Author's Note: Here you go, another chapter. I thought this one turned out really well and finally getting back into Sephiroth's tone.
That night hadn't gone to plan as Sephiroth would have liked. He informed the others of his group that they had the next day to themselves as he was doing a mission tonight. Zexion later texted Sephiroth the best way in the palace is through the underground sewers leading into the palace. Not the ideal way to go about stealing treasure but he didn't complain considering the pay and information. Though he only had the later intention in his mind to obtain.
Sephiroth went alone into the sewer. Cythe went with another, Arow, the archer and Sear, the Lancer. The swordsman walked through the stairs and halls in the sewer. The water level was raised to his ankle, covering his foot in water. He didn't mind and just kept trucking through. At a point Sephiroth thought he heard someone else through the sewer. Unless it was one of Chaos' 10 minions, they posed no threat, he thought.
Once he reached the top he went upstairs, fast enough that the guards guarding the stairs didn't see anything more than a flash. At the top were long hallways turning back and forth and left to right with plenty guards at each side. Earlier Zexion stated that the object probably would give off some type of energy to find it easier. It did, something at the edge of hall near the center rows.
A few minutes went by and Sephiroth had found the treasure room, knocking out all the guards in his way. He kept them alive, no wanting to raise a bounty on his head. He looked around for the item Zexion described and finally found it. Located in the head of a golden statue shined a brilliant crystal or some gem at least. Sephiroth walked over and picked it up and held it in his grasp. It didn't look like much but Sephiroth could easily tell the difference. Immense power in this, as if it was a grenade ready to be thrown, the blast could topple a city to the ground.
Sephiroth looked to the side of him as a boy came out of the secret entrance. He stopped dead in his tracks looking at Sephiroth.
"Are you, part of the empire?" asked the boy coming out and walking around the place.
"No," came a swift reply from Sephiroth holding the large gold gem.
"So uh, you don't mind if I uh-" asked the boy looking around pointing to the treasure vaults good.
"Not interested," replied Sephiroth walking to the door. But before he could do anything the secret door open up again.
"Quite a performance," a voice said, a figure following into the vault. Wearing well made pants, a long sleeved white shirt with a gold vest on top of decorated in designs. Low cut well trimmed hair on top.
"Who are you?" asked the boy.
"I plan the leading man, who else? Fran the Magicite."
A tall figure came out from hiding walking behind Sephiroth. The man simply turned his head, obvious of her presence for sometime now. She was tall, nearly Sephiroth's height with long flowing white hair. Dark skin, very tanned. She wore black armor covering most of her body save a few spots of flesh. Feral like hands and feet and bunny ears on top of her head.
"Now then, I'll take that," Fran said sternly, holding out her hand for it.
"No you won't, it's his, he found it. It's his," protested the boy.
"And then when I take it from him, it'll be mine," retorted the man leaning against a table, crossing his arms. He kept staring at Sephiroth a Fran walked to his side.
"You can try," dared Sephiroth in a calm tone looked down at them.
They were interrupted by the sounds of soldier and rustling on top of them, a floor up. The man and Fran had looked up for a second then back down. Sephiroth and the boy had left through the door. Sephiroth made his way outside to a large balcony that could support three trucks width wise. He walked over to the edge looking down at a group of soldiers fought off some intruders. A blast from the airship above shot back the boy as Sephiroth side stepped out of the way.
"The Ifrit, that's quite an entrance. Impeccable timing, if I didn't know better, I'd say they've been waiting all along," commented the man looking up at the Airship as it fired another shot at the soldiers.
Sephiroth took this time and began running away. He was just ordered to retrieve the jewel, nothing more. Fighting the man or his companion wouldn't do him any good and simply raise more questions. Though in this case with this group fighting the soldiers below it would be a good cover. Before Sephiroth gained too much ground a air vehicle cut him off with Fran on board. He felt the man's presence behind him as he held out a hand.
"You have something that belongs to me," he said a bit agitated. He wanted this done faster than anyone. With a hundred soldiers and an Airship it's not wonder why. Sephiroth shook his head seeing no other way. He held out his left hand and summoned Masamune out of thin air, grasping it by the handle. He pointed it towards the man. "So that's the way it must be eh? Suppose the leading man must have a thorn in his plans. You just need to be trimmed."
Before they could face off another blast hit close to them. Fran started the vehicle positioning it below the balcony. The man made chase for the duo. Sephiroth jumped over easily and began running in the opposite direction. The man picked up the boy and hopped on the vehicle. It began pursuing Sephiroth. In front of him were about twenty soldiers. With one strike he sent over a dozen air strikes over to them, knocking down their ranks to nothing. Though he made sure that he just knocked them out, nothing more. He ran past them before a blast erupted on the side of his path, destroying the bridge. He couldn't gain footing fast enough and fell down into a pit beneath the whole palace.
Sephiroth got to his feet and looked around. He landed back in the sewer with the trio he was previously with. Their vehicle was totaled, destroyed and of no use to them. Fran examined it saying something went totally wrong with the vehicle.
"Forget it, even if we could fly the Ifrit's playing with fire and I'd rather not get burned," said the man, sitting on the partially destroyed staircase. He stared at the sewer system, smiling at it. "We'll go the old fashioned way."
Sephiroth glanced at the trio and stood up, walking the opposite direction. Before he even took two steps Fran stepped up and blocked his entrance. "You still dare to fight me in your situation?" asked Sephiroth looking down at Fran. "I'll show you despair if you don't move."
"Not many Viera where you come from thief?" asked the man stepping up, walking behind Sephiroth.
Sephiroth slightly turned his head, glancing over as if he could see behind him. "What of it?"
"Well Fran is special in that she'd deign to partner with a human," continued Balthier lightly. "She's not one to cross or step over lightly."
"Oh? Like a sky pirate that chooses to steal through the sewers," retorted Fran looking over Sephiroth's shoulder.
"Pirates? Your Sky Pirates? So you have an airship?" asked Vann.
"They're thieves," replied Sephiroth calmly looking back at Fran. "Nothing more than low class thugs who don't know when to stop. Now stand aside or I'll force you."
The man walked around and stood next to his partner. "Well even pirates have manners, something you lack. What's your name thief?"
"Sephiroth," answered the man glaring down at the man. "And yours Pirate?"
The man let out a groan. "It's Balthier. Listen thieves, if you ever want to see your home again, you'll do exactly as I say. Myself, Fran and you two are working together now, understood?"
Sephiroth walked on. "Whatever you say."
The four walked through the sewers for awhile. Fighting the monsters was no problem at all. Vaan was skilled with his blade with Fran and her arrows and Balthier with his gun. They found some bodies shortly after their little trip. Balthier had described them being insurgents ready to attack Vayne from under his nose. Obviously he saw it coming and used the Ifrit and his soldiers to take care of them. It worked sadly enough. The four continued on for some time until they came to a middle section, lower levels of the sewers. Platforms above them. A loud ruckus gained their attention.
Armored soldiers were converging on a single person, a woman with a shield, sword and white clothing. She cut down a soldier and stood against the rest. "Who would be next!?" she dared.
"Close ranks bring her down," one of the soldiers said. They slowly began walking towards her, bringing her to the edge of the platform.
"Jump down," said Vann coming below the platform. She didn't give much thought to it and jumped, caught in his arms as he layed her down. The soldiers coming down to fight. "Oh man this isn't good."
"Stand aside," ordered Sephiroth summoning Masamune. With a single stroke from across, Sephiroth shot a wave of energy at them, cutting them all down in a move. Masamune disappeared afterwards.
"Thank you," said the girl looking at them. Vann made his up to her, telling her his name and trying to introduce everyone else but Balthier had little interest. He asked her name to which she responded, "Amalia."
The ord in Sephiroth's right hand began to glow. Balthier examined it for a bit. "Oh isn't that impressive."
Sephiroth turned his head to Balthier. "It's mine, remember that."
"I'm afraid the jury is still out on that one," he replied not concerned at all.
"You stole that," asked Amalia coming up to examine it.
There talk had to be cut short. Fran pointed out that the guards may very well be on there way and they should move on. Vann told Amalia to join and she seemed reluctant too, receiving a scolding from Balthier. Sephiroth walked on behind Amalia before the others did the same. Amalia stated right out that she would gladly accept their help, considering they were thieves. The fact that he was being considered a lowly thief rubbed Sephiroth the wrong way but kept it to himself. Amalia continued saying once she finds her friends she would leave. Sephiroth didn't mind, just wondering what to do about Balthier when the time comes. It was obvious he wasn't going to let Sephiroth go scot free.
After awhile longer they reached the end of the sewer. Past it would lead to the lower parts of the city. But it wasn't going to be that easy. A orb passed them and froze in the middle of the air in the center of the room. With a great flash it grew and revealed a form of a fire horse, engulfed in flames with lashing tentacles on the side of it's head and neck. Fran and Balthier began firing at a distance as Vann and Amalia attacked it close range. Sephiroth kept his distance. Not wanting to get involved unless he needed too. They didn't need his help though and after another few minutes of fighting the horse fell, defeated and killed.
"Now then," started Balthier turning his gun towards Sephiroth. "We part ways here, but I'll need that stone. If you please."
Sephiroth summoned Masamune into his left hand and took his stance. "If you wish to face death, then so be it. Come."
The stance was quickly broken by the sound of large numbers of footsteps. Soldiers gathered on all sides, the entrance to the sewers, the way they came and all possible exits and paths. Overlooking them on the highest level a man stepped forth, Vayne. Amalia wanted to charge but Balthier stopped her telling her it wasn't time yet. Sephiroth made Masamune disappear and looked around.
Sephiroth had no choice but to lay down Masamune. It would be troublesome in this scenario. He could easily fight these soldiers off but it wouldn't do him any good. They arrested the lot though seemed to let go of Amalia. The remaining four were put into a dungeon under the Nalbina fortress.
In a room near the Nalbina, a Judge Magister, Gabranth was talking to a man in silver armor, helmet having two very long yellow horns pointing upwards with a yellow cape and sword and shield.
"You've captured him?" asked the Warrior of Light to Gabranth. "Take me to him then."
"Know your place, foreigner," replied the judge surrounded by guards. "Our system deals with criminals. He's in the pits of Nalbina, where all that have been judged lay. There death will slowly crawl to them and strip them of their lives."
The Warrior of Light hit the table standing between them hard. "That's not good enough. I must see him."
"Get used to disappointment," replied Gabranth walking off.