"So…things are going to be getting exciting around here in a short while."
A pause answered the dark man's audible comment, and he emitted a short laugh.
"No. That's won't be necessary. I will eventually send her back to the Promised Land…but not yet. Appears that we might have a newer enemy…"
Another pause.
"I agree. He's no threat. However…I also know of the one he serves…"
A longer pause here, followed by a nod.
"Yes, yes…he's been quite busy throughout the whole of history. Constantly putting his talons into matters that don't concern him. And now I see that he has actually returned to this world since last time I was around…"
Another pause.
"I know. Kadaj proved that this one won't be used. All he made was some bastardized version of his true power. Besides…he's not a spirit like the others. He's alive. He'll only be a problem if I let him live…"
Another pause, that made the dark man lean back slightly and smile.
"Oh…that shouldn't be a problem. He might be notorious for being able to hide…but he's also notorious for responding to the cries of those he loves. And it just so happens that one he loves is coming to me… When he arrives, I will educate to him the true nature of pain, fear, and despair. I will make him throw himself down at my feet and beg for death. Then…like some mother rabbit hearing the yelping of its baby…he will come to me. Then I will send him to keep his pupil company."
A briefer pause, that made the man crack a grin and nod.
"Yes. It will be getting rid of two birds with one stone…"
It seemed to have been an eternity in this place of darkness and stained glass…seeing one violent, tempestuous future after another…seeing one horror after another looming, and sitting on the edge of a cliff…waiting for a single nudge to send them over into fruitition. He had watched every single one…receiving more and more shocking revelations with each one…seeing the future before him so convoluted and troubled that the path to the dawn looked as if it was on the end of an infinite rocky chasm. Hope seemed so dim now…and he was faced with the agony that he had acted in part to bring this hopeless time upon them…
But at long last…Bahamut opened his eyes.
The place had only slightly changed. Below him, the stained glass showed new faces. Ragnar and Cloud were there…but so was Aerith, looking far healthier and stronger than last he had seen her. And now…there was a new face. One of wickedness and evil incarnate… He had seen this face countless times in his visions, seeing his cruel, demonic face glaring at all the evil and pain he wished to inflict, and drinking it in like a tick lapping up blood. He was the image of his mother…the vile creature that had come to their world once already…and after twice failing to destroy it was beginning yet a third attempt…
And then...there was the other wicked face...still draped in shadow.
But other than that, the world was changed…including the boy who sat in front of him. He glared at him now, silent and looking far older than he had when he first arrived.
"…Now you know everything, Bahamut."
The esper couldn't answer. He was still trying to wrap his taxed mind around all of it. He inhaled and exhaled slightly, trying to stabilize himself a bit more.
"And you know also by coming here…by wishing to know all of these things…" The boy continued. "You already set some of them in motion, and failed to stop several strong events from taking place."
Bahamut cared nothing for that right now. He thought only of one thing as he looked harder at the boy and straightened.
"The reactor battle…what will happen?"
"You already know." The boy simply answered. "And you know which way fate is tipping."
"Can I stop it?"
"You already know that too, Bahamut." The boy answered with a shrug, leaning back. "If you choose to intervene, you might be able to change the future. But in the process, you will open a Pandora's Box that threatens this world far more greatly than simply standing aside. A far more horrific and devastating future is very close to happening."
Bahamut's eyes narrowed. "…So you expect me to stand aside and do nothing."
"I don't expect you to do anything, Bahamut. That's not my department." The boy replied. "I expect you to act the same way you've always acted, putting the distant future on the line for the sake of the immediate future. But now you know exactly what that distant future will be. None of what I showed you is absolutely certain. Time is far too branched to know its path, even if you've seen all likely paths prior to treading down one. What this comes down to is not whether or not you put this future on the line…but what you're personally willing to risk."
Bahamut bowed his head again, and slowly exhaled. This was a dangerous time…not only for him but for his pupil. Soon he would wander straight into the jaws of death. And it was likely that only one thing would pry him loose from them. But was it truly worth it to do so? Was even the Planet's Chosen One better off dead? Should he, Bahamut, simply stand aside and let the future play itself out, and to chance with the consequences?
The truth was…Bahamut was never tempted to do so.
With knowledge and power comes responsibility. I've abided by that creed ever since I took up Jadea's quest. He deserves to know.
With this in mind, the great esper inhaled, and began to rise from where he had sat for months. As he did, the boy calmly looked up to him. Once he stood and looked down to the boy, he found him still staring at him.
"…Do you know whether or not I'll ever see you again?" Bahamut asked after a moment.
"Yes and no." The boy answered calmly, as if that was a perfectly straightforward answer.
"…Do you care to tell me?"
"Do you care to know?"
Bahamut hesitated for a moment after this. But in the end, he shook his head.
"No. I am done with precognition."
"If that's true, then you'll never see me again regardless." The boy simply answered. "Let that be my answer."
Bahamut didn't press this, or ask for any further explanation. He didn't even acknowledge that he had heard. In the end, he simply turned and looked back out to the blackness. But not to the blackness itself…but rather to what was beyond it…to the great and chaotic world that now stood on the eve of another great cataclysm. It was to this world he wished to return.
Despite his non-involvement policy, which now, more than ever, needed to be abided by, he wished to see his student again.
Why didn't I say anything?
Ragnar had no idea as he cleaned up the last bit of papers in his office, moving them into their appropriate piles. They would need to be so that Red XIII could make some sense out of them. After all, as Colonel, he was third in command. Luckily, the beast wouldn't have to do much. This wasn't going to be anything like the burdens of responsibility he used to throw on him. Just a few routine orders…maybe giving out an emergency decision or two if something came up… Mostly, he wouldn't have to do a thing except pray for his safety. Him…and Cloud…and Tifa…and…
The youth groaned as he thought of her. Why had he let her come again? He had no idea. In retrospect, he didn't want her anywhere near that Dome. Only a small part of it was due to her inexperience in combat. She might not have been an official soldier, after all, but she had been through enough danger to be more than a helpless lamb. And she performed well on the battlefield before. Her magical abilities might actually come in useful.
The main part was that he didn't want to see her hurt. The thought of her getting injured or…killed…out there made him uncomfortable. Even more terrible was realizing what would happen to her if she was captured…put into the same slavery that Ragnar had endured. Or if she was experimented on when they found out what she was… She was safer here. And knowing she was safe put Ragnar more at ease. True…he had sworn to himself more times than to Aerith that he wouldn't let anything hurt her…but there was still the burden of keeping that promise. It wasn't that he wouldn't try…but he was afraid to fail…
And yet…something in that chamber…something within him yet not as distinct as the voice he usually heard…told him to bring her. And he had been powerless to deny it. In the end, he was forced to comply.
Now he only hoped he could protect her this time too…
Ragnar looked to the clock. It was getting close to 2000 hours. Yesterday had been the date of the big meeting. After that, the respective armies had been readying for their operations. The PPA was getting the Phoenixes fully armed and ready, and each of their three airships were being made sure to be fully operational. As for the WGN, they were fully rearming and preparing to launch precisely on schedule. After all, timing was crucial. Everyone had a sharp schedule to keep. For Ragnar, it was that they had to leave at 0500 hours tomorrow morning in order to make it on time. They would have a long, boring trip ahead of them across the sea in an ocean barge, but there would be plenty to do on arrival. Already he felt nervous. Starting at 0500 hours tomorrow…there was no turning back until the mission was complete. And every moment would bring them closer to danger…
The youth exhaled and tried to push this away. He looked over his office again. Nothing stood out. The place looked clean for a change. There was nothing here that he needed to bring either. Everything would be provided either by his force or by the Wutai spynet. The only thing he did need to bring was his own initial set of clothes, and they had to be non-regulation. They figured that all of them dressed differently would make them look less conspicuous should they run afoul of any patrol. It was a good thing Aerith had taken him shopping so long ago. He needed to wear something warm to be able to tolerate sitting on that ship exposed to the sea for nearly two days. Only thing left now was to go home and get some rest…
Ragnar slowly exhaled at the thought. He looked up to the door, and was moments from walking to it.
As he began to take his first step…a knocking on the door stopped him.
The youth froze, and then sighed as he relaxed. He was just about to leave, and something else came up. Hopefully it wasn't more bad news. Tired, and eager to get this over with, he stood where he was and straightened.
"Come."
However…the person didn't enter right away at that. Instead, to Ragnar's puzzlement, a familiar voice called back from the other side.
"Not even identifying me first, Ragnar?"
As the youth's memory registered…he paused and leaned back. His brow furrowed, showing that he recognized this…but couldn't place it. However, the knob slowly turned, and a moment later the door opened. When a large, powerful, white haired man calmly strolled inside…Ragnar's memory came rushing in as he felt the power rippling off the form in front of him. His eyes widened, and immediately he was frozen in surprise.
"How do you know I'm not some errant assassin wanting to enter?" Bahamut asked, somewhat disapproving, as he turned and faced the youth. Some invisible force slowly shut the door behind him. "I thought I had taught you better than that."
Ragnar didn't notice or care about the door at that point. Instead…his eyes lit up and his face became filled with growing delight and joy.
"Master!" He exclaimed.
Bahamut, despite his rough entrance, managed a smile and a nod. "Other than your security, you seem to be doing well, pupil of mine."
Ragnar didn't hold back any more at this. On seeing his beloved idol/teacher once more appearing before him, the youth broke for him and embraced him. Bahamut smiled in response, and put out an arm to encircle him and pat him on the back as well. Ragnar was soon livid with excitement. He had feared that he would never see Bahamut again after their last meeting, or that when he came it would be as the bearer of bad news. But seeing the old esper as he was, he was just happy to see him again at long last. It felt like forever…
The master and student held a moment longer, but then broke off. Ragnar took a step back, still smiling and enthusiastic. As he did, Bahamut stepped back slightly and looked over him a moment.
"Well, well…" He spoke aloud. "What have we here? It seems as if one of my lessons stuck with you. You appear stronger than when we last met. I can sense new powers inside of you. And I don't think these were earned lightly…" He looked over the youth a bit longer, and then up to his face. "The power I sense is similar to the one I saw evoked in the Corel Desert."
Ragnar immediately nodded. "It is, master. I've mastered it. I've even learned how to perform new techniques with it."
Bahamut kept his smile, and gave a nod. "I can see this. Well done. It seems as if you are beginning to fill that mold that I knew would one day be your shape the day I met you. And from your thoughts…it looks as if you are truly beginning to believe that this destiny is yours."
Ragnar didn't answer anything. He didn't really want to talk too much about himself, except to impress Bahamut, which he knew was a rare feat. However…questions that had been filling his mind for months now began to circulate through it once again. All the things he had wished to ask his master and yet been unable to came to light. With that in mind, the youth calmed down a bit, his smile faded, and he spoke more plaintatively.
"I am happy to see you, master." He began with a more troubled appearance. "But I'm also confused. After how you left eight months ago, I'd kind of like to know what it was that made you run. And since you aren't supposed to be interacting with me anymore, I'm sort of wondering why you came to see me at all. Where have you been for the past eight months anyway?"
Bahamut hesitated here. His own smile faded…and his look grew dark. On seeing this, Ragnar himself grew uneasy. Had he asked the wrong thing? Had he made him angry? He didn't know…but Bahamut didn't answer either. He inhaled and exhaled slowly, and turned his gaze down and away from the youth. His look became somber…and even somewhat fearful. After he kept this and didn't speak for a while…Ragnar was tempted to say to forget the whole thing. But before he could…the esper looked up again. His blue gaze had increased in power…and suddenly was focused hard on Ragnar, seizing his attention and accentuating the seriousness that reverberated through Bahamut.
"…You're about to leave on a mission that will return you to the New Shinra HQ Dome, yes?"
Ragnar blinked a moment here. He was always surprised when Bahamut voiced these things, even though he knew he could have seen it by reading his mind, or he might even have been watching him this whole time. But if either of those were true…then why did he seem to be confirming it with him?
"…Yes…" Ragnar answered, a bit hesitantly at this.
Hearing this seemed to make Bahamut tighten up slightly. Another wave of unease traveled through him.
"I have come for one reason, Ragnar." He finally continued. "And that is to warn you. Do not go on this mission. Do not go to the Northern Continent or anywhere near the Dome."
Ragnar's eyebrows raised at this. "What? Why not?"
"If you do, you will be in mortal peril." Bahamut answered darkly. "There is one who is waiting for you there."
The youth still looked confused, and shook his head. "Who?"
"You know who." Bahamut responded…his voice dipping in volume and his tone dropping a bit more.
Ragnar didn't know who…at least, not at first. But as he stared at Bahamut…as he saw the grim expression on his face, and the foreboding that traveled through him…Ragnar began to understand. The esper was somehow able to tell him more with that look than any explanation…and it clicked immediately. On doing so, Ragnar's confusion vanished. His own face became blank, and his eyes focused back at Bahamut.
"…Sephiroth." He echoed.
"He's waiting for you up there, Ragnar." Bahamut darkly continued. "He knows you're coming. His reach and vision are farther than you think."
Ragnar held a moment longer, but then turned again to confusion. "…But, for me? Why me? He doesn't even know me."
"I don't know why exactly, but I have an idea." Bahamut simply answered. However, to Ragnar's surprise, he didn't elaborate more on this. "The important thing is to stay away from there. I believe he will try to kill you, and will more than likely succeed. You cannot go up there."
Ragnar felt himself frown when he heard Bahamut so easily brush off his chances at a victory. However, he protested at something else instead. "Aerith's in the group too. What if he goes after her?"
"Tell her to stay as well then."
"And what about Cloud and Tifa? And everyone else? They're all enemies of Sephiroth…and we can't just replace them now… They'll be in danger too if they go up there. I just can't let them go without telling them."
"Then tell them." Bahamut answered. "Cancel this if you need to."
Ragnar's eyes widened at this. "Cancel? We can't cancel this, master! We need to do this operation! Don't you know about the Gauntlet of Zeus? What it's going to do to us if we don't stop it? That this is our only chance to stop it?"
The esper closed his eyes and sighed. "Ragnar…I am well aware of all that is going on. However…you are not aware that there are far greater things at stake. You are more important than you realize. Far more important. And there are greater powers at work here that could spell doom for this world…greater than the New Shinra Army or Sephiroth, if you can believe that. Going north will mean a certain confrontation with Sephiroth."
Ragnar hesitated again, but then suddenly found himself shrugging.
"Fine." He answered, causing his master to look up slightly to him in confusion. "Then let's confront him. Cloud will be with me…Tifa will be with me…Aerith will be with me… Barret, Vincent, and Yuffie will be with me. It's seven on one. He's going to pop in some time and try to get us when we least expect it. Let's take him out now. Finish him when we know where he's going to show up."
Bahamut stared at Ragnar as he said this, his own look blank and puzzled. But then, as Ragnar began to finish…the esper sighed and put a hand to his brow. It was as if Ragnar was saying something incredibly stupid, and that he was abashed at his own foolhardiness. Ragnar noticed this…and as he saw it, it made him somewhat upset. Hadn't he been praising him on how much he had learned just a few seconds ago? And now he was acting like this?
"Ragnar…you can't think of this as an opportunity. Nothing could be farther from the truth." Bahamut finally said as he looked up again. "I have no true grasp of Sephiroth's power…but it is superhuman beyond all standards of normal mortality. And I have seen something dire regarding your meeting with him."
This last part was said with such urgency that it gave Ragnar pause. When he had said this, Bahamut turned fully to face Ragnar, and drew himself up more and turned darker yet.
"…I have forseen…that when you two meet…only one of you will live. And the victor will choose the future of this world."
Ragnar hesitated again. His own look somewhat faltered, and he drew back a little from his initial bravery. This was something else…and it sent a bit of fear traveling through him. This made him reconsider a moment. He was good…no doubts there. And he was much better than when Sephiroth had made his strike. He had some control over his new powers now. And yet…he did realize that he could easily be inept compared to the great warrior. Strong as he was…Sephiroth was legendary. Yet that didn't stop him all together. He turned his head back up and looked to Bahamut again.
"This operation has to go on." He insisted. "If I stay behind…if I get Aerith to stay behind…what will happen to Cloud and Tifa?"
Bahamut paused again. He drew in a deep breath, and slowly closed his eyes.
"…I don't know." He finally admitted. "I didn't focus on them. All I know is that Sephiroth is shifting his focus from Cloud to you. And he thinks as Wyvern does. He will target the ones you love in order to get to you, to tempt you into coming out and challenging him."
Ragnar's eyes widened here once more. "So he'll kill Cloud and Tifa if I don't go?"
The esper exhaled again. "…I don't know for certain…"
However, hearing this awakened the devotion inside Ragnar once again. What more…it made him think anew of withdrawing from Sephiroth. Doing so would be wisdom in one sense. However…to stay behind and let Cloud and Tifa and the others handle the battle for him…that unnerved him. To have to wait back where it was safe while other people fought battles. It upset him. It made him feel inept…small…unable to care for himself. That angered him. Cloud would be risking his life if he went up north too. Yet he was free to do so…and Ragnar was considered too valuable. He was the Chosen One of the Planet…and yet he had to stay behind. Because he wasn't good enough. Because he wasn't strong enough. He had to hold back like a weak child and let others fight… It almost felt like an accusation to him. Aerith was his friend. Cloud was his friend. Those men who had died had been his men. He had just as much right to strike back as they did.
Ragnar's face turned firm here. "…Then I'm going."
Bahamut's eyes opened, and he tiredly looked to the youth. "Ragnar…"
"I'm not going to let my friends be in danger because I didn't go." Ragnar responded. "If Sephiroth wants me, I'll be ready for him."
The esper inhaled. "Ragnar…you are not ready. You do not have the strength and skill that he does. You may never have it. So…"
"So what?" Ragnar interrupted. "If I'm never going to be strong enough, then what does it matter? What do you want me to do? Run from him for the rest of my life? Let Cloud and Tifa die because I have to run and hide in some corner all the time?"
"If you're really so concerned, then you should cancel this operation."
"That'd be selfish!" Ragnar retorted. "I have to worry about everyone, not just my friends and myself! This is our chance to take out the Gauntlet of Zeus! If we don't do it now, then there won't be a place on Gaia safe from Sephiroth or the New Shinra! I thought you wanted me to fight this war? I thought you wanted me to save the Planet? How am I going to do it if I keep running from all my battles?"
Bahamut drew himself up a bit more at this. His blue eyes blazed…and once more made Ragnar back down somewhat. His own anger abated a little as he withdrew. However, the esper only became hard.
"You forget that I can see right through you, Ragnar." Bahamut coldly retorted. "And from what I see…don't begin to lecture me about being selfish. I can see the emotions flooding you. You're furious against Sephiroth for what he did to Cloud and what he did to you. You're angry that he'll try to do something to Aerith, and you want to kill him before he gets the chance. A part of you may want to help your friends…but most of you simply wants Sephiroth's blood in revenge. Even less is concerned with the people that you claim to protect."
Ragnar hesitated here. He bowed his head and stayed withdrawn for a moment. But then, he gathered himself back together and looked up at Bahamut once more.
"Alright…but so what?" He answered. "Even if I am feeling that…there still is the matter of my friends and how important this is. That's a good enough reason to risk it."
"I've warned you time and time again not to let your personal emotions override your judgment." Bahamut replied, unchanged and cold. "You disobeyed me once already, and as a result you formed your army prematurely. This was why I left you. And even if you can help your friends, you could do so only at great personal cost to yourself and a future that is critically important. You have nearly thrown your life away several times before now…but at this point your life is truly at risk. More so than it has ever been before. The only reason I do not stop you now myself is because I feel you are mature enough to make your own decisions in the end, just as I felt all humans were. If you go into this mission with vengeance and notions of justice at your hands filling your mind, then you will merely be giving Sephiroth ammunition with which to tear you asunder. And you could risk everything that you have worked so hard to build and gain."
Ragnar was silent after hearing this. He turned his head down and to the side. Part of his brain was still telling him that if he stayed behind now, he'd be staying behind the rest of his life. It was for throwing his fear and caution to the wind and to keep going. But now his wiser part was awakened by Bahamut's words…and again thought of the consequences. And it was true…it had cost him to follow his own emotions and desires in the past. And yet…when it came to times in which he saved Cloud and Aerith…he felt that the risk was worth it. He couldn't just let his friends meet a terrible fate. And even if he didn't have anything to prove…even if he didn't have any friends whose lives were at stake…his army was still at stake. This job had to get done…and the person he trusted more than anyone to get it done was himself. He couldn't sit on the sidelines and let his navy do everything while he, the founder of this force, sat by calmly and ordered them off to death. He had to go.
In the end, the youth raised his head back to Bahamut. It was softer now, and even a bit regretful…but the eyes were resolute.
"…I'm going."
Bahamut stared back at him darkly. His own look didn't change. However…Ragnar thought he could see disappointment…and perhaps a bit of uncertainty or fear…in his eyes. He slowly shook his head at the boy.
"Leviathan." He said aloud as he looked at him. "Now I know how you felt that day I went off to fight Wyvern. Ragnar…if any of my wisdom has rubbed off on you…and if you truly value the opinion of your friend Cloud…then you will do as he says. If you see Sephiroth…run."
Then, before Ragnar could protest any further…Bahamut disappeared.
The youth opened his mouth and reached out to him…but he knew it was futile. He used that mind trick again. For all he knew…he hadn't been talking to him at all. He might have just had an illusion implanted in his mind. The youth looked around a bit more, but saw nothing else new or changed. His master was gone. Ragnar couldn't help but feel uncomfortable. It was obvious that Bahamut didn't like what he was doing…and he knew enough about esper history to know what he was alluding to with that earlier comment. Of course…Bahamut had won that fight…sort of…and only at great personal cost. Ragnar himself wouldn't mind paying a great cost if it meant being rid of Sephiroth. But regardless of what he believed…he had just taken the more dangerous of two paths. And now, this mission had far more riding on it than the fate of his army.
Ragnar slowly inhaled and exhaled. After that, he turned to the door himself and moved to it. He needed to get home and rest. He would have to find some way to break the news to the others so they'd be ready. He had no idea how they would react…but they'd still have a chance to turn back at the ice cliffs if they needed to. With that in mind, he reached his door, opened it, turned out the lights, and then exited and shut it behind him.
Looks like I'll finally see how good I really am…
To be continued...
Next Chapter: Aleron appears... (I know I said not until the next mini-story...but this is kind of a preview)