A/N: We're back to Ramza PoV

I know Save the Queen isn't what Agrias came with. I found this out after I wrote this chapter. Let's say one way or another she owned one, and they picked it up at some point. It's not a big stretch since it's the usual princess guard sword. I also know Alma can't learn All-Ultima, only (Medium) Ultima but I express author's privileges to stretch things a little on that side as well.

I basically take a lot of liberties. I hope people can keep up and I don't get too confusing.

Chapter 11

I awoke with every part of my body experiencing the phantom pain of the recently healed, and revived.

The abrupt nature of healing arts in the current age always had that uncomfortable effect. The pain lingered longer than the actual wound.

This familiar affliction was how I knew instantaneously that I was not dead. I was not in Heaven, and neither was I in Hell.

But I wasn't on earth either.

Lord Ramza, above thee!

My shield?

I pushed down on the inky black substance that somehow felt exactly like a floor, and rolled without any further deliberation.

This helped me a little as my world was enveloped in white magical energy. I was merely clipped by the outer blast radius but it still sent me reeling.

That was no element of attack spell I had ever encountered. It was neither fire, ice, nor bolt. It seemed to be magic wrought from magic itself.

No, wait. I did know it.

Ultima?

All-Ulltima.

Right. Altima.

She was a fell beast, or monster, or angel, or saint. Whatever she chose to call herself, I was sure it was all a lie, but then her true nature eluded me. In truth, despite being branded a heretic by the church I still prayed dutifully. I asked forgiveness for my deeds. I placed tombstones above the meager graves I could afford our fallen allies. And I said their last rites as best I could.

I was actually quite religious. I had exactly the same amount of faith in God as I had ten or fifteen years ago.

I just did not believe in the upper echelons of the current church. And I no longer believed in Ajora.

So it's nice that she dropped that guise of angelic wings. She dons bone armor and a giant frame. I couldn't be more at ease with her change to a disgusting visage.

"So the battle continues." I muttered as I pushed my sore bones to stand. It was as much that lingering phantom pain as it was the damage from being clipped by All-Ultima. "Agrias, flank!"

"Who are you talking to, boy?" Came the raspy response.

She had a voice like the death cries of a thousand cicada. It was a grating and shill sound, completely unnatural.

I stared at Altima. She was all bone now, but I knew it was her.

I did a double take. I had misspoke. It was not my place to issue orders now. I had passed that mantle to Orlandeau. But I knew my role until I was issued other orders. I was a fighter that excelled on the front lines. The basics worked everywhere.

"Agrias, I'm going in!" I warned. "Cover me!"

I charged.

Sir, your left!

A skeletal fist descended, and the rest of Altima followed. This was despite her not being anywhere close to me until the very moment. I barely managed to catch it by bracing my shoulder.

Her teleport became faster.

But though she struck with the strength exceeding ten rampaging bulls, she struck with the finesse of that same stampede. Despite sliding back slightly, I did what I could to stand my ground and lock Altima in a close quarters grapple.

I wouldn't last long.

I expect Agrias to take Altima's back as I hold her in place, but it does not come.

"Agrias?"

"As I said, boy." The demon I'm clashed with said once more. That bony mask showed no expression, but I got the odd sense that it expressed some form of… trepidation? "Who are you talking to?"

With a lurch I'm flung through the inky black darkness. The world is monochrome, so I can hardly say how far I'm thrown, or for what duration, but I roll as I land. I suffer only minimal damage.

But I am not heartened.

I had collected my wits in the air, and I had a good view of the featureless battlefield at the bottom of the Airship Graveyard. I had not seen Agrias, nor any of my friends.

"Please no."

As if on cue, the steel descends from the sky. It falls haphazardly and sinks into the inky blackness at my feet blade first.

Agrias' beloved blade, 'Save the Queen'.

I pray I can give to you my favorite sword skill. I always thought that you, a man more Bevolue and more knightly than I by tenfold, should have possessed the Holy Swordskills I was inadequate to use. And I entrust to you once more, and always, my sister blade. She who was reborn into justice with me. She would be happy. My sword and I were inelegant, and mannish. Stupid and crude. We were tough, and that was never enough. But you understood and put us to good use. I truly awoke to each day feeling that we fought the good fight. I… was very happy.

Agrias! Damn it!

Did you die?!

Do you speak to me as a spectre now?

I fell to my knees. That was how I had recovered from the fall, to perfect health. Somehow, she had given me her crystal in death.

Did another of my friends pass before me?

Did I fail her? Agrais, I'm sorry!

I receive no reply.

She's not there. Her time has expired. In truth her voice had been but a spectre. A phantom of life energy and experience.

I felt some of herself flow into me, but I knew the rest of her was gone forever.

I placed one had on the hilt of Save the Queen and looked up through the dark.

I saw the airships above, all cracked in half. I saw now that wood and debris were in the middle of free-fall. The strange physics of this dimension played as it desired to make the debris fall like petals in the wind. I thought I had run out of hot tears some weeks ago, but I sobbed once more from the depths of my heart.

But these tears did not cloud my vision as one would believe. If anything, the hot self-loathing served as a blacksmith's flame. The iron will I had recalled from my Shield hammered out the kinks in me, and those liquid tears cooled the blade in my heart. In my grief I became sharper than ever.

In the instant Altima teleported behind me, I had already swung Agrias' sword. "Stasis Sword!" I cried. I lodged six crude holy crystals into Altima's chest, and then in a smooth swing slammed my blade into them like a hammer.

The damn beast actually groaned in surprise as it staggered backwards.

"How?" It asked.

I didn't care.

I just screamed.

Like a fool I ran directly at it. She teleported away. I could barely see her in the distance, and in the next moment the world was again white with All-Ultima.

I had no response. I was not good at range, and it seemed Altima figured that out.

I was tossed backwards in the magical blast.

I had somehow clutched Save the Queen through it all, but I was battered and barely able to stand.

But I still screamed. I still struggled to my feet to give chase. I could not die until I had avenged. I had no complicated strategic thoughts in my head, and none could be made.

Altima teleported again. She floated overhead. She was just out of range of where I could cast Stasis Sword. It seemed she knew the skill quite well. I could hit her with 'throw' but on my life I would not let go of the blade especially entrusted to me with my friend's last words.

I knew All-Ultima was coming. I was determined to somehow bat it back with brute force if nothing else.

But as I stared up a glimmer caught my eye. I neither dodged nor raised my guard as Altima pointed her hands at me for her spell.

As she would be interrupted by a blade falling upon the back of her head. It bounced off with little damage.

The impact seemed to barely faze Altima through the skeletal armor but it was enough of a surprise to distract her.

I caught the blade Excalibur with one outstretched hand. It gleamed in the faint light that emanated from the fabric of this black world.

Orlandeau. You too.

"What's happening. What is this?" Altima rasped. "It's too much of a coincidence! Are you blessed by some divine protection? Did you – are you – it doesn't matter! You die! I should have killed you first!"

Excalibur made me light on my feet. It was so enchanted.

I had determined some time ago that All-Ultima was a supreme spell indeed, but it was not without characteristic. The blinding light hid the fact that it struck in a spherical radius just like any other spell.

I tore up my leg muscles and the inky earth as I dashed away. I ran towards another falling and glistening light.

Altima appeared in my path through her miraculous teleportation. I fell on her with both Knightswords without a care. I struck like a bear more than a man. I was still mad with grief and rage. I growled as I sought to cleave out that bone armor until I found blood underneath.

"I won't let you!" Altima cried. "Petty human!"

She struck me across the face. I fell back and dropped to a knee despite myself. But the low angle was enough for me. I threw Excalibur with the skills of the ninja class and clipped the shining object Altima had deigned to stand over protectively. It flew through the air like a little star and I dove not through Altima but to her side, and caught it.

I had to know who it was.

I'm sorry.

It was Orlandeau's crystal.

I was not able to meet your expectations. Like a little squire boy, I let my superior down.

It wasn't like that! I was never your damn superior! You were better than me in every way, and you knew it!

To the end, I never understood why you insisted that you not lead us.

All my skills and all of my energy. Please take it. My last apology to you! My whole long life, for all its accolades and titles, seem as nothing before your honest sincerity. After I met you, you made me feel I had been old and stupid, from the point when I was ten years of age! My life was a joke! And it's very unfair of the old to ask this of the young but… Ramza! You must win!

I felt the healing energies of my friend, ally, and mentor passing flow through me. I was fully recovered, but no less in pain.

I understood that it had been a full destruction. I judge that all of my friends…

That not even one…

That I alone stood against our foe. I alone was the last.

I alone had as my maximum hope… the future of standing amongst a hill of unmarked graves.

Altima Cried out All-Ultima

I used Save the Queen and threw Orlandeau's Holy Explosion back at her. The crescent of holy energy met the indistinct destructive force and was not sufficient.

I grasped Save the Queen with both hands and struck again and again. I furiously struck with Holy Explosion until I had diced All-Ultima apart.

I dove forwards into that blast with a thrust. As I burst out of the magical light, I met Altima with my blade to her heart.

At least, such was my intention. But she was gone in an instant.

That was it. That was the real problem. Unless I could match that mobility we would not exist on the same battlefield.

Altima appeared behind me. I spun and slashed. I clashed 'Save the Queen' with her repeatedly.

A backflip helped me avoid a haymaker, and in transit I managed to rasp the hilt of the previously thrown 'Excalibur'.

With Excalibur's passive haste enchantment, I danced the dance of blades at twice the speed, but I could not land any decisive blows.

Meanwhile, every glancing strike rattled my bone structure fiercely.

At such a rate, I'd be dead soon. I was not sufficient to the task.

But I screamed and pressed on in my rage.

I had to win. For Orlandeau, and everyone else! I didn't care if I died in the process! I had been entrusted to win!

"Die!" Altima screamed.

"You first!" was my childish reply.

I spun around Altima's back as she struck with her body behind one blow. I was ready to land a back attack she could not riposte, but she was gone in an instant.

In her place, as pure coincidence, I catch sight of one more glimmer of both hope and forlorn sadness.

I even hesitate to grasp the falling crystal. I briefly wonder if I can handle the pain to my heart to hear one more fallen comrade. But it is an unworthy thought. I grasp my rage and vengeance, and drop Excalibur briefly to snatch at the crystal.

I was a Shrine Knight.

Meliadoul.

I was… a sister. A daughter. I was a woman of doctrine. Faith. But, it was a blind faith. I listened but did not hear. I brought judgement upon the people, but did not bring justice. I adhered to the church that had strayed from the path, lost without any moral compass. But I changed. You were the leader that did not tell me what to think, but taught me how instead. I was… more proud of myself than in all the rest of my life together. Ramza, I know these sword skills are helpless in the face of those you have received. If Agrias and Orlandeau came before me then there's no place for me. But I was the one who changed. I knew my sword was weak, so I grasped the staff. Please accept these arcane cantrips, my lord, and bring justice where I could not.

Cantrips she called them.

They were far and away beyond any cantrips! Black magic, white magic, and even that of time and space flowed into me.

Meliadoul, you had no propensity for the staff, but you did as you thought best for the troupe. You were amongst the bravest of us all.

Altima teleports to my side. Thanks to Meliadoul, I teleport away.

The Time Mage foot-skill 'Teleport' had a distinct range. It could safely cover roughly the distance that one could normally traverse within a few seconds. Beyond the range one could normally cover, it had a progressively decreasing chance to go farther than its limits. At a microcosmic percentage chance it could, in theory, go anywhere.

I pushed beyond those limits without a thought. It would connect. I knew it in my heart. Meliandoul was guiding me, damnit!

For the first time I chase down the last crystal rather than meet it by coincidence.

By process of elimination, I knew whom it was.

On a plateau of wooden debris I found her.

And it breaks what is left of my heart.

I had the proof before me that I had truly nothing left.

I grasp the last crystal with tears in my eyes.

I'm sorry I was so impetus. I know I ran off on my own too much. I know I got in the way. I didn't mean to. I… just wanted to help. And… I couldn't help it. I missed you. You're all I ever had, brother. And I did swear that I would always be there for you. I know that oath was long ago. You might have forgot.

Alma, I never forgot for one second of one day.

I… damnit… I swore I would always be there for you too!

I am so much a failure it is beyond all calculation, yet I live while my little sister has passed?

I can't take it!

I figured something out. I don't know how it happened. I was struck with it and somehow it just… clicked. I knew it. I know All-Ultima. I want you to have it, and think of me, and… and just… I loved you brother. I loved you more than I ever said. I loved you more than our other brothers, and our father, and even our departed mother. For you were there for me more than all of them combined. I just loved you so much.

Alma!

ALMA!

…she's gone. Passed completely.

I turned on the world completely. I would not only kill Altima if it cost me my life, I would suicidally attack. I had literally nothing left to live for.

I turned and struck. Altima had the nasty habit of teleporting to behind my back. Therefore I struck behind myself in a circular slash. She teleported from this, too, but I followed her through the empty space of this dimension. We blinked in and out of matter as we danced amongst the blackness, regardless of space. When she launched All-Ultima I cast my own right back at her. The two ultimate spells clashed with a brilliance that seemed it might give light to this dark world on a permanent basis.

But I did not give much thought. I stood toe to toe with Altima in solitude. We were equal in every manner. She could no longer hit me for I was too fast. I could scarcely damage her for she was too tough.

But I held the weight of the lives on my back and in my blade. I screamed more and more, and felt my parameters increase accordingly. I pushed that blood pumping self-strengthening mantra beyond all previously established limits.

I had to be stronger, faster, and more furious.

She told me to stop. She screamed out "fool, if these godly spells continue to clash, we'll both be lost to the ether! You'll crack this world apart!"

It sounded perfect to mine tortured ears. I initiated more exchanges than I received. I hurled magical energy again and again. She had no tools at her disposal to stop All-Ultima, except her own.

I forced the clash and exchange. I teleported above her and blasted her with her own spell once more.

It seemed to leave no severe wound, for she was truly demonic, but it did inflict damage. I kept the fight on, and I felt the world shake as we clashed titanically.

I began to see mysterious white cracks in that inky blackness, yet I just stepped over them without a thought. I didn't care.

I continued to scream. I continued to fight.

One last time we faced each other and cried out the name of that terrible magic. All-Ultima. And I felt the world give up around me.

Like an eggshell, there was a crack in the world too large and it just… gave up. The entire contents of that world were spilling out.

As the world ended and I fell out of time and place, I was happy. I thought that if nothing else, this would finally kill Altima. And to make the matter sure, I teleported to her back and lodged Save the Queen squarely through her ribs, and held tight.

One way or another, I would personally escort her to hell. If we fell directly there then all the better, but if we landed in some other place, some other time, I still cared little. The fight would continue, and I had nothing left in my hollowed soul other than the desire to destroy this abomination. I didn't mind if I had to spend one minute or one lifetime to kill her. I had no feeling of goodness in me anymore. My friends had always been the best of me in every sense of the world, and now they were gone. I had no justice, no faith, and no hope anymore. I was a hollow shell of anger and death.

I would hound this enemy through all of time and all of space if need be, and when I buried what little would remain of her body I would make my grave beside her and stand sentry over her in death itself.

I was utterly determined.

I awoke with a start.

My entire body ached.

But I remembered. It wasn't a fevered dream. Those instincts at the back of my mind weren't mine after all. They were his. He was real. The dreams were real.

It was all real.

Agrias, Orlandeau, Mustadio, Meliadoul, Boco, Rapha, Marach, Beowulf, Reis, Cloud, Construct 8, Minerva, Alicia, Lavain, Ladd, everyone.

I remembered… everything.

"Oh… fool… brother. You're awake."

It's the middle of the night. I find myself in a soft bed. Ovelia is to my right; leaning off of a stool and onto my body in what I'm sure amounts to an uncomfortable position.

And to my left, my dear sister stares down at me in the moonlight.

A/N: The dream sequences are, of course, over as far as I can see. This is how we enter the climax arc. Some people were understandably wondering how it could possibly work, since it seems there is no building action to the climax, and there were many enemies that needed addressing. My Alpha reader thought the same kind of thing. Actually, the entire story is founded on the premise of this climax arc. The climax arc can begin the moment Ramza remembers the future.

No idea when the next update will be.