Chapter Two: Signo Send-Off
Zidane was still awake, and had been watching the fight as he sat on the uncomfortable cobblestones. He was staring at Blank as he slumped, and then his eyes flicked over to Rikku, who was sobbing hysterically. Zidane struggled up to his feet, blinking heavily and almost falling right back down, and walked over to them. He couldn’t walk in a straight line, but he did manage to reach them. Once he stood over Rikku, he reached into a back pocket and pulled out an Elixir, which he handed to her. She accepted it silently, and started to force the cork out. Seifer was breathing, but it was unsure whether he would survive or not.
Zidane stumbled over towards Blank, but the strong, mysterious man who Zidane was such close friends was gone. In his place was a shadow of a man; a broken, confused, dazed trace of his normal self. Zidane put a shaky hand on his shoulder, making him jump, but he didn’t say anything. Zidane looked over at the huddled, shuddering heap that was Bloodstone, and tugged Blank away. Blank knew that Zidane was trying to be kind, but it wasn’t helping at all. He was reluctant to move at all, but he couldn’t stop Zidane from dragging him away.
Rikku finally managed to pop the cork out of the clear bottle, and gently tipped the indigo liquid down Seifer’s throat. It made him splutter and cough, but eventually he sat up. Rikku threw her arms around his neck, and she hugged him tightly. “Why…are you…crying, Ri-Rikku?” he stuttered. Rikku laughed. “I thought you were…dead,” she said shakily. “I thought I wouldn’t get to see you anymore, and like, be with you and stuff…I thought it was so totally over. Forever.” Seifer hugged her back, and wiped away her tears. He didn’t know what to say; he had thought that nobody would ever willingly spend time with him…he wanted to hold her forever.
The group stood together awkwardly. “…I guess we ought to find somewhere to stay the night,” Zidane said finally. The rest of them nodded in agreement, and Seifer spoke up. “I know an innkeeper in a town near here; it’s called Balamb. I’ll go ask him to book us a coupla rooms for the night. It’ll take me about an hour, round trip.” Zidane nodded, but Rikku protested. “Let me come with you! Cus, like, you aren’t full health and stuff, and I don’t wanna leave you. Please?” Seifer refused to let her come though; he had some unfinished business with an old classmate – not that he told her that, of course. He set off soon, leaving an annoyed Rikku with a calm Zidane and a still numb Blank.
Pearl was getting slightly bored of this by now. The chase had gone on for a long time, and she was starting to worry about the length of this cavern. Why was it so long? Couldn’t it just stop randomly? It had to keep going, didn’t it? She picked up the pace. She would not lose her prey, however close or far they were. She existed to kill, and that’s just what she’d do. No more games. Now, this was serious.
Moonstone pondered his own existence. This was new and foreign to him. Why was he alive? His skills had surpassed Zidane’s, all that time ago. Why was Zidane still alive? All part of the Emperor’s plan. Why did he need another Black Mage army? They were weak, but necessary, like pawns (Or so the Emperor said). He paced the dark room, rapping his nails along the stone walls as he went. He wanted, no, needed to do something… He’d lost control of Zidane after the blast, and Bloodstone had taken over. But something went wrong: He could still feel Zidane’s energy, he was still alive. What had gone wrong? He couldn’t wait any longer. He begged the Emperor’s leave, walked out to the Courtyard, taking a left turn to enter his Prized Dragons’ pen. There stood his White Dragon, still scarred from his first battle with Zidane, and his new, improved Silver dragon. Silver would do. He jumped onto the dragons back, stood up and led the dragon, by magic, out into the courtyard. And then, he flew. Nothing would get in his way.
Night was beginning to fall, and Zidane was getting irritable. He, Blank and Rikku were still stood in the City Square, and he was pacing around in front of the statue. Bloodstone still lay there, in a whimpering heap, and Rikku and Blank were sat a few feet away from him. Blank’s eyes kept darting over to Bloodstone, but there was nothing they could do to help him. Rikku’s hand kept flicking up to her neck, where Seifer had fastened his necklace as he left. “Where is he?” Zidane finally exploded. “Right, we can’t wait any longer; it’ll be dark soon. We have to set off for Balamb and find him there.” Rikku nodded and jumped up and Blank slowly dragged himself to his feet. They walked away, Zidane striding ahead, Rikku scurrying along behind him and Blank lagging behind her.
They reached Balamb before it was completely dark, and headed for a lit-up sign that showed the location of the town’s hotel. However, in the courtyard outside, they found something that caused Rikku to scream until her lungs gave out. There, lying face down in a completely motionless huddle, was Seifer. Blank checked his breathing and pulse, but stood up and shook his head. Rikku’s tears fell unabated until Zidane pulled her away. She whipped out her dagger and put it to Zidane’s throat, but he just pushed it downwards with his little finger and sighed.
The three of them booked a room, and Zidane sat Rikku down on one bed. Blank sat on the sofa in a ball, still unable to stop thinking about Bloodstone. Rikku’s eyes couldn’t cry anymore, and she simply rocked backwards and forwards, playing viciously with Seifer’s necklace. “You’ll break it,” Zidane whispered. Rikku sniffed, and stood up. “I…I loved him. This has broken my heart, you know? I’m already broken, so what does it matter if I break that little bit more?” she cried, and threw herself onto the bed. But she still had no tears left to cry. She fell silent again. Zidane wandered over to the window, and looked out into the inky sky. He scanned the skyline, and stared at the moon. He could have sworn he saw the outline of a dragon knight silhouetted against the round, glowing full moon, but when he looked back…it was gone. Wishful thinking, perhaps?
Tiger Eye was pacing up and down, as well. He had a lot of pent-up rage, a lot of bloodlust that he couldn’t fulfil. His Master had bade him stay, asked him to look after the caged monsters in the Castle Basement. He needed to fight, needed to kill… He had to; it was his nature, even as a small child he ran into the woods to slaughter the occasional fox and came home with them for dinner. Some may have considered him freakish, but not his Master. Oh no, his Master had understood. His Master had been sympathetic, and gave him a title and a place to stay. He had taken his revenge on the fools of Alexandria, but he wasn’t satiated just yet…
Garnet and Topaz entered a small cavern. Recent signs of activity showed a far wall being blasted out but some unknown but extremely powerful force, and the turned down that tunnel. Soon, after lots of running, Garnet saw a light in the distance. Oh no, she though. The light at the end of the tunnel, had Pearl got to her whilst she was running? Had she died and not realised? She had no choice. Garnet half-pulled, half pleaded with Demyx to continue, and they ran as fast as they could towards the light. The strange, Golden light…
The Emperor sat on his Golden Throne. His powers were immense. He could be in many places at once, and he could destroy all those who opposed him. He closed his eyes. His right hand lifted into the air above him. Flash. Fire. Ice. Water. Wind. Earth. Electricity. Light. Darkness.
The Emperor lifted his head to gaze at the ceiling and laughed a cruel, harsh laugh. The laugh rebounded off the walls of his chamber, and he sipped at his drink. All was going perfectly according to plan. No-one had realized his true, inner darkness before, no-one had believed him capable of such a plot. As the Emperor considered the fates of his Gemstone Generals, his Golden eyes flashed a multitude of colours, sinister, unrelenting, evil. He crushed the glass in his palm, the shards disappearing before they could damage his hand. Tiger Eye entered the room. Emperor Sephiroth laughed once more, and encased his General in a block of ice. Tiger Eye was of no more use to him.
