Ameria urgently ran to Lina's side to help comfort the violent wound on her stomach. She moaned at the slightest touch of Ameria's fingers to her chest. How could she have been caught off guard like that? It wasn't like her at all. It was because her magic wouldn't take any effect on the rough armor suits that Jirasu and Kurabos wore as a shell from any attack coming to them. Like they had said, she had to shyly admit to herself, was that she was helpless without her magic. It was her fault that Gourry dashed in front of her to block the attack, lose the Sword of Light, and allowed Shilfiell to be captured. It was a bad dream... A nightmare!
Through her frantic eyes the gaze was blurry and unclear. All she could hear was Shilfiell's screams ringing in her ears from somewhere beyond the room. She couldn't see, she couldn't hear, and she couldn't think. The only thing she could do was sit there helpless until her wound was healed, all the while listening to the explosive battle and Gourry's loud demands for Shilfiell back. She thought she heard Ameria quietly talking to her to help soothe the pain in friendly comfort, but she couldn't make any sense of it. All of the noise was deafening.
Valgarb... Why was he doing this to her? He didn't look all that evil, as though he wasn't a full-bred monster. There was something different in those golden eyes that she only had seen glaring at her ominously. Maryuoh Garb? The one that was released after she defeated Shabranigdo with the all-powerful, Giga Slave. The Giga Slave? Was there a way to end this battle here and now?
She could feel more relief flowing into her wound from Ameria's fingertips, the glowing of the spell blinding her unclear vision. Then more and more soothing light that stopped the blood flow from her chest. The skin felt like it had been mended back together. She closed her eyes trying to absorb every last ounce of the healing as though she were starving for food in a mad rage. The bruise's pain subsided from within her and felt numb for a slight moment before returning to its original condition.
She slowly opened her eyes and saw Ameria smiling over her. She sighed with relief. She could see now, the dizziness fading from the block in her head. She still felt like she had an overwhelming headache, but at least she could see clearly. Her ears felt numb and she couldn't her anything for a moment except for her own moan as she tried to lift herself up from the ground. Ameria's arm came around her shoulders and Lina supported her weight onto her for balance, as she slowly stood, still slightly trembling in shock. Then the thought hit her again. She opened her mouth to speak and it was hard to find the words.
"The Giga Slave... Is it the only way to beat them? We've only started and I've severely fallen to my knees... Is it the only way?" She whispered as she wiped the blood away from her delicate lips with the back of her gloved hand. She felt a whip of pain on her cheek. She looked up dumfounded just realizing then that Ameria had slapped her.
"Lina-san, just listen to you! One little magic spell doesn't work and that's the first thing you turn to! Remember what Shilfiell-san always told you and about what the old woman had shown you that night when Maryuoh Garb first appeared. Celes has also warned you about using the Lord of Nightmare's powers on this island! Do you want to disrupt the espers? Get a hold of yourself! We'll win, but not that way! Don't forget Shilfiell-san now of all times!" Tears swelled up in her eyes. "For all we know she might be getting tortured or possibly killed at this very minute! Please!" She continued to plead as she let out a sob. "Please think of someone else than yourself! When you cast that spell you threaten not just your life, but your entire friend's lives... The whole world's lives!" She screamed.
Lina couldn't speak; all she could do was lightly touch the mark of where Ameria had slapped her. Ameria was right, but now what would she do? She turned around and noticed Cyan and Gau rushing to Ameria.
"Ameria, is Lina okay?" Gau asked hastily. She nodded as she wiped her tears away from her eyes with a small sniff.
"What wrong?"
"Nothing. What about the battle going on? Valgarb didn't aim for us."
"Celes and the others are fending them off so far, but they're having trouble. He's extremely strong. They weren't kidding when they said he was as strong as Kefka." Cyan explained. "Please come and join us, Miss Lina, Madam Ameria!" He declared as he drew his sword and led them back into the battle space. Lina could see Gourry coming into view as they drew closer. Locke was giving him an extra sword.
"Give Shilfiell back to us, Kefka! Your trickery doesn't fool me!" Celes cried. He laughed down on her with Valgarb following in an evil smirk as he held the Sword of Light tightly within his grip. Jirasu and Kurabos moved up in front of them, their suits clanging on the metal floors. The fighters took up their fighting positions with Edgar helping Firia back on her feet. Setzer drew up his card blades.
"There's more to this than getting the Airship back! Now we have to get the girl back too!" He said in an annoyed voice. "Kefka, what are you up to now? If this partner of yours isn't even from Final Fantasy, and you're after us, not the Slayers!" He stopped, his eyes gleaming. "What are you trying to accomplish?" He continued.
"The Slayers and the Returners are one and the same now aren't they? Since you got ship wrecked you have all bonded and came together like brothers and sisters, allies, and friends. As far as I'm concerned it doesn't matter. Now your real battle begins with not just the Returners but the Slayers from afar as well! Are you ready?" Kefka challenged.
Setzer slightly grinned as he threw his card blades out at the armor, only scratching the sides slightly. He grunted in an irritated tone. Lina dashed in front of him.
"FLARE ARROW!" She said proudly as the bow of flame grew between her fingers and let of an arrow of fire at the armor. The spells still didn't take any effect on them. She sighed.
"Dammit! Nothing works!" She exclaimed. Zelos teleported before her very eyes so that she couldn't see the enemies in front of her. He was blocking her vision. Air flew up in her face as he lifted himself into the air. He came up face to face with Valgarb. Both of them glared at each other.
"Get ready, Valgarb!" Zelos declared. He drew back slightly and closed his eyes tightly. Black portals appeared on the ceiling from his fingers swift commands and his high concentration. Spikes flew down so quickly that Kefka and Valgarb hardly had enough time to teleport out of the way. Even when they reappeared, the spikes continued to come down like rain.
"Light come forth!" Valgarb said proudly. A light arose from the sword that glowed brightly as he brought it up toward the coming spikes. The light disintegrated them immediately at the first touch. Kefka dodged them with continuous jumping and a number of magic spells that finished them off. Kurabos and Jirasu finished off the rest with Bolt Beams, Fire Beams, and Ice Beams. Zelos flew back down to the ground.
"Damn! When he has the Sword of Light we don't stand a chance!" He gritted his teeth. Relm came up beside him and put her hand on his arm.
"Don't give up, Big Brother! Let's go get them!" She declared. He turned and smiled at her with an agreeing nod. Firia dashed to their side.
"Relm-chan, watch yourself! Zelos, take care of her. I'm going to try a Flame Breath spell on them." She said softly. Terra approached her.
"Firia, this enemy is... We can't kill him so easily without a thought! I see that hectic look in your eyes! Are you sensing it too?" She asked hastily.
"Feeling something," She admitted. "That isn't any ordinary monster."
"It isn't the same kind of energy I feel from Zelos." Terra continued. "It's different."
"Relm-chan, try a fire spell from one of your espers on my staff! I'll add in a Black portal and strike Valgarb! Firia, back me up with a Flame Breath!" Zelos instructed. She grunted.
"Why should I have to take orders from a monster?" She snapped.
"Just do it!" He replied simply.
Relm closed her eyes and focused her strength into the grasp of Ifrit, the esper of fire. Sparkles danced off her eyelashes as she opened them. A red line of flame crawled up the staff until it completely covered it. Zelos grinned as a black barrier of lulling glass appeared around it. He could sense Firia's Karyuoh magic forming behind them. He let out a yell as he released the spell from his staff at Valgarb. He brought up the Sword of Light in front of his chest as he began to hastily cast a protection spell on it. Firia let out a shriek as she released her built of energy of the Flame Breath spell. It spun in with Relm and Zelos's spell, creating a large circle of power. Terra's eyes gleamed as it came for Valgarb. The Sword of Light let out a sound as sharp as a laser, trying to absorb the energy, but it was too strong. It came through and into his chest. He fell back gasping for air, blooding pouring from the wound, sweat sticking his hair to his face.
"The power of an esper, a monster, and a dragon... Power like that..." Terra thought. She gasped as Valgarb lifted himself from the ground.
"Still standing are we?" Zelos asked in a sadistic voice.
"No way!" Relm cried.
Firia gasped as Valgarb looked at her straight in the eyes. The golden light gleaming off them... He had beautiful eyes. A monster's evil eyes could never trap her gaze like that. She felt a sense of guilt within her and she didn't even know why. She couldn't make any sense of it. Edgar and Sabin came up behind her.
"Karyuoh... A gold dragon... Fighting alongside with Lina Inverse. I could only expect that." Valgarb said slowly. Firia backed away in fright. How could this be happening? How did he know such things? The partner of Arumeisu from the New World that she had been seeking out to save the world from destruction... He had not known her, not seen her, not even known that she was after him until now. Besides that, she felt something that she couldn't explain to herself whenever she was close to him. The closer she was, the more she felt it. The farther away she was, the more she wouldn't feel it. Now she felt the feeling more than ever. All she could do was bow her head down in grief as Edgar came up beside her, and took her by the arm.
"What are you saying, you monster?" He screamed back. "What would you know about Firia?"
"More than you know at a single glance! Careless things the Gold Dragons are! They don't even have enough pride to show their identities to outsiders of their kind. It's disgusting!" He said as he spit some blood from his mouth on the floor. Edgar clinched his fist.
"Quiet y-"
"It's okay." Firia interrupted as she walked calmly out of his hold. Terra and Sabin gasped.
"Firia!"
"I know now that it doesn't help to hide things. For someone to love you like all these people have loved us, then we have to admit who we are and be honest. Lying is wrong and I won't hide it anymore! If Edgar doesn't like me for who I am, then so be it..." She said slowly. She turned and faced him. "It's true, I'm a Gold Dragon called a Karyuoh from the New World, seeking out Lina Inverse for a cure to save the world from utter destruction! A warrior under the great Saichro-sama!" She declared.
"Firia..." Edgar whispered under his breath with surprise. Sabin put his hand on Edgar's shoulder.
"It was time that she told you her secret."
"You knew?"
"Yes, from the second day that she arrived at Figaro."
"How did you know? Valgarb, tell me! What have the Karyuoh's done to you to make you talk in such ways?" Firia asked him calmly. He stayed silent, his eyes looking forlorn. His gash was partly healed but not completely. Everyone grouped around Firia. Zelos examined her carefully.
"Such a deep concern for a monster I see," he said in a teasing voice.
"A monster? Him?" Terra said aloud. "I don't think that's it."
"Terra, can you do something to defeat them? Transform?" Locke asked. He looked up and heard Valgarb laughing.
"Espers? I'll be the only one showing you an esper!" He declared. An orange light formed behind him as he closed his eyes in deep thought and concentration. Magi flowed up through his veins. He heard a howl in his head, pounding like thunder. Rage, madness, defeat, and kill... Those were the only things his mind could gather together as the huge, green dragon god appeared before him. The group all backed away in disbelief. Firia and Terra gasped. Terra searched at the back of her mind to speak to the raging Bahamut.
"Bahamut, cease this at once! Why are you fighting against us? Answer me please!" She pleaded through telepathy. Bahamut let out a loud shriek, his mouth open and ready to flame. Everything was so bright that the group was blinded. They could hear Valgarb and Kefka laughing as Kurabos and Jirasu moved out of the way. Firia's eyes gleamed as she stared into its golden eyes. Something snapped within her and she had to scream without thinking.
"Don't! Not to a dragon!" She yelled. "By the name of Karyuoh stop it! Why are you fighting me? I'm a dragon!" She screamed again as tears spurted from her eyes. She ran in front of Sabin and Edgar hastily with her arms spread out.
"Firia, move it!" Edgar commanded her. She didn't move an inch. Gau threw his arms around Ameria to support her from falling as the ground began to rumble. Everything was vibrating. Cyan held up Gau accompanied by Zelgadis as Locke came up in front of Terra and Celes. Zangulas clutched Martina to his chest, Zelos doing the same with Relm and Strago. Gourry held Lina tightly as she gasped before screaming from the stress of the vibration.
Bahamut let out a loud burst of fire at them. Flames scorched at their bodies, red light flashing rapidly so that they could see or think. They were helpless against it. Then... Silence.
Firia slowly lifted her head. It felt so heavy. Blood trickled down her face, down her lips. Her legs had been burned to shreds, blood crawling down them like a tangling snake. She couldn't even lift herself from the ground. She moaned as she tried to sit up. Where was she now? A flake of snow brushed against her cheek, darkness surrounding her. Where was everyone? She was alone... Somewhere. Somewhere?
"Firia, hear my words," a voice roared in her head. Bahamut? It was Bahamut calling her name. "You have now seen your punishment."
"Punishment?"
"Take a look at those battered legs of yours. Do you expect to walk again?" Bahamut howled in a stern voice. Firia gasped as she looked down on her tattered legs. They were torn to shreds from the scorching of the flame. She tried to move in disbelief, but immediately she moaned from heart-striking pain. Anguishing fright filled her eyes as they danced innocently. She couldn't stop the tears. She was crying from the pain and from the sadness that she felt. Why her? What had she done that had been so awful?
"Why have you done this to me!" She screamed louder then a banshee, her voice filled with soul-killing fright. She thought her voice would crack, the soreness preventing her from saying another word. Bahamut grumbled.
"Look closely, my Firia. At these..." He said gently. The pounding stopped in her head and she felt more snow falling upon her. A picture spread out before her very eyes. The sky was filled with dark clouds that stretched out above her. The mist and the snow clouded her frantic vision. Then for miles and miles, for what seemed to the ends of the Earth to her, were dead dragons.
Black dragons, their scales like small pearls stained in red blood. The wings were tattered and burned to shreds like her legs now. Their golden eyes seemed to be angrily staring at her. They surrounded her gaze and there was no way for her to avoid looking at their terrifying, macabre faces. Blood tangled around everywhere in the horrible scene, the background remained black. More snow fell upon her as she kept helplessly staring at the gruesome bodies. Her eyes gleamed frantically and something within her throat forced her to scream. It was sore and painful to let it out and her whole mouth went numb with pain.
There was a soft crying coming from somewhere. Firia looked up with tear-stained eyes. There was a child... A child no older than five years of age was sitting among the dragons. His hands covered his eyes and he continued to helplessly cry. There were two small, black wings spread upon his back. He had no shirt and only a small pair of white pants. His hair was light blue. Firia just stared at him with shockingly frightened eyes. A child... She loved children and they were both trapped here in this horrible scene. No... He was a part of the scene. He was one of those black dragons.
"An ancient dragon child... Was he the only one to escape all this death? This small child?" She thought to herself. She got that feeling again as she continued to stare at him. A sudden thought went through her mind without her even thinking. "Valgarb! That's you isn't it Valgarb?" She opened her mouth to call his name to the child, but she couldn't feel her jaw or her throat in numbing pain. She wanted to walk to him and comfort him in her arms, but her legs would not move an inch. What was all of this?
"This is what your people have done, Firia. Your horrible people did this to your own kind!" Bahamut said in a melancholy voice. "I, ruler of all dragons will not allow it! These are my people, but all they are now are corpses!" he continued as the picture faded from her vision. "You are very fortunate, Firia... That I will not kill you as punishment to your people for this! Be grateful!"