Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts
(A/N): This is one of those chapters that NEEDS to be written but no matter what I did it said "F-you". This chapter is a piece of shit, no two ways about it. If you don't want to read this steaming pile then all you need to know is that Ashe appears and kicks some ass, I ship Vaan and Ashe, and we're now down to Areis, Capricorn, and Eclipse.
Chapter 25: The Cancerous Bull
"I hate airships." Mika swayed back and forth with the subtle movements of the airship.
The blonde Viera was lying down on her bed in the cabin room she shared with Penelo and Kairi. After agreeing to come along with them to fight the unknown creatures they had bought tickets to the nearest town where they'd been spotted. It was some stupidly named town called Bahtil or something like that. Mika didn't really care right now.
"Mika you have no problems on the Gummi ship." Kairi pointed out.
"Tell that to my stomach." Mika groaned her tan skin slightly green in color.
"How goes it girls?" Vaan asked barging into the room with a grin on his face. Vaan was at his happiest when he was in the air. True he rather be the one flying the ship. When the Sky Pirate spotted Mika lying in her bed green as chocobo feed he knew the answer to his question. "Oh."
"When's this contraption going to land?" Mika whined.
"In a few minutes. Vaan wanted to come tell you to get ready." Luso said sticking his head into the cabin.
It was a nice slow descent into the the hanger of the aerodrome. When they got the clearance to leave the ship Mika grabbed her bag and ran off with such speed it was like she'd been born in heels. Everyone else filed off in a nice calm manner. They were a more than a little embarrassed to be associated with the green Viera. Making their way outside they found Mika leaning up against the side of a building trying to look semi-normal. It wasn't working as every Hume, Bangaa, and Moogle that passed by stared at the blonde. In her defense it wasn't every day they saw a blonde Viera. As far as then knew the bunny eared race only had white hair.
Vaan and Penelo who had been to this town before lead them to the pub where they would check and see if they couldn't learn more information about the location of the monsters. Unlike the pub in Morbella which was a more respected joint the pub in this town was more of your standard definition of a seedy pub. The patrons of the place looked like they carried more diseases than anyone could name and like they'd rob you blind in a split second. Kairi and Penelo huddled together trying to stay out of the reach of the drunken men. Mika however strolled through uncaring slightly enjoying the attention. She knew she looked good and there was no denying it. What she did deny though was the advances of a few drunk men. Most just verbally hit on her but there's always that one that goes too far. A shirtless man with curly black hair and a pair of brown pants grabbed ahold of Mika's hand and pulled her into his lap.
"Hey gorgeous. How about you keep me company?" the man asked.
"Sagittarius?!" Mika asked recognizing the voice.
"Virgo? Damn girl you're hot without that mask. Your lack of clothing certainly helps." the drunken Warrior said leaning in to kiss Mika.
Mika punched the Warrior in the face and leapt off of his lap. Her staff flashed into her hands. The patrons of the pub weren't used to the women that wandered in to be so aggressive. They were normally like Kairi and Penelo, scared, or they came in looking for a man for the night. So when the Viera started wailing on the tanned man with such vigor they couldn't help but watch in awe. Blood spatter across Mika's body as she bludgeoned the unmasked Warrior to death. Washing herself off with a modified Water spell Mika calmly walked up to the counter where the rest of the group was at.
"What? We're down another bastard." Mika said when the gang looked at her like she was crazed.
"So about that information." Vaan said to the barkeep.
"Totheruinsinwest!" the man said quickly. "Just don't sic her on me!"
"Thank you." Vaan said taking the bag of gil off the counter that had been the bribe until Mika killed Sagittarius scaring the pants off the pub owner.
Now that they had an idea of where to go the group of six headed out of the towns western gate. Kairi squealed with joy when Vaan suggested that the rent Chocobos to head to the ruins. If only he knew what he had just unleashed. Right outside the gate was the Chocobo pen where Kairi practically fainted from excitement. Even Sora was shocked by her levels of joy at being able to ride the giant yellow birds. Even though it was a Moogle running the joint he advised Sora to ride with one of the others since his stubby Moogle appendages couldn't exactly reach anything. Sitting in front of Kairi with his arms crossed over his chest Sora bounced up and down as the Chocobo ran across the open fields of Dalmasca. The Gria girl completely ignored her boyfriend as she stroked the feathers of her favorite creature. Even the cuteness of Moogle Sora couldn't compete with the yellow bird.
Their destination, like the barkeeper had said, was a set of old ruins. Sandstone columns lined the path to the large temple. Vaan was overcome with a sense of familiarity. This temple was done up very much like King Raithwall's tomb. There thankfully wasn't a Garuda to come barreling down on them stopping them from entering the ruins. Vaan should really learn to just expect things to be harder than that. While it wasn't a giant bird by any means the place did have a guardian. A young girl that looked to be about the age of eight carrying an axe that was taller than Mika sat on the steps of the ruins. Her hair was jet black and kept short just above her ears her green dress stood out against the brown sandstone. The white mask of the Celestials Warriors covered her face.
"Taurus." Mika said.
"Is she strong? I mean she's just a little girl." Luso pointed out.
"And a master of Gravity magic." Mika warned. "She uses it to affect the weight of her axe. She can weaken or strengthen gravity as easily as you and I breath air. If she's here than Cancer must be inside she acts as Taurus' mother. She'll be the real problem."
"Leave it to us then." Penelo said dragging Luso and Vaan to the front. "You three get inside once we have her distracted."
"Alright. Be careful though." Kairi pleaded of the Dancer.
"That's my line." Penelo smiled.
Vaan lead the charge forward drawing his Mythril sword. Luso was right behind him with his own Mythril blade. Taurus looked a little confused at the fact that two people were charging at her. Penelo took out a small dagger wielding it back hand and keeping more of a distance between her and the young axe wielder. Getting up from the steps Taurus hefted her axe onto her shoulder and jumped into the air. The height of her jump was staggering. She flew over Vaan and Luso with easy. Purple Gravity magic glowed as Taurus increased the weight of her axe when she started her descent. Penelo leapt to the side getting hit by a few of the rocks the were sent into the air by the axe meeting the ground.
Waving with her free hand Penelo shot an Aero spell at Taurus. Again a purple aura came over the axe only this time it extended to the girl. With less gravity affecting her the little girl moved past the Wind spell with ease. She was met with a horizontal slice courtesy of Vaan. Blood trickled down Taurus' side. Placing her hand on the wound she removed her hand and looked at the blood on it as if confused on how it had gotten there. Raising her axe into the air the Gravity Master called on the Gravaga spell. A large purple orb appeared above Vaan and Penelo who weren't able to escape in time. They tried their best to stay standing but the effects of eight times gravity wasn't something they were used to. Taurus entered the sphere seemingly unaffected by her magic. Thankfully for the two sky pirates Luso wasn't caught by the attack. He stood outside changed to his Black Mage job and cast Thundaga on Taurus.
"Don't forget about me!" He jeered.
"I haven't." Taurus said playfully. "You just have to wait your turn."
Luso wasn't the patient kind though. So he sent out another Thundaga spell at the little girl. It hit her just like the first one had. Neither thought had stopped her advance on Vaan and Penelo. It wasn't until a large earthquake shook the young girl off balance.
"I didn't do it." Luso said in answer to Vaan and Penelo's questioning stares.
"No. I did." a female voice said. Riding another Chocobo, thank gods Kairi wasn't here, was a woman with sandy blonde hair. The outfit she was wearing was comprised of a white and gold cropped shirt over a leather waist swath and a bright pink mini-skirt secured by a thick light-blue belt. Metal leg-guards up to mid-thigh, and a pair of gold metal open-toed shoes with darker pink stockings underneath.
"It's Ashe!" Vaan said happily. A little to happily for Penelo's tastes. To bad Mika wasn't here she would have gone gaga over the Queen of Dalmasca.
"Still need help after all these years don't you Vaan?" Ashe chided.
"Just help us already!" Penelo shouted.
"With pleasure." Ashe drew a normal steel sword. Needless to say Taurus got her ass kicked in the resulting battle. It was so epic that words can't even describe it. Let's just say that Ashe saved the day and Vaan left riding the back of her Chocobo rather than going back with Luso and Penelo to the clan.
- y7hu6- (OH FUCK IT point evident by the fact I hit my head on the keyboard rather than typing KotH)
The inside of the ruins was a wide open room. There were stairs off to the right that led downwards. Heartless appeared in between the trio and the stairs. It was a dead giveaway as to where Cancer was at. Mika questioned her former ally's planning. Why show your opponent which way to go? There was another staircase on the other side of the room that also lead down. What Mika didn't know was that it didn't really matter which set they took they both lead to the same room. Once just had Heartless guarding it while the other didn't.
Bad thing was that it was the same old same old Heartless. No one got inventive with their combination of Heartless. It was always Shadow, Neo-Shadow, the small flying magic ones, and a few Large Bodies of Fat Bandits. In the back there were a few Invisibles. So there was at least something that could put up a challenge for them. After the last Heartless was destroyed they all headed down stairs.
When they got down to the lower floor Sora just had to point out that the other staircase led to the same place. Both girls smacked him on the pom-pom not really wanting to bend down far enough to smack him on the head. Mika burst into a fit of giggles as she realized what she'd done. Yeah. Mika and Kairi slapped Sora's ball.
Standing in the back of the room in front of the Keyhole was a woman with blue hair that really reminded Mika of Rin. It flowed down the woman's back in waves. She had on a white blouse and pale blue shorts. It was sort of fitting that Cancer wore sandals rather than shoes or boots.
"So Virgo it looks like tales of your treachery are true." Cancer sighed.
"Name's Mika. Get it right." Mika said as she summoned her staff.
"Shall I tell the others you defeated Taurus?" Cancer asked calmly.
"Thought you'd care more that your 'daughter' is dead" Mika answered.
"She was nothing more than a tool. Just like the Heartless. Taurus was simply a means to an end. Now Keybearers would you be so kind as to leave. I really rather not fight you." Cancer waved her hands in a shooing motion.
"Not happening." Sora said summoning his mini Oblivion.
"We're going to stop you just like we stopped all the others." Kairi informed their opponent as she summoned her Oathkeeper.
"Can't say I didn't try." Cancer shrugged summoning her longsword. "Have at you then."
The crabby woman, Cancer sign is represented by a crab for those that don't get the pun, charged forth with her sword outstretched. A Haste clock appeared above the blue haired fighter. Mika ever ready with the debilitating spells countered her Haste with a Slow spell returning the woman's speed to normal. Cancer changed her forwards assault into running away. She was a Time Mage and without her Haste abilities to use she was going to be at a disadvantage.
(Fuck it syndrome overwriting desire to write kickass battle scene)
"Shall we end this quickly?" Cancer teased casting slow on the trio.
Since not a one of them knew the Haste spell they were a little screwed at the moment. Because for some reason Ensuna just didn't cure a person of Slow. It could only be countered by Haste. It didn't stop our heroes though. Even slowed they were able to cast their magic spells. They just had to compensate for the fact their speed would be off. Slow only affected the body not the mind. Which really only made the spell more annoying. You could see the attacks coming but it was like moving through jell-o.
Sora kept casting Protect on them since Cancer only seemed to be using physical attacks. They had to buy time until the effects of Slow wore off. When their speed returned to them Sora one upped Mika's debiliting attacks. He didn't just use Slow on Cancer he used Stop on her. It didn't exactly work on the Time Mage. But when both Moogle and Viera combined their efforts they were able to hold the blue haired girl still. This left her open for Kairi to deal a series of blows. She used every element under the sun and a few physical attacks thrown in just to round things out. When Sora and Mika restored the flow of time to Cancer she hadn't known that she had been Stopped. All three of the heroes were standing in the same place she had seen them last. So when all of Kairi's attacks appeared on her Cancer fell down dead. She was cut up, got a few broken bones, burned, frostbitten, and electrocuted all at once. The human body couldn't take all of that at once.
Pointing their Keyblades at the Keyhole that Cancer had indeed discovered but had yet to be able to send Heartless into they sent at white beam of energy into it locking one of the paths to the heart of Ivalice. Though I'm sure some Fan boys might argue that Ashe is the heart of Ivalice.
"Let's get off this world please." Sora said pulling out the controler for the Gummi ship. He didn't want to be a Moogle any longer than he had to. Nor did he want to put up with Mika's constant dirty jokes about his "ball".
(A/N): Not gonna lie. I forgot Sagittarius was still alive. So he got to be Mika's punching bag and die comically.