Author's Note: Hey, I forgot I wrote these chapters lol. But here you go. I thought I might as well tell you what's going on in the story so here's a chapter. Have fun
The moogles at the Airstation began working on the repairs on Excalibur. They had informed Sephiroth that even though they could fix it, it would take most of their remaining Gil. That was another thing to add to his list of things-to-do. The 13 walked out of the airstation and observed the city's western district. Large buildings surrounded them with a path to a large gate, leading to the inner city, and to the Dalmasca Westersands. Sephiroth started walking but stopped and turned to the 12.
"I'm going to look for someone," he informed them, looking down at them. "You may do as you please. I'll call you later to inform you of my next movie. In the meantime stay out of trouble."
"Do we look like we could get in trouble?" asked Kard crossing his arms.
"I wonder," answered Sephiroth cooly. "If you can, find a way to earn some money. Excalibur can't stay here for too long with these prices."
Sephiroth began walking away with the dozen others wandering around. One of the 12 walked right to the side of Sephiroth. Cythe, the scythe wielder. She was roughly 5 foot with silverish hair, almost with a light purple tint on the sides. She looked up at him. "I think I'll join you."
Sephiroth looked at her for a second. He continued on, not bothering to reply. Cythe's profile said she was cold, distant with a shady past. She was strong but kept away from others. The only thing she respected were those with power. Sephiroth had shown that. They kept walking looking around. "Look for a man with silver hair, covering one with it, probably in a business suit. He'll look out of place with these citizens."
"No need to," answered a voice behind the two. They turned to see Zexion in a suit with his large book in his right hand. "Long time no see, Sephiroth. Kadaj called me a minute ago saying you needed me to talk to you about Chaos."
"You know about him?" asked Sephiroth getting to the point. Cythe crossed her arms listening in.
"More than I care to, but we're going to have to talk about it later," informed Zexion walking in another direction, to a large cathedral building. The duo followed him. "We can talk later at the Sandsea Inn. You should be able to find the place easily enough. I have to talk with the new Consul."
He stopped next to a building looking down at the large crowd gathered about. The cathedral to his left with a man stepping up. Sephiroth stood right by him, no intention of leaving. "Or you can stay near me, that's fine. I doubt you'll harm my intentions of talking to him. What about the kid?"
"I'll keep it shut," she answered coldly.
A man stepped up to the podium, looking over the noisy crowd. "We will have order. I give you your new Consul. His Imperial highness Lord Vayne Solidor. Comandant of the Archadian Empires western-"
The man he was trying to properly introduce stepped up halfway through his speech, prompting him to move out of the way. "Your Excellency?" he asked, obviously not aware of his move.
The man spoke, wearing nice clothes and long wavery hair on both sides, fitting the appearance of a prince. "People of Rabanastre. Is it with hatred you look upon your Consul? With hatred you look upon the Empire?"
Obviously they did, the crowd began yelling at him. Telling them they should spit on the empire, for him to go back to Archadia. Mouthing as to what the empire has done to them."
He spoke up again. "There was little point in asking. But know this, I hold no idle hope of frustrating that hatred. Nor shall I ask your fielty. That is the right of your fallen king and rightly so. King Raminas loved his people. Strove to bring you peace. His was a rule worthy of your devotion even now he remains among you. Protecting you. His order for the peace and will for Dalmasca falters not. I would ask only that you do your king honor. Together let us embrace the peace his Majesty would surely desire."
He paused and continued after surveying the crowd. "Two years now devide us from wars bitter end. Yet still it's shadow looms over all. Stifling the infant peace upon all you may cast of. Achieve but this one thing and your hatred for me and of the empire will grieve me not. I will stand fast. I will endure your hatred, suffer your slings and arrows. I will defend Dalmasca. Here I will pay my debt. I swear it now. Though King Raminas and Lady Ashe be gone, they stand ever at the side of their people. In honoring peace you do honour to their memory and to Dalmasca. What I ask, I ask plainly. My hopes now rest with you."
The man bowed to the public. Everyone shocked at him, of such power and royalty, bowing to them. The crowd slowly began applauding him, accepting him as their new Consul into their lives. Zexion clapped with the crowd. He leaned up to Sephiroth. "What do you think of him?"
"He knows how to work a crowd," answered Sephiroth not moving. Zexion got up and began moving to Vayne who was talking to a small blue looking creature, a species on Ivalice that Sephiroth wasn't aware of. When they were finished the man turned to Zexion.
"Zexion, my humble negotiator of Spira," said Vayne extending a hand. Zexion took it and shook. "You bring joy to Archadia in hopes to resolve tension between our nations."
"I do hope so," replied Zexion looking around Vayne. "You seem busy Consul."
"Call me Vayne, I am no more than an elected official," replied the man with a hint of a smile. "Though I am busy I do not wish to end our meeting on a bad note. Please join my banquet tonight where our talks shall be more time rewarding."
"Fair enough Consul Vayne," agreed Zexion with a slight bow. "I'll see you then I hope."
Vayne didn't quite leave yet. He and Sephiroth stared at each other for a moment, about the same height. He let out a small smile and walked off with his guards with the blue creature. Zexion led Sephiroth and Cythe to the Sandsea Inn. They took a seat near the upper level on a corner. The two took a seat. Sephiroth told Cythe that he needed to talk to Zexion alone for awhile. Though a bit offended she didn't say a word and walked off.
"Vayne is a troubling man," Zexion said removing his tie and swallowing half of his water down. "But lets talk business for a bit. You want to know about Chaos?"
"Yes," replied Sephiroth drinking a bit. "I was attacked before I even came here."
"That's odd," commented Zexion taking off his black jacket leaving him with a white buttoned shirt. "They're not usually into attacking airships."
"A clown named Kefka attacked me," added Sephiroth not amused by how Zexion was taking this so calmly.
"Oh well that could explain it," said Zexion putting his book on his desk. "This is my book. It contains all the information I've gathered. It's not just some book. I have my means of collecting information and I have what you're looking for. Let me explain. For what I know, Chaos is a being of tremendous power. He had to be sealed about a 1000 years ago. He now has 10 minions working for him, to break the seals. 10 seals to him."
Sephiroth listened intently as Zexion opened his book and withdrew 10 papers. "He wants to be free but for him to do such a thing he needs to break the 10 seals. He can't act but he's making his minions do it."
"So why attack me?" asked Sephiroth trying to stay calm.
"Well even though he has 10 working for him, they don't exactly follow orders," answered Zexion putting down a piece of paper. It had lots of words and descriptions of the man on the top of the page, in silver armor, buff, and wearing a large sword. "This is Garland, Chaos' right hand man. He follows whatever Chaos tells him. He works on the northern continents."
Zexion took out two more. The first showing a man with a staff, wearing a type of yellow spiky armor. The second showed a woman with a cape and two large tentacles, clothing barely covering her. "The girl is called the Cloud of Darkness. She's one of Chaos' more random beings. She goes around different places and destroys what she chooses. Ivalice and Spira haven't seen much of her lately though. The Emperor has been a huge threat. He has a massive army and even seems defiant of Chaos."
"Stop there," ordered Sephiroth. "What minions can they be working for him if they defy him?"
"I don't know everything," answered Zexion drinking more of his water. "All I do know is that Chaos has some leverage over them that makes them do what he wishes. Now back to the Emperor of the southern continents. Well I need to take back what I said. He's was a threat. He's been in a turf war and now he's stuck fighting them. It's good for us because he's not expanding his empire."
"Turf war? With who the towns and governments there?" asked Sephiroth.
"No with Marluxia," said Zexion firmly. Sephiroth didn't show any sign of surprise. "He's been causing havoc but mostly with the Emperor. Next is a man called Golbez and Exdeath." He took out two photos showing two tall man. One in dark blue armor the other in light blue. "Golbez works for Chaos like Garland does and Exdeath is more into Destroying everything. They're both on the Eastern continents near Spira."
Zexion took out two more. This time however both had a question mark as a picture. "Kuja works on the other side of the planet. He doesn't appear in public much so I can't get a picture of him. He's been causing lots of wars over there. The second is a sorceress by the name of Ultimecia. She's odd. She flies around in the sky on a castle, so she's never in one place for very long, and the few scouts we've had to get inside haven't made it out so she's dangerous."
Zexion sighed throwing the last two pictures on the table. Sephiroth's eyes grew unable to believe it. "Genesis and Seymour Guado," he confirmed to him. "They're both dead I'm aware. However some of the seals have been broken already. With each one broken he gains more power and control in this world. Apparently enough to resurrect both of them. You already know about Kefka so I don't need to explain that I hope."
Sephiroth calmed down quickly and shook his head. "Doesn't matter. What do you know of Cloud?"
Zexion raised his eyebrow at him. "Why do you want to know? Aren't you more interested in fighting these guys and getting rid of them?"
"Not interested," answered Sephiroth. "Where is Cloud?"
Zexion seemed offended. "We need you Sephiroth. These guys are stronger than your average grunts. They're on Xenmas' level. We can't ignore them."
"Deal with it, I'm only interested in settling a score," replied Sephiroth calmly.
Zexion slapped his head trying to hold back yelling at him. He stopped and a smile grew on his face. "To be honest I don't know where he is. However, I've heard of a few leads I could give you and even the location of that girl Tifa. But in exchange you have to do two things for me."
"I'm not an errand boy," retorted Sephiroth glaring down Zexion.
"Then how about calling it a mission?" asked Zexion with a smile. "I'll pay you in advance for both of them. 100,000 a piece."
"What are the missions?"
Zexion's smile grew wider. "Tonight I want you or your group to sneak into the treasure vault of the palace and steal something called the Goddess' magicite. I need it to confirm something. Then when you're done with that, head to a place called the Mysidia Tower and retrieve a tome called 'The Ten Barriers.'"
"Fine," answered Sephiroth, not too pleased with these orders, but got careful with not showing it.
"Sephiroth," continued Zexion seeing the man sit up. "If Chaos is free I doubt there is a force on this planet that can stop him. The book will tell me where the 10 barriers are, what they are, and how we can make sure they're not broken. Make sure you give that to me."
"Right," answered Sephiroth walking on before turning back to Zexion. "Why do I need to go there? Why can't you or someone else go?"
"There is a powerful mage there by the name of Minwu," answered Zexion putting a napkin to his mouth, coughing a bit. "I can't take him, but you can." He began coughing louder and harder, spitting blood on the napkin. Sephiroth glanced at the napkin then back at Zexion. "You have no idea how hard it's been for me to try to keep the peace. The sad part about being human, I can actually die from the stress."
Sephiroth away from Zexion. He turned his head slightly. "I'll consider helping you defeat these guys," he said walking out of the inn. Cythe was waiting for him outside. "Follow me, we got a mission."