Chapter 53

The Winged Lion

The Esthari were routed within minutes. The GFs tore into the encircling colonial force with as much power as they could muster in a single, multi-elemental attack. Within no time, the Esthari were on the run through the city ruins with the GFs in hot pursuit. Hundreds had attempted to surrender, throwing down their weapons and dropping to the ground. Though the majority of these were only ruthlessly executed by the wraiths. Any soldiers to escape the ruins were exposed out on the plains and swiftly hunted down by the GFs, their dying screams heard for miles. Hard to bear witness to, it was a massacre in every sense, with very few survivors.

The bodies of the Esthari were now being unceremoniously moved by the Wraiths of Zefer to form a giant encircling wall between the ruined stone buildings. This makeshift fortification would serve as a stark message to 'North Centra's' Governor, Euthalia Chrysanthe, to discourage any further expeditions to the Necropolis. In addition to Ultimecia herself. Any wraiths maimed in the battle had been restored by Rinoa and Selphie, who were jointly examining the magic that was keeping them alive. The few fallen White SeeDs, tonberries and cactuars had been laid in front of the central tower.

The White SeeD elders had been respectfully arrayed side by side. The turban of Minwu had been repositioned to conceal what remained of Celes' head and her slit throat, and Kurin's remaining arm had been laid over his chest to conceal his grievous wound, his severed one placed by his stump. Thalassa cried by them, as did the rest of her people. Gerra's free hand was on Thalassa's shoulder; Raine and Rhodry were with her. Gilgamesh was also there, towering over everyone else. Although the outworlder had died long ago, he was trying to remember the feeling of anguish for the sake of one of his only friends.

All the bearers of the free Guardian Forces had come to their aid, save for Fujin. Tyris, Ballad, Liu and Zhang all stood at the outer edge of the White SeeDs, who had encircled the bodies. They were with Squall, Rinoa, and Selphie. Zhang had opted not to recall Siren, so that she could play a respectful song of mourning for Edea's SeeD. It was a light, unobtrusive tune with undertones of hope, bolstered by the presence of a force formidable enough to drive Ultimecia's mightiest warriors to flight.

Shadow was feeding Reaper on the other side of the open space. Tonberry King and Jumbo Cactuar were with most of their respective races some distance away, having yet to choose new summoners. Some of their subjects had opted to pay their respects to the fallen, in between the White SeeDs.

Damian was the last to return from hunting down any Esthari who had escaped the city. Diablos had made it a priority upon leaving the Jade Passage to aid Damian in overcoming his vertigo, as the Dark Messenger could not tolerate any form of weakness in a summoner. And so, Damian had spent hours soaring through the skies of Galbadia before returning to base, now as at ease in the air as a veteran fighter pilot.

Noctis and Relm shared a look.

'Edea's SeeD will need a new leader, Lassa,' Noctis said.

Thalassa looked at the royal cousins with teary eyes.

'You're the first heir to House Christophe, Noct,' Thalassa replied. 'You'll be a king one day. Perhaps it should be you.'

The prince shook his head.

Relm said, 'Captain Kurin left his request for succession with Ellone and Fujin, in case they all fell. Everyone is in agreement, anyway. We want you, Lassa. The Riptide; the daughter of the Armageddon Fist. She who charged Ultimecia alone at Galbadia City, and hounded the wicked witch through the skies with Leviathan!'

Thalassa hesitated. 'I don't know if I'm ready!' she said.

Now Squall spoke. 'You're older than I was when Cid made me Commander of Balamb Garden,' he stated. 'Your elders have all fallen. Ellone has been away from Edea's SeeD for too long, and Fujin wishes only to train. You might not be the oldest or most experienced, but as Leviathan's bearer, you are by far the most powerful. You've been more than proven on the field of battle, Thalassa. Plus, you're one of the only people to have faced Ultimecia and lived. Balamb will look to you as a national hero, like your Pop. Saying that Zell, Adira and Matron would be proud is a huge understatement!'

Rinoa smiled. 'I couldn't have put it better, myself!'

'But I was lucky!' Thalassa protested. 'If Gilgamesh hadn't come, I'd have been killed!'

Gilgamesh chortled now. 'Even if you did need me at Galbadia, you still broke Ultimecia's jaw after she took Carbuncle from you!'

'Hey, you kicked Reinhardt's ass when he raided us at Dollet!' Prompto pointed out. 'That had nothing to do with luck, and most people don't get to face him and live.' He looked at the body of Celes, then looked away just as quickly.

'Don't doubt yourself, Lassa,' Tyris said suddenly. 'You'll do an amazing job.'

All the White SeeDs looked at Tyris, and she returned their stares evenly. The words of Matron's daughter, it seemed, carried extra weight amongst them. They had all seen the restored epitaph on Edea and Cid's tombstone, and they knew her parentage. Thalassa could see Tyris adopt that stonewalled look she had always worn as a double agent. She guessed Tyris firmly believed it was not for White SeeD to determine if she lived up to Matron's legacy.

Then, one by one, every White SeeDs gave a sentence of or two of support for Thalassa, drawing attention to a particular quality or accomplishment. Gladio pointed out that she had been the youngest ever to earn the White Beret. Relm reminded Thalassa how she had survived in the wild for months before her people had even discovered that she had survived the night of Matron's demise. Ignis highlighted the cunning trap she had laid for the cyborgs who had hounded Carbuncle, and that of all the White SeeDs, Carbuncle had wished to junction with her.

'You're awesome, girl!' Selphie threw in. 'You've got my vote!'

Even Ballad came forward, reminding Thalassa of her gallant assist of the Garlands at the Battle of Redwood, where she had fended of the lecherous Domitian. That even that paled compared to what she and Raine had done for Garland on the Great Plains.

'Hyne!' Thalassa said, finally yielding. 'Okay! Honestly, people! I'm flattered!'

Noctis and Relm both removed their berets and dropped to one knee before Thalassa. The rest of Edea's SeeD followed suit. Thalassa was too stunned to speak; never had she expected this to happen.

'I'll be by your side the entire time,' Gerra said quietly.

'I know,' she replied. She wiped her eyes again, taking Gerra's hand. 'As long as I hear it from the chocobo's mouth!' she said to her people. 'I'll accept the role, as soon as I've spoken to Ellone and the others we left behind.' She looked at Liu. 'Can you ask Sacred and Minotaur to bury our fallen?'

'Sure,' Liu answered, in his minimal manner.

Fallen White SeeDs were usually 'buried' at sea. Yet they were miles from the ocean, and there were deceased cactuars leagues from their home island besides. There was also a dozen dead tonberries. The death of a tonberry was not usually a common occurrence. Their king had explained it was ordinarily their custom to reinter their dead to their old caverns, burying them in personalised crypts so their spirits could be 'located' easier by their ancestors. Though with the manner of their deaths, in fighting alongside humans and cactuars, the king was content for his defeated subjects to be buried here.

There were no objections as Brothers were summoned. Neat rectangular holes appeared beneath each body, seeming to swallow the bodies of the fallen before the depressions refilled themselves. The ground was more level than it had been before, and with no time to organise a tomb, there was no hint anyone was buried there. Accounting for this, Brothers fashioned an impressive garland of white lilies above each body, then a single stone monolith rose from the ground, stopping ten feet high.

'Shall I do the honours, Rin?' Selphie asked.

Her fellow Sorceress nodded. 'Go ahead!'

Selphie ran a small hand along the smooth surface. Neatly etched runes appeared where it passed, the epitaph commemorating those lost in the most recent Battle of Centra City.

Rhodry commented, 'We must do the same for the fallen at Adaryn, someday.'

Selphie nodded. 'We will, Rhod.'

Thalassa walked up to Gilgamesh. 'Are you ready, Gilga? You didn't drop Zantetsuken, did you?'

The outworlder laughed nervously. 'What do you take me for?'

'Then it's time,' Squall said. He summoned Bahamut and spoke to his GF. 'As a former Elder, Bahamut, you had better lead the way. I know that Eden could project his consciousness while in hibernation, so it's likely Griever has done the same. He should know us as friends and not foe.'

Gilgamesh looked uncomfortable as he drew Odin's sword with one of his free hands.

'Let's just get this over with!' he said.

Perhaps the most powerful combined force ever assembled started ascending the wide, spiralling steps that wrapped around the broad tower. Gilgamesh led them in a single file, the hulking Bahamut padding with his hindfeet second. Behind were the remaining three Children of Fate, along with Gerra, Thalassa, and the rest of the GF bearers.

They pressed up in silence until they reached the gargoyle statues flanking the entrance to the old throne room. They tentatively entered the vast chamber which Thalassa had often pictured in her mind, having heard her father's stories about it. To their right was the giant, ornamental throne from where Odin had been awaiting the Children of Fate, twenty years before.

'Time to open your heart, Gilgamesh!' Bahamut announced.

The outworlder walked to the long vacant throne. As he stopped before it, Zantetsuken began to glow with a deep purple shine, laced with crimson and white lines. The colours of Griever. Gilgamesh raised Odin's sword, which was instantly followed by what sounded like shifting stone. The throne slid backward into an opening that had appeared in the wall beyond it. Stone steps could be seen, leading down into shadow.

'It would appear you have passed Griever's test, Gilgamesh,' Bahamut said.

'Not bad, Gilga!' Thalassa said. 'It looks you're one of the good guys, after all!'

'If only Bartz and the others could see me, now!' Gilgamesh mentioned.

They descended into a square tunnel carved in polished stone. It was lit by the busts of lion's heads in the centre of the wall, all evenly spaced a few yards apart.

Thalassa now walked third in the procession. Her own GF, Leviathan, had been loyal to Griever and Eden in the cataclysmic prehistoric conflict referred to as the War of the GFs, or alternatively as Ryu's Rebellion. Legend held there had originally been three Elder Guardian Forces. The Triumvirate had comprised of Griever, the Winged Lion; Eden, the Celestial Fortress; and Ryu, the Dragon King.

Following evolution, the bountiful Tools of Hyne successfully rebelled against their Creator – with the aid of GFs and lesser creatures. This inadvertently started the Succession of Hyne's Descendants. Although only a Sorceress was capable of become one with an Elder GF, Ryu had disagreed with the new practice of his lesser brethren sharing power with mere mortals. Thus, he led a rebellion. Rubicante, the embodiment of inferno; Raijin, the god of lightning; and Gaia, born from the bosom of the Planet, all followed him. Mateus was manipulated into joining their cause, and Ryu also commanded all dragons of the Planet. All creatures of fire, earth and lightning bolstered them further.

Ryu's force was ultimately defeated by Griever, Eden and the GFs that remained loyal to them. Only Diablos remained neutral. As penance, the rebellious GFs had their power split into two. Ryu himself was divided into Bahamut and Tiamat. Although the amount of energy required for this feat was astronomical, resulting in Griever and Eden entering the Long Slumber. This hibernation remained unbroken into the modern era, until Eden had been freed from Ultima Weapon twenty years before. Griever still slept just ahead.

The tunnel ended with an opening into a vast grotto. In the centre was a pillar of a sarcophagus in the motif of a lion, standing over twenty feet high. It resembled the common image of Griever used in artist impressions, with its feathered wings wrapped around it. The Children of Fate knew this sculpture to be accurate, as they had met an image of Griever in the future, strengthened by Squall's perception that it was the ultimate GF.

'Wakey, wakey, Griever!' Gilgamesh shouted, waving Zantetsuken.

Everyone held their breath at the outworlder's audacity.

'Have some respect, alien!' Bahamut snapped, a threatening ember coming from his maw.

'What?' Gilgamesh said slowly, shrugging. 'I kept my end of the bargain. And I already have my reward. I just wanna see if your Elder can send me back home!'

Odin's sword started glowing again. Though this time, the light did not stop multiplying in intensity, causing Gilgamesh to raise it in wonder. It had no effect on his pupilless eyes, but all the others present were forced to shield their own. The sword shifted into hovering raw energy that Gilgamesh could no longer keep hold of. It left his hand, striking the chest of the lion figure. There was an audible bang, followed by another, then another. Each time a crack grew larger from the chest of the stone lion, with sizeable fragments sent skittering over the ground in all directions. A fracture in the figurine now extended from the top of the torso to the groin. There was a fourth bang, and the entire sarcophagus came apart.

The Winged Lion hovered where the statue had been. His skin was a deep purple. Five crimson horns were atop his head, one pointing straight up and the other four symmetrically to the side, like a crown. Spikes of the same colour came from his sinewy arms, looking more deadly than the finest sword tips. The unfurled wings were constructed like those of Diablos, but with brilliant white feathers instead of a membrane. Griever's mane was the same white. His tail was long and thin, also ending in white.

Gilgamesh brought Ultima over his shoulder with a sapphire flash. Not in an offensive stance, merely so it was at the ready, held in his three right hands.

'At ease, alien!' Griever said to Gilgamesh.

The Winged Lion landed softly on his hind paws. Squall slowly drew Lionheart and knelt, bowing his head. Rinoa and Selphie followed his example, despite their great power. Everyone joined them, except for Gilgamesh, who remained with his great weapon pointed toward the Elder.

'Rise, all of you!' Griever demanded. 'It is I who should kneel before you! The whole of you stand as the protectorates of my brethren! As stalwart shield against Hyne's Favourite Descendant!'

Ultimecia's false image of Griever had never spoken once throughout that titanic battle. His voice was regal and commanding. Unwavering. Thalassa had never heard a voice like it.

'I know the whole of it,' Griever continued, 'for I have been able to cast my mind afar during my slumber. Alas, if the Sorceress who now calls herself Ultimecia is not stopped, all sentient life in the universe will cease to exist! This will happen no more than two and half centuries from this moment! For the second time Ultimecia attempts Time Compression, she will succeed!'

Griever paused, perhaps to gauge the impact of his words.

'Elder,' Squall said cautiously. 'That's why we are here! We need your power to match Ultimecia, as she has made Eden her puppet!'

Gerra spoke after him. 'Elder, with all due respect, I destroyed the Junction Machine Ellone before I left my timeline. The Ultimecia I served will never be able to interfere in this era, nor any other! And if we can stop her here, she will never reach that future!'

'Undying Fire, your efforts at redemption have been admirable,' Griever responded. 'However, you could not know for certain how long after your departure Ultimecia used that accursed apparatus! The prototype is being laboured upon in the land called Esthar as we speak! Another scientist could have followed Odine's work. Furthermore, as you have speculated, your betrayal of Ultimecia may have accelerated her descent into madness, having further implications on this timeline!'

Rinoa asked, 'How can you know about the future, Elder?'

'Forgive me, Celestial Defender of the Forested Plains,' Griever said with a softer tone. 'I forget myself, having not conversed with your race for many millennia. Forty-three years ago, as mortals reckon time, I felt the genesis of two girls that would have profound impact upon the Planet – in addition to the entire Universe! One was the first ever to be birthed by a Descendant of Hyne, formerly given the name Reina. The second was a latent Sorceress in her own right, who had the ability to send one's consciousness to the past. She was named Ellone. Following a war that was fought over possession of Ellone's gift, this girl was referred to as the Dreamweaver.'

Griever looked at Raine now, who looked displeased with Griever for using a moniker Ellone despised.

'Do not misunderstand, Lioness,' Griever said reassuringly. 'I mention her in the same breath as Ultimecia, but I have the utmost respect for your mother.'

'Thank you, Elder,' Raine replied.

'Ellone would inadvertently enable a future Ultimecia's attempt at Time Compression. I felt the effects of that cataclysmic event from this chamber, as did all who have ever lived! My consciousness was able to ride the compressed time as the Children of Fate did, through the strength of their love and friendship, to appear at Ultimecia's gates. The Children of Fate, three of them now fallen, were able to defeat Hyne's Favourite Descendant. But, before she perished, Ultimecia ensured her own survival.'

Griever's eyes settled on Squall.

'You know how Ultimecia did so, Lionheart! She followed you to your past and transferred her powers to your treasured Matron, creating a loop that ensures she will eventually become too powerful to stop! More powerful than Hyne ever was, as her power will multiply with each cycle!'

Squall remembered the event as vividly as though it had happened just a few seconds before. Ultimecia's words sounded clearly in his head, chilling him to his very core, as they had done just before she died.

I can't... disappear... yet!

'You did not attempt to stop this, Lionheart, as your Matron assured you it would be fine. That she did not wish one of her orphaned girls to receive the burden. Yet, if you had warned her that Ultimecia was in fact from the future, Edea likely would have had second thoughts! Moreover, when you realised the gravity of your mistake, you attempted to counteract it by telling Edea of her own creation. To accelerate the planting of SeeD!'

Squall let his head drop once more, this time with the shame he had harboured since that day.

'I knew it,' he breathed. 'I knew I should have stopped Matron!'

Rinoa placed her hand on her Knight's.

Griever made no outward reaction to Squall's self-admonishments, but said, 'You cannot be blamed, Lionheart. You were but a cub, under a tremendous amount of stress, having just fought the most pivotal battle in all of the Universe! Furthermore, you found yourself in the past with no promise that you would ever find your way back to your friends! Likely, Ultimecia knew this and used it to her advantage.'

Now the Winged Lion looked at Rinoa.

'The wheel of fate turns irrevocably,' he continued. 'It will not wait! Hyne's Half has already grown exponentially, and I fear that only one more cycle of this loop will be necessary! When it repeats, Ultimecia will be strong enough to destroy the Children of Fate with Edea's body, at the Battle of the Gardens. In fact, Edea herself may be corrupted by such unbelievable power! Likely, she will turn from being the Matron you all cherished!' Griever paused again. 'Ultimecia will win the Second Sorceress War, she will capture Ellone, and her second attempt at Time Compression will be successful! That is why Ultimecia must be stopped, once and for all, in this era! I trusted Odin with the key to my awakening, yet with his untimely disappearance, I could not leave this chamber. Which is why I have never been able to confront Ultimecia myself. Until now! With my second coming, I am confident Hyne's Favourite Descendant will finally be thwarted. Ultimecia is not invincible, as the Children of Fate once demonstrated!'

Griever dropped to his forepaws and padded forward like the leonine creature he resembled. He approached Rinoa and Selphie. They did not recoil.

'Sorceress Rinoa,' he said. 'I believe that you are more suited to being my bearer than the Guardian of Trabia. It is only fitting, with your Knight's childhood admiration of my legend!'

'I would be honoured, Griever!' Rinoa said, glancing to Selphie, who gave her a reassuring thumbs up.

'Now, if you will all take your leave, so that I might finally exit this chamber!' the Elder said jovially.

He turned incorporeal to junction with Rinoa, who's jaw dropped as she felt his power mingle with her own. She looked at her hands as Griever's deep purple shone from her fingertips.

'How does it feel?' Squall asked her, who was looking at the receding glow of her fingertips.

'It's okay,' she said dismissively, 'I'll adjust. Like I once did with Eden.'

'It's time for us to return to Timber, Rin, at long last!' Squall said happily.

'I can't wait!' Rinoa said. 'The Forested Plains! Free, once again!'

'Alright!' Zhang yelled, high-fiving Liu. 'Ultimecia's finally going down!'

'We did it!' Raine said gleefully, hugging the nearest to her, which was Damian.

'We're gonna kick Ultimecia's ass now!' Selphie declared. 'That hag never was a match for us, and it's about time she realised that!'

'Come on, people!' Rinoa said. 'Griever wants out of here!'

With a swish of her blue duster, Rinoa turned and walked back to Axtius' throne. Everyone followed her. When she emerged from the throne room entrance, she summoned Griever. He stretched to his full height in front of the waiting army below, unfurling his wings. Then he flew into the air, circling the round tower before soaring above the ruins of Centra City. His roars shook the heavens and made the earth tremble. Below, all stared up at him in awe.

The Wraiths of Zefer acknowledged the Elder silently, raising their spears. Griever returned as Gilgamesh and the others reached the contingent that had remained by Brothers' obelisk, landing before the wraiths.

'I can lift the necromancy that the vile Sorceress Adel placed upon you, noble retainers of Zefer! Though in return, my request is that you delay your journey to the Netherworld long enough to liberate my brethren from Adel's heir! Do this for your descendants, who have been united by the Uncrowned King!'

The Elder waited for an answer. The wraiths could not give one verbally. The one at front and centre must have been a commander among them in life. His helmet was somewhat more decorative, with a bigger crest than the others, its condition belying the state of his body. It was not Zefer himself, of course. Adel had feared Matoya's Knight enough even in death that she had incinerated his body.

'What say you, Captain?' Griever prompted.

The captain stepped forward and thrust his spear to the heavens thrice. The rest of the hoplites followed.

'Then I will hold you to your word!' Griever said.

With a sweep of the Elder's arm, a purple light penetrated the bones of every wraith, then slowly flickered out. The wraiths seemed unchanged, but Thalassa knew this meant they were now free to die. Then Griever returned to Rinoa once more. She glowed with that deep purple and brilliant white, and Squall took her hand as she drew the aura into herself.

Thalassa turned to Gerra now. 'I guess your mission is almost accomplished, Undying Fire,' she said to him. 'Gaining Griever's power changes everything.'

He reluctantly allowed a nod. 'It's not over yet, but the future suddenly looks a lot more hopeful. For the first time since Eden was lost!'

'Thalassa,' Squall called. 'I'd like your people to remain in Centra.' She looked at him questioningly. 'This land still needs to be liberated,' he elaborated. 'Of course, Edea's SeeD do not answer to me. But now that we have Griever, we can afford to fight on two fronts! You can seize Esthar's naval facility at Mysidia, then use the enemy ships to ferry Steiner's people across the sea. With such a force, you can free northern Centra and give us a springboard for moving on Balamb and FH. Will you fulfil this request?'

Thalassa only pondered for half a second. As leader, she knew she could not afford to seem indecisive. She, Gerra, and the demi-GFs could remain behind. Timber would predominantly be a land battle, wherein Leviathan would be less effective. The Timberians would likely not appreciate Ifrit or Phoenix's fire letting lose on their land either, not after the deforestation caused by Esthar and Galbadia before them. She would still have her super soldiers to contend with what little colonial force remained, in addition to the cactuars and tonberries.

Of course, Thalassa wanted to be there when Ultimecia met her end. But it was likely Ultimecia had already seen Griever's emergence from the tower. Rinoa would not be surprising their enemy with summoning the Winged Lion. Thalassa suspected Ultimecia would cut her losses and abandon her foothold in the west if she feared for her life.

White SeeD's new leader gave her answer with the SeeD salute, and her force all assimilated her.

'Of course, I will,' she responded. 'Along with our ship, Centra is the closest thing to White SeeD's home! We will see it liberated. Then, I trust we will all sail to free our beloved Balamb, together!'