Part Thirty Seven

Time Compression

Lunatic Pandora

Adel's Chamber

Squall Leonhart decided that once they got off the Lunatic Pandora he would personally ask the President of Esthar to destroy it. The place reeked of evil and with Adel's death it seemed as if an evil mist had settled across the structure. Squall had yelled at the other SeeD to run to the elevator and go back to the surface where the Ragnarok was located.

Zell, Quistis, Rinoa, Irvine and Selphie made it to the glass lift and they yelled at Squall to hurry up. The brunet stopped to turn back and see if the others had made it out of Adel's Chamber but there was no sign of them and a black mist was seeping out of the room. He heard voices coming from the chamber beyond and then he heard Zell screaming his name.

Seifer was standing alongside Squall and he too looked apprehensive. The blond man's magic was circling his body, ready to lash out at anything close by that was hostile. He glanced towards Squall and the emotions in those jade eyes stole Squall's breath.

The blond then sprinted back towards the black mist, his power building in intensity and strength. Squall heard the other yell Seifer's name but the man refused to stop running back towards the chamber. Squall turned back and sighed then he slammed his hand onto the red button so the lift would take the group back up to the surface.

"Seifer, where are you?" Squall yelled as he ran towards the chamber. The room he entered was thick with black mist.

"Is that you Squall?" a voice called out. Cloud sounded like he was choking. "I've got Leon with me."

"Are you guys ok?" Squall called to them.

"Riku and I are fine." Sora yelled back.

"I'm here with Baralai." Roxas' voice cut through the inky blackness.

"Where are you Seifer?" Squall yelled with a hint of fear.

"I'm right here." The blond replied.

"What the hell happened in here?" Ienzo gasped out.

"Adel...that smoke came out of her body I think." Riku choked out.

"I'm at the exit so just follow my voice." Squall instructed.

"Oh dear children." A female voice sounded bemused. "I cannot have you miss all the fun now can I?"

"Who's there?" Ienzo gripped his spear.

"I know that voice." Seifer whispered as fear froze his heart.

"You should dear child. I was in control of your mind after all." The woman laughed.

"Ultimecia..." Squall snarled.

"Good child, very good." The Sorceress cooed.

"We have to leave here now." Seifer grabbed Squall's wrist.

"You are already too late. Releasing Adel's power has given me the boost I needed." Ultimecia emerged from the black mist. "Time Compression...all life denied. All time compressing into itself. And I shall live to rewrite the world in my image."

"You're fucking insane." Seifer hissed. "But why open the Gateway?"

"Petty humans do not deserve life. The worlds beyond the Gateway will give me more power." Ultimecia clenched her fists,

"So it's not just the Heartless you want?" Ienzo murmured.

"Why have one world when I can have the lot?" the Sorceress hissed. "The Heartless will be the perfect little soldiers."

"Then we'll have to stop you too." Sora challenged. He held up Ultima before the Sorceress.

"How feisty and so young too." The woman laughed. "You can come to me in my castle if you wish to fight. But none of you shall live."

"Don't bet on it bitch." Seifer snapped.

"It looks like I underestimated the feelings within Leonhart for you." Ultimecia sighed. "Your time of judgement is upon you SeeD."

The black mist disappeared completely leaving the chamber in its original state. Riku, Sora and Roxas had called up their Keyblades while Ienzo pointed his spear at the evil woman. Baralai had cast Protect and Shell on everyone. Ultimecia smiled at the group before raising her hands to either side of her scantily clad body.

She whispered the spell once more and then the room exploded into red light. Her maniacal laughter bounced off the white walls as the red light enveloped the small group before her. The red mist burned through their skin and then the feeling of being pulled forcibly fell over them. Seifer never let go of Squall's hand for a second and he gave the brunet a gentle squeeze.

When they slammed into a hard cold ground Seifer cried out in pain and he felt Squall fall against him. He heard the others landing not too far away and then a horrid smell assaulted his nostrils. The stench was that of rotten meat and sulphur. Seifer had to resist the urge to vomit as he staggered to his feet.

After helping Squall up the blond took in the sight of where they landed. They had collapsed on a thin stone walkway that was connected to a cliff and the ugliest castle Seifer had ever seen. It was large with black stones as an outer skin and the towers stretched up towards a blood red sky. Black lighting forked across the structure top.

Seifer made out large winged beasts circling the castle and the screams of monsters could be heard from miles around. He scanned the horizon and gulped when he saw that there was absolutely nothing there. The place was just a vast wasteland that stretched onwards for miles.

Glancing up at the red sky Seifer felt his blood freeze and a horrified gasp escaped his lips. Everyone else turned their gazes heavenward and they could only watch as the nightmare unfolded. There in the sky was a giant black wound. Red light spilled out from the wound and large thick tentacles were flapping around the blackness.

Winged beasts flew across the wound and into out while others emerged from it. From where they stood the group could actually see what was beyond the wound in the sky. What had once been a small whirlpool just above the moon was now an all encompassing wound.

The Gateway was completely open which meant then had gone into the future and this wasteland was Gaia. Seifer tore his eyes away from the hellish scenes above him. Was this the future Ultimecia wanted? The woman was even more insane that Seifer gave her credit for.

"So that is what the Gateway looks like?" Ienzo whispered in horror.

"The dimensions bleed into each other. The Gods only know how long this things has remained open." Baralai said.

"We've got to stop her." Roxas snarled.

"So into the scary castle of doom we go?" Sora gulped. He felt Riku hold his hand in a firm grip.

"There's no way in hell we're being split up." Roxas yelled.

"I agree. Let's stick together from now on." Baralai nodded.

"Either that or you stay out here." Seifer pointed out.

"Ok but everyone stay close." Squall gripped Lionheart.

Squall and Seifer took the lead as they walked towards the ominous castle gates. The sounds of monsters screaming pierced their ears and the smell was getting worse with each step they took. When they reached the twisted black gates in the shape of thorns Seifer raised his right hand and created a thick fireball.

He melted a hole through the gate and he stepped through with the others following him. The large red metal doors of the castle had designs of various demons and other hellish monsters adorning the metal. Seifer took a deep breath before pushing the door open and stepping into the foyer of the castle.

The place was sparsely decorated. There were some long tables and black chairs and paintings with images of hell and its many demons. Squall was nearly sick when he saw an oil painting of Esthar on fire. The once great city was consumed by bright orange flames and Squall noticed that the fire formed into Ultimecia's hourglass eyes.

There was a stone door at the end of the large hall. Squall made his way to the door and pushed it open while Sora, Roxas and Riku readied their Keyblades. The tunnel before them was dark and smelled musty. Paintings lined the walls on the corridor. There were stained glass windows on the walls.

"So where do you think Ultimecia is?" Sora asked.

"Knowing the evil villain stereotype she's probably in the Throne Room." Seifer said with a shrug.

"So we should just follow the corridors?" Roxas questioned.

"I see another door." Baralai pointed to the right hand side of the corridor.

"We might as well see what's in there." Ienzo pushed the stone door open. "Another damn corridor."

"There are torches beside that door." Sora pointed to the end of the next corridor.

"The door has a different design on it." Baralai mused. "That could be the Throne Room."

"Get ready everyone..." Squall murmured.

When Ienzo shoved the door open the group stepped into a well lit chamber decorated with plush red carpets and royal purple curtains. There was a magnificent throne at the other end of the chamber. It was golden with dragon wings spread out from the back and the wings were covered in rubies and emeralds.

Atop this throne was Ultimecia. She was wearing a black headdress in the shape of devil horns adorned with rubies and diamonds. Her dress barely covered her cleavage and her long nails were blood red. Her long golden hair cascaded down her shoulders and back.

"Welcome to my kingdom." She smiled.

"That's your kingdom out there? A vast desert?" Seifer snapped.

"Your taste in decor leaves a lot to be desired." Cloud mocked.

"This world is nothing more than a prison for insurgents." Ultimecia waved her hand. "I built this castle to enjoy watching their suffering."

"You're just full of it aren't you." Sora sniffed.

"If you control the Gateway and converse with the Gods themselves then I am permitted to be extravagant." Ultimecia laughed.

"I am so gonna enjoy kicking your ass." Squall brought up Lionheart.

"Unlike Adel I shall not fall to mere children." The Sorceress snarled.

"We're gonna take you down Ultimecia. You won't last against us." Leon swore.

"You have a high opinion of yourself." Ultimecia sniffed angrily.

"That's not a high opinion. I was stating a fact." Leon replied.

"If you can defeat my Guardian Force then you are worthy of facing me." The Sorceress stood up.

"This should be fun." Roxas grinned. "Ready to rumble Axel?"

Hell yeah baby! The red head smirked.

"Come to me my Guardian Force." She raised her hands and summoned up her beast.

A bright pillar of pure light enveloped the room and black feathers fell from the sky. Silver hair flowed and two muscular arms were on either side of a pale body. Instead of legs there were feathers and two large emerald green spikes made for stabbing. A single large black wing was visible. Cloud felt his heart beat faster as he stared into the emotionless face of his worst nightmare. Ultimecia sat upon her throne again to watch the battle.

"One Winged Angel...make them bleed."