After a while, they managed to reach the end of the trials. In front of them was the door to the Chamber of the Fayth.
Ranma and Tidus looked at each other, nodded and went inside.
"Tidus," Wakka blurted out. "You can't..."
"You can stuff your teachings," Tidus responded and followed Ranma inside the chamber.
Inside, Yuna was praying to the fayth, her white wedding dress falling on the ground behind her.
"That's... a fayth?" Tidus murmured while looking at the ghostly form floating before them. Different from the others Ranma saw before, this one was a child, wearing a purple vest and cap.
Ranma nodded. "Yes, Yuna is receiving her Aeon just now."
Tidus looked curiously at the fayth. "I don't know... I believe I met him before somewhere..."
The small boy smiled when Ranma arrived. "Ranma Saotome. I'm pleased to finally meet you. I am the fayth of the legendary Aeon, Bahamut."
"Um... nice to meet you..." Ranma said.
Yuna smiled and got up. "Bahamut just told me how he and the other fayths - and Espers - were supporting our case. They have been worried for a long time about the temple's plans, but couldn't do anything about it, as they can only appear in the presence of a summoner. And, except when being summoned, they only have an incorporeal form and cannot influence their surroundings."
"Don't worry," Ranma said. "We'll finish this pilgrimage, with or without Yevon's help. So, um..." He looked around. "May I have a new summon too?"
Bahamut smiled enigmatically and shook his head. "Not from me. He is down there..." And the fayth spread his arms and the stone statue began shining in a bright light. Afterwards, it disappeared and left a gaping hole behind.
"W-what's that?" Tidus asked in surprise.
"Down there is Sub-Bevelle... the basement of the palace. Down there, you'll find your new Esper."
----
Meanwhile, Nabiki and Kasumi were talking to their sister. "Akane, we were so worried about you," Kasumi said and sighed. "But at least you're okay."
"Really?" Akane smirked. "You were worried as well, Nabiki?"
The middle Tendo sister coughed. "Well, um, yeah... After all, you are my sister... and I don't really like what creep did to you."
Akane hugged both her sisters at the same time. "Thanks, both of you. But, somehow... I had the feeling Ranma would come..."
'How happy they are,' Lenne thought. 'I miss my family, too...'
Kasumi frowned at hearing Lenne so sad and wanted to say something to her, when suddenly, her bag with the dressphere began gleaming.
Or, to be more exact, the warrior dressphere gleamed. It slowly floated out of the bag and began emitting a weird light.
Ukyo nervously gripped her black sword. "What's going on here? What's that?"
The others were on edge as well. "I know that feeling," Aura said. "It's... an unsent."
And when the sparks of light formed a figure, most of them gasped.
"Shuyin..." Kasumi whispered.
The swordsman from Zanarkand spread out his arms and laughed evilly. "Hahahaha! Finally! Finally I'm back in Bevelle! Now my revenge will be complete!"
Kimahri, Ukyo and Aura tried hitting him with their weapons, but they passed through his image and did nothing. He sneered at them. "Just you wait until I awaken Vegnagun... then I'll make you all pay for that."
And he turned back into a trail of sparks and flew in the Chamber of Fayth.
"Quick, we have to follow him," Akane shouted, when suddenly, a loud voice stopped them: "Stop right there! Hands up, or we'll shoot!"
It was Kinoc and the warrior monks. They were surrounded.
----
Ranma heard the commotion outside and wanted to go look, when suddenly a trail of sparks shot past him and descended down into the hole. An evil laughter echoed through the room.
"What was that?" Tidus shouted and drew his sword.
"An evil spirit full of hatred towards the humans," Bahamut explained. "He's going to unleash a terrible disaster that's resting in Sub-Bevelle. You have to stop him."
"You don't have to say that twice," Ranma grumbled. "Come one!" And he and Tidus jumped down into the pit.
----
Shuyin enjoyed the freedom of having an incorporeal form. He could go anywhere, anytime... the only problem was that he couldn't hold onto this form forever, he had to possess someone, or something. But when he would reach Vegnagun... His eyes gleamed with excitement when he inagined merging with the giant machina of destruction and bringing chaos and destruction over Spira.
Finally, he reached a giant room, that was just composed of a small catwalk leading over a black abyss.
And from the depths of that Abyss, the giant silhouette of an enormous machina rose.
"At least," Shuyin cackled maniacally. "I found you, Vegnagun! Now activate, and cleanse Spira with me!"
Suddenly, a strange sound could be heard. It sounded like a giant engine that came to life. Billions of lights on the surface of the machina activated, and three giant spotlights shone down on the place where Shuyin was standing.
Now, within all that light, Shuyin could clearly see the big machine. But... it wasn't Vegnagun!
"Intruder alert," A mechanical sounding voice exclaimed. "Intruder alert! Defense systems activated. State your name and function, and explain your intentions!"
The giant robot looked like it was wrapped into the armor of a giant knight, while at the same time, several of its parts made it look like a castle itself.
"What are you?" Shuyin demanded to know. "You're not Vegnagun!"
"This unit is called Alexander, Esper-machina conjoinment and defender of Sub-Bevelle. Now state your intentions, intruder, or I'm forced to take counteractive measures."
Then realization came. "An... Aeon?" Shuyin gasped. "You aren't bound to a fayth, but to a machina? That... cannot be! Tell me! Where is Vegnagun! I need it!"
"Alexander unit is bound here not as Aeon, but as an Esper-machina conjoinment. Subjects intentions are the initiating of the mass destruction weapon, known as Vegnagun. Such actions cannot be allowed. Leave immediately, or I'll activate the guardian mechs!"
"Try to stop me," Shuyin yelled and turned around. But stopped when he saw Ranma and Tidus approaching.
"There he is," Ranma yelled. "Shuyin! This time you're finished!"
Tidus gasped and stared. "He... looks almost like me..."
Shuyin snarled. "You won't stop me. First you impersonate my beloved Lenne, now you're trying to trick me of a copy of myself? You have to think of something better than that."
Tidus snarled. Copy? He'll show him!
Ranma then stared at the enormous machina behind Shuyin. "Is that... an Esper? Or a machina?"
"Both of it, I would say," Tidus replied. "Have a look if it's your Aeon, I'll take care of Shuyin for now." He raised his sword.
Shuyin stared back with evil eyes. "Fool! I'll kill you!" And his own, black sword appeared in his hands.
And the two swordsmen from Zanarkand met with a clash of swords.
Meanwhile, Ranma approached Alexander.
"State your name, stranger," the giant mech demanded.
"Um, I'm Ranma Saotome, martial artist and summoner... are you my new Esper?"
"Processing data," Alexander said. "Identity of Ranma Saotome confirmed. How can this unit be of service to you?"
"Um... will you join me on my quest to defeat Sin?"
For a few seconds, Alexander didn't respond.
"Affirmative!"
----
Tidus had to breath hardly. Damn, this spiritual fighter surely wasn't a pushover. And worse, his own attacks didn't seem to do any damage.
Shuyin seemed to realize that as well, as he smirked and floated towards the exit. "I'd like to play with you some more, but there is a world waiting for me to destroy it... After I found Vegnagun, I'll come back."
And his trail of light flew outside of the room.
Tidus turned his head. "Ranma! He got away!"
See other episodes by Shritistrang
(Posted Tue, 01 Aug 2006 13:08)
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