Chapter 7
Jecht had changed considerably, although he was still a drunk. There was some resolve happening slowly inside of him, just as a change had begun in me. I was stoic now, and thought often of the future. What would it hold, if there was even a future? Civilization had halted to an almost standstill since the war with Zanarkand nearly a thousand years ago. If Sin was ultimately defeated, would we as a people return to our ways of sin? What good would our sacrifice, and deaths be if all things would repeat and only happen again?
We traveled swiftly through the Mushroom rock road, and quickly came out upon the Mihan Highway. It was emerald green as far as the eye could see. There was a gentle breeze blowing slowly, and determinedly along scattering dust everywhere in the twilight. The clouds above where dark, ominous. I felt a presence, and it reminded me of Maccalania.
I almost missed my old home of snow and ice, and the crystalline woods with its exotic fauna and flora. Auron stopped up ahead.
"Its odd."
"What are you going on about now?" Jecht asked, annoyed.
"No. Jecht. I feel it too. Its odd. Its almost like a yearning."
"Its the song." I stated simply. Surely, the hymn of the fayth was audible. We did not understand where it was coming from...
"Its-"
"SIN!"
A monstrous being was visible, just upon the horizon behind us. Its grotesque form haunted me and I stood in awe.
"Lucas not far!"
"Damn it!" Auron hissed. "The Crusaders are probably alert-"
Braska tuned and began running towards Sin. I understood in that instant. It had to turned from Luca. So many people and little ones would die. It was nearly night, and they wouldn't even have a chance. A squad of men on chocobos went flying by and I jumped up on a passing bird.
"Get Braska out of here! Get to the next temple!" I screamed out and the group slowly began to fade from my sights. A blur of red stopped Braska and the trio began away from.
"Whats the situation?" I asked. "Other than the obvious."
"We've received reports the holy city manged to turn Sin away from the city. There was some damage. "What of your summoner?"
"I'm buying them time." I closed my eyes and breathed. "If I fall, then pheraphs I will have bought them enough time for my summoner to have what he needs to get to Zanarkand."
"Tis Noble."
"Nay. The never ending fight is. What is the battle plan, or do you know?" I asked as the squad moved far swiftly than I had ever in my life. We were nearing Sin quickly, and more forces had joined up with us along the way.
"I'm not sure. We might try to drive it into the Sea."
I was lead by my companion and his chocobo named Boko to a clearing, and the song was louder.
"Well, a guardians going to help?" I nodded at the large and burly man of a commander. "Keep the beasts off our backs while we attack Sin. This is a futile fight, but not a meaningless one." A explosion was heard, and yells were uttered. A group of Al-Bhed had shown up for the fight and screamed orders at their others.
"Now is not the time." I reminded the group of soldiers. "At least we have a common enemy."
The Al-Bheds nodded at us, and we all began to prepare. I took a moment to think of my foolish courage, and laughed softly. I tightened my swords, and adjusted my gauntlets. I swept my long hair back into a tight ponytail, and sighed.
"Can you do me a favor?" The man I had ridden with asked me. His eyes glistened palely in the moonlight, and sweat dripped from his brow.
"What?"
"Take care of Boko for me? Hes a great beast, and I would hate for him to suffer if I die. He is a rare breed, intelligent more than most..and resilient. I hear he was trained on Gagazat...Please?"
I agreed, and the large bird bowed a little and flew off as there was scream and everyone charged.
Sin was enormous...more than my words can describe! I felt myself go weak with fear, and then the monsters came out to play.
I danced with my dual blades that night, monster after fiend fell before me. Men died and I began to cry as my muscles grew weak. The song was so beautiful in the pale night, and the cold air chilled me as the smell of blood and carnage only increased. Beast and man fell as there futile attempts to save Lucas and its inhabitants came to a bitter end. The Al-Bhed faired better, but we not without loss. I began to fade out of consciousness as Sin was so close I could have reached out and touched a fin of the monstrous being. The hymn was screaming in my ear, and I fell to my knees; and I began to feel all of my love being drained. I felt the hate of a thousand years bursting inside of my heart...
I let out a scream...then darkness.
"Auron." I asked, I was in a dress, and my hair was blowing everywhere. I was on a beach, and the turquiose waters were dancing back and forth in their tides; and the million stars and moon were reflected in its lazy waters. He turned, he was wearing just his pants, and was barefoot. He came before me and I felt the love and lust erupt inside of me like ne'er before. I kissed him hungrily and felt him grasp my body against his.
"Freya," he breathed in my ear. "You saved us. Braska...he's with Yuna. Jecht found a way home. I found my way to you. Kiss me." He demanded. I obliged and the scene before me changed.
I was in black armor, and I rose a sword into the air. Armed men charged into the temple of Maccalania and we slew the priests and orphans alike. We stormed through the cloister and lifted the fayth stone from its resting place and threw it out to the lake far below. A faint crack was heard...and I felt black flames spring up around me. I embraced my darkest want, and yearned for his lips again. He had died...I would have my revenge.
And the picture changed in front of me again...I held a child to breast and let out a cry! It had taken my only child from my only love! How Sin had claimed all I had ever known, all I ever wanted! They buried my child, and my lover and I felt all desire to live leave my body. The knife shined brilliantly in the morning light, and I slit my wrists so I could be with them again...at least in the afterlife there would be perfection.
These images, these feelings...they were not mine..but I had felt such pain before. I cried out in the darkness...the same darkness from before. No shining light this time to save me from myself..
"Would you do the things shown before you if your sorrow was to increase? Would you allow yourself to be condemned to a hell that you helped create?" A cruel face asked. "Would you allow yourself to die today?" A pale man with dark hair and brilliant eyes asked me. His muscles rippled as he moved, and scars ran up and down his body.
"What?" I had felt this man before...I knew his face! But who...who was he?
He chuckled and his arms wrapped around my waist. I pushed him off, and he threw himself into me. "I am Sin. I am a reflection of your wants and needs." I looked up in horror to see it was my Auron, manifested by the rage of emotions of battle had conjured.
"Surrender to ME!" The dark Auron raged. "Show me the love I know you feel for him!" I began to cry...this could have been a reality..He could have done this to me...I cried out as my clothes were ripped from my body, and the Auron that could have been began to...take what he wanted. I fought out and cried out...The darkness inside of me seized me, saved me..surrendered me to me, or at least in part.
I was in Maccalania temple again, and the priest was standing with his back to me.
"I should have left you to die!" He cried out. "You were not meant to exist!"
Darkness again took control...and I faded out from that realm...
Cold air and a bright light were around, and I realized I had awoken on a beach somehow. It was noon and Sin was far from us, and I knew it had not attacked Luca, somehow. I was stiff, and blood was everywhere around me...it ran into the sea as the gulls had begun to eat the corpses of the fallen. Far as my eyes could see there was no one survivor, except for me.
A Qweh was heard and the Boko bird was bounding towards me. I stood, and blood gushed from my breast... I cried out, and fell down. I inspected closer and bone was visible... I leaned against the bird.
"Boko...Can you save me? Get me...help..." The bird nudged me up upon its back, and took off towards Luca. I fainted hanging onto the bird, and to the smell of hay and sand.
