A.N: Yay, another chapter for your eyes to feast upon from yours truly! Or, well, I hope it is yours truly, rather than the Dracula of fanfiction. Anyway, time to explore the Mi'ihen Highroad some more. And then spend the night (and apparently, most of the day, too) at the Travel Agency. Also, here is where a slight portion of the O.C's backstory is revealed, along with a little more history of the Castlevania series for new fans.
Sidenote: YIPE! Knew I did a mess-up somewhere. Poor Alucard... time to get that fixed up, buddy!
Disclaimer: The elements used in this fanfiction-
Brauner: Book Art Technique!
Jonathan Morris: Book Art?! This is insanity!
Charlotte Aulin: Insanity?! This is madness!
Brauner: Madness?! THIS! IS! FANFICTION!
DarkDiablo: Way to ruin a meme, Brauner. *facepalm*
Brauner: What?! Oh, fine! For the purposes of this story, DarkDiablo owns the O.C. Everything else is owned by their respective owners. Now, back to the painting of the author!
DarkDiablo: Darn it, Brauner! That's Jonathan's job!
Final Fantasy: Aria of Ruin
Chapter Nine: Black Mass
The group made it onto the next section of the Highroad, when they almost ran into a child of about 12 years and her mother. "My Lady Summoner!", the mother managed to say, shocked. The child walked up to Yuna, also surprised. "You're a summoner?", she asked. "Yes. My name is Yuna", the summoner answered happily. "I'm Calli", the child replied. "Nice to meet you, Calli", Yuna greeted, bending down to the child's level. Taking advantage of the temporary pause, Jack kneeled to take a moment's breather. "Lady Yuna, are you going to bring us the Calm?", Calli asked. "Yes. Very soon", was the summoner's answer. "Yay!", the child shouted as she ran in circles around Yuna. It did the hunter some good in his heart to see one as happy as Calli was.
"We're looking forward to another Calm, My Lady Summoner", the mother said as Yuna stood up. "I'll do my best", she promised. "And good luck to your guardians as well", the mother added, facing the guardians. Tidus and Wakka just scratched their necks at this as both mother and child left the group. "The Calm, huh?", Jack asked. "Yes. The Calm is a time of peace. It comes when a summoner defeats Sin and lasts until it reappears", Lulu explained. That was when the hunter realized the truth behind Jecht's words. Sin, much like Count Dracula, came back after a certain period of time, to torment the inhabitants of Spira.
"So Sin returns to life, time and again?", Jack dared ask. "Something like that", was Yuna's answer. "I get it! I thought it was weird. Yuna's dad defeated Sin ten years ago, right? But Sin's still here! Didn't make much sense 'til now. Wait, if it just comes back...", Tidus said. That earned him a glare from the hunter. "Dracula is much the same way, back home. Returning to life time and again for almost 600 years, he has driven people to terror. Each time, he was sent back to his grave by vampire hunters like me. Through our efforts, humanity has secured prosperity. So far, Sin sounds much like Dracula", the hunter replied. Yuna nodded at those words. "So don't say it isn't worth it. Because it is", the summoner finished. With those words, everyone continued onwards.
"Little did I realize... maybe there was a way to stop Sin's resurrections.
It would explain many things. Why I'm here, being one of them.
But then again, there was supposedly a way to stop Dracula's resurrections before..."
Before long, the group saw a chocobo carriage. Standing nearby were a couple familiar faces from Kilika Island. Upon a closer look, Jack realized that this was Gatta and his companion. "Hey! We saw the game! You guys were great!", Gatta called out to the group when he saw them. "Congratulations, Wakka", his companion added. This prompted Wakka to nod. "Hey! Stop loafing around!", Elma called out from behind. She and Lucil must have seen the commotion, as they were approaching on their chocobos. "Uh... the lady summoner and her guardians...", the younger boy began. "This mission requires our full attention. We've no time to waste! Understood?", the captain added. "Yes, ma'am! Apologies, ma'am!", the elder man replied.
"Carry on", Lucil commanded before she and Elma departed. "See? Keep your head down, say 'sir' a lot, and you'll do fine", the elder man added. "Right... sir", Gatta replied. This prompted a giggle from Yuna. "Hey, Yuna. Even though Yevon rejected us... we still believe in you. That won't ever change", the elder man said. "Thank you, Sir Luzzu, Sir Gatta", the summoner replied, nodding. "But, you know, it's not too late to go back to Besaid and...", she tried to add. "We should be going, sir", Gatta replied, politely cutting her off. Luzzu nodded and the two hurried onwards. "Rejected by Yevon... for what...?", Jack wondered out loud.
He got his answer shortly afterwards, when the group heard arguing from nearby. Ahead, they found a man talking with a young girl. The hunter couldn't make out the words, but immediately after the group arrived, the man left, leaving the young girl to look saddened. "I... I only meant to...", she began sadly. "Everything okay?", Jack asked, concerned. This took her by surprise as she turned to face the group. "Lady Summoner...?", the young girl asked, bowing. "Yes. I am Yuna", Yuna answered, also bowing. "It is an honor, my lady. My name is Shelinda. I am a disciple of Yevon", the young girl replied. "What was all that about? The Crusaders' operation?", Wakka asked.
"You mean the one Luzzu and Gatta were talking about?", Tidus asked. The blitzer nodded. "I heard they were to use forbidden machina! I had to stop them", Shelinda said. "Huh? Why?", the star player questioned. "The use of machina is strictly forbidden by the Yevon priesthood", Lulu answered. "That's bad, ya?", Wakka added. "So that's why you've a hatred for machina...", the hunter replied. The blitzer nodded. "Let them use what they want. They still won't defeat Sin", Auron said suddenly, shaking his head. "But, this isn't about defeating Sin! The teachings of Yevon must be upheld!", Shelinda argued, looking stunned at the red-robed man's choice of words. "Yeah! Right!", Wakka added.
"But you don't understand! The Crusaders won't even listen to me. All because I'm a lowly acolyte", the disciple said sadly. "Don't say that", Yuna replied suddenly, prompting a gasp from Shelinda. "Well, I haven't been a summoner for very long myself, you see. Still, I can't put myself down every time I fail. People are depending on me. They're depending on both of us!", the summoner added. This brought a smile from the disciple. "Yes! Yes, you're right, my lady. Absolutely right! Thank you so much, Lady Yuna! Now I feel I have the courage to finish my training", she said before she left the group.
"This has been a tiresome day...", the hunter noted as the group traveled onwards, noting the fact that the sun was beginning to set. "We rest here", Auron said calmly, pointing to a nearby building. "But, this is an Al Bhed shop!", Wakka argued, catching the red-robed man's attention. "Is that a problem?", he asked. "They don't believe in Yevon, and in Luca, they...", the blitzer began, though he paused, considering his next words. Jack had a feeling he knew what was to be said, though. "... they kidnapped Yuna!", Wakka finished. "And where were her guardians?", Auron asked. No one dared answer, though the blitzer and Lulu looked embarrassed at the question.
"Sir Auron's just concerned for your health", Yuna said. "I'm not tired one bit!", Wakka argued, looking smug. The hunter facepalmed, knowing the blitzer was lying. "Well, I am", the red-robed man said simply before walking into the shop. Everyone save for the hunter followed. He walked over to the edge of the cliffside, overlooking some distant ruins.
Some time later, Yuna walked out of the shop. She was surprised to see Jack still there, watching the sunset. Regardless, the summoner walked beside him. "It was a day like this...", the hunter began ominously. "Hmm?", Yuna asked, confused. "Alucard and I were still hunting down that dark cult, almost two weeks after the events that happened at my village. We finally managed to catch up to what we thought was the last of that cult. But... despite our haste, we were too late to stop their ritual...", Jack clarified. "Too late?", the summoner added. "Let me set the scene. A dark and foreboding tomb, hidden within an equally dark and foreboding forest...", the hunter began, remembering the events of that day, a week before he was forced into Spira.
It was, as Jack said, a dark and foreboding tomb, crawling with spiders, lizards, and other skittish creatures. Six members of the dark cult, clothed in purple robes with a green lining, stood by an altar at the end of the tomb. Each held a human heart in their right hands, waving it around the altar as they muttered infernal incantations. A seventh member of the cult, much in the same clothing as his comrades, stood guard at the tomb's entry, a sword in each of his hands. This member wore a dark smirk on his face as the incantations neared their end. Unfortunately for him, the ritual was about to be the last thing he'd ever see in his dark existence.
Suddenly, the door at the entryway to the tomb gave way to a strong kick, allowing sunlight to enter the tomb. The kicker was looking very furious, even as he swung a green chain whip with a silver blade, soundly decapitating the guard. Unfortunately for the whip's user and his pale comrade, the ritual was already complete, and the hearts exploded in the six cultists' hands, leaving blood stains in their wake. "Th-that whip! It's the Undead Killer!", one cultist fumed after the sight. "Impossible! The Morris can't have found us now!", another cultist added. "It matters not that he and the dhampir found us. They are too late", the leader of the six said before cackling in laughter as he began floating up into a green orb, conjuring up two smaller orbs at the same time.
"Your dark existence ends now", Jack said coldly at the cultists as he swung the Undead Killer at the first cultist that had spoken, giving him the same fate as the guard. Alucard, meanwhile, had taken to battling the leader cultist, delivering a slash to the orb with his heirloom sword. "So you are the one who was behind the attack on Veros", the dhampir said. "Yes. This world must be cleansed in the forge of chaos", the priest replied. "Why did you attack the village?", Alucard questioned as Jack hurled his wrecking ball, making short work of the other four cultists, with their bodies disintegrating into a bloody mess. "Most of the village's inhabitants were related to the accursed Belmont clan by blood. That blood is what will awaken our Master", the priest answered. "And what difference does it make that we're too late? Your Master will still fall", the hunter replied coldly.
"Will he indeed? We'll see what happens after I destroy your weak human souls!", the priest retorted as his two orbs now had a blue and orange glow, before he willed them to rush at the duo. They easily evaded the attempt, though, and rushed at their opponent, their weapons poised for the kill. "Chant of Fire!", the priest shouted, and suddenly, the two small orbs now were enveloped in flames before rushing at the hunters. Alucard could not manage to avoid getting burnt, but Jack successfully dodged the orb that came his way, and swung his whip at the priest, hitting the orb soundly enough to crack it slightly.
"It will take more than that to end me, hunter", he said. The priest did not, however, realize that the dhampir had recovered from his burns, and teleported behind him to deliver two swift strikes until it was too late. And it cost him the rest of his vitality. "Ugh... no!", the priest shouted. "You've sided with the darkness, priest. Crawl back to it and dwell there for all eternity", the hunter said bitterly. A weak chuckle was heard from the duo's opponent. "I die victorious... Castlevania rises, even now! May its master purge the world in flames!", were his last words before he gave a scream of agony as his orb burned with the fires of the underworld.
Immediately afterwards, the ground shook, and the sunlight that entered the tomb faded away, replaced by darkness. "Accursed...", Jack began cursing as he struggled to maintain his balance. "It's not over yet, Morris", Alucard added before the two began exiting the tomb. Sure enough, when the two exited minutes later, beyond the nearby cliffside was a dark and foreboding castle that was most definitely not there when they arrived. A horde of bats were seen rushing towards what appeared to be the throne room of the structure.
"Castlevania...", the hunter muttered under his breath. The duo's already arduous quest had just become even more so with the appearance of the creature of Chaos that served as Dracula's lair. "Morris, do you still have the Vampire Killer?", Alucard asked. "Yeah. Let's go. If anyone can send it back to the darkness, it'll be the two of us. That much, my family would have wanted...", Jack answered. The dhampir gave a nod of agreement before the duo ran for Castlevania itself.
"And there you have it. How Castlevania appeared once again. At least, for the next few hours or so, before that goddamned bathead was defeated", Jack said, though he put emphasis on the words he used to insult the master of Castlevania. Yuna gasped softly before covering her mouth with her left hand. She never heard such words from him. The hunter winced slightly upon seeing this. He had a feeling he understood the reason for this. "Sorry...", he added. "It's alright... I'm just not used to hearing words like that...", the summoner replied. Jack nodded in agreement. Were it not for the madness he had gone through, he probably wouldn't have considered cursing in the first place.
"This... Vampire Killer... do you still have it with you?", Yuna asked. The hunter nodded before reaching into a cleverly hidden pocket in his tailcoat and brought out the Vampire Killer for the summoner to see. "Though the Vampire Killer is vital to the destruction of vampires and all related to them, I do not use it for anything more than that", he said. "Why not?", Yuna added. Jack sighed sadly at this. "Each use of the Vampire Killer's true power takes its toll on one who is not of the proper clan of vampire hunters. It is an irreversible cost of life for me. If I overuse it... Death claims me...", he answered, simple yet solemn.
"Gone...?", the summoner asked. A sad nod from the hunter confirmed whatever suspicions she had. "Just like my great-great-great-grandfather. That was how vampire hunters learned of this fact at the time", he replied. Yuna looked shocked at this revelation, to say the least. "I'm sorry...", she offered as her apology. "It's alright, Yuna. Had we not known, the Morris clan would be gone now. It is because of that reason that the Morris clan made it a point to use other weapons", Jack replied gratefully. Silence followed as the hunter gazed to the sunset.
"Well, I should go and get some rest while I have the chance. I'll see you in the morning", he added in response as he turned to walk towards the Al Bhed shop. "Night", Yuna called out as she sat down on the ground, facing the sunset. "Night", was Jack's reply as he entered the Al Bhed shop to call it a day. Whatever thoughts that the hunter was in, he was brought out of them by a sudden but light tug on his cloak. Looking around, he saw Auron. For a minute or so, silence ensued, making Jack irritatingly uncomfortable.
"So Alucard was right about you...", the red-robed man said finally. "You didn't believe him at first, either?", the hunter asked. Auron gave a small chuckle at this. "No. But Lord Braska did. Which was why he asked Alucard to accompany him as a guardian, like Jecht. He wished to help the two find their way back to their respective worlds", he replied calmly. Jack couldn't help but give a small smile. That was certainly Alucard, alright. Even if he was in a different world, his goal would remain relatively the same; ensure the triumph of humanity over the evils that dared threaten it, all for the sake of a promise he made to his mother. It would only be fitting that the dhampir would protect Lord Braska.
"If Alucard was here before... why couldn't Sin just take him instead of me?", the hunter asked, getting to the point. "Alucard made a promise to Jecht. He promised that if aid was needed, that you would be the one able to give it", the red-robed man answered calmly. "A promise to Jecht?", Jack questioned. Auron nodded at this. "You saw a man on your way to Spira, correct?", he asked. The hunter nodded quickly at this, remembering the man he met inside the being that was called Sin. That was when a sudden realization hit him. If what the man in question had told him was true...
"No... you don't mean...", Jack began saying. "Yes. Sin is Jecht", the red-robed man finished for him, still strikingly calm. "Isn't he Tidus' father as well?", the hunter added. Auron nodded at this. "He is", he said, softer this time. Jack could do little more than nod sadly at this. So it was true, after all. Not only was the man inside Sin seeking a merciful end, but he was none other than Jecht himself. "Does Tidus know of this as well?", the hunter asked. Again, the red-robed man nodded. Jack lowered his gaze sadly. "And what about me? Will I find a way back home with Sin's defeat?", he dared wonder out loud. "That's up to the Fayth", Auron answered.
The hunter just stared at the red-robed man for a moment or so, confused. "What business would the Fayth have with me?", Jack asked. "Can't say. All I know is that the Fayth wish to ease your torment", was Auron's reply. The hunter could do little more than nod sadly at this, seemingly satisfied with that answer. After all, he could safely say that he had fought his way through horrors worse than most other vampire hunters had to over the course of time. "You will know when the time comes", the red-robed man added softly before he left the room.
"Well, I got the answer I was looking for.
The Fayth alone had a say on whether I went home or not.
This, of course, did not leave much happiness in me.
And it was obvious. It concerned the friends I had with me.
They were constantly prying as to what ailed me.
Auron requested that I be left alone for a while.
I can't say I'd blame my friends for wanting to help me.
Any human, vampire hunter or not, would have wanted to help me through this, even to the bitter end"
A.N: Yeah... sorry if the chapter feels rather short compared to the last couple or so. Also, no, that priest is not the hilariously named one. That guy gets six small orbs. Think of this one as a completely inferior descendent who just so happened to be the best candidate for leadership among that small number. That'll be my explanation for why even he fell so easily to the might of Alucard and the O.C. I'm STILL wondering where Konami got the name from for the aforementioned priest's predecessor, BTW.
Sidenote: Yes, the O.C did, shortly prior to what happened in his backstory, unlock the power of the Vampire Killer. One thing he'd advise any sensible human to do, though? Don't screw around with the memory of the Belmont he fought. People who know the plot of Aria of Sorrow will know exactly who I'm talking about. The O.C wasn't kidding, though... if he overuses the Vampire Killer, he's dead. That shall serve as an explanation for why he hasn't used it at all in Spira, despite it being within that cleverly hidden tailcoat pocket.
Anyways, don't be too shy to let me know how well I'm doing thus far in a review. All it costs is time. Or, at least, that's how it would work for me. Not sure about you guys though... *stands up menacingly* But enough talk... See you in the next chapter! *teleports into the background, laughing evilly*