Chapter 31

A Dagger to her Heart

After striking down Raijin, Tyris cleared the scene before the arrival of her mother. She became concealed within in a mass of ordinary combatants, of which she was quickly assailed. She did not know whether Pandemonium could sense her GFs, but she refrained from drawing on their power either way.

After a time, Tyris found her way back to weapons. Disposing of the soiled katana, she took her extendable spear. As the spear itself was a distinguishing mark, she replaced it at her lower back and drew her reattached gladiuses. As soon as Tyris had sufficient opportunity, she removed her officer's armour, in addition to the knee and elbow cops, leaving her more vulnerable but less identifiable.

When she reached out to Quetzalcoatl within her mind, she found that unlike Ramuh, the Feathered Snake communicated only with images and sensations. Perhaps this was why Raijin had not been alerted to her identity in the midst of their duel. However, he seemed to understand how sorry she was about killing Raijin, whom he had been paired with for over twenty years. Tyris learned that a teenage Raijin had encountered Quetzal while exploring his native Grandidi on leave, and the GF had junctioned with the robust cadet upon sensing Raijin's affinity for the lightning element. Impressed with Raijin's feat, Headmaster Cid had allowed him to keep the GF.

Avoiding conflict wherever she could, Tyris reluctantly cut down several Galbadian light infantry that rushed her. She granted any maimed or mortally wounded soldiers she passed a merciful end, indifferent to their nationality. She also killed any Esthar soldiers that mistook her for a plain-clothed SeeD or Garland. Eventually, she heard Esthar call for a retreat, and although pockets of fighting subsisted for some time, Tyris joined a large contingent of her own troops as they moved south.

Hundreds of thousands were strewn lifelessly over the plains, with just as many incapacitated, left to slowly turn the earth crimson. There was no desire on either side to recover the bodies. Anyone who could not march was left behind. With the stakes so high, no time could be spared for them.

Is this what I have been waiting for? Tyris thought to Ramuh. Did Galbadia win? Do the enemies of the Empire have a chance?

I believe so, Ramuh replied. This was a turning point in the conflict. All the free Guardian Forces have remained at liberty. Leviathan is now free, too.

Leviathan! How?

I do not know, but he has reached out to us. He shifted the tide of the sea battle, buying retreat for the western ships. We will see him at the city, once he has recovered his power.

Tyris felt some measure of happiness. The moment she had waited so long for was finally within sight.

She let Ramuh lead her in the direction of Selena, rather than Zebalga. It took some time to reach the friend she was soon to betray. The Colonel was taken aback at Tyris' appearance, with her armour and headgear gone, and her bodysuit smeared with dirt and blood.

'Lieutenant Pandemona!' Selena barked, as the Colonel was in the presence of her blood-drunk subordinates and was determined to keep order. 'Are you fit to march with us on the capital?'

'Certainly, ma'am!'

'Leave us!' Selena ordered to the nearby grunts. When they were alone, Selena said. 'I encountered your parents!'

Tyris hesitated, ensuring that her voice was deadpan. 'They're dead to me, Selena. I couldn't care less. I slew my uncle Raijin in single combat and his GF joined me willingly.'

Selena nodded. 'I knew that could only be you! Their GFs sensed Raijin's end; Fujin took off in hopes of saving him! You probably saved my life, in all honesty. Your father's reputation in battle is well earned! We fought each other to a draw, the energy of our GFs completely expended! When the horns sounded, we agreed to settle it at the city.'

'The Bloodhound deserves to die,' Tyris replied coldly. 'He should have been executed after the last war. You have my blessing, Selena.'

'The Empress wants your brother killed, Tyris,' Selena informed her. 'I learnt this from Zebalga.'

Tyris said nothing for a moment, having no idea why this could be.

'He was born after I was taken,' she replied. 'While I can hope that he will never experience what I went through, it will be out of my hands following our victory. Ifrit means nothing to me. I have never seen him, and if I were to happen upon him, I would not know him from another child.'

Selena's expression changed. 'That reminds me. Your father claimed that the Empress commanded him to cause the Lunar Cry!'

Tyris thought for a moment. 'Perhaps she did. It would have been harder for her to seize power in Esthar before it.' Wanting to change the subject, Tyris asked, 'Why have we retreated?'

'The Guardian of Trabia has been freed, and Zebalga was almost surrounded! Most of our Lunar units and cyborgs are lost! The westerners lost the Torama Fang in addition to Raijin, but Cerberus reportedly found a new summoner and the Tonberry King reappeared, too! We still outnumber the Galbadians, though we need to regroup before marching on the capital!'

'And the sea battle?'

'They laid a trap for the Empress but were unsuccessful. Somehow, Leviathan was freed, buying passage for the westerners to flee to shore. Ramius informed us that the Empress engaged the Lionheart.' Selena paused. 'The westerners have docked and fall back to Galbadia City as we speak. We have already established a beachhead.'

Tyris nodded wordlessly.

'What happened to Hikaru?' Selena asked,

Tyris was well prepared. 'You've seen what happened. We survived Eden's attack, but only because we were near the rear. We hid within the canyon, not emerging until much later,' she lingered. 'As you know, her people still follow that archaic code of honour. Shamed in defeat, she cast away her magicite and threw herself back into the canyon.'

Selena seemed to take it at face value. 'Her shame would have been astronomical. She knew that she would never see Mitsuhide or her children again.'

'May she be at peace, now,' Tyris said truthfully. 'Allow me to get some new armour, Selena. I'm ready to face Seifer and Fujin!'

Thalassa and Raine had been tiring at the head of the Garlands, their GFs energy gradually waning as the hours crept by. The Garlands knew this and had rallied behind them when they were met by the last of the iron giants, Ballad standing between the two young women when Gilgamesh leapt at the nearest.

'Stand with the SeeDs!' Ballad cried. 'One last wave, Garland! We can do this!'

When they were almost within range of their enormous swords, Ballad started to glow with a red and silver light. He looked down at his short swords. One glowed crimson, the other resonated a bright silver.

'It's Cerberus!' Siegfried realised.

'The Gatekeeper has honoured your pact!' Nadia called. 'Crush them, Ballad!'

Ballad pointed his swords at the nearest two giants before they could reach the occupied Gilgamesh, and two beams shot out, obliterating their chest plates and knocking them off their feet. The Garland leader darted forward with mutant speed, easily rolling beneath the blade of another giant and bringing both swords around deep between its greave and sabaton. It toppled, and the rest of the Garlands began chanting Ballad's name fervently.

They all surged forward, surrounding the rest of the iron giants, giving wide openings for their leader. Gilgamesh, triumphant over the first iron giant, was standing proudly with his feet on its chest. The outworlder turned to the exhausted SeeDs.

'Come on, ladies! We can't have him stealing our glory!'

Thalassa was relieved when she heard Esthar's horns of retreat a minute later. Looking around for Gerra, she found the bloodied former Knight walking with an equally red-smeared Damian. Without the energy to run, she waited for Gerra to reach her and wrapped her arms him.

'I think you did it,' she whispered in his ear. 'You've changed things.'

Gerra brought his free hand around her. 'It's not over yet,' he whispered back. 'We still have to defeat her.'

Raine was hanging back with a haunted expression. When Damian had approached her with a broad grin and open arms, she shook her head, pointing in the direction of Ballad.

'You know what this means, Damian! Xu must be dead!'

Thalassa had not made the connection in her exhaustion, instead having been relieved that the Gatekeeper had come to their aid, and suddenly looked shell-shocked.

'No!' she whispered.

The gleeful expression on Damian's face was lost, too.

'Ah, fuck!' he groaned. 'You're right!'

When they reached the Galbadian camp outside of the city, Colonel Wedge flagged them down from a makeshift conference table underneath a broad canopy. He was with General Biggs and a few other officers. Biggs was top-heavy and unhunched in middle age, still in great shape. He was now bald but with a grey handlebar moustache. Thalassa endured his firm handshake after giving a SeeD salute, having never met the General.

'You SeeDs have definitely earned your price!' Biggs said merrily. 'As has my entire army!'

Wedge laughed. 'I think our pay would be safe for six months, sir, if it were like the old days!'

Biggs suddenly looked haunted. 'Yeah, I made sure it's not like that anymore. And thank Hyne I did, demoted and divorced twice!'

He scratched his bald pate, and his expression became more serious as he looked among them.

'Now, it's with regret I must inform you all that Figaro was struck down by the Zebalgan.' They were prepared for the blow. 'The Torama Fang was a fine soldier,' Biggs added, 'and Balamb has lost another national hero.'

'One of your other GF bearers was killed, too,' Wedge informed them. 'I met him in the last war, one of the Bloodhound's buddies. We didn't hire him; he was freely fighting with us. Raijin, I believe.'

Raine gasped. Damian was closest to her, and it was his broad shoulder she buried her face in. Thalassa explained, 'He was her father!' as Damian led her away.

Ballad peeled away from Siegfried and Nadia. 'What's the plan, sirs?'

Biggs outlined the defensive strategy. Had the enemy continued south, they would have launched a counter-offensive, pushing the Esthari to the edge of the Great Plains and seeking to herd them into the Dingo. Though it was not to be. The Esthari had only pulled back a few miles to regroup, and though they lacked mobility, they were still superior in number.

Biggs said they were to allow the Esthari to enter the southern suburbs of Galbadia City, as forming a large defensive ring around the capital would spread the Galbadians too thin. The Galbadians would adopt defensive formation in the expansive city parks, woodlands and – regrettably – the nation's most prestigious golf course, which all separated the residential and industrial districts from the inner city. The Garlands were to be placed to meet General Zebalga's inevitable spearhead in the south.

The forces from the sea battle were already heading south to join with them, even Galbadia Garden emptied of every available fighter. They would arrive overnight, before all public transport to and from the north ceased, and every route into the capital would be blockaded. President Caraway wished to spare the city centre from destruction, and it would be spared if Esthar could be stopped in the middle ring. Yet, if necessary, the Galbadians could retreat into the city centre for a last stand.

There had been no clear victor of the Battle of the Great Plains. Most of the Galbadians were emboldened that the Guardian of Trabia had been thwarted and with how they had managed to beat back the seemingly unstoppable Esthar juggernaut. They eagerly anticipated the next battle.

Biggs admitted that the deaths of Xu and Raijin had been akin to thousands of his common soldiers. But with Cerberus favouring Ballad as his new summoner, Garland had gained an even stronger leader. Biggs was pleased that Garland would become integral to Esthar's defeat, here and in future battles. They were unquestionably SeeD's match now.

It took a couple of hours for all the Galbadians to pass through the camp, many already heading for predetermined locations throughout the city. When the Garlands were ready, they took personnel carriers for the southern-most green area in the middle city.

Thalassa's vehicle passed through the silent suburbs, the ever-present charcoal clouds making the night even darker, the only lighting coming from the streetlamps, as most of the houses had been abandoned. Their destination was mostly flat and even, but with an artificial, serpentine stream running through its centre, barely visible in the white light of the tall park lamps. It was at this feature that they would attempt to halt the Esthari vanguard, many wavy lines of spearmen and vehicles already in place.

Thalassa followed the rest of them out of the APC. The half-dozen Garlands who had journeyed with them moved to join Ballad, who was conversing with a Galbadian officer. The White SeeD turned to Raine, who had barely said a word since learning of her father's death and was vacantly scrolling on her phone.

'I do know how it feels, Raine,' Thalassa said. 'If you want to join your family at Wilburn, you need to leave now. You've already done enough.'

Raine shook her head instantly. 'No! Raiden's already there, and I'd be no good to anyone if I did!' She wiped her eyes. 'Dad wanted more than anything for me to become a SeeD, to succeed where he failed. I'm just glad he got to see me after I became one.'

'He was so proud of you, Raine,' Thalassa assured her. 'And I trust he achieved the redemption he sought in the eyes of SeeD, too. Your father had no obligation to be fighting with us. He could have stayed at Wilburn, but he pledged his GF and was willing to stand against Esthar on his principles alone. He was a great man.'

There were cries of alarm from the river. They all turned to see Gilgamesh standing on the other side, the lights of several high-mobility vehicles aimed at him. He had made the journey on foot and had not been far behind them. Ballad shouted for the soldiers to stand down, the rest of the Garlands swiftly backing him, and the officer gave the command. Gilgamesh's shoulders dropped as the cannons and lights were pointed elsewhere, and he covered the stream in a single running leap.

As the outworlder reached them, Thalassa said, 'You do come off as intimidating, Gilga!'

'Sheesh!' Gilgamesh replied. 'Thank the Crystals the Garlands could see me!'

Thalassa noticed Gerra had gone rigid with Gilgamesh's reappearance, remembering what he had told her about the outworlder in the future. The Red Reaver, he had called him – the only one Ultimecia had feared. Damian did not look too pleased to be around him, either. Gilgamesh could cut him apart with five of his arms tied behind his back, and the Wraith's pride could not accept that.

'What's up with you two?' Gilgamesh prodded. 'If I wanted to kill you, you would already be dead!'

'How do you know Thalassa?' Gerra asked, after a strained silence.

'You're from Centra, right? We met when she was travelling with your people, then a few times after she joined White SeeD. A couple of years ago, she was getting her ass kicked in Timber, so I decided to lend a hand. Or six!' Gilgamesh gave that high chortle. 'These days, I route for the underdog.' Then he sighed. 'But it was not always so.'

Ballad was waving them over.

'Who's hungry?' he shouted.

Tyris had conversed with General Zebalga for five unbearable minutes the previous evening. Memnon's gaze had lingered upon her face as it always did, on the rare occasions they had met since the rape, as though he recalled Tyris but could not remember where from. That always made her blood boil. How she had been mentally scarred for life, but he could not remember her face from any other child that had fallen victim to him.

To make matters worse, Mitsuhide was also there. The Adel Unit had performed well during the battle, sustaining few casualties. On the morrow, they would largely make up the new vanguard, expecting to meet the Garlands in the city's southernmost park. Thankfully, Selena had steered the conversation in a way that had enabled Tyris to excuse herself, and she had returned to her tent. Though Mitsuhide visited her that evening.

'Pardon my intrusion, ma'am. Do you have a moment?' he asked politely, his face unreadable.

'Of course, Mitsuhide,' Tyris replied neutrally.

'I… I know what your force went through, ma'am, and it gladdens me to see that you have survived.' Despite his reserve, the Adel leader struggled to contain his emotion, his voice cracking as he said, 'Is it true, what Colonel Vlahos said? That Hikaru survived the blast, only to take her own life?'

Tyris imagined she could feel the weight of Hikaru's photograph in her pocket.

'It was,' she said flatly. 'I am so sorry, Mitsuhide. I tried to talk her out of it, but she takes your people's traditions very seriously, as do you. She knew what the future held and saw death as the better option.'

Mitsuhide's face was now like stone. Nodding once, he said, 'Was it quick?'

'Yes,' Tyris answered. That, at least, was true. 'She fell a great distance.'

'I thank you for being with her until the end,' Mitsuhide responded, walking away without another word. It was the most his honour would allow.

Tyris had barely slept last night, the guilt over Hikaru aside. She had waited twelve years for this, to finally be in a strong enough position to act on her loathing for the Empress and Zebalga. She was battle tested enough to know that the worst part was the waiting. It would be over soon. She tried to remain calm, but as a long-term anxiety sufferer knew that controlling her nerves was almost impossible. Even help from advanced Esthari medication only partially masked the symptoms.

Instead, she played through her mind the route they would be taking through the city. She imagined the troop movements as though she were viewing by satellite, deciding on the best time to strike. At first light, the Esthari broke camp for the final time. Tyris avoided Selena, instead getting into position for the march early, barking at the soldiers to follow suit. They were ready long before the main army.

Zebalga's vanguard reached the city limits on schedule, circumventing the dead and the dying, followed by the abandoned camp southeast of the city. Selena had been placed in the force's midst, with Tyris herself given command of the rear guard. It was a weakened – but still numerically impressive – force in its march, lacking most of the cyborgs or Lunarians. As expected, they were unopposed in the suburbs, their remaining UAVs confirming that the Galbadians were massed in the middle ring of the city.

It was time for Tyris to proverbially throw her spear into the Liontamer's back. She summoned Quetzalcoatl, startling the soldiers around her, as he first appeared to them as a giant bird image of pure lightning. As the Feathered Snake took form, Tyris mounted his back without a single word, and they soared for the storm clouds.

'Lieutenant!' many of the Esthari cried after her.

Ramuh joined her, staff in hand and snowy beard trailing. They flew over the oblivious Selena to hover above the vanguard, just below the lowest pall of black clouds. Zebalga had reached the southern park and was advancing toward a serpentine river that split the green in two. There were flashes of artillery and tracer from mounted machine guns on the northern side, but most of the Esthari shields held. Tyris saw the outline of Doomtrain rocketing into several Galbadian vehicles, but they were arrayed in staggered lines in anticipation of his summoning.

Tyris felt a tingling in her hands and took that as advice for her to grip Quetzal's feathered hide more tightly. He began to soar in circles around Ramuh, who hovered motionlessly, a ball of electricity growing atop his great staff, fed not only by their combined power but by the potent storm above. The cloud started to recede from the farthest reaches of the sky, gathering over the entire column of Esthari. In what was normally a rare occurrence, the rest of the city was bathed in silver moonlight, glinting from the Arch of Triumph to the north. The process took several minutes.

Her dread had been replaced by raw adrenaline now that she had initiated traitorous action, and she watched the storm gather with satisfaction. Tyris tore off her headset, from which she could only hear static, letting it fall from the sky.

When every last cloud had gathered from over northern Galbadia, Quetzal stopped circling Ramuh. The Feathered Snake hung opposite the Old One with his wings now spread to their full span. The concentrated ball of energy atop Ramuh's staff was fired into the dense, black mass. The clouds lightened with an explosion of the great energy contained within, wide forks of lightning penetrating through in unison. In that moment the shining armour of the Esthari was lit as clear as day.

Lancing bolts repeatedly struck the entirety of the invading force from the vanguard to the rear, immediately accompanied by piercing thunderclaps. Tyris saw many breaking formation from the main column, running west and east in terror. Many in the abandoned rear guard starting sprinting south. Her main target predetermined, a thick web of lightning appeared at the bottom of the clouds, concentrated at a single point. A convergence of destructive bolts was directed into the midst of Memnon's force, the electricity fanning out to envelop hundreds of them.

Tyris identified the General with his blood-red aura safely veiled from the destruction. She commanded her GFs to abort the attack when Ramuh informed her that about half of their energy remained. As it abated, she recalled Ramuh and directed Quetzal downward, seeking to finally reveal herself as the long lost daughter of Seifer and Fujin and join the people of the free world.

It was Boko, rather than Doomtrain, that almost knocked her from her GF, coming at her from her south. Tyris felt a pang of guilt, knowing that her treachery would have been like a dagger to Selena's heart. She commanded Quetzal to swerve out of the Golden Chocobo's line, firing a lightning bolt into its gleaming hide as it passed. Tyris continued beyond the Galbadian ranks, landing deep within a thicket of trees on the far edge the park.

Ramuh informed her that more GFs were nearby, including Carbuncle, though Tyris would be avoiding Thalassa until the battle commenced. Hidden, the Stormbringer removed her armour again, intending to lose herself in the field of ordinary soldiers. Her short swords back in hand, Tyris remained within the trees until the sounds of battle commenced.