CHAPTER 11:

DARK MESSENGER

In a cell beneath Alexandria Castle, a pair of jesters languished. They hadn't been there for very long, given that shortly after they were captured, they were subject to a fairly thorough interrogation. They said surprisingly little, or at least not much that their interrogators didn't know already. But they despaired of ever having any kind of gainful employment ever again.

Which was why when Kuja walked up to their cell doors, bold as brass, flanked by a pair of Black Mages, they looked at each other. "A dream, is this?" Thorn asked.

"This must be a dream," Zorn replied. "There is no way the Queen would allow Kuja back here."

"Of that, I have no doubt," Kuja said. "But I have been in Alexandria Castle for quite some time. Brahne gave me free rein, and not only do I know all the nooks and crannies…but it allowed me to put some hypnotic suggestions into the guards and soldiers. If they see me or a Black Mage, they are to let me by. A useful insurance policy. I could, in theory, order them to slaughter Garnet and her would-be guardians in their beds…but that's not what I'm here for. You two will come with me. You may be useful after all, if this goes awry. And in any case, you'll get ringside seats to a most spectacular show."

"And what show is that?" Zorn and Thorn chorused.

Kuja smiled. "Why, the utter annihilation of Alexandria…"

Harry, Eiko, Vivi and Freya looked down at Zidane as he played Tetra Master against the reigning champion, a young woman in the outfit of Lindblum's Navy, with an Oglop dressed in robes (and with a thick moustache, of all things) perched on her shoulder, apparently her mascot. Harry found it amazing that they would create a stadium for something like a card game. The nobles of Treno clearly had not enough things to do.

What was even more amazing, though, was that the Oglop was the true reigning champion of Tetra Master, and the young woman his proxy. Freya and Vivi told Eiko and Harry that the Oglop was none other than Regent Cid of Lindblum, turned into an Oglop by his currently-missing wife for his infidelity. They had met him earlier, and were amongst the few to know that Regent Cid had been turned into a bug.

However, despite a close game, Zidane eventually prevailed, and soon, they found themselves meeting with Zidane, Cid, and the young woman (whose name was Erin, one of Lindblum's top airship pilots) outside the stadium. "…still haven't got any manners, I see," Cid remarked. He then saw Freya and her charges approached. "Ah, Lady Freya. And Vivi. Good to see you both alive and well. Gwok! Gwok, gwok! And who are these?"

"Eiko Carol, and Harry Potter," Zidane introduced them. "The last summoners of Madain Sari."

Harry bowed briefly, out of politeness, but he said, "Pleased to meet you," shortly after Eiko said it.

Cid smiled, or as best as he could with an insect's anatomy. "Well met. I am Regent Cid Fabool IX of Lindblum, gwok!" He scowled at his involuntary utterance, before sighing. "Sorry, life as an Oglop is full of little trials. Speaking of trials, we came to Treno for a reason other than card games. We were engaging on a trial run of the Hilda Garde 2, the latest airship that can run without Mist." He looked rueful. "Even so, it can't go very fast. But we made it to Treno."

"Why test it now?" Zidane asked.

"You know why. Garnet told me about her plans to find out more about Kuja, and I know there'll be trouble on the horizon…" Cid seemed about to say more, but there was an interruption.

Mogrich, one of the Treno Moogles Eiko and Harry had spoken to, was flying towards them. Eiko and Harry knew that Mogrich had a couple of friends in Madain Sari, and had spent some time talking to him. "Eiko, Harry! There's something going on at Alexandria, kupo! Something bad! We can sense it!"

A few minutes earlier, in the darkened square of Alexandria, Kuja looked up at the moons. Quietly, he murmured to himself, "Peace is but a shadow of death, desperate to forget its painful past. Though we hope for promising years, after shedding a thousand tears, yesterday's sorrow constantly nears. And while the moon still shines blue, by dawn it will turn to scarlet hue." For a moment, he paused, thinking, That's not half-bad. A shame Lord Avon isn't still around, he would have paid a princely sum for that little soliloquy. Maybe I should write it up, publish it once I rise to power. Ah, but it needs a play around it. Well, let the next act commence.

Out loud, he mused, "What an auspicious day for Alexandria. Garnet's ascension to the throne has brought hope and peace to this kingdom. The coronation may not yet have arrived, but already, there has been celebration. And why not? The people are overjoyed, believing that Garnet will lead them to a bright, new future. Well, time to show them how bright it really will be." Kuja chuckled as he took a gemstone from one of his few pockets. "After all, the celebrations are far from over. All that will change are the ones celebrating. Alexandria will be lit up…but not with fireworks. Instead, it shall be in hues of fire and blood." Raising his voice, he focused his magic into the gemstone, and called out, "Bahamut, your former master is here. Play a requiem for her, and for all of Alexandria!"

He watched as, from out of the clouds, the massive draconic form of Bahamut swooped in, and began firing Mega Flares around the city. As the Eidolon did so, Kuja said, "Don't destroy the castle. I want her to watch the show." And let's hope that she has the jewels, he added privately.

Another near-sleepless night, poring over laws, as well as petitions from the people, ensured, perversely, that Garnet was awake when Bahamut began his rampage. She ran to the royal box, where she had sat and watched, despondently, the first act of I Want to Be Your Canary, what felt like ages ago now, but was really only a matter of several weeks. On that balcony, she stared in horror as the draconic Eidolon, once her own, levelled her city. And she could see the grotesque forms of Mistodons appearing, attacking the people as they fled their homes.

As she made to run back inside, Beatrix nearly ran into her. "Your Majesty, I…" She gaped at the massive dragon laying waste to the city. Then, she composed herself, and they rushed inside. "Your Majesty, Captain Steiner is already assembling the Knights of Pluto and giving them their orders(1). I've already given my commanders, the ones I could rouse, their own orders. We're evacuating the townsfolk, and we've already sent missives to Lindblum for aid."

"And the weapons? I know they may not be much use against an Eidolon, but…"

"Two of the Knights of Pluto are amongst our best cannoneers, Your Majesty," Beatrix said. "I'm sure they will do their best to shoot it from the sky. Was that Bahamut?"

Garnet nodded. "Kuja is making his move. But what does he have to gain by razing Alexandria?"

"For all we know, he is doing it merely for the entertainment value," Beatrix said. "With your permission, Steiner and I will go and protect the townsfolk from the monsters. We have left a detachment of soldiers to protect you, Your Majesty."

"You have my leave," Garnet said. "Ensure the safety of the people, Beatrix."

Steiner had just finished bellowing orders at the Knights of Pluto when Garnet arrived. "You have your orders!" Steiner bellowed. "Go now, and do your duty for Alexandria, her queen, and her people!"

With a chorus of 'yes sir's, the Knights of Pluto scattered, presumably to do their assigned jobs. As Garnet and Beatrix approached, Steiner said to them, "I have troubling news. Zorn and Thorn are missing from their cell. I do not believe this to be coincidence."

"We'll have to search for them later," Beatrix decided. "Kuja has, in all likelihood, spirited them away. Captain Steiner, are you prepared?"

"I am always prepared, Beatrix," Steiner said. He then bowed to Garnet. "By your leave, Your Majesty."

"Granted. Go and defend Alexandria and her people," Garnet said.

As the two knights rushed out, Garnet turned to the massive portrait of Queen Brahne. Not a very flattering likeness, as it had been painted not long after the death of her husband. "Mother…" Garnet murmured. "I need your help."

Suddenly, Garnet seemed to be surrounded by a glow, and next thing she knew, she was picking herself off the floor. A nearby clock told her she had been unconscious for over half an hour. She began chiding herself for fainting while in a crisis situation, only to pause when she heard strange, ethereal music wafting from above. She recognised the tune, distorted though it was. It was the Melodies of Life song from Madain Sari. And it was coming from upstairs.

Her pendant guided her to the royal jewels. The only one missing was that of Madain Sari, in Eiko's possession, and she knew that that wouldn't be a problem for long, somehow. Then, she found her way to a secret staircase, leading to a platform high up on the castle, a place she hadn't been before, and yet felt right.

What am I doing here? she thought to herself as the music continued. Mother…Zidane…no, I can't count on them helping. I am the Queen of Alexandria, and I must protect my kingdom.

If only I knew how…

Travelling on the Hilda Garde 2 was certainly an experience. The airship rocked pretty badly, due to the airship having been designed by Cid while he was an Oglop. Amarant showed some kindness by telling Vivi how to overcome his motion sickness, but as he moved near Harry and Eiko, he started. "Eiko…did you sparkle?"

Eiko blinked, before she and Harry looked at the jewel of Madain Sari, set in a new pendant, courtesy of the Moogles. And then, as the jewel began to shine, it felt like memories, long-since forgotten, began to drift into their minds. They heard Garnet's voice in faint whispers. The two summoners began to approach the bow of the airship. "This is the light of holy judgement," Eiko murmured.

"Alexander," Harry muttered. He turned to the others. "There's an Eidolon down there who can help Garnet save Alexandria! It was an Eidolon who was sealed away in the royal gems!"

"The time has come for the Holy Guardian Alexander to rise again," Eiko said. Then, the two, despite the others' protests, clasped each other's hands…and leapt off the airship.

What seemed like a suicidal manoeuvre was shown to be expedient necessity: the Hilda Garde 2 was just over Alexandria Castle by that point, and the gem containing Alexander slowed the two child summoners down, with the pair of them drifting down to a halt just near Garnet. Garnet seemed surprised to see them. "Harry…Eiko…what's going on?"

"We heard your voice on the airship," Eiko said.

"And we decided to take the quick way down," Harry said, surprisingly calm considering he had just survived a bout of parachute-less skydiving.

"I felt your presence too, and then, all of a sudden, I was cloaked in light…" The pendant and jewels flared with light, greater than before. "There it is again!" Garnet yelped.

"The light of destiny," Eiko breathed. "Brought upon by the hidden powers of the 4 jewels. Long ago, summoners lived here. There was something on the Eidolon Wall about this, but I never realised…500 years ago, they attempted a massive summoning, but they couldn't control it. That's why the gem was broken into the four jewels. But the Holy Eidolon Alexander is ready to protect his city now, Garnet. He will no longer be threat, but a guardian."

"…How do we call upon him, Eiko?"

"Follow my lead," Eiko said. She grasped Harry's hand, and Garnet's. "Place the jewels in the centre." As Garnet did so, Eiko continued, "Now, take Harry's hand. And pray in your heart."

Together, mentally, they spoke, as if these were words they had known all along, O Holy Guardian, hear our prayers. Darkness overshadows us once again. O Holy Guardian, hear our prayers. Deliver us from out of the darkness, and into the light!

A column of azure light lanced into the sky. And in its wake, Alexandria Castle seemed to be changed. The townsfolk, Zidane's group, everyone stared at the castle in astonishment as it seemed to sprout wings. Massive, angelic wings of purest white.

Bahamut, taking this apparition as an affront, roared, and sent another Mega Flare, right at the castle. The wings swung across, shielding the castle…and when they opened again, the source of the wings was revealed. It was as if a massive, organic castle had come to life, and was given seraphic wings. It knelt, protectively, over Alexandria Castle, steam coming from some hidden mechanisms within the massive Eidolon.

Bahamut, in the last part of his mind not under Kuja's control, heard Alexander say, in a tenebrous rumble, You disappoint me, Bahamut. Then, a legion of brilliant actinic missiles of energy spat from Alexander's wings.

With a shriek of fear, Bahamut flew high into the sky, seeking to evade the missiles. He managed to avoid the first few, but there were hundreds, and soon, the King of Dragons was being smashed around in the sky by the powerful magic, before his body finally succumbed, and vanished.

Harry stared up at Alexander, in awe of the Eidolon's power. And then, in a flash, he realised something. "Oh no," he murmured.

"What is it?" Garnet asked.

"Kuja took control of Bahamut," Harry whimpered.

Garnet caught on to what he meant. "Oh no…he wanted Mother to steal the royal jewels in the first place…which means that…Bahamut wasn't his original goal…Alexander was!"

Peace, summoners, the Eidolon said into their minds with his deep, dark voice. Bahamut's power was but a fraction of mine, as was his willpower. Should I be in danger of losing myself, I will withdraw into the gemstone.

"I hope you're right," Harry muttered, looking at the clouds, and an ominous red glow appearing above them. "Because I think Kuja's going to try…"

Kuja smiled as he watched Alexander emerge. Truly magnificent. Such power, such beauty, he thought. A fitting Eidolon to be the instrument of wresting power from Garland. So, you wish to protect the castle with your wings? Admirable, but futile. Your power may transcend Bahamut's, but I have been waiting for you for a long time. Your chariot awaits to bring you under my command. You are MINE, Alexander! Out loud, as Kuja activated the remote control, he exclaimed, "Invincible! Come forth! Ensnare the soul of Alexander!"

Even as the Invincible descended, Kuja began to get a feeling something was wrong. Then, he heard a hated voice from the communicator in the remote control. "You disappoint me, Kuja. Your ambitions have gone too far."

"Garland?! Why are you interfering?!" Kuja demanded. "I am engaged in my mission!"

"So you claim, but I know otherwise," Garland said. "You believe that this Eidolon will give you the means to overthrow me? Your actions will no longer be tolerated. And as you seem to have forgotten whom you defy, allow me to remind you. I will show both you and Zidane the price of failure, and of treachery to Terra's survival."

The remote for the Invincible exploded from some sort of self-destruct mechanism, and Kuja snarled, shaking his burnt hand. Damnation, he knows my plans. Or at least part of them. He's going to try and use the Invincible to destroy Alexander. Well, we'll have to retreat now. If I'm lucky, the two summoner brats will survive. And if they do, then I still have a chance…

Waves of cyan energy from the massive airship, half-hidden in the clouds, began to caress Alexander, and his wings began to wither and shrivel. No…no, Alexander said. This is not an attempt at control. This is…destruction. Summoners…I bestow my power upon you.

As Alexander was suddenly impaled by a blast of light, roaring in his death throes, magic from the dying Eidolon hit the three summoners. Dazed, Dagger staggered, only to fall as Alexandria Castle, affected by the same blast that was now killing Alexander, began to crumble. Harry and Eiko rushed over to try and help, only to get caught on the same piece of the platform. They clung to each other, only for Zidane to appear. "Hang on!" he yelled at them, before they were yanked off the platform.

Garnet looked up, and saw the flag-covered bunting Zidane was hanging onto, and laughed weakly. Harry and Eiko would learn that Garnet, Zidane, and Steiner had used such flag-covered ropes to swing from the castle to the Tantalus theatre ship Prima Vista.

Once they had landed, Zidane yelled, "Let's hustle! Go, go, go!"

And just in time, too. They barely made it to where the others were waiting, at the port of the castle, when a massive blast of energy lanced down from the massive airship. They were picked up and hurled like the toys of a petulant, giant child, Zidane being knocked out by his impact with a wall. Alexandria Castle was almost completely destroyed, and the shockwave sent debris and fire hurtling into houses and buildings all around.

It took years for Alexandria to be built up to what it was. And only a night to devastate it. Garnet clung to Harry and Eiko, her eyes filled with tears as she watched her city burn…

CHAPTER 11 ANNOTATIONS:

Kuja's attack on Alexandria, people! Hope you enjoyed. And the next chapter will have a surprise too, regarding Garnet.

BTW, I'm surprised that nobody remarked on whether Harry would have the sort of 'attribute' motto that the other characters have (Zidane, for example, has 'VIRTUE: You don't need a reason to help people'), so I'll be putting some down for Harry, Lani, as well as a revised one for Eiko (as her defining attribute in the game, 'Solitude', doesn't really exist with her being with Harry for a year prior to the events of the game.

Harry: DETERMINATION: 'Nobody should have to go through what I did.'

Lani: PRAGMATISM: 'I prefer to listen to the clink of coin in great quantities than the clash of metal against metal.'

Eiko: QUEST: 'I want to see all the world has to offer!' (Yes, she's a bit like Bartz from Final Fantasy V)

1. I thought Steiner, knowing his men better than Garnet, would be the one to give their orders rather than what happens in the game.