A.N: Castlevania-style secret rooms make a comeback today. I'd even go so far as to say that the way it does is an interesting take. Also, HOLY LORD, my first two reviews. Guess that goes to show I'm not... unliked... yet... if that's even possible. Also, yes, I am updating previous chapters now and then. Mostly to check for spelling and grammar usage, though adding content isn't in the realm of impossibilities for me either. Just to let readers know, savvy? Either way, here ya go.
Disclaimer: The elements used in this fanfiction-
Richter Belmont: I've been waiting for you.
DarkDiablo: Answer me! Why is a Belmont planning the revising of Count Dracula?!
Richter Belmont: Count Dracula reads but once every century, and my book is over. If I can rewrite him, then the story will last for eternity!
DarkDiablo: If those are your true words, then so be it.
Jonathan Morris: Throw cream pies at him! *looks around* Oh. Whoops. That was what I did back in my questing days. I think I may have overdone it a little. Anyway, as DarkDiablo was saying, the only thing he owns out of all this is the O.C. Everything else has been claimed by their respective owners. Have a nice reading!
Final Fantasy: Aria of Ruin
Chapter Five: The Hymn of the Fayth
The group had just entered what appeared to be the welcoming chamber of Kilika Temple. They weren't here for long before they saw a woman traveling with a large, muscular man. The woman was dark skinned, and wore skimpy clothes. "A Summoner, are you?", she asked Yuna, walking over to where the group was. The summoner nodded. Jack stepped forward in case the woman proved to be trouble. He was not surprised to find the rest of his group doing the same. "My name is Yuna, from the isle of Besaid", she replied.
"Dona. So you're High Summoner Braska's daughter. That's quite a name to live up to", the woman said. She then looked around. "My, my, my... and all of these people are your Guardians? My, what a rabble. As I recall, Lord Braska had only two Guardians. Quality over quantity, my dear. Whatever were you thinking? I have need of only one Guardian. Right, Barthello?", Dona finished, looking at her companion. He nodded immediately.
A second later, Kimahri stepped away from the group. He and Barthello, as he was called, had a face off. "I only have as many guardians as there are people I can trust. I trust them all my life. To have so many guardians is a joy and an honor. Even more so than being my father's daughter", Yuna said to Dona. Jack nodded along with this, a clear agreement to her words. "Of course, I would never think of questioning your ways, either. So Lady Dona, I ask of you. Please, leave us in peace", the summoner finished.
Dona rolled her eyes as those words were said. "You do what you want. Barthello, we're leaving", she said. Barthello nodded, and the two left the group. Yuna sighed and shook her head, but had a smile on her face when she saw Jack and Tidus smiling at her. The hunter knew she spoke well. A nod from Tidus let the summoner know that her words had been spoken true.
After a moment's respite, the group made their way up some stairs, over to what appeared to be an elevator. 'As much as I'd like to join along with this group, I'm no Guardian... yet... Maybe I should simply wait here and ensure there aren't any unforseen surprises', Jack thought. "The Fayth is below. Lets do it", Wakka said. Tidus looked at him, clueless. "The Fayth?", he asked. Jack and Lulu shook their heads as Tidus asked that. "But first, the Cloister of Trials. Kimahri, Wakka, ready?", Lulu asked. The two men nodded. "Strength, everyone", Yuna said, sighing as she did so. Everyone save for the hunter stepped onto the elevator. Tidus was shoved off.
'Dang. And here I was beginning to think I was welcome. Oh well', Jack thought. "Hey! What gives?", Tidus asked, confused. "You and Jack aren't Guardians yet. The two of you are to stay here", Lulu said. "We'll be back as soon as we can, okay?", Yuna said, looking embarrassed. The elevator went down after she said that. Tidus snorted at this. "Oh, sure. Soon. Like 'tomorrow' soon, I'll bet!", he said. "Don't worry too much about it, Tidus. I think they'll be fine where they're heading", Jack replied. "You're probably right", Tidus responded.
They had been waiting by the platform for about five minutes when two familiar faces appeared before them. "Already we get guests", Jack noted. The two familiar faces turned out to be Dona and Barthello. "Where's Yuna?", the summoner asked. Tidus gestured over to the platform. "And why are you two not with her?", Dona asked. "We're not full-fledged Guardians yet", Tidus replied. The hunter nodded in agreement. "Not full-fledged Guardians, you say?", the summoner asked.
That was when Jack noticed that the summoner wore a smirk on her face. Before he could use that knowledge to his advantage, though, he saw Tidus get shoved onto the platform by Barthello. "Hey! What's the big deal?", Tidus asked. Right as he said that, the platform began descending. As for Jack, well, he had more than a simple shove. Despite the hunter dropping into his Stonewall stance, he was overpowered by Barthello rather easily. "What?!...", the hunter shouted out of confusion as the large muscled man picked him up, and threw him as hard as he could in the direction of the platform. A yelp of pain was heard from Jack when he slammed hard into the wall, prompting Barthello to smirk. "Just a little game", was Dona's reply just before the platform descended out of earshot.
"Curses!", Jack uttered when he landed on the platform. As if getting thrown hard into a wall wasn't painful enough, Barthello was actually strong enough to literally break the wall segment that the hunter was thrown at. After he landed, the piece of the wall that was hit broke off. Needless to say, the wall's landing hurt Jack pretty harshly. "The one time you don't want a wall to break on you!" the hunter cursed bitterly after taking that hit. Tidus offered a potion to help with the pain. The hunter, although perhaps a bit rudely, accepted the offer, and his back was feeling better.
After a couple seconds, the platform reached the bottom level. "This is bad, really bad!", Tidus said afterwards. He jumped up and down, but the platform refused to budge. "Come on! Go back up!", Tidus commanded. Again, the platform did not budge. "No use, Tidus. We're gonna be found out regardless of what we do. We may as well just get it over with", was Jack's reply. "If we're fortunate, the people who find us might understand. In the meantime, if that wall segment was damaged enough to fall...", he added. Tidus was surprised at that. "How are you going to get up there to check the damage?", he asked. "Very carefully", was the hunter's reply.
And very carefully, it was. At least, the wall-jumping part, anyway. The part where Jack bumped his head on the ceiling of the secret room and landed sitting was not so careful. Thankfully, the pain wasn't life-threatening. While in the secret room, the hunter did find two chests, one holding another Life Vessel, and another holding what appeared to be part of a necklace. 'Now who would hide something like this in here?', Jack thought. That was when he recognized that part. "Hold on... was Alucard here before?", he asked silently. The hunter saw Alucard wear that part on his necklace. But why would he take that part and hide it here?
The answer was found when his own necklace shined brightly. Curious, Jack tried putting the piece near his necklace. As if by magic, it suddenly became one with his necklace. Instead of just a golden chain with a lightning bolt, it was now a golden chain with a green orb around said lightning bolt. Afterwards, the hunter dropped down from the secret room, having explored it completely. "Well, that was mostly an empty room. Oh well. Let's get this part over with. The sooner, the better", the hunter said. Tidus nodded and the pair went into the Cloister of Trials.
Jack was right about them being found out inevitably, for after the pair explored the Cloister of Trials, solving them in the process, they entered a room with strange, glowing runes, and were found out immediately. The people who found them? They had a look of shock or outrage. "Whoa whoa whoa!", a familiar voice yelled out of confusion. It turned out to be Wakka. "It was Dona and that musclehead man!", Tidus replied. The hunter nodded. "She had Barthello shove Tidus onto the platform, and throw me into a wall so hard, it broke off", he added.
Lulu sighed at those words. "Yuna will be the one to suffer the consequences...", the black mage said. "Consequences?", Jack asked, out of confusion. "She could be excommunicated", the blitzer answered, shaking his head. Jack silently cursed Dona and Barthello. It was by their own hands that the hunter and Tidus were thrown into the Cloister of Trials to begin with! Regardless, the two blondes muttered sorry. "So what's in there anyway?", Tidus asked, looking at the doors. "The Fayth, remember?", was Wakka's reply. Tidus nodded.
"What is this Fayth?", Jack asked, though still tinted with pain. "The Fayth are people who willingly gave their lives to battle Sin. Yevon took their souls from their bodies", Lulu answered. Tidus looked shocked at this. "Doesn't sound very nice", he noted. "They live forever, encased in statues. It is not until a summoner beckons them through praying with all their heart for a way to defeat Sin that the souls of the Fayth emerge again. And thus, an Aeon is formed", the black mage continued.
The group took a good look at the room, calmed by the hymn of... something. It sounded like it reverberated off the walls of the room, though. "All that is in this room?", Tidus asked. Lulu nodded. "Well, hopefully this doesn't take too much longer. I'm beginning to get bored", Jack noted silently. His prayer was answered, however, as the far doors opened, revealing an exhausted Yuna. She fell to her knees, holding onto the door. Wakka, and Lulu ran up to her side, while Kimahri stood there, looking worried. Tidus looked as if he was in deep thought, while Jack smiled at the thought of her being there. If she came out that door, odds are she gained a new Aeon.
"Jack, Tidus! What are you two doing here?", Yuna asked. Tidus was brought out of his thoughts, but Jack, thankfully, was able to answer immediately. "Dona had Barthello shove Tidus onto the platform, and throw me into the back wall. The only response we got out of either of them was something about a 'little game'", the hunter replied. Yuna was shocked at this. "Why would they potentially excommunicate me?", she asked. Everyone in the room shrugged. They had no clue what would drive Dona to this.
"So, Yuna... would it hurt if I ask you to show the Aeon you gained?", Jack asked. There was no response from anyone in the room. "I'll take that as a no?", the hunter added. Still no response. "Great. I think I petrified everyone in here", he finished. As if on cue, everyone moved suddenly, causing Jack to jump a little. "Not right now, Jack. Maybe later", was Yuna's answer. "Well, can't say I didn't guess it. Let's get going, before you people give me any more jumpy moments", the hunter replied. 'Can't believe I let them actually jump me a little', he thought. He stared down monsters many times more menacing than the group. How could they get the jump on him?
When the group returned from Kilika Temple, they found a crowd gathered at its door. They surrounded Yuna and began talking to her. They all had big smiles on their faces. The summoner was talking with them, smiling as she did so. Jack smiled at this. Though he expected a bit of a better welcome than he did after coming out of Castlevania just weeks before, he also didn't think fame was that important to him. "You seem to be a little lost", a voice called out, snapping the hunter back into reality. Turning, he found Lulu not far from him.
"Lost in thought, yeah. Just thinking about home...", Jack answered. This prompted a look of surprise from the black mage before she shook her head. "So you still don't believe what I say... to be honest, I can't blame you... I, too, wish Dracula was just a legend, and not a horrible reality", the hunter added. Lulu shook her head at this. "No, I think your story is true. But do you think Tidus' story is?", she asked. Jack shrugged at this. "I wouldn't know. Personally, the only thing I've seen that his world shares in common with yours is blitzball. But then again, the two of us were brought here by Sin. I know not why, and quite honestly, I'm beginning to wonder if there even is a connection somewhere...", he answered.
The black mage nodded, as if in agreement. Before anything further could be said, Yuna had begun walking away from the crowd. They followed her, joined by the rest of the group, though Tidus eventually stopped for a moment. "Are... are you alright?", the summoner asked, concerned. "I... I don't know...", the star player admitted. This prompted a frown from Yuna. "What do you want to do?", she added. "To scream real loud", Tidus answered. 'Uh oh...', Jack thought as turned to look at the star player. Surely, he didn't just say that out loud, right? This prompted a giggle from the summoner as Tidus did exactly what he wanted to do. And that brought quite a bit of attention.
Which was rewarded with a slap to the back of Tidus' head by Jack. "Hey! What was that for?!", he called out. "Warn me next time. I prefer silence. Geez...", the hunter replied. That went without a response from the rest of the group, though Jack was pretty sure he just saw Lulu smirk at what happened. "And here, my family said I was the crybaby. Bet they're having a laugh now in Heaven", he mused silently. That surprised Yuna, though. "Crybaby? You seem a bit more... mature than that...", she pointed out. "Compared to the rest of the family that I've known, yeah, I was. A common trait among us is a quick temper. My temper is likened to that of my great-great-grandfather. It was down to his beloved witch to keep tabs on him practically all the time, or so I've heard", the hunter replied.
"But so far, we haven't seen your temper...", Yuna added. "To be fair, you haven't. But Tidus has. My temper flared when Dona had Barthello throw me into the back wall. And it broke down on me", Jack said. The summoner nodded, understanding now. No wonder there was some rubble on the platform when they were on their way out from the temple. Silence followed as the two followed their allies, having passed the area where Lord Ochu was bested in battle. "I want to ask you something, Yuna", the hunter added, catching her attention once more. "What is it?", she asked. Silence followed for a second."I want to ask you... if it is alright with you and your friends... if I tagged along as a guardian?", Jack said, speaking what was on his mind.
This prompted a blink and a gasp of surprise from the summoner. Eventually, she dared to look the hunter in the eye. That was when he realized that her eye colors were different. One was blue, and the other was green. This surprised him inside, though he didn't show it. "I honestly cannot answer that now. I would have to talk with Wakka, Lulu, and Kimahri on this", Yuna finally admitted. Jack nodded, understanding. "I understand", he replied. That conversation, however, was interrupted by a sudden boom, and something hit the hunter's back.
And harshly, at that. This prompted a yelp mixed with pain and confusion from the hunter which caught everyone else's attention. "What!?...", he managed to call out. And then another pair of booms was sounded, and he was hit two more times. This prompted another yelp, this time full of pain. "Ok, that's it!", Jack shouted as he brought out his lightning whip and turned to face what was attacking him. It turned out to be three plant-like... things. Each had three separate heads that looked capable of spitting seeds. Before he could swing his whip, he took another attack straight to the face from the center plant monster.
By this point, rage coursed through every fiber of the hunter's being. Before anyone else had a chance to react, Jack gave out a yell of pure rage as he swung his whip at the center plant monster, sparks of lightning appearing around him as he did so. When the strike connected, the plant monster gave a yelp as it was overcome by numerous sparks of lightning before fading into small lights. Afterwards, the hunter was nearly doubled over, almost as if Death was near. Thankfully, he wasn't alone in the battle. Tidus, in an act of rage, did multiple cartwheels towards the leftmost plant before slamming his sword into it, dealing heavy damage. Kimahri charged at the same plant and finished it off.
The rightmost plant tried to take a shot at Jack in an effort to finish him off, but the star player had other plans, instead rushing to take the blow for him, much to the former's surprise. He seemed to take it with little trouble. Lulu retaliated with a spell of fire on the plant, weakening it considerably. The hunter, noticing the plant's weakness, took out his crossbow and fired a bolt at the creature, finishing it off as it exploded in flames before fading into more small lights. "Ach... man, that hurt...", Jack said afterwards as he dug into his tailcoat pockets, struggling to maintain his breath. After a few seconds, he managed to pull out a small vial of blue liquid that levitated in his hand.
"Wait!", Yuna called out as she began to cast a spell. Before long, most of the hunter's wounds had been healed, allowing him to have a much easier time breathing. "Thank you...", he said gratefully. Everyone else nodded as Jack put away his potion, thankful that he didn't have to use it then and there. After this, the group returned to traveling back to the docks. 'You know... Mother always said I had the potential to learn a few spells... maybe I should dedicate that to healing?', the hunter thought as this occurred. It was true. It was a lasting trend in the Morris clan. Each member of the clan would fall in love with one who was dedicated to the art of magic. His mother knew a fair share of magic, mostly healing and protection spells, but she was also capable in martial arts. Jack never saw her leave home without a pair of green gloves that each had the skull of a fire breathing monster.
Before long, everyone finally came to the docks, where there was a big boat awaiting its passengers. "A fun boatride? Where exactly are we headed?", the hunter asked. "We're heading to Luca. There is a blitzball tournament there", Yuna replied. "Blitzball tournament, eh?", Jack added. "Off to Luca, at last! The matches start as soon as we get there, so rest up on the way, ya?", Wakka called out. Tidus nodded as he and the blitzer walked on board. The hunter hesitated somewhat, deciding on whether it was safe for him to come aboard or not. On one hand, Lulu didn't seem to like the idea of him accompanying them on their pilgrimage, and he wished to respect that.
Whatever the case was, it seemed that she was the only one who harbored such thoughts, as Kimahri lightly pushed him onwards. "Huh? Oh, sorry. My sincerest of apologies", Jack offered, only a little surprised. The cat-like being gestured to the boat. "Oh!", the hunter added. So he was, for the most part, expected to come with. Realizing this now, he walked on board, followed by Kimahri. Jack smiled lightly at the thought of being able to help out against Sin. Granted, he wasn't exactly welcome among the people he traveled with now, but if he had a choice between them or another group, he'd take his chances with the former.