept her into his arms and gave her an awkward smile. She scowled, but quickly began to grin. The two stood together and faced Bahamut.
"So the covenant is made!" remarked Fusoya with a laugh.
Under his breath he muttered "Never expected this though..."
Leviathan turned to face Bahamut.
"If I do say so myself..."
Bahamut hurled a fireball at Leviathan that dispersed his avatar. He turned to face Rydia, eyes gleaming.
"You are the first summoner I have acknowledged!" he laughed. "From here on, you and I are partners!"
Rydia stuck out her tongue and giggled. Edge swooned, and Cecil and Rosa rushed up to embrace the summoner. As they did, Fusoya cleared his throat.
"We have a prior engagement, friends..."
The party nodded. Rydia turned to Bahamut and held out her fist. Though he looked at her strangely, he began to smile and bumped his knuckle with her hand. Fusoya lifted his hands and the party vanished.
Scene Three
As the surroundings began to warp, colors dissolved into a monochrome void. When it stopped the party found themselves on the Lunar Whale. Edge held his stomach.
"I hate doing that!" he groaned.
Rosa turned to Rydia.
"Congratulations!" she chirped. "How does it feel to be the first summoner of Bahamut?"
Rydia giggled nervously. She shook her head.
"I guess it is what it is... It's a great honor, but I still can't believe I pulled it off."
Cecil stepped up to the console. He input a few commands, and a readout of the situation appeared. The Lunar Whale was charged and ready, and all systems were optimal. As he turned he caught sight of Fusoya examining the crystal.
Fusoya lifted his hand to near the crystal, and it shimmered in response. He sighed.
"What is it?" asked Cecil.
Giving a nervous laugh, Fusoya shook his head.
"I haven't been in a ship like this in centuries. KluYa was the only one of the two of us that knew how to construct these things... I guess I'm just thinking of my brother. Perhaps you feel the same?"
Cecil cocked his head. Fusoya sighed.
"Pay me no heed..."
Edge fastened himself in his seat.
"Let's get this over with!" shouted Edge. He crossed his arms with a pout. "God, I hate the moon..."
Rosa and Rydia also fastened themselves. Fusoya turned to Cecil and smiled.
"Don't you need to buckle in?" asked Cecil.
Fusoya shook his head.
"I'll be fine. Start her up."
As he buckled in Cecil nodded. His hand reached towards the transport crystal, but as it did Fusoya's words echoed in his head. Somehow, there was something to what he said that troubled him...
Cecil touched the crystal, and the Lunar Whale began to shake. Fusoya stepped to the window and looked down at the blue planet, entranced by its beauty. He'd never been there... But now, he was following his brother's footsteps. It was quite exciting.
The tremors cooled for a moment then intensified, tremendous pressure dragging the party down in their seats. The Lunar Whale lifted off and turned towards Earth. With a final rumble the craft zipped downwards.
There were the same echoes in the party's heads, a dull sensation like their brains were being shaken and stirred. Edge clutched his stomach and groaned, but managed to hold in his lunch.
As the shaking softened, the blue planet came into view. Fusoya stared closely at its oceans and plains, its mountains the skeleton to a magnificent entity. But in an instant a claxon sounded and the Lunar Whale stopped cold.
"Dammit, what NOW?!" shouted Edge, as he put his hands to his mouth.
Fusoya trembled as he looked, the sight of a column of light cutting from the moon to the Earth stopping him cold.
"It's too late..." he breathed. "He opened the elevator!"
Cecil touched the crystal again, eager to hurry onwards. The Lunar Whale zoomed again (much to Edge's chagrin) and within moments it stopped once more. As the party unbuckled they hurried to the windows, where they saw the sight of the Earth before their eyes.
The Tower of Babil glowed with many colors, reverberating with light and shaking it to the planet's core. A great roar sounded and the Tower opened to reveal a dark doorway. From it the image of a massive creature stepped onto the earth.
It was a titanic robot, clad in diamond armor and ridged with steel along its joints. As it stepped to the plains the whole planet trembled. Cecil ran to the window, his teeth gnashing as he watched.
The Giant took another step and uprooted the soil, a great rumbling breaking the earth beneath its boot. Rydia gasped, but no words came out.
"NO!" screamed Rosa. "It can't end like this!"
An alarm sounded and the console began to beep violently. Cecil rushed up to it and examined its controls. A map appeared revealing the Giant of Babil as it took another step, and the controls went wild.
"What the devil is going on?!" Cecil gasped.
The image distorted as a massive explosion struck the Giant's neck. Though it staggered it didn't fall, but within moments more blasts shook the construct. Cecil frantically pressed the console, and as he did the image zoomed out.
From all angles came the cavalry, the airships of Baron and the tanks of the Underworld. They began to fire volley after volley into the beast, stunning it but failing to break its armor. As they continued to fire Cecil stood in stunned silence.
Several smaller windows opened, revealing faces he'd seen before: Edward, Yang, Palom and Porom, the Epopts, King Giott, and Cid! They were inside what looked like boxes that projected out from the controls.
Cecil swallowed hard. The tanks and airships bombarded the Giant, doing little damage but stopping it in its tracks. His eyes turned to see Cid's beaming face, as the engineer licked his lips.
"Need some help?"