Chp.3
Square Enix owns the Gullwings. I only own Ignitus, Serene, Farrina, and Valia, and Belan.
Summary: Ignitus is gone. After pulling a knife on Farrina and revealing what happened in the Den of Woe he left in the middle of the night. Valia is starting to lose control of her magic. Serene is starting to become depressed without Ignitus and Farrina is just trying to keep them both out of trouble. When Ignitus returns to the black market he finds he is not as welcome as he remembered. When pyreflies start leaking out of the temples the question on everybody's mind is, are the faythes somehow returning? What could this mean for the Seraph's? Rated M for violence gore and implied lemons.
Bikanel Desert Black Market Post
"You were told that you were never to return. Now your back and you think you still have any standing with me." Belan asks looking down at me from his perch on a tall chair. He is the man that set this place up but he also was one of my best customers.
"Belan you hired me constantly how can I lose my standing with you for no reason."
"You just disappeared with no explanation and you expect us to let you come back? The only reason you weren't cut down as soon as you got here is because most of the people here are old customers of yours." Belan spits at me.
"I just came to buy some stuff then I am gone. If you have a problem with it, well that's too bad." I say as I leave the large tent and see the familiar circle of tents with stalls littering the sand. I walk over to a stall and buy a few daggers in an attempt to rebuild my old arsenal. I wander around the stalls and when I'm done I have purchased three daggers and hidden them all around my body. I wander out of the camp and work my way to Besaid over the course of three weeks.
Besaid the day after Ignitus disappeared
"He would never leave his insignia behind. He must have been forced to leave." Serene whimpers trying to cry but her tears have run out.
"Serene, get over him he pulled a knife on me, he left you in the middle of the night with no explanation, and have you seen what's happening to Valia with him gone?" Farrina says with a look that shows her hatred towards me and her worry about Valia.
"We could take her to see Lulu, she said that she specialized in black magic so maybe she can help."
Present day Besaid inside the temple
"I still don't understand what it is that is causing her to lose control." Lulu says. "Has she had any recent traumatic experiences?"
"Ignitus left in the middle of the night three weeks ago and he left his insignia with a dagger through it." Serene explains.
"That could cause it especially since he left her here once before." Lulu explains. Back on the beach I watch to make sure everyone is gone and sneak back on board the ship.
"Why must this be like this?" I ask myself as I write another note and remove my breastplate made of scales by Serene and stick them both to the wall with a dagger. "Why?" I ask myself again. I sneak back off the ship and begin my journey towards Zanarkand. When the girls return they find the note and it reads: "This belongs to you, I don't deserve it, you can use it more than I can."
"He can't have gotten far let's go find him." Serene says with a sense of false hope.
"You and I both know that's not true so will you stop giving yourself and Valia false hope." Farrina demands.
"Fine, but I want to start searching for him. I don't care what you say about it, we are searching for him."
Djose Temple
"Why are there pyreflies coming out of the temple." I yell over the noise.
"We don't know they just randomly started to appear." an Al Bhed man tells me.
"Wait a minute, everyone be quiet." I yell out. Everyone instantly quiets and hears what I had been fearing.
"What the hell?" I hear from the crowd and when I turn I see Gippal right behind me. I notice someone disappear across the bridge but I ignore them.
"That is the Hymn of the Faythes!" I yell.
"Everyone out of the courtyard and across the bridge!" Gippal orders and everyone rushes across the bridge. "I want you to leave right now." he spits out at me.
"No I have nowhere to go so I'm staying here. Especially since this happened." I yell.
On the Seraph
"Hey, you guys we just got a message from the Gullwings." Farrina yells from the bridge.
"You mean Yuna, Rikku, and Paine?" Serene asks "I didn't know you kept in touch with them."
"Well I did and they just let me know that Ignitus is at Djose Temple." she explains.
"Well then let's go, I want to see him and I want him to come back." Serene begs with tears of joy in her eyes.
"Fine, I guess he deserves a second chance."
Djose Temple
"I am going into the temple and I'm going to find out what is causing this." I say while my voice changes pitch rapidly as all the magic energy in the air starts to drive me insane. My scars start to pulse a deep red and my eyes turn red as blood. My voice finally settles in a pitch so strange it sounds almost mechanical. "This is going to be fun." I say as I pull out my sword and force open the temple doors. Immediately I feel a jolt of electricity move past me. I turn around and see Gippal running across the bridge as some kind of portal opens.
"Ixion, how are you back?" Yuna asks from her perch on top of the cliff overlooking the temple. Ixion charges from the portal and trots around the courtyard circling me.
"Bring it on you pathetic excuse for an Aeon." I scream. "! You aren't even worth the time and energy I will waste killing you." I coldly state. I start to laugh like a mad man and pull out my sword holding it up but my grip is changing rapidly from loose to so tight my knuckles turn white. Ixion charges at me, electricity arcing from its horn and its hooves. "Nice try." I say as I hold up my sword and Ixions horn bounces off of it. I don't even flinch but as soon as it hits I put my hand against its face and whisper "Blizzga." It reels back and starts to go berserk.
"What is that?" Valia asks from on the ship as the Seraph comes to a stop above the temple.
"I don't know but I can see Yuna on that cliff, we need to talk to her right now. Let's go. Serene, gear up. Valia you can come with us but you have to listen to everything we say." Farrina commands.
"Alright let's go." Serene says grabbing her sword and the insignia and breastplate that Ignitus left behind.
"Ixion, my soul is your death." I scream nonsensically. "Blizzga, Blizzga, Blizzga." Ixion loses control and casts Thor's Hammer.
"Yuna what is going on? What's that thing and who's down there with it?" Serene questions.
"Ixion, it is an Aeon that fought alongside me when I was a summoner. The person fighting it is why you are here." she says quietly.
"You mean that that's...?" Serene starts to ask as her eyes widen.
"Yes, that is Ignitus, and the fact that he isn't dead is a complete miracle." Yuna explains.
"Ixion even your most powerful attack is pathetic!" I scream hitting it with another Blizzga. It staggers back and fails to finish its attack. It snorts then hits me with Thundaga, causing me to lose control. I scream out and charge towards it slashing wildly. It hits its horn against my blade and flings it away from me.
"Serene, Farrina, something's wrong I feel strange." Valia complains. They turn around and Valia starts to lose control, fire wrapping around her hand but at the same time the sparkle of a cure spell can be seen.
"Oh no, she's losing control again." Serene says motioning for Farrina to take her back to the airship. She turns back when she hears me start to scream again.
"I think it's time for this to end! Firega!" I scream and when I start to cast the spell I lose control. The fire starts to spread up my arm and only stops when it reaches the top of my arm. I jump into the air, completely ignoring my arm, and land on Ixion's back. I pull out one of my knifes and plunge it into the Aeon's skull. It cries out and falls to the ground, turning into pyreflies as it falls. The flames continue to burn my arm as I stand up, put away my knife then pick up my sword.
"Ignitus, what is wrong with you?" Serene asks quietly.
"What, are you too weak to fight some more you pathetic horse?" I ask as my scars turn darker and the pyreflies start to swarm around me. "I'm not done yet, I need something else to kill. Where is something for me to kill."
"Be completely silent I don't think he will be able to tell us apart from a fiend." Yuna whispers in Serene's ear.
"Serene I need some help up here!" Farrina screams from aboard the airship.
"Oh god, she doesn't know." Serene says. She sees me look up at the ship and start to smile and the grip on my sword tightens.
"Firega!" I say propelling myself upwards by shooting fire at the ground. I land on the balcony that leads to my room and wind my way through the ship.
"Come on we have to go help them." Serene says grabbing Yuna's hand and rushing onto the bridge.
"Farrina, Ignitus has lost it and he's onboard." She screams rushing in.
"Yeah, I already know I sealed off the bridge from the corridor he's in. We need to get into the temple right now." she says picking up a passed out Valia, who's magic had gotten back under control. They rush out of the ship and wind their way down the cliff and into the courtyard.
"Why do you have to make this so difficult on yourself, it will end much faster if you just stop running." I say. They turn around and see me standing behind him with the fire on my arm replaced by electricity that is slowly spreading across my entire body. Farrina sets Valia against the wall of the temple.
"Ignitus, what is wrong with you? You aren't yourself, please snap out of it." Serene pleads to me as I raise my sword. Yuna pushes past her and pulls out her gun firing a round at my head. The bullet stops in front of my face and flies back as the electricity around me arcs. I swing my arm out knocking Yuna away and step forward again. Farrina swipes at me with her blades and I jump back. She charges me and I jump over her dodging Serene's sword as well. I slowly walk towards Valia and laugh.
"The weakest die first, no matter their age." I say tightening my grip on my sword. I slowly bring it above my head, the electricity from my body flowing into my sword.
"Ignitus, no, don't do this." Serene pleads trying to get herself in between me and Valia. I start to bring my sword down when she puts herself in the path of the blade. "Ignitus, please stop." she screams. The blade stops right before her face, my scars turn back to their normal color as well as my eyes.
"What just happened, he stopped for no reason at all." Farrina exclaims.
"The Faythes have stopped singing, they have decided that Ignitus and Serene love each other enough to let her live." Yuna says looking at me standing there. I drop my sword and fall to my knees staring blankly at Serene and Valia.
"Serene, Valia, I'm so sorry." I say quietly.
"I forgive you, as long as you let me help you." Serene says hugging me as I feel tears running down her face.
"I just want you to be there when I need you and I want you to be there to listen when I need someone. I love you and I want you to come home." she says crying and hugging me closer.
"I want to be with you again to and I won't let us be apart any longer." I whisper into her ear.
"Then let's go." she says standing up. I slowly stand and then walk over to Valia, pick her up and walk back to the ship forgiven by all.
On the Seraph the night after the Faythes return
"Ignitus, wake up, you're ok, I'm here and I'm ok." Serene says waking me up from a nightmare about the day at Djose temple. I sit up suddenly, causing Serene to let out a yelp of surprise. "It's ok, you're ok, you didn't hurt me."
"What are you talking about? How do you know what my nightmare was about?" I ask completely confused.
"I woke up because you were saying that you didn't mean to hurt me and Valia but that the sword was too heavy to stop." she says holding onto me.
"It's just amazing that I was that out of control. I am afraid to sleep because of what I have to see." I say hugging her.
"Well then how about we make you too tired to have any dreams." she whispers into my ear. Valia had been moved into her own room while I was gone, so we had our room to ourselves.
"Well then, you are very brave to ask like this. Yeah, let's." I say pulling her close to me and kissing her passionately.
The next morning
"Ignitus, we have to get up." Serene says shaking me awake.
"What is it?" I ask.
"We need to go take Valia to visit Lulu." she says looking worried.
"What is wrong with her? Is it about Djose?" I ask holding her close.
"She started to lose control of her magic at times. It happened because you left. That's what Lulu thinks at least." she explains sighing with content at being next to me again.
"Alright, we will go in about an hour, also I need to go to Besaid for something I left there a while back." I say not telling her the whole truth. We both get out of bed and get dressed. Serene walks towards the bridge while I wake up Valia.
"Serene, how has he been holding up? I heard his screaming last night. He is having nightmares about it isn't he?" Farrina asks sipping a cup of tea.
"It's bad, worse than what happens when Valia has nightmares because of his strength." she explains.
"Well as long as he doesn't lose control everything should be just fine."
"Yeah, but what if the Faythes have returned at all the temples." she says. Farrina looks up and realizes the problem.
"We will deal with that if it happens." she says right as I walk in carrying a sleeping Valia in my arms.
"She fell asleep as soon as she got the chance after she got ready." I explain.
"Alright well let's get to the village so we can talk to Lulu." Serene says as the ship finally reaches Besaid's coast. We disembark and make our way to the village with Valia asleep in Serene's arms.
"Lulu, we're back." Serene exclaims.
"Welcome back, how have you been? Oh. What are you doing here?" Lulu asks. Suddenly she walks up to me and I feel a stinging sensation across my face. "That's for leaving them all alone in the middle of the night." she explains.
"So you slap me you crazy...!" I scream.
"Ignitus, Valia is right here! Watch your language." Serene interrupts.
"Fine, but seriously Lulu you could at least not get violent with me." I yell getting pissed off now. My eyes flare red and I push past her and rush into the temple. Valia wakes up and realizes she's in Besaid.
"Farrina, you and Valia go with Lulu I'm gonna make sure Ignitus doesn't do anything stupid." Serene explains as she puts Valia down and rushes after me.
In the temple
"What's going on?" Serene asks a woman as she enters the temple.
"Lady Yuna was here visiting but a man just barged into the temple and dragged her into the Cloister of Trials." the woman explains.
"Oh no, Ignitus what did you do?" Serene asks herself as she pushes past the crowd and enters the Cloister.
"What do you mean you don't know!" I scream punching the wall next to Yuna's head. She yelps and starts to cry and when she sees Serene she begs her for help.
"Ignitus, stop right now!" Serene yells at me.
"Stay out of this Serene." I whisper. My voice is different than normal. She notices and steps back.
"Serene, please stop him. Make him stop this, I don't want to die. Please, help." Yuna says whimpering in fear.
"Yuna, unless you can explain..." I stop mid sentence. Just then I see something floating above Serene's head. "Serene, Yuna, both of you leave right now. Tell everyone to get to the beach."
"What is it Ignitus?" they both say. My scars start to glow and Yuna sees what I see.
"Serene... Pyreflies." Yuna explains seeing her confusion.
"Yuna you are lucky, now both of you get the hell out of here." I yell running further into the cloister. I find myself outside the room of the Faythe within a minute. I feel the wind change and see it above me. I lose control and start to scream as I feel my body trying to keep from destroying itself. "Valefor, you overgrown chocobo get down here and fight me." it looks down at me and uses energy ray. I feel the beam cut through me and I fall to the ground with a large gash across my chest. "What? Nothing stronger? You need to learn some stronger moves." I say standing up ignoring the gash. "Blizzaga, Blizzaga!" I scream watching as the ice travels up my arms forming two large blades. "Thundaga!" I scream electrifying the blades. Valefor swoops down hitting me with sonic wings. I flinch and it swoops in crushing me underfoot. I instantly jump as it lifts off again. I push my blades through its right wing, causing it to fall to the ground. It slams me with a water spell sending me flying across the room. I instantly regain my footing and scream "Curaga!" I feel the heat of the spell but see it pass over the wound on my chest. Valefor finally manages to get back in the air and I recast my spells, fixing my blades. I try casting Thundaga again but feel myself lose control even more. I fall to my knees screaming as the electricity courses through my body and into the ground. I feel it stop and decide to fully give up control. "Serene, forgive me, I hope you have everyone out of the temple. AAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!" I scream feeling magic start to flow from my body at a steady pace. I stand and launch my blades at Valefor's wings. It reels back and crumples to the ground. I start to shoot fire, electricity, ice, and water directly at its skull. I see it break down into pyreflies and stop. I turn around and race out of the room winding my way out of the cloister. I kick the door open and burst into the main room of the temple. "Where are you? I can smell your fear. Don't try and hide it." I say trying to lure someone out. I walk through the room, my body losing control of the magic I cast. I stand in front of the door as my blades melt away and the electricity flows into the ground. I walk through the door to see the entire village standing there waiting. "Ignitus, your chest!" Serene screams and as she is about to rush forward Farrina puts a hand on her shoulder and points out my scars, still a deep red.
"Everyone, to the jungle, go now!" Farrina screams. They all turn and run as I take a step forward.
"Protect! Shell! Reflect!" Farrina turns around and sees Valia is the source of the spells.
"Valia what are you doing?" she demands. It is then she notices that the spells are acting like a cage.
"Now he can't hurt anyone." Valia explains hiding behind Lulu.
"I will kill you all! I will get out of this and I will slit all of your throats! Starting with the small one." I scream forming my ice blades again. I start to slam them against the spells.
"Serene, we have to calm him down before he can get out and get to someone." Farrina yells.
"I know, I know, calm down, I'm thinking."
"Good bye." I scream as I let go of all my magic energy out in a single second. "Mega-Flare!" the top of the barrier shatters and the spell shoots into the air.
"Everyone back!" Valia yells. "Reflaga!" the blast shatters the barrier the rest of the way and I walk towards them. I see the reflect spells protecting them so I start slamming spells against them absorbing the energy as it ricochets back at me. "Serene, help me please!" Valia screams as she collapses from exhaustion letting the spell fall.
"!" I laugh reforming my ice blades again.
"I am sorry Ignitus." I hear from behind me. I feel a bullet tear through my shoulder, I flinch but then turn around and attempt to drive the blades through Yuna's skull. I feel my blades shatter as Yuna empties her guns into me. I scream feeling my body try to repair itself and when I feel my right arm heal I lunge, grab Yuna's guns and cast Firaga, melting them down.
"Sorry for what, you weak little whelp?" I ask. Suddenly I feel a blade sink into each of my arms. I collapse and feel my mind regain control.
"Come on let's go, we need to get them both back on the ship." Serene yells.
"Right." Yuna responds but when she grabs me to carry back electricity arcs from my body shocking her.
"What the hell was that?" Farrina asks "Ok, we let Ignitus stay there. We will bring the ship to him." When she is gone I can hear voices filtering through the fog in my brain.
"Wakka, we were barely even able to stop him, what would happen if he were to lose control and it was just Valia or Serene, alone. They wouldn't last more than a couple minutes, if that."
"What do you think we should do, Lu?" he asks "What can we do, nothing seems to be able to stop him."
"I don't know, we might have to find some way to convince him to stay here. Get him to settle down with Serene and Valia. We could help him build a home."
"Do you really think he will stay? Even when he was with Valia he still left." says Wakka.
"Yes but now he has the love of both Valia and Serene to keep him rooted. They are truly in love and I don't think he will give that up." it is then that I fade back out.
The next day
"Serene, I want you to ask him to settle down here in Besaid with you and Valia." Lulu says while talking to Serene in her and Wakka's house.
"He won't ever agree to that, and I don't want that yet. I want him to be happy and if that means we live on the airship flying around Spira then that's what we are gonna do." Serene explains, looking at Lulu with certainty.
"Then at least ask him to consider making your love official. Ask him if you can have your wedding here, that way you two can have your wedding and he is around for a while so I can try and figure out what to do about him."
"Actually, I wanted to talk to you and Farrina about the wedding." Serene explains. Farrina soon walks in with Valia Following close behind. "Ok, now I can say it, I was wondering if you could help me set up the wedding because I don't know what to do."
"Of course we will help, it will be fun." Farrina says.
"I think you are all forgetting something." I say waking up but keeping my eyes closed. "I want the wedding as soon as possible but I want a promise."
"Anything, I love you and will do anything for you." Serene exclaims walking over and hugging me.
"Zanarkand, I want to go there as soon as I can. There is something I left unfinished a long time ago."
"What is it?" they all ask at the same time.
"It resides in a temple buried during Sin's attack. I discovered it when I was 10. I found my way through the cloister. Something happened to me that day. It's why I can't control my magic. Part of my soul is still in that room. In that room is an uncompleted Faythe waiting either for the rest of the soul to complete the Faythe or for that soul to be made while again."
"Ignitus what does all this mean?" Serene asks looking worried.
"It means that either I become a Faythe or most likely die when my soul becomes whole again."