Disclaimer: I will now direct you to the first book of my story.
Note: I aplogize for taking so long but because I have so many other stories, I have to go in a certain order. I may be able to finish faster because I now only have three other series to complete.
The Rousing of the Undead
Book 3: The Final Confrontation?
Part 1: People Abducted, Powers Discovered
"Now Zell, are you absolutely positive that the vampire is here?" Squall asked for about the 12th time.
"Yes Squall. He is close."
The group walked a little farther along the Galbadian plains, searching for some clue to where the vampires location was. Then a hole opened in the air and a familiar person stepped out.
"SEIFER?!" They all shouted in unison.
"That's my name," he said vaugely. "Well, well, well. If it isn't Squall and his little friends."
"What are you doing here, Seifer?" Zell practically growled.
"Now, now. Don't be so hostile. I didn't come here to pick a fight with you."
"Then just why did you come?" Rinoa questioned.
"It isn't any of your concern." He snapped his fingers and his ever-faithful cronies stepped foreward. "Raijin, Fujin, find the 'most worthy'."
The others glanced around, confused. Just what did he mean by the 'most worthy'?
Seifers friends raised some weird looking devices and began to walk among the crowd, listening to the constant tones of the machine.
"What are you doing?" Squall shouted at him, but he was ignored. Seifer just looked at them with purpose. Paitiently waiting until the task was completed.
Then around Selphie a different beep was heard. It was more frantic, more full of life than the previous ones.
"I found one." Fujin said triumphantly.
"Well, bring her here."
Fujin nodded and picked up the small girl, throwing her over her shoulders. Selphie gave a shout of protest and began to frantically try to free herself.
"Let me go right now!"
"Selphie!" Irvine shouted. "Put her down Fujin!"
Raijin strode towards him. "Sorry. That wasn't our orders."
"I don't care what your 'orders' were! PUT HERE DOWN NOW!"
While Fujin made her trip over to Seifer, everyone tried to stop her. She just calmly raised a hand and put of an invisible wall of energy, clearing a path.
"How did she do that?" Zell asked, hushed. He paused in his efforts to get around the barrier.
"I don't know, but something isn't right here..." Squall frowned.
Irvine, in the mean time, was trying to get around Raijin. One well placed blow to the head from his quaterstaff solved that problem.
Rinoa saw her friend fall. Running over to him, she began to check him over while Raijin turned and went back to Seifer. While Quistis, Zell, and Squall went over to Rinoa, the other three made their retreat.
The black hole disappeared, and the air closed like it had never been there.
"Is he okay?" Quistis asked, concerned.
"He'll be fine I guess. I'm not a doctor, but he only has a bump on his head besides being unconcious. There's no blood or anything." Rinoa replied.
"That's good."
"How in hell was those three able to do that?" Zell asked.
"That's the thing, they shouldn't have been." Squall frowned. "I don't think there is even a spell available like the one Fujin did. The only possible way for that ability to be available to her would mean that she was...." he trailed off.
"A sorceress," Rinoa finished. Squall nodded.
"How can that be possible?" Quistis asked, sitting down on the ground by Irvine's feet.
"It isn't. That's why we can't believe that she is." Squall said firmly.
"Now Squall, anything is possible..." Rinoa began.
"How Rinoa? How was she able to inherit a dying sorceres' powers? You're not dead!"
"Calm down. I know that I'm still alive, but I'm thinking that there are still some sorceress' left unaccounted for on this planet." She sighed. "We have to think that everything is possible and plan for every possible incident or we won't win the final battle."
Irvine stirred and tried to sit up.
"Hold on. Are you seeing double? Do you feel dizzy?" Rinoa asked him gently.
"No," he said faintly. "It just feels like a herd of chocobo tap danced on my skull."
"Then you'll be fine. No concussion or anything." She drew her legs up to her chest, wrapped her arms around them, and laid her head on them.
"I thought you weren't a doctor?" Zell teased.
"I'm not. I just took a few courses in first aid."
"How long was I out?" Irvine rubbed his head, and replaced his hat.
Squall looked at his watch. "Only about 5 minutes."
"Good." He jumped to his feet. "They shouldn't have gone far. We have to get Selphie!"
"Wait a minute," Squall held up his hand to stop him. "I want to rescue her as much as you, but I have the strangest feeling that Seifer is working for that vampire."
They all stared. "How in the world did you come up with that?" Zell questioned him.
Squall also stood and began to pace. "Number one: Seifer doesn't hold a grudge against Selphie. She has never done anything to cause him to hate her."
"That's true," Quistis said thoughtfully.
"Number two: How was he able to find us? He are in the middle of nowhere! He also came from a portal and that's highly unusual."
"Maybe Fujin created it." Rinoa mentioned.
Squall shook his head. "I don't think so. Did you see at her eyes? They glowed. Did you notice the way that she spoke? It was a regular pattern. Neither were normal. I think that our friend the vampire is controlling her."
Rinoa appeared to be thinking it over, then she nodded. "I believe that he is too."
"Hold on a minute," Zell interrupted. "Raijin and Seifer didn't look like they were being controlled!"
Irvine turned and looked him in the eyes. "Yes they were. The same two things were missing from Raijin that were gone from Fujin and did anyone notice that Seifer called Squall by his name?"
"At the time, I didn't notice. Now that I think about it, that is the most convincing evidence of all." Squall started back towards the Ragnorok. "Come on, we can't do anymore here."
"What do you mean?" Rinoa asked, following.
"We can't go for Selphie because wherever Seifer has taken her, it is the very place the vampire is. Does anyone think that we're ready for a battle?"
No one nodded or spoke up.
"I thought so. We can at least prepare beforehand. I don't want anyone dying."
***
"Is she one?" Zalanth asked from the carved stone table in the middle of the dining room. He didn't have to turn around see who it was, he just knew.
"Yes sir," Seifer said softly. He motioned to Fujin who in turn dropped Selphie down at the vampire's feet.
Zalanth didn't spare a glance at the small girl, as he tossed back the last of the crimson liquid in his delicate wine glass. The light of the flickering candle created wavering shadows on the walls and the ceiling. Zalanth then turned his burning gaze to the girl, dismissing the other three with a wave of his gloved hand.
"Yes," he said slowly. "You will do nicely."
Selphie squeaked at his comment and tried to crabwalk backwards, but was somehow pinned by his stare. "A-are you g-going t-to drink my blood?" she choked out, frightened.
The vampire continued to stare then he threw back his head and snickered. "Of course not. What gave you that idea?" He smirked. "And before you ask, I'm not going to turn you into one of my kind either. I already have one too many people do deal with." He cringed inwardly as he thought of Sechmet.
He stood, his cape brushing the chair in his stead. He raised his right arm and Selphie rose from the floor to his height. "You will be my tool, my 'instrument of destruction'." He then kissed her gently, with an almost tenderness and set her back down onto the floor.
The feel of him was almost enough to make the poor girl loose her lunch, but the taste was a different thing entirely. The blood he had just consumed was bitter and she tried to rid it of her mouth in vain. His control was too great for her to even move a muscle.
"You may not know it," Zalanth said his footfalls like whispers as he trode across the ancient carpet of the floor, "but you have a sleeping power inside of you that I can utilize."
"What sort of power?"
"You will see as I wreck havoc upon this planet!"
"And if I refuse?"
"Oh, you won't. Because I am certain your Irvine won't like the consequences." He smiled evily, moving back from the shadows and gauge her reaction.
It was just as he expected. Selphie's face grew pale and she looked at him in shock. "You wouldn't!" But she didn't even believe herself.
"Just think about what I have said." He snapped his fingers and she left that room, reappearing in a cell like new one. His voice echoed in her head.
'Just think about what I have said.... have said....have said...'
***
"He is now preparing to conquer the world. This is the gelamen of potestas or 'the gathering of power'. It is the first phase." Vincent informed them.
"How do you know?" Zell asked suspiciously.
"I found the text," he shrugged. "If you know where to look, the answer is very simple." He took another bite from his sandwhich.
"If the answers are so simple, do you know how to defeat him?" Squall asked.
Vince took a drink of his cherry soda before replying. "It is not 'how' rather what to defeat him with. That is the question my knowledge can answer."
"So answer already!" Irvine exclaimed.
The man wiped at his mouth with a napkin and cleared his throat. "In the ancient times there were two ultimate guardians. One protected the spirit realm of good while the other guarded the one of evil."
"What does that have to do with anything, sir?" Quistis asked polietly.
"Find the Guardian of the Pure and you will have a chance to defeat him. Alvanshas is the key."
***
"I now hold the one who posesses the power of Gating. When I am ready, she will open the portal to the Netherplane and my followers will be able to cross the Border. It is only a matter of time until I can get my hands on the second Helper." Zalanth turned to Seifer and crew. "Now all I must do is renew the spell that I hold on you three and send you off to abduct the other mortal." He said the words, made the elaborate hand gestures, and opened a portal.
"Now off you go to Balamb Garden. Bring me the one that alerts you the most!"
"Yes Zalanth," The three intoned in unison. They stepped through and vanished.
"Oh Sechmet," he called, impatiently tapping his fingers on the table.
"Yes Zal- er Master," he hastilly corrected himself at the look on his face.
"Have you done what I've asked?"
"Oh sure! It was easy. I just made a visit using one of your nifty portals!"
"Good. Good. Soon Delmashas will arrive and I will be able to fight back! I know those mortals will travel to the Realm to find that annoyance of a godling so they can try and defeat me. I will not go down that easily. In fact, I will not go down at all!"
***
"Aw man! There's no more hotdogs!" Zell pouted as he sat down at the cafeteria table his friends occupied. "I am so tired of this every day!"
Rinoa chuckled. "Get here a little earlier then maybe--" She abruptly stopped and stared at something beyond Zell's head.
"Rin? What were you saying?" Quistis shook her gently. "Rinoa, what's wrong?"
"Seifer is here..." she gasped. All heads turned to the direction she was staring in. He and the Posse had arrived and were currently headed directly over to Edea who was sitting at a table on the far right.
"Does this mean that he's going to take her too?" Zell asked. They all nodded. "We've got to stop him!"
The group rushed over just in time to see him extract something from her body.
"What did he do?" Irvine asked, confused.
"He doesn't want her. He's after something else." Rinoa said. "What's that he took? I can't see it too well..."
"It looks like a sword." Squall answered.
"A spirit sword! I didn't think that those existed. We can't let him have it!" Rinoa ran at the three full speed. Just like before, she slammed right into a wall of pure energy that Fujin emitted. This time Raijin was helping her to keep it into existence.
Rinoa jumped to her feet from the fall the impact resulted in. She started to pound on the barrier, hoping that she could weaken it enough to get through.
The others looked on sadly. They knew that trying to get at them now was hopeless. They waited for the Posse to leave and then they rushed to Edea's side.
"Is she going to be alright?" Quistis asked, extremely concerned.
"I don't know." Rinoa began. "A spirit sword is a part of your soul and only certain people have them. If you remove it, she may just die."
Someone in the mean time had run to get Cid, who rushed in now to his fallen wife's side.
"Is she...?" he choked out.
"No. But she will be if we do not get that sword back." Rinoa stood and began to walk away.
"Rin, how do you know so much about it?" Irvine called after her.
She turned and smiled sadly. "If you know where to look, it's easy to find."
Part 2: The Search and the Gate
The frozen landscape was hard on their feet as they trudged across the frigid tundra. Strong winds threatened to pull them from their feet while the blowing snow threatened to blind them. The five moved in a single line, stepping in the footprints of the previous one, shivering tremendously.
"Do you see it yet?" Zell called to Squall, his breath almost tore away by the hateful wind.
"No but it can't be too much farther."
They had left the Ragnorok far behind since no one except Selphie knew how to fly it well. They all had just thought it was safer to walk the rest of the way. They all were now regretting that decision.
Pulling scarves and parkas more tightly around them, they continued on in search of the Guardian.
***
"Ah, the final treasure." He sighed happily as he held the precious thing in his hands. "Have Sechmet bring the girl while I go to the Room."
"Yes sir," they saluted and departed from the room.
Zalanth rose from his chair and started for the staircase, the spirit sword levitating behind him. Again he went to that room and again he locked the door. But this time he did not need to use to scrying pool. instead he made his way over to the table beyond it.
Laying the sword upon it, he took down a book from a shelf above and began to thumb through it.
"Where is that damn spell of corruption? Ah, here we are." Setting the book down he reached into a jar and sprinkled some dark ashes over the glowing white spirit sword.
"From these ashes I embrace corruption. Let the Corruption of the ages modify this object so it will bend to the will of evil!"
Then the sword's natural glow deepened in color until it became a midnight black. It grew an extra two feet and thickened out as well. Minature bolts of pale lightning crackled over it's surface as a sheen of slickness formed. Soon the show came to an end and Zalanth began to breath again.
"I'm so glad that it worked."
***
"I see it! I actually see it!" Squall and the others sped up their pace, hoping that they weren't too late to stop the evil that was descending upon the world. They entered the cave and stopped at a large fountain that was in the very center.
"Alvanshas, will you help us?" Rinoa called out softly.
A pale form appeared sitting crosslegged above the fountain. She had white blond hair, vivid blue eyes, and simple white gown was on her body. She gently floated down until she was in front of them.
How did you know where to find me? She asked, her voice echoing in their minds.
"You are the Guardian of the Pure. Snow is very pure when it has just fallen and this was the only place that has a substantial amount of it." Squall replied. She nodded as if her answer satisfied her.
I know why you have come. Zalanth has returned to the world. The fault of a young boy.
Zell flushed and looked away.
I will help. I can not allow so many kind souls to be changed into the ones of evil. When the Final Battle has risen, I will come. Wait for me then.
Her sprit form dissipated leaving the young people behind.
"You know, that was almost too easy," Irvine mentioned.
"She will not lie to us. It's not in her." Rinoa told him. "Let's go back to Garden. The vampire will come because he is drawn to Zell."
***
Zalanth, Sechmet, Seifer, Raijin, and Fujin all stood on the battlements that were on the wall that surrounded Zalanth's tower. Selphie was sitting in a chair frowning fiercly at what she was being made to do.
If I do, I will free thousands of demons but if I don't, Irvine will be hurt. I think that everyone back at Garden can handle them but still, it's so wrong!
"It's time, girl," Zalanth told her, his brow creasing at her hesitation. "Well?"
Selphie looked at him in confusion. "I have absolutly no idea what do to."
Zalanth groaned. "Raise yours arms and focus where you want the Gate to open. Perferably over there." He pointed to a patch of struggling grass that was about 200 feet away from them.
"Alright." She did as he said but nothing happened.
Zalanth groaned again. "You have to clear your mind of all thoughts except the Gate or it won't work. Try again and this time DON'T FAIL!"
Selphie tried again and this time she suceeded in creating on to the corrupted spirit realm. Shadowy demon armies slowly made there way over followed by skeletal warriors, legions of vampires, and more things that should only be kept in nightmares.
Selphie shuddered at the mere thought of them and started to lower her arms.
"No," Zalanth caught her. "You must keep them raised until they are all across. Then I will allow you to return to your friends to wait for the end."
Then a single larger creature came through. It was all black, covered in some kind of fur, and two twin horns sat atop it's head. It looked around for moment, spotted Zalanth and grinned. The teeth were long and razor sharp, the incisors pointed like fangs.
"Why hello Delmashas! So nice of you to join us."
The beasts expression turned as fast as you could blink.
Cut the crap, Zalanth. Where's that puny godling?
"She will arrive all in due time. By the way, here is the weapon that I have prepared for you, I hope it is to your liking." He snapped his fingers and the black sword appeared. Gesturing with his arm, he levitated it down the Delmashas.
A fine blade. Where was the original taken from?
"Some woman named Edea, but she won't be needing it anymore."
Matron? Selphie asked herself tearfully. They took it from Matron and made it that way? How awful!
Sechmet took his cue to moved toward Selphie. "Create a portal to the Garden."
"Now?!"
"What do you think?" he hissed in her ear. "It wouldn't do to make the Master angry..."
She shook, frightened, and then did as she was instructed transporting everyone to the sparse Centra Continent where the Garden was currently positioned in.
***
"Phase one is complete. Phase two, the libertas of summ socius, has also been completed." Vincent bowed his head from where he was staring out of the window in Cid's bedroom.
The headmaster didn't even bother to ask what phase two was. After all, he had a pretty good idea. "And what is phase three?"
The man turned from the window and stared at Cid, emotion full in his eyes. "The defaeco or the purging of the good souls. This is closely followed by phase four which is formerly called 'the gubernatio-ionis of summ formidilosus' which is--"
"The 'Reign of His Terror' in english." Cid said absently smoothing back some stray hairs on his wive's forehead. "Does the beast have the spirit sword?"
"I believe so. Zalanth wouldn't be coming here otherwise. His heart holds too much fear for Alvanshas."
"Edea is growing paler with each passing moment. I pray to Hyne that they can defeat both he and the demon in time."
Vincent continued his watch from the window. "So do I, Cid. So do I."
***
"The final battle is almost here. I hope everyone is ready because this will be long, hard but I have faith that you will win and come out alive. So when those demons appear, please supress your fear. For Edea, for yourselves, for everyone on the planet. So I wish you the best of luck and as Zell would say, let's go kick some ass!" Squall turned of the P.A. system and got into the elevator from the bridge. Everywhere on the frist floor, people errupted into cheers as he passed. He gave a small smile and continued outside where his friends waited on the front line.
"Is she here yet?" Squall asked distractedly. He was scanning the horizon for any sign of the enemy.
"Alvanshas? No. She will be. Gods keep their word." Rinoa said. Then she added more as an afterthought. "At least the ones aligned with Good do."
"Does everyone have magic, their weapons, and at least one GF?"
"Yes Squall." Quistis stepped foreward and and made a gesture like she was going to make a report. Actually that was exactly what she was going to do. "Rinoa has Diablos and Eden; Zell has Bahamut and Pandemona; I have Quezacotl, Doomtrain, and Brothers; Selphie has Shiva, Carbuncle and Tonberry from before; and Irvine has Cerebus, Ifrit, and Leviathan."
"And I have Siren, Cactaur, and Alexander." Squall's gaze went back to the horizon. Then the demon army winked into existence. It was like one moment they weren't there and another they were. But that was basically how it happened.
Irvine saw Selphie and tried to run forward. Squall and Zell stopped him, with effort, and continued to watch them.
"Why hello! Are you the little beings that got the silly notion into their head that I'm stoppable?" Zalanth walked towards them, chuckling. "I assure you that if I am --and I'm not-- it would take lots more than what you have to do it."
"We'll see," Squall drew his gunblade and eyed him, unafraid.
"By the way, you can have this girl back now. Her job for me is completed." He snapped his fingers and Selphie appeared next to Irvine. He tried to hug her, but she avoided his touch and his relieved eyes.
"I have to go inside now," Selphie mumbled. Then, with one last glance at the people she called friends, she ran inside of the Garden.
Irvine turned and glared death at Zalanth. "What the hell did you do to her?"
"Nothing much. I had to make sure she wouldn't trick me, didn't I? After a few well-placed threats for her friends, I simply took time and reminded her who was boss."
The whole groups first thought was that he raped her the second that he tortured her. He saw the disgusted looks on their faces and chuckled again.
"I didn't rape her if that is what you're thinking."
"What about the other?" Rinoa asked softly. "Did you torture her?"
"Not any of the physical sort. I tend to make attacks of the mental kind. She's a little disturbed right now, you see."
"Yes, we see. And we're going to make you regret anything you have done to her." Squall said and the others nodded.
"Oh that reminds me, I need the curse breaker. NOW." Zalanth walked
"What are you going to do with me?" Zell asked shakily.
"Kill you."
"Excuse me?!" he asked, disbelieving.
"You heard me!" Raising his right arm a ball of red glowing energy gathered. Zell's eyes grew wide and then he summoned Bahamut. All six of them vanished into the shadowspace so that the blue dragon could do his work.
"So you're the person that is hunting the one who junctions me." Bahamut rumbled. "I am sorry but that is not acceptable."
"I didn't ask you if it was, Dragon," Zalanth growled. "You are not important enough for me to as permission of!"
Bahamut glared down from where he was hovering in the sky, fury showing on his face. "I'm not, am I? I am Bahamut, lord of the Guardian Forces. And now you are going to die for insulting me!"
The blue dragon rose higher into the air and inhaled deeply. He was going to give Zalanth a taste of hell that he would not soon forget.
Part 4: Zalanth is Defeated? The Threat is Vanquished?
Three pale blue orbs streaked from Bahamut's muzzle and struck Zalanth full on. Instead of dying like the dragon thought that he would, they bounced harmlessly off an invisible shield.
"You have to do better than that, blue boy!"
Bahamut gazed in shock as he vanished and the others returned.
"Oh boy," Irvine said softly.
During the whole confrontation SeeD's and other students of Garden had been streaming out almost endlessly. It turned out that more were able to help because a mission in Galbadia was completed early and G-Garden was heading towards them at top speed.
Vincent Reed rushed out and directly over to the small group before the King of the Vampires. Pulling Squall over to the side, he explained his reason for showing up.
"You can not defeat him now, he's too strong."
"What do you mean?" Squall asked cluelessly.
"He is using part of Delmashas' power. Unless the god is defeated and basnished back to his homeplane, you will not be able to kill Zalanth."
"Okay. So we're only supposed to fight his minions?"
"Yes. Only Alvanshas has the power to banish him."
"Thank you for the information. Go back inside and see to Edea and Cid. You'll know when we've won." Squall inclined his head briefly and hurried back to the others.
"What's up Squall?" Zell questioned him.
"Vincent said that we are only supposed to fight the minions. Only after Alvanshas has defeated Delmashas can we kill Zalanth."
Rinoa was going to ask him why but then she closed her mouth. "I understand. Let's go help the others then."
***
Selphie hurried through the deserted halls toward Cid and Edea's apartment. She was very worried about the woman that she had called mother all of those years as an orphan and was anxious to see her.
Selphie approached the door slowly and knocked softly. "Matron, Headmaster, are you two in here?"
"Yes Selphie," Cid said quietly from his seat. "You may come in."
The girl pushed the door open wider and stepped through. After closing it, she moved over to the bed and gasoed. "Oh my."
Cid sighed. "And it has been getting worse since Seifer came."
"I think I know why. You did know that he held me prisioner?" Selphie took a seat at the end of the bed and shuddered at the memory. The flickering candle light made her face look pale, and drawn.
"Are you alright?" Cid asked her, concerned.
"I will be," Selphie sighed. "He took her spirit sword for the demon to use."
"I know that one."
"Well, he did some kind of magical ritual and warped it. The demon mentioned the 'original'."
"Rinoa said that if it doesn't get replaced back into her soul, she will die." Cid bowed his head. "We can't let that happen."
Selphie remained silent. Then Vincent returned to the room.
"Do you wish to redeem yourself Selphie Tilmitt?"
She looked up. "I opened the Gate for him. Yes. I do."
"Then do as I say..."
***
Squall pulled his gunblade free from another dead demon. Wiping the blackened blood off on his pant leg, he turned partially to Rinoa who had just caught her Shooting Star from where it had sliced cleanly through one vampire's neck, severing it's head from it's shoulders. "How are you doing?" he shouted of the dull roar of the grunts and battle cries of the warzone.
"I've felt better. DUCK!" Squall complied as she unleashed her weapon again. "This isn't a good time to talk you know."
Squall nodded. "I just want to assure myself that you're still there I guess."
"I happy that you care but," She kicked another demon away, "can you save it for later? You're sort of distracting me."
"Of course." Squall tossed a fire spell at a semi-transparent shadow and watched as it faded away into nothingness. "Anything for you."
***
Irvine, Quistis, and Zell were destroying evil left and right. Zalanth swooped down on them, glaring angrily.
"I tire of this game. It is now time for your final performance!" Pointing at them he shouted loudly. "Delmashas, destroy their bodies and bring their souls to me so that I may transform them into my servants for all eternity!"
Delmashas smirked and dove for them, sword raised. The three below stood, frozen on the spot unsure of what do do while Rinoa and Squall watched helplessly from the distance. All around them the battle raged and the three thought that the end was near. Then an intense beam of white light penetrated the area.
Quistis, Irvine, and Zell noticed immediately that the battle noise seemed muted. It was like they were there but weren't at the very same time. They also noticed that a dome of hazy white covered them and had lifted them gently into the sky.
You all have done your part. I will take over momentarily. Then reality ceased to be, signaling the arrival of Alvanshas.
***
"Where are we?" Quistis asked softly as she stared at hands that didn't even look like they were solid.
"This is the Border. The place between the Mortal Realm and the Spirit one." Rinoa glanced around. "They are battling up ahead."
"I probably already know but how do you know this?" Irvine asked.
"Remember my answer from before," she answered.
"Ah."
The small group half floated/half walked to the site of the deciding battle for their very souls. They all crouched behind some rocks and watched in silence at the wonder in front of them.
Delmashas and Alvanshas circled each other warily, neither wanted to be the one to make the first move. Then the demon lunged at the woman and it was on.
Hell's Fury! Delmashas cried as a lava looking beam shot out from his outstretched hands to engulf the woman. She frowned in concentration and counterattacked.
Light of the Heavens! A beam, as bright as the other was hot, shot out and hit the lava substance head on. They both struggled with at beating the other when suddenly the beams cancelled each other out.
Well, that's not going to work this way. Alvanshas took a small rod, no more than a foot in length, out of a hidden pocket. She must have pressed an invisible trigger or somthing because suddenly more metal shot out of both ends adding an extra three feet, one and a half on each end, to the now formed weapon.
Alvanshas put the newly created trident in front of her and beckoned to the demon. Bring it on!
They lunged at the same time, bright flashes and minature sonic booms errupted from where the two weapons clashed together. The wind the attacks created almost knocked Squall and his friends back a couple of feet, but they gripped the rocks tightly and hung on for all it was worth.
Then reality was altered again as the Border faded.
"Where are we now?" Quistis asked outloud.
Rinoa shrugged. "This one I don't know."
They looked below them and discovered that they could see the planet as if they were at a great height.
"Uh, we're falling aren't we?" Zell asked nervously.
"Yes. But not as fast as we should." As the ground became closer and closer they noticed how bad the land looked.
"What happened here?" Squall asked, shocked.
Quistis' eyes widened. "Oh no...."
The land was blasted and craterous. Trees were split apart as if jagged bolts of lightning had struck them, dead or dying animals were everywhere and quite a few boulders had been split in two like they were made of clay.
Rinoa looked to the sky solemnly and began to speak. "They've caused this."
"Who?" Irvine asked. Then his eyes widened. "You can't mean...?"
"Yes. Their battle is destroying the land." They touched down. "Neither side is winning and before long the world will be a complete and utter wasteland."
"How are we supposed to stop this?" Squall asked.
Rinoa sighed deeply. "We can't. We don't have the power of the gods. Not even a GF could stop this now." They fell silent, each absorbed in his own thoughts as they watched the battle unfold.
After a while Zell puched the ground, frustrated. "We can't just stand here and do nothing!"
"I know," said a new voice. "That is why I'm not."
Five heads turned in the direction of the newcomer. Selphie Tilmit stepped from a portal and walked towards them.
"How are you going to stop this?" Quistis asked curiously.
"I've brought the Balance."
"The... Balance?" Rinoa questioned.
"Yes. Neither Good nor Evil. A neutral deity." She reached into the knapsack on her back and dug around for something. Smiling softly, she pulled out a summon orb. "This," she held it up, "is Medishas. She is the Guardian of the Planet." Concentrating she called her out.
A small figure dressed all in one color -- gray tunic, gray leggings, & gray shoes -- appeared before them. She had bright green eyes and long red hair. Holding a staff she looked at them.
You called?
"How are you supposed to be able to stop them?" Zell asked.
She sighed, apparently bored. I can draw energy from both ends of the spectrum. By neutralizing their power, they will cease destroying everything.
"Okay. Good. Go do your thing then."
I planned on it. She flew over to the still fighting pair and floated in-between them. Neutralizer!
A bright flash and then Alvanshas and Delmashas were suspended in time.
Look at yourselves! Del, that vampire is using you. Will you you ever benefit from this 'reign' Zalanth keeps talking about? I don't think so! And Alvan, I know the mortals asked you to help but didn't you know what would happen to the Planet the Great Hyne loves so much at the hands of a battle of this magnitude? It's up to me again to set things straight. Medishas rolled her eyes and landed on the ground. Thumping the staff against the hard-packed earth twice she stared at her fellow Gods sternly. Green energy began to flow out at an incredible speed reviving and renewing everything in it's path.
There! Medishas said brightly. Now you six need to go back to Balamb Garden.
"Oh it's okay!" Selphie opened another portal. "You go ahead and send Delmashas back to Hell." She motioned to the portal. "After you."
The others exchaged glances and Selphie stomped her foot. "It's perfectly safe so come on!"
Irvine leaned closer to the others. "Humor her. Please?"
***
"Zalanth!" Squall called to him. "It's time for you to say goodbye!" All of his followers were dead but were also many SeeD's that were as well. It saddened Squall and everyone to see their still bodies but there would be time to mourn later.
"Oh, I don't think so. I won't be defeated so easily!" Then he and Squall began to go at it, neither one gaining the upper hand.
Meanwhile Zell and Selphie and begun to confer and were currently involved in a small argument.
"No! It's better to be at this angle!"
"Whatever Zell! I know I'm right."
Rinoa, Irvine, and Quistis were readying their weapons in case of battle while Zalanth shot a glance behind hinself.
"SECHMET!"
"Yeah Zally?" His head popped up from behind a rock formation.
"Handle this."
"But Zally..."
Zalanth frowned. "I am too important to do physical battle and do you want your flow of blood to be cut off? I can do that you know."
Sechmet sighed then muttered something as an afterthought. "Stupid king vampire. Thinks that he's so perfect! I don't even have any real power..." He walked towards the group somewhat mentally exhausted Z. "Go ahead! Do you worst!"
Rinoa looked at him intently. "Do you really want to die like this?"
"No but he ordered me...."
"You don't have to listen to him!" The others nodded in agreement. "If you surrender now, I can guarantee your safety."
"NO YOU DON'T!" Zalanth screamed as he shot bright bolts of lightning at the group. They dodged the deadly objects until the storm had passed.
"I am so tired of this," Squall muttered. Powering up he raised his gunblade high above his head and started off a series of slashes that made up his limit break Renzokuken. Raising his power even further, he launched in his most deadly of finishing moves Lion Heart.
Zalanth, damaged badly from the physical blows, lurched towards Zell in a vain effort to at least kill before the rest of his life's blood spilled upon the ground. But Zell was ready for him. In a burst of speed, almost too quick for the human eyes to follow, he darted around the vampire and waited, foot poised.
Selphie opened another one of her portals and while she held it open, Zell kicked Zalanth in the ass, knocking him in. The small girl sealed up the portal and collapsed on the ground, panting.
Everyone ran over to her and kneeled by her side.
"Are you all right Sefie?" Irvine asked worriedly.
"I'm fine," she smiled. The first one they had seen since the whole abduction ordeal. It wasn't her usual, but it would do. "But Zalanth's not!"
"Where'd you send him?" Rinoa asked her.
"Oh a place that I think that he would love very much."
***
"NO! I won't be defeated this way!" Zalanth pounded on the wall of the now dispersed portal.
"Hullo!" One small face peered at him.
"Who or what are you?"
"I'm Dagmar. I'm an elf!"
Suddenly several dozen little happy elves appeared in front of him.
"Welcome to our dimension! Would you like to hear a song?"
"NO!" Zalanth shrieked.
"It's a little something we picked up in the human universe." Dagmar cleared his throat and motioned to his companions. "This is the song that doesn't end! Yes it goes on and on my friends... Everybody!"
Then all of the elves formed a chorus and began to sing cheerfully. "Some people started singing it not knowing what it was, but they'll continue singing it forever just because This is the song that doesn't end..."
Zalanth's eyes widened and he began to double is pounding efforts. Sobbing, he screamed hysterically: "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Epilogue:
Squall turned to Rinoa as they stood on the balcony inside the ballroom. "I almost feel sorry for that vampire."
"Yeah. But it's just like Selphie to pick such an insanely happy place." Rinoa leaned into the arm Squall had around her waste.
"Hey guys!" Zell came running outside holding something.
The couple sighed in annoyance. "What do you want Zell?"
"Guess what I found!" He held up a scroll case. "It had just washed ashore when I had taken a walk along the beach--"
Suddenly Squall reached out, snatched it from him, and threw it far out into the air.
"What did you do that for?!"
Rinoa smiled in relief. "Better safe than sorry."
And so this is the end. So how did you like it? I know as it got toward the end it was rather weak but I kind of was developing writers block and since I wanted to finish it so badly, it was a struggle. C'mon! Use the box down below. It's there for a reason.