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The pyreflies infesting the portal into the Via Infinito gave off an angry howl. Even with my senses dampened by Iezak, that was obvious to me. They were spreading its influence; they were hunting for prey. And Sanika was giving it all the time it needed with this stunt of hers. I had been worried about myself before. I'd felt the Via Infinito's pull before. However, there were more choices now. Nearly all of us had kept something hidden, which had affected them traumatically. With Sanika moronically holding us in place, we were helpless to stop its prying eyes from seeing everything it wanted.
“I haven’t done anything, it was like this when I got here, like I told them when that little guado asked me. Or...”
The idiot teleported to me. “Should I call you Slayer? Hmmm?”
If I could move, I would have throttled her for pulling such a stunt, but it was too late. By this point, the Via Infinito had what it sought. The priority now was to defeat Sanika and return to our mission. The sooner we accomplished it, the better. There had to be something we could do to weaken the telepath. No person could be so invulnerable. I believed we all knew that lesson when Lady Yuna defeated Sin. However, I didn't have any ideas and, without the ability to move, the best move was probably to wait. Perhaps events would unfold that could provide something better.
And, as it happened, Joseph was the first sign of that something better. "You say that the world is cruel and thrown you out as outcasts. that is something that I think no one can really prevent. yet your people bully and prey on the weak just to fatten your pockets and influence. you do not try to fight for a greater cause and here you are lecturing us about right and wrong! you are a hypocrite as well as naive. you can be sure that I will fight to the death not because I have to but because you are beyond saving"
Rika bounded for the samurai and pressed her arrow to his temple. She was furious, hoping for permission to kill, but being denied by Uncle.
Sanika would respond after, saying, “I pity you, you have been told lies, very well then I see you have made your choice you shall die for your crimes.”
"I almost pity you Sanika. you are willing to do anything for your father who uses people only for his ends. he doesn't care about anything aside from the result. your father is a fool if he thinks he can get away with what he's done but you are even bigger fools for blindly following him"
Joseph's biting words were challenging her, but would they have the proper effect that would allow us the chance at stopping her? As she raised her hand toward him, I had to say no, but the pyreflies of the Via Infinito looming about us whispered to me otherwise.
“STOP!” Ah, so that's what they've been waiting for.
“Kyra run, get out of here!”
"Not a chance."
“Ah so the little bitch did arrive. How nice of you to come to the party but I’m afraid you are a little late.”
Still, what could be the point of this? Sanika, in all her power, could simply freeze her, as well. Yet, Kyra seemed to be the only one the telepath didn't want to hold. Of the lot of us, only Kyra was earning a severe beating and the full range of Sanika's abilities.
“Kyra! Sanika I swear I will hunt you down and kill you if you lay a hand on her!”
“Poor little Nikki, do you not know why the spell went out of control?”
'I suppose her fixation with Nikki should mean she's the one to defeat her.' I thought to myself, though how she would still escaped me.
As she would explain, “Father explained to me it was her magic, it was her who nearly killed you, because she does not belong in this world, her magic is different. She must be sent back and I need the knowledge on how.”
Once Sanika transported the young Asuka to our predicament, I gave up guessing on figuring anything out. It was now left in the capable and sadistic hands of the Via Infinito.
“That's a lie! Leave her alone!”
“What the fuck?”
“POP! That’s my new trick I got bored of flowers, I can now make BUBBLES!” With that said, I honestly and truthfully gave up on taking an active part in this mess.
“Sweetie that’s lovely, but there is a bad lady over there who has us all stuck.” Cyan said to her, half giving in, as well, and half making an attempt to motivate the little girl into saving us.
“Oh are we playing musical statues? I can be a statue look!” So much for that...
Just then, Sanika created a glyph underneath Kyra, having finally frozen her in place. As horrified by the scene as I was, I couldn't help feel that this was it. Nikki panicked and demanded the little girl's aid. Somehow, that unsent was able to negate Sanika's psychic spell and free Nikki. However, she'd still be too late in saving Kyra. As the remainder of us watched, still useless, Sanika's spell completed and enveloped Kyra in bright energy. Within moments, she was gone, spirited away as a stunned Nikki stood mere inches from where she had been, her hand still outstretched in the failed attempt to save her.
The loss of Kyra struck every one of us hard. Nikki's was the most evident, Kyra's disappearance petrifying her in place. Though I didn't know what the others were experiencing, for me all sound in the world blurred and faded away. I no longer cared about the warped entrance to the Via Infinito. I no longer felt the anxiety of being unable to move. For me, the only sound that would reach me was the distant echo of Sanika's celebration.
I turned to face the direction of her voice. My sword extended from my arm and I rushed forth in a burst of speed. Once I reached her, my sword swung down in time with Cyan's own as she'd arrived alongside me. Sanika barely managed to dodge our blades, having to use a telekinetic shield to evade completely. The others on her team finally reacted, coming to her aid as they began countermeasures to keep us at bay.
“Sanika what has happened?” Uncle asked.
Sanika was herself surprised that our mobility had been restored, “I’m... I’m not sure.”
To that, the familiar voice of an angered unsent girl answered, “Naughty lady needs to play fair too the secrets took your power to make you fair.”
The whole of the room dropped significantly in temperature and the shrill creaks of gears and platforms could be heard coming from beyond the warped passage into the Via Infinito.A strong presence was in there, we could all feel it, and it was approaching fast.
“What’s coming?”
“It’s not Sir Auron is it?"
“Sissy, sissy, from the depth, what made you angry, with a naughty lady, and sissy gone, and a big ugly man to play with.” The little girl recited.
As the creaking sounds grew louder, platforms rose up from the black, piecing themselves together to form a metal pathway extending from where we stood to the shadows where a being of pure rage made its arrival known.
Calling upon unfathomable power, the clone of Nikki blasted through Sanika's telekinetic shield with an arrow, sending her sprawling to the ground as Uncle defended her against Joseph's violent strikes. As the little girl would explain, she had been imbued with some new strength that could counteract Sanika's telepathy. I was right. When Sanika murdered Kyra, she'd triggered the Via Infinito and now had a psychically resistant incarnation of Nikki's past opposing her.
Joseph traded looks with Cyan and Gideon before going back to tend to Nikki and Cyan would lead Gideon in facing Uncle. They would be reinforced with the help of Paine and Lady Yuna. Meanwhile, Val and the twins took on Rika, with support from Sir Tidus and the Mevyn. As they occupied her defenders, that left Sanika open. I clenched the sword in my hand and moved into an attack position. As I did, the clone arrived beside me. For a moment, I thought I saw her look at me with an impossibly large gash of a Cheshire grin, but as we moved on Sanika, her stern expression made me reconsider. The clone would provide a somewhat reliable defence against the psychic, though on several occasions, her arrows were just as dangerous to me. I lunged for Sanika's arms, given that they seemed to be a focusing tool when channeling her mental waves of force, but despite opposition from both the clone's barrage of arrows and my sword, Sanika was proving very skilled in battle. My strikes and slices were met with more shields and she would even catch some of the arrows coming toward her. These could then be used against me as I ducked one aimed at my throat, preventing the horizontal slash I'd hoped to hit her with. Soon after, she managed to deflect another barrage of arrows, freeing her momentarily to send me slamming into the far wall. As I struck it, I could see Joseph speeding towards her, but he'd only be caught by Uncle. Seeing Sanika more engaged than before in trying to subdue the clone, I bounded for them, deflecting arrows as they came. With Sanika's back turned, I caught her with a flying kick, sending her tumbling forward as the clone aimed. The arrow was mere inches from hitting when Sanika stopped it, turning just in time to catch my overhead swing, as well. She snapped the arrow into splinters before sending them into me, but I was able to maneuver out of the way without being injured, trying for a sweep when I landed. Sanika simply hovered and I was forced to dodge an arrow from hitting my leg, leaving my back turned for Sanika to telekinetically press me into the ground.
Suddenly, a scream pierced through the room and, as I recovered, I saw that Joseph and Gideon had run Uncle through with their swords. Once again, Joseph tried advancing to Sanika, but Rika began displaying a dramatic increase in power, keeping them all at bay. Val summoned the ice goddess, but in an amazing demonstration of how much Sanika had improved her, Rika fired a continuous stream of ten arrows into it, dispelling its magic. The twins weren't given the chance to perform any of their magic either as she would use her mirage tactic to create false images of her if they tried. Despite the number of attackers, Rika was matching every one. The others had no way of defeating her and aiding the clone and my battle against Sanika.
That was until... “Activate mega-ultra, super-duper assault mode!”
To everyone's surprise, Rikku, adorned in a blue flight suit and riding an armoured machina appeared, firing missiles and lasers at the archer. In an incredible display, Rika was overwhelmed and couldn't counter the sheer amount of artillery poised against her. Once the attack that Paine named Vajra struck her, Rika was brought down. However, just as suddenly as she'd appeared, this Rikku faded once Rika fell, leaving it clear that she'd been another of the little girl's apparitions.
“That wasn't supposed to happen!” The girl whined, appearing behind me, “I was only thinking about sissy when she poofed here. How did that happen?”
“What are you saying? That wasn't you?” I asked her.
Before she could answer, Sanika struck the ground, creating a shockwave that sent dust into the air. I shielded my eyes, but once it had settled, the little girl was gone. The others were engaging Sanika together, but it still wasn't enough to defeat her. Instead, from what I could see, any melee attackers were unable to pierce her telekinetic shield and the range of her abilities caught or deflected any projectiles from harming her. Cyan and the clone Nikki were having the most progress, though the minor kicks and punches they landed only showed that more damaging attacks weren't able to hit.
Finally, with Sanika focused on deflecting Joseph and Gideon's strikes, I chose to make my approach. Taking the tip of my hooked blade into the cracked surface of the ground, I slid it roughly and ran towards her back. As my speed increased, so did the resistance between the blade and the floor until the heat generated flooded into the sword. Sanika used her power to force Joseph's swords against Gideon's, throwing him off balance as she pushed psychic waves into his back, sending both of them into the side wall. At that second, I arrived, lifting my sword up for an Overload Overdrive. However, Sanika reacted too quickly even with her back turned. Her telekinesis stopped my weapon within an inch of reaching her and she slowly turned to me, her eyes glaring deep into my soul.
“I think I've had just about enough.” She growled within my mind.
Try as I did, I couldn't free my sword from her and soon I'd find that I couldn't move at all. Sanika turned completely to face me, keeping the others away with a psychic barrier. She moved closer, lifting a hand to caress my cheek. It would have felt like a tender motion if it wasn't for the wild look in her eyes. They shot through me, through my own, and past all barriers.
“Now, what can we do about that?” She whispered.
She was reaching. She was reaching deep. What was-
This barrier was not like those before. It was meant to be more permanent, something that could give her time to accomplish something. I didn't care. She had committed crimes, done wretched deeds. Daiki and Rika had both been beaten. The authorities would have them, but Sanika was still active. More importantly, she had enclosed herself with Mishka on the other side. Whatever she was planning had to be stopped.
When Sanika placed her hand on Mishka's face, I felt a pinch. Velkomme Schwert twitched in my fingers and I could feel her blade slowly slip through the barrier. Sanika's attack took effect first, however. The scream was abrupt and it was deafening. Mishka stiffened and dropped her sword before collapsing. In a burst of dread, my strength forced Velkomme Schwert through the psychic's barrier, though it remained intact, keeping me from her. My worry grew, but I would find that it was perhaps misplaced. Sanika's own visage showed pain. Fatigue perspired upon her temple and she winced, grabbing her head tightly before she doubled over. A few pyreflies circled her, moving across Mishka's fallen form, as well. Finally, the barrier began convulsing and Val shouted for us to keep our guards up.
Sanika roared in agony and psychic waves crashed into each of us, sending us sprawling to the floor. The recovery was similar to an explosive and my mind was stuck in a daze. While I recovered, I did notice that the other Nikki was already on the attack and she even stabbed Sanika in the arm with one of her arrows. I looked beside them at the woman lying motionless on the ground and worry overcame any ailments from that psychic blast.
I stood and charged straight for Sanika, finding myself accompanied by Joseph. The false Nikki was thrown up into the ceiling having only made two successful strikes, but Sanika's power was still strong and neither I nor Joseph could hit her. Moments later, the Lady Yuna and Paine appeared, having changed garments into what seemed like school uniforms and visors except that they were also hovering above the ground. They channeled their own psychic energies into Sanika, further weakening her and Joseph and I found our attacks were having greater success. Still bearing a pained expression on her face, Sanika had little use of her powers left and Lady Yuna and Paine countered everything she did muster. Without her greatest weapon to protect her, Joseph and I knocked her flat on her back and crossed swords at her throat.
“Yield.” I grumbled down at her.
"I'd do as the lady says, murderer."
The false Nikki aimed an arrow to kill our captive, firing too soon for me to react. Fortunately, Nikki finally rose from her stupour and fired a counter shot to snap it to splinters.
Joseph voiced his displeasure, “The hell Nikki!!!!”, but Nikki would explain her actions, even stopping the other Nikki from continuing her attack.
“Get out of my way FAKE!”
“Sissy should do as mummy says, and mummy says no.” In a demonstration of her own power, the little girl sent the false Nikki back into the depths of Via Infinito.
“It’s not just us but many other people as well, death would only be an easy way out for her.” Nikki continued to explain.
“I don’t deserve to be protected little Nikki.” Sanika would say.
Pyreflies danced about the two and began creating a scene of destruction and death. A young Sanika ran through the rubble, chased by a swarm of Sinspawn. She eventually tired and yelled to the beasts to leave her be, her power felling each of them, blowing their bodies into walls. It appeared that this was the first time she learned of her abilities. It would also turn out to be the first time she met Nikki and the first crime she'd commit on her. As we all watched, the young Sanika stripped away Nikki's memories in an attempt to save her from the pain they caused.
“I had joined the gang to find a way to bring back your memories little Nikki, but it seems they had lied to me about helping me.”
My eyes wandered from them to Mishka who was stirring. The weight on my heart lifted and I quickly moved to her, kneeling at her side. She groaned and moved weakly, but she was okay. I found her hand and took it into mine, bringing it to my chest.
“Mishka...”
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“Cyan?”
Her voice roused me as my eyes readjusted. Sanika's attack hurt and my head was still groggy, but seeing Cyan was soothing. Even if I couldn't explain it, seeing her over me let me know that she had defeated Sanika somehow. We were safe.
“It would be best if she remained on the surface.” Nooj's gruff voice resounded.
Cyan helped me to my feet and we would rejoin the others who started discussing Nikki's mental state. Surprisingly, Cyan was one of the loudest voices along with Paine, arguing for Nikki.
“Nikki is strong. She will overcome this tragedy.”
“There's no point in leaving her up here. She shouldn't be alone right now.” Paine added.
I, on the other hand, found myself hearing a noise. At my feet, I found a monkey tugging at my leg. It began pointing at the warped entrance to the Via Infinito, jumping up and down. I looked at it, the black, and couldn't understand what it was at first. Slowly, though, I started to sense what the monkey was trying to tell me.
Nikki was, more surprisingly, the voice against her return to the dungeon, beginning to say that, “No, he’s right I can’t go in I-“
“Have to go in because I have a hunch that Kyra is in there.” I chose to interrupt her.
“A hunch huh?” Paine said to me, giving me a sideways glance.
“Yeah.” I replied with a smile.
She shrugged, “A hunch it is then.”
“But how?” Nikki asked.
Before I could answer, Asuka came up to me, petting the monkey still at my leg. The monkey was quite fond of her, hopping all about. The little one seemed to have taken to it, too.
“Don’t play games Asuka.”
“I’m not there’s a monkey here can’t you see it?” Yes, couldn't they? “It wants Mishka to follow. “
'It wants me to follow? Into the Via Infinito? Could it be?'
If this monkey knew not only that Kyra was in there, but could take us to her, it was a chance we couldn't let slip. Nikki made up her mind and ordered us back in, which brought smiles to most of our faces. Nooj was still peeved that we'd all but ignored him, but Paine was there to calm him down.
Instead of the teleport that we normally used to reach the furthest cloister progressed, this time we were left to traverse the same bridge the clone Nikki had come. The monkey led the way, though its path was hardly steady. At times, I wondered if Asuka was right in suggesting this thing wanted something from me other than a banana.
“Mishka, where are you going?”
“If there really is some sort of a monkey here, can't you get it to walk straight?” Did they really not see it?
At the end of the bridge, Cloister 50 came into view and that's when the monkey took off, eagerly running to the end where the entrance to Cloister 51 was. I ran to catch up with it, forcing a confused and frustrated group to follow behind me. Once I was on the next cloister, I saw that it was an empty area filled with moving blocks, hollowed on one random side. The monkey had already chosen one of the blocks to ride and it was moving away from the platform I was standing on. Running fast, I managed to catch the lower lip of the hollowed side of it as the monkey cheered my success. The others yelled at my recklessness, but found their own way. I climbed into the block and the monkey signaled that it wanted to move on to the next block. This one had a hollowed portion that faced ours and, as the monkey jumped on top of it, I simply hopped the gap. The next series wasn't as easy and I had to put my acrobatics to the test. First, I dropped from my block to the flat surface of one passing underneath, ducking down and pressing myself against it to avoid being knocked off as it swept overhead. The monkey moved to another passing to the block's left side so I rolled to it and continued to roll as the monkey kept hopping to the next one, each of the succeeding blocks making a temporary line. After the fifth, I found myself looking up at another passing block that the monkey had moved to and let it slide over me before catching the hollowed edge. As I dangled from it, the monkey climbed onto me, jumping to another block opposite, rising from beneath us. Timing its ascent, I pushed my right hand off the block I was on and caught the edge, letting it pull me along. More blocks were rushing past from above, which were going to rub against the side of my block. Before that happened, I quickly climbed to the adjacent side, seeing the monkey hop onto a static block even further up. With it sitting on top, the block began to shake and then fall. While my block rose, I waited for it and jumped to the falling block, hugging the side. With neither of my hands getting a good grip on it, I felt myself slipping, but then the monkey dropped onto my shoulder and caused me to let go. I fell onto another platform and saw the entrance to the next cloister. Simultaneously, each of the others materialised to the platform, as well, surprise shown all around. Cyan and Gideon helped me to my feet as I turned back to the monkey on my shoulder.
“Mishka, have you fucking lost it? Why did you run off like that?”
“If she didn't, we wouldn't be standing in front of the entrance to Cloister 52.” Gideon said in my defence.
Taking a breath to recollect myself, I sighed, “What he said.”
Cloister 52 was far easier, being an open space littered with fiends. What made it difficult was that overzealous monkey, who took off again, bypassing the fiends and alerting them to our presence at the same time. Unlike before, the others were with me this time and we carried out a strong offensive through the formations of the fiends, inching our way through. It wasn't easy by any measure, but we would arrive at the way to Cloister 53, the monkey patiently waiting for us until we did.
After Cyan and I pushed back a Behemoth, the lot of us jumped down to the next cloister. Cloister 53 seemed straightforward. It was a straight hall into a dimly lit end where the monkey awaited in front of the entrance to the next cloister. However, as soon as I made the first step, fog seeped in from the corners and flooded the area. The effects were immediately noticeable; simply walking from end to end became nearly impossible. It was as if we'd all been stricken with an onset of vertigo. Of course, we'd been through similar cloisters before and one in particular had us transformed into bumbling fools, stumbling about and deliriously inebriated. A bit of vertigo, therefore, was not so much a problem as it was an annoyance. We moved slower and with more care, but the fog wasn't keeping us from reaching the other side. Nooj had the most difficulty, having to not only find his balance, but also translate this new norm to his mechanical limbs. Paine had to support him the entire way.
When I reached the monkey, it skipped to me and pulled at my leg. Turning around, it ran and jumped down to the next cloister. I didn't want to leave any chance that it might run off so, despite not having full control over my senses, I pushed off and dove for the next cloister.
Once my feet touched the ground, my senses had been restored. Cloister 54 appeared to be a room. Actually, it appeared to be a rather familiar room. Taking a few steps forward, I realised that none of the others had made it to this cloister, though whether I was even on Cloister 54 or not, I couldn't be sure. My eyes scanned the room and I soon knew where I'd been led. The monkey crawled out from under the nearby bed, tugging at the blanket with one of its arms.
“Quick, quick, this way, this way!” The little girl happily chirped, running into the room.
She wasn't alone this time and when I saw her new companion, her name escaped my lips, “Kyra...”
~ AUTO-MERGED POSTS ~
Kyra’s vision blurred out. She saw how panicked Nikki looked as the space around Kyra distorted. She could feel herself fading from Spira, and there wasn’t anything she could do. There was a flash of light, then darkness.
“Nik....ki...” a tear fell from her eye.
She was falling. She couldn’t see anything. Not even a pyrefly. There was an unbearable silence. Nothing like she had experienced before. The more she fell, the colder the air was. She thought this was the end for her. She felt more lost than she ever had in her life. She thought of her home, even though that wasn’t where she wanted to go. Maybe thinking would end this fall. She thought of the house she made with Aiko and Akio. Their log house just on the outskirts of Esthar forest. It was Kyra's idea to make that house. Close enough to the city, but far enough away that she didn’t have to hear the noise. She opened her eyes again only to be greeted by the same darkness surrounding her as before, only now it was accompanied by a pit of sadness.
She pulled her legs up to her chest. “Where am I?”
This wasn’t time compression. At least, not the kind she was used to. There were so many differences from the last time. Every time she thought about it, the more confused she got. The first time, things went weird; like worlds were clashing together. This was just nothingness, like Kyra had ceased to exist in either world.
Just like that, something clicked in Kyra’s mind. What would make her happy? As soon as that thought passed through her mind, she could feel herself falling faster.
“Hold on, didn’t she try to kill me?” Kyra thought again. She noticed her descent began to slow down. She was beginning to understand how this worked, but she had a lot to figure out in her head if she could even dream of moving forward.
She thought back to their first encounter. The girl was worse for wear and swearing like a sailor. “I suppose that would happen is she was sent above ground after being attacked by a Malboro…” Kyra chuckled as she thought. Nikki did have flaws, but everyone had flaws. It wasn’t long after that when she invited everyone in her house instead of forcing them to use the beds at the temple or local inn. As much as Nikki tried to push things away, she ended up letting people into her life without even knowing it. The only thought that had Kyra terrified was...
“Sanika. Why do you want me dead? It isn’t Nikki that wanted to kill me. I belong here just as much as everyone else does. Nikki, I’ll come back to find you. I swear I will. I won’t let myself disappear!”
Just as she said that, a warm bright light appeared and engulfed her.
She found herself standing. She opened her eyes and let them adjust to the light. She was standing in a place she had definitely seen before.
“Can I take a picture of you two?” Said a thirteen year old familiar face as she held the camera in front of her. She was wearing a black top that was showing her shoulders, but covering her arms to just below the elbow, and fishnet fingerless gloves to cover the rest. She was also wearing black pants with a studded belt and black boots. To top off the outfit, she was wearing a stylish black beret. This wasn’t too far off of what Kyra saw her wearing before entering the Via Infinito. Lillia was looking at a familiar couple. When Kyra realized who it was, she tried to move her legs, but couldn’t. She was stuck in that spot. Even still, the scene in front of her didn’t make sense. The colours were vibrant. This scene was real, but no one seemed to take notice that Kyra was even there.
“Why?” asked a younger Nikki, snapping Kyra’s attention to the two on the wall. Nikki was fifteen and sitting on the wall in front of Kyley’s house, Rhyse was sitting behind her with his legs around Nikki. She was wearing a purple spring dress with patterns on it, just like the picture Kyra saw in Rhyse and Raine’s house. Kyra also noticed that her bow and arrows were nowhere to be seen. Rhyse was wearing a tight black shirt with a brown suede jacket with the sleeved rolled showing his forearms. He wore black fingerless gloves on both hands. It suit him nicely if Kyra had to be honest. He was also wearing black pants. His shoes were off but close by against the wall.
“It’s for a school project. I’m taking a class on photography and the topic is relationships.” Lillia said cleverly. Nikki groaned.
“Ignore her, we would be very happy to have a photo taken.” Rhyse said while putting his head on Nikki shoulder.
Nikki raised an eyebrow and looked at him. “Since when did you answer for me?”
“Since forever.” Said Rhyse patting her head. Kyra smiled at the scene in front of her.
“Do that again and you won’t see the next fucking day.” She said bluntly.
“Alright then, smile.” Lillia said quickly. As she took the photo, Nikki smiled at the camera and just before the flash went off Rhyse planted a kiss on her cheek.
“Awww thank you! This will make a lovely photo.”
The expression on Nikki’s face changed and she elbowed Rhyse which caused him to fall off the wall. “Idiot.” Said Nikki smiling to herself.
“Rhyse are you alright?” asked Lillia concerned that he may have hurt himself.
“I’m fine, just a battle wound but totally worth it.”
Kyra noticed there was a bright warm light behind her. She ignored it. She wanted to know what happened next. Nikki was still pleased with herself after knocking Rhyse off the wall, but Kyra could see something strange from the corner of her eye.
“You don’t belong here” said a young voice behind her. Kyra regained movement in her legs as she turned around to see a tan skinned boy with a purple hood. He seemed just as out of place as Kyra did. “Don’t be scared, that light will lead you back.” The boy then disappeared.
She regained movement in her legs and looked back toward the bright light. She wanted to stay, but the light was oddly welcoming. Unlike the other times she was engulfed in light, this one was almost asking her to follow. Kyra nodded and walked toward the light.
She found herself in the same spot as before, but the clouds were different. Almost darker she guessed.
“Come on Nikki!” called out Lillia who was now twelve. She had stopped in the street and turned around to see where the person behind her had gone. Lillia was wearing a light pink t shirt with a hood. She was also wearing a blue shirt and blue sneakers to match. She looked very innocent. Not quite what Kyra was used to seeing. Nikki was fourteen now. She was walking very slowly behind her head was down and she was in the black gang uniform. Lillia decided to wait for her and then walked with her this time slowly in silence until they got to Kyley’s garden.
A ten year old Kai was playing in the front garden with Suki kicking a blitzball to each other, Kai looked up when he saw Lillia and another girl. Suki went over to Lillia and Kai picked up the ball.
“Lillia all the adults have been worried about you, where did you go? Who’s that?” asked Suki, Kai suddenly rushed over.
“NIKKI NIIKKI NIKKI! Where did you go? What happened? Why are you wearing black? Why have you been gone for two years? Why-”
“KAI!” yelled Kyley at her son he immediately stopped asking questions and bowed his head. Kyley rushed over to the two girls.
“Lillia thank goodness you are okay, and Nikki my goodness I have been so worried about you”
With tears in her eyes Nikki looked up. “I’m sorry...” were the words that escaped her lips with a whisper.
“No you have nothing to be sorry for” the woman pulled her into a hug. “Now come on inside you are home now, that is all that matters.” She said leading the distressed girl inside with Lillia. Kai was about to follow. “Kai you stay out here with Suki and play.”
“BUT!”
“No buts.” And she shut the door. Kai put the ball down and sat on it while he pouted outside the door.
Kyra could feel the warm light behind her again. She pushed the thoughts of what she had just seen to the back of her mind as she turned to leave. If the hooded boy was right, there was no point in lingering around in a place she didn’t belong.
She found herself standing in the same spot as the times before, but the clouds were darkened more than the last scene. The city was under attack.
A young girl ran to the front door of Kyley’s house and knocked. She looked to be about eight. She has long black hair and brown eyes she was wearing a white summery dress with lime green and bright blue butterflies all over it, she seemed to be distressed as she knocked on the door really loudly.
“KYLEY KYLEY KYLEY!” The friendly woman opened the door she was about fourteen years younger from what Kyra remembered, and very pregnant.
“Oh Sanika! I’m so glad you are okay we’ve all been worried about you, Sinspawn are still on the streets.” Some children poke their head around Kyley.
”Sanika...!? THE Sanika?” Kyra was taken aback.
“Sanika!” they say happily in chorus glad that there friend was safe.
“Hayleigh is bringing a little girl called Nikki, she lost her family. “ said the girl quickly.
“Okay dear, you can tell me all about it inside.” She said trying to usher the young girl in. She shook her head.
“No! I want to go and help! Sinspawn doesn’t scare me!” Said the girl.
“But you can help-“ it was too late the young girl had already teleported. “-here...”
Just then down the road a thirteen year old Haleigh was carrying a five year old in her arms who was crying. The little girl was wearing a blue t shirt with a black skirt. She wasn’t wearing shoes. Kyra knew who it was. She had seen her before in a memory.
“Kyley!” called Hayleigh. The worried woman looked up to see them enter her garden. She immediately went over to them.
“Shhh, shhh it’s alright” Kyley held out her arms for the young girl.
“Can you take her in her condition?” asked Hayleigh worriedly.
“I’m pregnant not ill! For goodness sake let me take Nikki.” Hayleigh nodded and handed over the crying girl. The girl didn’t seem to want to go to the older woman at first but then reluctantly did. “I want you to go and find Sanika, she teleported off somewhere wanting to help.”
“Oh no! Okay I will.” Said Hayleigh as she ran out of the garden and down the road Kyley then brought Nikki inside the house and closed the door who was still crying.
The warm light made an appearance again, as if on queue. She couldn’t help but wonder about Sanika though. ”What happened. She looked...innocent...?
Kyra was expecting to be thrown into another scene, but found darkness.
"Is she dead?" She heard a young but slightly familiar voice.
~ AUTO-MERGED POSTS ~
“Get the monkey!” shouted the voice in Nikki’s mind, Nikki groaned at it, she had chosen to stop questioning what it was and had grown accustomed to it. Her main concern was now to find Kyra, her fight had returned to her although she still felt wobbly on her legs she could feel her strength returning to her slowly. “This way!” said the voice again as Mishka turned a corner, Mishka seemed to leading them onto a twisted path instead of a straight line this annoyed Nikki a little bit.
“Mishka where are you going?”
“If there really is some sort of a monkey here, can't you get it to walk straight?”
The Nikki saw it, the teleport that would lead them to the Via Infinito she followed Mishka in making sure to keep close behind her. She got engulfed in a bright light and suddenly entered level 50, she noticed the sudden drop in temperature it was much colder than it was yesterday. “Shit!” said Nikki as Mishka suddenly took off, the increase in speed was unexpected and Nikki quickly ran to try and catch up across the room and jumped down to Level 51.
The level was filled with moving blocks “Fuck can’t anything be easy here” mumbled Nikki under her breath she watched as Mishka took off again Nikki looked around at the safest way to cross and motioned to the others to follow. At a nearby block Nikki jumped and landed. She looked up to see Mishka had jumped for a block that was further back and she had just caught the bottom. “WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?!” yelled Nikki at her but Mishka had clearly ignored her and was jumping on ahead, as Nikki lead the group safely across by jumping to one block and another, they were barely able to keep up.
“You think there really is a monkey?”
“Why wouldn’t there be a monkey?”
“Think about it Mishka just ignored Nikki just now.”
“You think it might be a trap?”
“Asuka seemed to think there was a monkey, and even if it is a trap we won’t know unless we keep up so stop your yapping.” Said Nikki shortly, she only wanted to find Kyra that’s all she wanted to do.
Finally they got to the platform that lead to the entrance to the next level, Nikki was pretty pissed off with Mishka for going on ahead. As Nikki watched Cyan and Gideon help Mishka to her feet, Mishka seemed to turn to something that was on her shoulder, but nothing was there.
“No you can’t keep the monkey, mummy won’t allow it.” Said young girl’s voice as if she was telling someone off.
“Mishka, have you fucking lost it? Why did you run off like that?” asked Nikki angrily.
“If she didn't, we wouldn't be standing in front of the entrance to Cloister 52.”
“What he said.” Said Mishka who was trying to catch her breath. Nikki only knew they had to get to Kyra quickly, if she was down here on her own then she was in deep trouble and needed help.
After jumping down to Cloister 52, she was relieved to find it was straight forward, the only problem was the fiends. They all seem to be looking at something that was going towards the exit, but again Nikki couldn’t see anything there. The fiends then all looked at the group and growled. If Nikki was going to make an educated guess she would have to say that the invisible monkey thing had alerted the fiends to their presence.
“FUCK!” said Nikki, an Iron Giant came running towards them, and it brought down it’s sword, Nikki just barely had enough time to dive out of the way, she looked to see that the group was scattered. But she had no time to think, five Vespas came buzzing towards her, she managed to take down two with ice arrows but the other three seemed to be smarter they seemed to easily dodge her arrows. She fired again and again but they were just too quick. Then all three seemed to charge at her at once, she managed to flip out of the way of the first two but she felt an incredible pain her back, the third had got her, she felt sick as the poison seeped into her. Feeling dizzy she sunk to the ground “Kyra... I’m sorry” she thought, all she could hear was the buzzing as she waited for that final attack. Suddenly she could hear the cries of the fiends around her as she saw blurred figures of Joseph and Gideon take down the Vespas, Gideon hands her an antidote which she immediately drinks. Feeling comes back to her body and she gets to the other side of the room with the help of Gideon and Joseph and jumped down to the next level.
On level 53 Nikki saw that it was foggy, it was a straight hall which was very dimly lit, She strained to see where the end was but couldn’t, thoughts of finding Kyra quickly came to her mind and she strode ahead that was until she found her legs to be wobbly and found the floor to be very comfortable. Joseph came over again and tried to help her up.
“You, can’t have Kyra, she’s mine.” Said Nikki poking his chest. Joseph raised an eyebrow at her and turned to Paine who was helping Nooj along.
“So I think Nikki is gone already.”
“I think she forgot what this fog did, she seems to be a lightweight.”
“I am here you fucktards.” Nikki then wobbled again and nearly hit the floor but was caught before she hit the floor.
“I wouldn’t try walking and insulting at the same time.”
When they got to the other end and jumped down to cloister 54 Nikki held her head. “Don’t say anything” said Nikki to the group, recovering from the dizzy spell from earlier she raised her head and saw that Mishka was gone. “Okay where the fuck did Mishka go?” The Guado wasn’t anywhere to be seen on this level, it was easy to see the exit at the other side which was up high and required you to jump from block to block again.
“Well uhhh... she was here.” Said the twins who were looking around confusion written on their faces. Nikki grew worried if Mishka had disappeared then finding Kyra was going to prove to being even more difficult; especially as none of the others couldn’t even see the monkey.
“Did you two see the monkey?” asked Nikki, “Since Asuka saw the monkey maybe the twins did as well.” The twins shook their head.
“We haven’t seen anything, we tried though but for some reason we can’t. Although Yuki swears she saw a light.”
“A light?”
“A warm fuzzy one.” Nikki slapped her head in annoyance and groaned.
“I think all we can do is continue on, the Via Infinito seems to dictate our path.”
“So you think if we carry on we will find both of them?” Val nodded. Nikki then instructed them to continue to follow her as they jumped from block to block, Nikki then heard a groan and paused indicating the others to stop. There was something in the hole ahead of them, heart beating quickly Nikki instructed them to creep round the hole. As they crept round there was a tense atmosphere she could see the top of a giant fiend in the hole. The green fiend was familiar, it was a giant Cactuar, and she certainly didn’t want to start a fight with it.
When they cleared the fiend, Nikki let out a sigh of relief and leant on her knees. These floors were getting even more dangerous and they had no idea where Sir Auron was or where her double was. They then continued on and managed to get to the exit and jumped down to level 55.
“For fucks sake!” said Nikki there were three corridors again going in different directions. Her irritation was showing now she was sure they would find them here but no it was just another maze.
“Oh a puzzle! Sure I’ll play.” Said the same voice in her head. Nikki groaned.
“If they are on this floor then we should split up.” Said Gideon.
“And even if they aren’t at least we would have covered this area.” Added Joseph.
Suddenly Nikki’s vision blurred and went white she saw a monkey on a pink bed and Mishka and Kyra in the pink bedroom. Then it was gone.
“Are you alright?” asked Paine Nikki shook her head and rubbed her forehead.
“I’m fine, let’s go with splitting up. The twins will come with me, Val and Gideon will take a group down the left corridor while the rest will go down the right.” Seeing that a wall was coming down from above, which was about to block the way forward for Nikki, she used a chocobo feather to cast haste on her and the twins and some of the albehd an d they ran and tumbled in just in time before it shut behind them with a boom. It was pitch black. “Fucking hell!”
“Nikki why don’t you charge up a fire arrow, we can keep it alight and light the way.”
“You know, you two aren’t as stupid as you look.”
“HEY!” moaned the twins Nikki chuckled, and got an arrow holding onto the arrow, she whispered.
“Fire arrow.” And the tip lit up in a flame she let go of the arrow and the twins used their magic to make it hover in front of them in a purple aura, lighting the way in front of them moved forward slowly until they eventually got to a bottomless pit.
“Now what?” asked the twins, Nikki looked around and saw a narrow ledge at the left side of the wall.
“We cross there, be careful and keep to the wall.” The twins paused at that, but then nodded, Nikki watched as they both cautiously got onto the ledge with their backs pressed to the wall and then Nikki followed. Nikki slowly with her heart in her mouth made her way across by shuffling her feet.
“Don’t look down. Don’t look down. Don’t look down.” Muttered the twins repeatedly to themselves. Suddenly there away a clang behind them. “What was that?” said the twins as they stopped.
“Keep moving.” Whispered Nikki to them as they hurried along the ledge, it sounded like some metal was scrapping against the wall. It was getting closer and closer, until Nikki heard footsteps go into a run. Nikki paled. “GO!” shouted Nikki at the twins, as the footsteps came nearer Nikki could finally see the other side which was lit by the fire arrow. “Jump!” shouted Nikki when they were close enough, she could feel the air around her tighten the footsteps had stopped, she was pretty sure it was Sir Auron charging an attack, Nikki jumped and landed safely with the twins and ran with her heart in her mouth.
Dead end. The twins ran to the wall knocking at it, trying to see if there was some secret passage, Nikki looked around and saw a small hole, inside of it there was a slope, that was good enough for Nikki. Nikki grabbed the twins.
“Ah Nikki what are you-“ Nikki pushed them down the hole “DOING?!” they yelled as Nikki herself jumped down the hole barely missing a tornado attack.
Her heart thumped loudly in her chest as she slid down and down, she felt a stinging on her elbows as the hole got smaller and she had to tuck herself in, she hoped the end would be safe, she hadn’t really thought this through, but then again there wasn’t much time to think, she knew the twins were still alive as she could still hear their yelling.
Finally at the end she saw a light and dropped out right onto the floor and rolled. She was sore and bruised as she sat up, she saw that everyone was here and safe.
“Well, that’s one way to get to Cloister 56.” Said Val, Paine offered her hand and Nikki took it she saw the twins were okay and were jumping about.
“That was awesome let’s do it again!”
“No.” Nikki turned to Val holding her head “What do you mean 56?”
“He means after we jumped down to the next Cloister this hole appeared and you three came out of it.” Said Paine. Nikki reached into her pouch and pulled out a potion and drank it.
“Right we should keep moving them we just had a run in with Sir Auron and-“ before Nikki could finish she was on the floor again only this time with Mishka on top of her. “For fuck’s sake you Guado freak, get the fuck off me before I put fricken arrows in your eyes and watch you eat them, and watch where you are going?!” Mishka smirked.
“Always a pleasure, I’m glad I found you guys.” She said as she got off Nikki and Nikki stood up glaring at Mishka, she was not having a good day.
“Mishka! Where did you go?” asked the twins.
“Well... Do you want the good news or the bad news?”
“I think we should hear the good first.” Said Joseph stepping forward.
“Well the good news is that I found Kyra.” Nikki sighed in relief all that worry had been a huge weight on her.
“Thank Yevon, I’ve been so worried, is she safe? Where is-“ Nikki stopped in mid sentence something didn’t sit right, if Mishka had found her, shouldn’t she be here? “What’s the bad?”
“That your friend crazy Nikki kidnapped her and I lost her.” Nikki tightened a fist and glared at Mishka.
“What?!” exclaimed Nikki angrily.
“Hold on Nikki it’s not Mishka’s fault, we’ll find her.” Said Cyan going over to Mishka’s side and turning to Nikki. Nikki breathed she had to calm down if she was going to think clearly.
”I presume you mean the clone?” asked Paine, Mishka nodded. “We have a theory about her.”
“Oh?” said Nikki turning to Paine. Paine crossed her arms.
“I remember you saying you couldn’t remember some things about Sanika,”
“Yeah, something happened when that other me was created but I don’t know what” Nikki remembered saying that she still couldn’t remember a lot of details about the gang her knowledge only came from remembering herself talk about it to other people, but the actual memories were gone.
“I also remember Sanika saying that she had your memories, we think that you lost some of your memories and they manifested into your clone.” That thoughts had crossed Nikki’s mind but it had been too ridiculous to believe for her, was this clone really just her memories? Seeing that everyone was listening Paine continued. “We think she is a shadow of Nikki, memories that are so strong that they have a will of their own.”
“Was this possible?” thought Nikki “But how do you know this?”
“We know this because of Shuyin, he was also a shadow that tried to destroy Spira.” Said the Meyvin.
“Oh! We’ve heard of Shuyin, that was the threat that the Gullwings saved all of us from, something about a big machine and an unsent.” Replied the twins jumping about.
“So you think that she wants to destroy Spira too?” asked Nikki. This whole thing was a little bit confusing, if she ever came out with her sanity intact from this place then it would be a miracle.
“No, but we know that she wants to destroy you, think about it, why would she kidnap Kyra, she wants to get to you.” Said Paine
~ AUTO-MERGED POSTS ~
Joseph
“That would explain why we haven’t seen the shadow Nikki yet,” I commented after Paine finished explaining.
“That doesn’t change anything. We’re still going deeper down this damn dungeon till we find Kyra, my doppelganger be damned or otherwise,” Nikki said, pushing her way past Paine. I sighed a bit as did Paine. Seems we both understand that this is exactly what the shadow Nikki wants, but we’re not going to try and stop her.
Stepping out onto Cloister 57, another maze blocked our path. Just as all of us stepped out of the portal, a glyph appeared under each of us. I felt the sensation of teleportation and I was suddenly dropped someplace unfamiliar. I looked around to see no one else was with me.
‘Great, now we’re separated in a maze while the dungeon is trying to kill us and is inhabited by a younger, meaner version of our leader and a psychic who is most likely trying to kill me. Good times,’ I thought sarcastically.
I ran down the twisting corridors of the maze, ever vigilante for any fiends or otherwise. After 10 minutes of running, I noticed something odd or rather the lack of something.
‘Where are all the fiends? We were assaulted almost constantly on our way down and now nothing?’ I thought, not pausing my run. The silence and peace made me even more on edge.
Suddenly, I heard some faint footsteps not that far from me. I ducked abound a corner and listened carefully. The person was coming closer and closer to my location. I held my sword ready and just as the footsteps were just one step away, I lunged around the corner holding my sword at their neck. It turned out to be Nikki who had an arrow nocked and ready to fire at my heart.
“Nikki! Don’t scare me like that,” I said, lowering my sword.
“I should say the same to you. I nearly put an arrow though your heart,” she replied, pointing her bow down to the floor.
After that, we ran quickly around the maze, keeping an eye out for anyone or fiends. Eventually, we made it to center of the maze which was an open circular area. No one else was there which was a bit worrying. I stepped towards the middle when suddenly the floor dropped out from under us. I managed to jump and catch the ledge while Nikki managed to stay on by flattening herself against a wall.
Taking a moment to breath, I looked into the darkness under me. I could faintly hear the sound of steel clashing and also battle cries. I realized what had happened and looked at Nikki. She also figured out what was happening down in the darkness.
‘The rest of the group must’ve came here at separate times and all of them have dropped down,’ I thought, looking into the darkness. Nikki jumped off and I let go to follow her down. As we plummeted down, the sounds of battle became clearer and louder. I drew my sword while Nikki managed to draw an arrow.
We dropped into a chaotic situation. Adamantoises and Flan Azabaches were in a tight ring around our comrades. Our friends were holding them back but every fiend they take down, another takes it place. Gideon turned around as Nikki and I landed with a solid thud.
“Glad you can finally join us. Where the hell were you?” he said, turning back to watch for more fiends.
“Shut it Gideon. I don’t think Joseph or I asked to be teleported across the damn maze,” Nikki fired back. I would’ve said something had I not needed to parry an attack.
“Good, you’re both here! Now head towards the portal!” Paine shouted. The group headed towards the exit portal, defeating or sidestepping any fiends in our path. The mad dash ended when we all ran through the portal into Cloister 58.
I took a moment to catch my breath and survey our surroundings. It was an open, flat space. I looked up to see something I didn’t think to see. Above us was Kyra, trapped in a spider’s web. She was struggling to talk but it seems that she was gagged by the web as well. I grabbed Nikki just as she rushed past me to get to her.
“Damn it! Let me go you fucker!” she protested, punching and clawing at me to loosen my grip on her.
“Not till you’ve calmed down. Have you forgotten who’s after your life? This situation is screaming “I’m bait” right now,” I countered. Nikki stopped struggling but I still held onto her in case she did decide to do something stupid.
“Youkou, Yuuki. Any chance you can teleport up there?”
“Not a chance, we don’t know how strong the web is. Also that might be what the shadow wants us to do” they said. I looked around for any other way we can get Kyra down safely.
“Let me go Joseph. I know she’s after my life but I’m going to get her down,” Nikki said, roughly shoving me to the side. I didn’t argue with her since this may be the only way to get her.
We proceeded with Nikki in the center and the rest forming a ring around her. We walked at a constant pace till we were directly under Kyra. Just then, a red glyph appeared under Nikki. She was sent flying to the opposite end of the Cloister. Mishka rushed in to help but she was stopped by an invisible wall of some sort. Suddenly a loud roar was heard and two giant spider fiends dropped down onto the group. AT the same time, the shadow Nikki dropped in with Nikki and began to shoot arrows at her. I rushed the spiders as fast as I could so we can dispatch them as quickly as possible. I just hope that Nikki doesn’t die before we come and help her.
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