Chapter CLXXVIII: Anxiety, Light Within The Darkness, Trapped In Slumber
Return To The Radiant Gardens Part XX
Walking forwards brimming with excitement, Yuffie could hardly contain herself as she said aloud, "wow! I can't wait to get a look at this summoning zone those guys have made!"
Nodding as she heard this sentence, Aerith smiled as she said, "yes! I'm looking forward to it too!"
As he heard this sentence, leading the troupe was none other than Scrooge who'd gone to fetch them personally from Cid's workshop as he told them all, "as you should be lass! Merlin, Shirma and Alania there put a lot of work into it!"
Leon hearing this though was far from encouraging Scrooge to go on, since he'd practically heard the same speech nearly ten times already! However he was still pleasantly curious so he made a simple statement, "well we better move it and get going! We don't wanna keep those guys waiting forever."
Agreeing immediately with him, Scrooge waved his black walking cane around as he told him, "right you are lad! Right you are!" With that the wealthy business enterprising duck strode on as he declared further pointing forwards, "let's proceed!"
With that everyone walked on towards the doors of the Fountain Courtyards, as they got closer and closer there was a clear happy eagerness amongst everyone until-
"AAAAAAGGGGGHHHH!"
As these loud screams and cries filled the air, immediately all of the members of the Restoration Committee were on high alert as Scrooge cried out, "what the!? What the bloomin' heck is happenin here!?"
Quickly taking out his gunblade, Leon responded with fierce determination, "I don't know!" Then running to the doors he moved fast as he concluded, "but we're gonna find out!" With that the strong warrior kicked the doors open!
Doing this immediately strong winds of darkness blasted through the opened doors! As this happened everyone had to put up their arms to protect themselves from the terrible gusts!
Yuffie doing her best to push forwards past this horrible storm cried out, "what is this!? What's with all that darkness!"
Aerith protecting herself as best as she could too responded quickly, "I've no idea, but-!" With that quickly she drew out her long silver staff! Doing this she then walked forwards as calmly as she could as she then declared, "I'll shed some light on the situation!"
Surprised as she walked forwards Yuffie quickly cried out, "Aerith!?"
Quickly though the white mage uttered her magical incantations and as she did this, suddenly from within her staff came a glowing white spell! Immediately concentrating hard she focused the shining light to go forwards and enter the centre of the black abyss, as she did this she cried out, "Clearaga!"
Immediately the white light divided into four pillars and quickly made shining beacons within the swarming darkness, illuminating the entire scene! As this happened, Yuffie was amazed to see Aerith's powerful magic again in so long as she uttered, "wow!"
Though looking quickly within the darkness, the white mage located what it was that was causing this ensuing chaos! Immediately she cried out pointing forwards, "Leon! Yuffie! There!"
Hearing this quickly both of her fellow members looked to where she was pointing to, there they saw in the darkness four glimmering shapes that swarmed sinisterly against the light of the spell.
Quickly the two of them realised that these were the targets that they needed to remove! So without another word needed to be said, both ninja and warrior nodded to each other and moved forwards fast!
Moving against the dark gusts that were trying to force them all back, Yuffie quickly took out her giant ninja star and quickly threw it forwards! Doing this the fast destructive weapon glowed brightly in the darkness and struck two of the glimmering shapes in seconds disintegrating them in seconds!
Then acting too, Leon with his gunblade in his right hand ran forwards and quickly making it to his first target he disintegrated in seconds with a fast spinning strike! As he finished this, he turned again and with his other hand he unleashed a fire blast from his other opened palm! As he did this, immediately the spell flew forwards and struck the last of the glimmering shapes. Destroying it in seconds!
Then at once as the two warriors finished their fast attacks, immediately the four swarming dark crystals that had created the blanket of shadows were destroyed and with the help of the illuminating 'Clearaga' spell the light was restored to the Courtyards!
Running in quickly highly anxious Scrooge looked around himself to see the devastation that had occurred! It was terrible, everywhere left and right the entire space was littered with debris from glittering decorations, flowers were strewn about! The summon beasts were all gone! And there-
"Lads!" For there lying across the floor of the Courtyards left and right were people all painfully unconscious strewn upon the bricked floor! Seeing them quickly the wealthy duck ran forwards to assist them!
Seeing him go, immediately with worry Leon and Yuffie followed after him! Then getting the attention of her friend the great ninja cried out, "Aerith!"
Hearing her quickly, the experienced white mage cried out,"right yes! I'm coming!" With that she ran forwards to assist her friends and to heal all those who'd been exposed to that storm of darkness...
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"Urgh...!" Aching horribly all over, a pair of light blue eyes opened finally after what seemed like forever. However the only thing that met his gaze, was nothing but pitch black darkness... "this is...?" Confused as he got up, he shook his head as he held his face in his palm, trying to get some memory back about what had happened to him.
As he concentrated hard trying to get an image back into his mind, quickly one flash fiercely came forth! There he could see her, reaching out desperately trying to pull him out of the darkness as she shouted out his name loudly, "RIKU!"
Immediately he cried out her name too as he remembered with rising terror in himself, "Nozomi!?" Quickly getting up properly he looked around himself to try and see anything, anyone! But there was nothing, nothing but endless darkness!
This couldn't be! Shaking his head he then cried out loudly, "Nozomi! Mickey! Cait sith! Everyone!" However there was no response to his shouts!
Feeling dread about his situation, Riku though wasn't going to give in to despair as he said aloud, "there's got to be someone! Anyone in here!..." Looking around himself and still seeing the endless darkness that was around him, it seemed like he was entirely alone in that space...
But he knew inside there was only one thing for it. "I've got to find them!" With that he ran forwards and entered deeper into the darkness! As he ran he whispered desperately, "everyone!" Then seeing her worried face again in his mind, Riku whispered desperately, "Nozomi! Please be safe!" With that he went to find them all!
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Wincing in pain as her unconsciousness began to awaken itself, Oralee asked confused, "what just...?"
Hearing her speak, Aerith was relieved as she asked her kindly, "looks like you're back with us aren't you?"
Seeing the white mage before her, Oralee was confused as she asked her, "Aerith? Why are you-?" Then as she moved suddenly she remembered everything in a flash! Everyone being consumed into the darkness! The screams and the cries and-
"Everyone!? Is everyone all right!? Are they all-"
"Most of us are okay... for the most part."
A voice spoke interrupting her as she began to ask, turning curious. It was then that Oralee saw him, her eyes widened as she cried out, "Snow!?"
For there indeed before her was the commander of the 'ARCS'' alive and well. Though he looked a little disheveled due to the violent dark winds they'd all been exposed to.
Hearing her say his name, despite the situation the brave man revealed a small smile to her as he said, "hey Oralee!"
Seeing him made her smile grateful, looking around herself though she quickly asked as she realised, "where's Cait sith!? Nozomi! Riku and Mickey!? Where have they-"
Then walking over it was then that Musashi came forth as he said looking depressed about the situation, "it looks like them dudes have been absorbed into Bebuzzu's and Irma's trap again!"
At this one word, Oralee asked with terrible concern, "absorbed?"
Nodding Musashi then told her further depressed, "yeah and not just them, some of our dudes have been taken in with them!"
Oralee hearing this was shocked as she asked, "they have? Who!"
Hearing the concern in her voice, Snow decided to tell her what he knew, "from what we can figure out so far, it seems Juan, Hana along with Alania have gone... plus it looks like Sazh, Vincent, Lightning and Hope have been snatched up too!"
Nodding as his commander said this, Musashi then said aloud, "yeah... right into that yellow shining summon gem that Merlin created, though it's not exactly shining anymore now."
Oralee was horrified to know this! They were trapped again in that terrible dark space once more and now she along with her fellow remaining 'ARCS' couldn't do anything for them stuck out here.
It was then another voice spoke up with his own outrage, "those crooks took us by total surprise! Those underhanded dastards!" It was Bonkers who was speaking as he shook his black baton to and throw in his right hand mad. Then turning to his ever as faithful pal and ride he asked him, "right Coco?"
Immediately the small yellow bird agreed with him as he cried out, "Kweh!"
Oralee though hearing this didn't respond as she was full of terrible dread as she thought more of the others and what they were all going through... quiet for a few moments she tried to think of something. Anything at all she might be able to do to help!
Then suddenly it came to her, turning quickly she asked, "how about Merlin? Do you think he might be able to do anything for the others at all?"
At her urgent question it was then that Aerith spoke up as she told the blonde girl gently, "he's attending to the crystal right now... but I don't know if he's made any progress with it as of yet."
Hearing this from the calm and kind white mage, Oralee bowed her head as she replied simply, "I see..." then she made her decision as she quickly got up and said, "I'll go and see if I can help!" With that she walked forwards to see if there was something she could do.
As she went Musashi had to turn to his commander as he asked him, "do you think there is something she can do to help out Snow dude?"
Sighing as he heard him ask this, Snow answered him truthfully, "I don't know Musashi, but if there is something she can do, it'll be more than what we can at this moment."
Hearing this all Musashi could do was nod silently in agreement, for inside he hated that he'd been unable to stop what had happened and most of all this feeling of helpless. As at that moment he couldn't do anything for his friends.
Bonkers seeing Oralee go decided that he'd follow after her with Coco to see what she would do for Captain Merlin, so quietly he made his friend go forwards to see what the blonde haired girl would do.
As Oralee walked forwards, she saw ahead of her Merlin crouching over the darkened crystal that was within his lap. Beside him was Shirma who was staring down at the crystal with pure worry in her eyes along with Scrooge who too was looking on uneasy.
Then before the two of them, the princess of Alexandra came before Serah who was busy trying to comfort Dajh who was upset at the vanishing of his father. Looking at the two of them, Oralee was quiet as she heard the small boy cry as he held onto her friend fast.
Looking down to him, Serah was doing her best to soothe the boy as she told him, "Dajh! It'll be okay! I'm sure your dad's fine, please don't cry..."
However hearing her, it wasn't coming calming Dajh down. Though he knew inside Oralee meant well and that is his dad would want him to be strong, he couldn't help but cry as he shook his head and held Serah all the more tightly. He then cried out, "Dad! I want Dad! I want him to be okay! I want..." But he continue as he shivered and continued to cry.
Seeing this Oralee felt a terrible pain in her heart as she gazed at them. She wished there was something she could do to soothe Dajh, but she knew at that moment Serah would be able to more than her. So walking past them she made it over to Leon and Yuffie, as she did she decided to ask them, "has Merlin made any progress at all?"
Turning as she heard her, Yuffie said at first with a small smile, "oh hey Oralee!" Then turning back to look at Merlin she told the blonde haired girl, "well we've been waiting here for a good while, but I'd say old Merl's really struggling there!"
As the brave female ninja said this, Oralee asked, "he is?"
Nodding the stoic gunblader told the girl, "yeah, it looks like it," then turning to look at Oralee he told her further, "from what I've heard, he says he can't locate the others within the realms of the crystal... if they're there at all."
Oralee hearing this was feeling more dread inside as she said, "that's terrible.
"It is," he said as he agreed with her, then turning back to look at Merlin he couldn't help but voice his further pessmistic thoughts,"it might be this time that this situation could be beyond Merlin's magic to solve."
However hearing this negativity, Bonkers was not impressed as he complained, "hey Leon! Don't be sayin' stuff like that! Captian Merlin can solve anything if ya give him the time to!"
Immediately as he said this Coco then cried out too feeling the same as his pal, "Kweh!"
Hearing the two of them say this, Leon had to tell the small bobcat and chocobo, "I'm not losing faith in him Bonkers, I'm just stating the facts of the situation... that's all, there's no point of fooling ourselves into believing otherwise about what reality might have in store for us."
As he said this, Bonkers couldn't argue with the brave warrior about it... though inside he desperately wished he could, even he was beginning to feel real dread about this situation.
Oralee though wasn't going to give up just yet, so walking past Leon and Yuffie she began to make her way over to where Merlin was concentrating his efforts upon the crystal.
Meanwhile watching beside him, Shirma saw the difficulty Merlin was having with his concentration as he was desperately searching for any traces of their lost friends. The young white mage was desperate with worry for all of them, but in particular she was worried for her adopted sister Alania as was Scrooge who was beside her.
Having being silent all this time, it was then the white mage decided to ask, "have you found anything Merlin?"
Hearing her question, it was then that finally the aged magican had to cease for a moment. Turning to look at the pink haired girl he had to shake his head sadly as he told her, "I'm afraid not lass... I can't seem to find anything of them!"
As she heard this said, Shirma was filled with terrible anxiousness as she said looking terribly upset, "oh no..."
Scrooge though didn't want to give up so easily, so he asked the master wizard, "oh c'mon there Merlin! Ya've gotta be able to make contact with one of them lads in there! I know for a fact that me Alania and that lot are strong un's! There's no way they'd-"
"There's nothing I can do!" Merlin spoke up stopping the wealthy duck in his tracks. As he paused for a moment he then told them both, though with obvious reluctance, "there's too much darkness in this crystal for me to make head's or tails of anywhere or anyone in it!"
As Shirma heard him say this, "you can't see anything in that darkness?"
Depressed Merlin had to admit, "I'm afraid so lass! It's like trying to go through a pea thick fog with no lighthouse to guide you... I mean I could have happened upon any one of the lads and just skimmed right over them!"
Shirma hearing this was feeling more despair building inside of her by the minute! She then couldn't help but voice her thoughts, "then everyone will... oh no...!"
All that Merlin could do in response was bow his head sadly... for it really felt like there was nothing he could do then...
However irritated Scrooge spoke up again as he said, "well do somethin' then Merlin! Yer supposed to be the world's most powerful wizard! So whip a magic spell or somethin to-"
"It's not as simple as that!" Merlin countered back angrily, "I can't go uttering a spell if I don't find the right location to target it! If I do that then I'll be wasting valuable time and magic which could spell the end for all our lad's!"
Then looking he saw everyone within the Courtyards was looking at him with shocked and pained eyes. Feeling this terrible dread continue to boil over inside of himself, he then lamented as he admitted to everyone present, "... if I could just find some way to see through that darkness then I could maybe do something for them all, but with-"
It was then that Oralee came over finally as she told the ageing magician, "Merlin? If you need a way to see through that darkness... maybe I could be of assistance to you?"
Hearing Oralee say this with surprise, Merlin asked her,"you lass? You think you can see through it?"
As she heard this question, Oralee bowed her head as she replied, "yes... I believe I might," then approaching closer to him, she asked the magician politely, "would you mind if I try to?"
Listening to her request, Merlin had no reason to refuse her. Though he was uncertain if she could really do anything on her own. However he decided to invest some belief in her, so handing over the darkened crystal that was in his hand he told her, "if you believe you can do something lass, then by all means please try."
Bowing her head once more as she heard these words, Oralee then told him, "I will..." with that she took the crystal from Merlin's hand and kneeling down she held it close to her chest...
As she did this, Merlin moved across and away from her to give her a little space, however curious Bonkers and Coco approached the girl and watched her quietly as she set about to find the others within the crystal.
Continuing to hold the once magical darkened item in both of her hands, Oralee whispered with gentle urgency, "everyone... Nozomi, Cait sith... please! Let me find you!" With that as she whispered these words, her body began to glow with a soft pink light.
Seeing this happen Bonkers was amazed as he stared at the blonde haired girl, he couldn't help but whisper in curious wonder, "Oralee... are ya?"
However she didn't hear the small bobcat ask her as she concentrated her power into finding those dearest to her within the realms of that terrible darkness...
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As Riku ran onwards and onwards without stopping, it felt like this darkness around him would never vanish! Gasping as he stopped himself for a moment to recover some of his energy, he felt horribly drained inside... he hadn't found anyone in all this darkness!
Nothing inside of this terrible environment had changed even once! He also couldn't tell if he'd made any progress in this place... it felt like he was lost within purgatory! As he stopped trying to get his breath back, he couldn't help but ask, "did I even end up in the same place as the others?"
For if he hadn't found any trace of them so far... how could he be certain that they were even here? If they weren't, could it mean he'd been swallowed up permanently into this darkness? Would he be lost forever?
As his doubts began to swell more and more inside of him along with the fear, the darkness around him began to feel more and more terrible. Looking at himself, he then saw that he was beginning to lose sight of even himself! His own image was beginning to vanish in this abyss!
Feeling this happen he spoke aloud with terror beginning to rise up inside of him, "oh no!" Then as his hand began to fade away into nothing he cried out, "no!" With that he tried to move! But then he found he couldn't even do that anymore! He was frozen stiff!
Trying to keep calm as well as keep a grasp of his own existence, he held his fist tightly trying to pressure himself into remembering himself as he struggled desperatley to move. He wasn't going to lose to the darkness within this space!
However it was no use as his entire being was becoming more and more enshrouded in shadows! He couldn't weaken! He couldn't be defeated! He couldn't-
But it was no use, it was covering him more and more, smothering him to the point where even his eyes were beginning to lose their light. As the cold of it pierced his very centre he whispered almost fearfully, "I can't..."
However he couldn't say anymore as then the darkness completely overwhelmed him... it was all over...
"RIKU! DON'T FALL INTO IT!"
Then suddenly his eyes opened widely as he heard a voice, he thought he recognised it!
"DON'T... DON'T GIVE INTO THE DARKNESS! PLEASE!"
Again he heard it and quickly he cried out as he felt himself once more, "Nozomi!"
Then as he cried out her name, his entire being was bathed in a pale blue light! Immediately as this happened the shadows that all had come across him dispersed and fled away quickly!
Gasping he could feel himself again as his warmth quickly returned to his skin as the light died away, Riku looked around himself in shock as he asked almost breathless, "Nozomi!?" However he couldn't see her! He quickly cried out again, "Nozomi!"
Quickly though a different voice responded as she cried out, "Riku! Can you hear me!?"
Hearing it the white haired keyblader was startled, quickly he cried out, "Oralee?" Then shouting once more as though he might not be able to hear her again he shouted out to her, "Oralee is that you!?"
At once a relieved happy response quickly came, "Riku it is you! Oh thank goodness!"
Feeling glad at once to know he wasn't alone, Riku cried out to her, "Oralee! What's happening here!? Where are you!? Where is everyone!?"
Immediately Oralee told him, "I don't know! I'm putting a trace on everyone right at this moment and I'm trying to find them! You're the first I've been able to locate so far! Are you alright!?"
Hearing her ask this, the white haired keyblader immediately replied, "yeah I'm fine! I was almost swallowed up before! If I hadn't heard her voice then-"
As he paused Oralee became worried about him as she asked, "Riku? Is something wrong?"
The white haired keyblader was quiet... had he really heard her? Had he heard her voice? He immediately decided to ask her, "Oralee, have you spotted Nozomi? Is she near me right now?"
At this question, the blonde haired girl became quiet and then after a moment she answered him as she said, "no I'm afraid not, she's nowhere near you... as I've said you're the first person I've found so far."
Saddened as he heard this, the white keyblader then replied to her, "I see..."
Then as he said that another voice chipped in from above, "Riku lad!? Is that really you there?!"
Recognising it immediately he responded to it, "Merlin! You can hear me too?!"
Quickly the aged magician told him, "aye lad I can! And may I tell you it's a good thing too!"
Smiling as he heard this, Riku couldn't help but admit the same as he told him, "yeah it's good for me too!" Then quickly he decided to ask him, "so what's going on here!? Is it the same premise as last time? Are there four sealing points that need to be unlocked again?"
The master wizard then told him, "aye lad! It'll be exactly like last time, though it looks like Irma's upped her game since the other incident so I have no idea where you should go to begin looking for them! But rest assured, you'll definitely find something if you keep looking!"
Nodding as he heard this, Riku knew time was of the essence and so he agreed with the ageing wizard as he made his reply, "all right I will! I'll keep looking!" Then he had to add before he stared running again, "just please tell me when you find anyone else! I want to know that they're all safe!"
Immediately Merlin agreed as he told him, "don't you worry lad! We will! Just keep a vigil while you go! Cause you don't know what Irma's got laid out for ya!"
Riku then confirmed this as he replied, "don't worry I will! She won't get me a second time!"
Then before the ageing magician or Oralee could ask him what he meant, the reinvigorated keyblader told his onlooking friends, "I'll find the others just you wait!" With that he was on his way as dived deeper into the darkness!
As he ran on he felt comforted despite the terribly shadowed environment he was in, for he was now no longer alone. However as he ran on, he wondered to himself. Did he really hear her? Did Nozomi's voice pull him out of the darkness?
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"Tch!" An annoyed voice spoke as he saw from the depths of his viewing orb that his use of shadows hadn't worked... he was sure for this time he'd have him! That guy was proving to be more difficult than he thought to dispose of!
It was then a smug voice spoke as she said, "looks like not all your little tricks play out as you'd like them to, do they?"
Turning as he heard her, Uriax turned to Irma and her cohorts who surrounded her. As he looked at them all it was clear he was far from impressed from her choice of words.
However Irma herself wasn't going to be intimidated by this guy anymore as she told him, "well since we got this party started for your as per your instructions like you wanted, I believe it's about time you tell me how to unlock the secrets of Bebuzzu, like you promised."
Silent as he heard this, Uriax said nothing... there was silence amongst everyone, when-
"Riku!"
Suddenly turning it was then that everyone looked to Nozomi, she was unconscious as she lay upon a floating flat platform that was serving as a bed. She was pained as she tossed and turned, wincing seemingly in pain as cried out again, "Riku! Don't fall into it! Don't... don't give in to darkness! Please!"
Above her circling worriedly as he stared at her was Peter the black and white baby pegasus, he neighed as he tried to comfort the sleeping girl as best he could, nuzzling into her gently.
Seeing and hearing her say this, Uriax clearly was not pleased. However instead of doing something aggressive as Irma and her troupe would have guessed him to do. All he did was simply walk forwards to her and utter a silent spell which glittered over her entire being as his hand hovered over her. In moments her twisting and turning ceased as she relaxed almost instantly into a peaceful slumber again...
As this occurred there was silence in the room as they all saw this scene. However looking on, it was then that Peekaboo couldn't help but whisper to his fellow accomplice as he saw Uriax staring down at her ever so gently, "looks like he's really got a thing for that girl huh?"
Though usually in most circumstances, Greeble would be far from indulging in this kind of conversation he couldn't help but agree with him as he replied, "yeah! It sure looks like it!"
Then as these words were said, Uriax turned to them all again making both chocobo's shut up in seconds! As he did this, he told the dark sorceress and her rabble, "you wanna know the secrets of this book of darkness that badly?"
Irritated by this question, Irma then told him bluntly, "duh! Of course you idiot! What do you think we're all doing here in the first place?!"
Uriax hearing this and seeing her impatience could see clearly why she'd never got the book's core dark details on her own. Smirking as he realised this he told her, "alright then... I'll tell you what you need to do and when I do, I can guarantee you guys will be able to have all the fun you'll ever want!"
Irma herself was now more pleased than ever that thing's were finally going her way as she told him with a grin on her face, "oh goody, let's hear it then!"
Volg beside her felt a terrible uncertainty about this... for though he was glad his lady's wishes were gonna come true, there was this terrible nagging sensation inside of him. For clearly there was something about this Uriax guy that couldn't be trusted!
Gandrake though listening on having being quiet for the most part turned back to look at Nozomi curiously again, as he did this for a moment he thought he saw a pale blue light glow around her body for the briefest of moments. But it quickly faded away, as it did he wondered to himself... did he imagine it?
However he paid no heed to it as he listened intently to Uriax's words at how to control the powers of the dark tome and as he listened on. Nozomi still upon her platform bed continued to sleep, trapped within the deepest recesses of her unconsciousness with Peter beside her worrying sadly for her... for now within this realm of darkness what was to become of her and her lost friends?