The room flashed white and the fairy fell over limp. The chair had drained out its magic into the Magictek Armor devices, sucking it dry of life. The man simply tossed it down the next conveyer belt that was heading for the next facility, as though throwing away garbage carelessly. It was cruel!
"Next!" He called. A group of silver armored soldiers entered the room with another beast on chains. It was a dragon with green scales and a long devil like tail. It screamed showing its large, sharp fangs, and its huge yellow eyes gleamed in fear. It had the same collar on its long neck, cutting off the use of its dragon power.
The soldiers tossed it in the chair with the man still laughing evilly as the locks consumed the beast's arms and claws, mercilessly.
Kurabos' and Jirasu's eyes gleamed at the sight. Kurabos felt his master move beneath his arm slightly yet slowly. He gazed down to check on the sick and feverish master although now out of his ice cream stage. Valgarb was trembling strangely. It wasn't like someone as strong as himself to fear anything.
"Dragons have a lot power. I think we can finish powering this one up if we use all of its powers. Then we'll have the fairy's healing and this dragon's attacks. What do you think?" The soldier asked the main boss before him.
"Sounds good. Just suck em' dry!" He said sadistically. He walked forth and moved his hand for the control button. Valgarb limped forward slightly, still not able to move in his drugged condition. Jirasu and Kurabos rushed up to stop him from blowing their cover from the cruel man and the machines.
"Stop it..." Valgarb whispered. "Don't hurt it..."
The leader pressed the switch and power flowed through the clear tubes, the magic black. The dragon shrieked and Valgarb cringed in pain as though it was hurting himself and not the other dragon victim. Memories flashed through his mind of the pain he and his people went through... Shrieking like that as they fell from the sky. Why did he have to go through it over and over? Traumatizing...
"Leave it alone!" He screamed. The man abruptly turned around as the room flashed black and then died down. He walked forth to the trio as the group of soldiers removed the dragon from the control center and threw it down the conveyer belt with the other drained creatures.
"My, my, if it isn't the three espers that escaped? I knew I should have given you collars," he said in an cruel voice. "Want to be next? You can feed yourselves to my lovely works of art!" He began to laugh again and they sweat dropped in annoyance of the typical behavior of a villain.
"You have a mistake! We're not those things you just had in here! I'm just a fox and he's a lizard!" Jirasu cried. Kurabos nodded as backup but still afraid of the man standing before them with red eyes.
"We understand that you guys are the empire right? We're enemies too, so don't get us wrong, but we're not those experiments of yours!" Kurabos said sternly.
"Sure, a talking fox and lizard. Oh! And there's your little friend with the horn too! Got an excuse for that?!" He asked. Kurabos and Jirasu looked at each other with weary faces and knew that if they didn't say everything they'd be the lab mice.
They blabbed on about everything... Mazokus, Valgarb, themselves, Armeisu, and the sword of light although it was painful to do so. This man knew about Mazokus and the world famous sword of light due to villainous information for the empire to beware of. After their pleading and the story they told of the bar fight. He said they could go from the lab since they weren't espers, but that he wanted to see this sword of light himself.
He explained the powers of Magictek Armor and the power they used in them was the power of espers. Legendary beasts of magic that had escaped from the gate of their homeland, and they simply hunt them for the magic powers. Their enemies were "The Returners," a group of fighters who had taken away their most prized experiment: Terra Branford, the half-human, half esper girl.
Valgarb grunted. If these espers wanted to be alone and sealed a whole gate up to do so, why did man have to go and toy with them? Intruders on Dragon's Peak usually were not very welcome. Of course that was back in the days where the gold and ancient dragons lived in peace. Things might be different now.
"We have more powerful magic on the other continents of this world. Magic power can fade from the magicians but not until after a huge amount of power is used. You know your power is gone when your hair turns white. After a few nights sleep the magic will return to you and you may use it again with your hair color reverted back to normal. The best sorceress of the other lands is Lina Inverse and her team of fighters who seemed to have shipwrecked here on this island. One of them just happens to be the owner of the sword of light," Valgarb explained. The man laughed.
"I'm Kefka, leader of this pathetic empire. I want to make a deal with you. You can stay here in the empire's palace and attempt to get the sword of light with my assistance. In return I want you to help me capture these fighters you speak of to start a whole new line of even more powerful Magictek Armor!" Kefka said evilly. Valgarb grinned.
"I'd gladly accompany you. As long as I get Lina Inverse and..." Valgarb paused.
"And?"
"And leave the dragon espers alone, got it?"
"Zelgadis! I'm home!" Terra cried happily as she ran inside. Narshe was cold outside and smoke was still arising from her breath. In Narshe it felt like winter all year long, even in the middle of dead summer. Frozen machines lie scattered around the town streets, breathing out hot breath through the icy streets. Terra pulled off her wintertime coat and sweater and placed her shopping bags on the kitchen table. Zelgadis wasn't in the living room like usual. He was usually in there or the kitchen, but rarely his guestroom. He never left the house into the forlorn heart of Narshe either.
Terra sighed and searched around the back rooms. She knew he wouldn't leave the house even if he was wearing the black and brown coat with the mouthpiece she had given him when she attempted to bring him outside. It even had a hood to cover his spiky, stone hair. Still Zelgadis refused to leave the safety of the home, like a prisoner behind steel bars. But he liked it that way, and Terra respected that. She knew herself that it was hard to linger in the village with everyone gossiping about the Magictek armor witch. Of course her green hair did make her look like a witch... That was worst of all. Sometimes she didn't even feel safe in Narshe, but there was no place else to go... Edgar might take her but he would probably demand she marry him or some dumb thing like that, so she never tried.
And then there was the Empire Cities in the south... If Kefka got a hold of her it would be all over... Even with The Returners help and strong powers, her natural esper form could destroy city after city if it were used for the ambitions of the evil Empire. The Magictek armor wouldn't operate without the power of the espers. She could recall using "Liam", the esper of fire, to destroy 50 Empire soldiers in less than three minutes. If they used her human/esper advanced powers, the Magictek armor could cause havoc for anyone or anything it passed. Terra wasn't about to let that happen to her... Or her beloved father Maduin, which Kefka and Cid had been searching for for years. Terra gritted her teeth and grunted.
"They'd use him for some sick experiment... Sitting there being drained of his natural magic and then he would die... Turn into magicite within their cruel hands!" Terra thought grudgingly. A picture of her father dying and screaming within their machines connected to the Magictek armor flashed in her mind as she wanted to scream out,"Those sons of a bitch!"
The door to Zelgadis' room was open but he wasn't there as Terra peered in. His bed was empty and all was silent and still. She paused in thought and then headed for her own room, wondering if Zelgadis had gone out to the backyard to shovel snow. Terra smiled thinking about how thoughtful he was. She quietly went in to find Zelgadis trying on her dresses over his own clothes in the closet mirror. Dresses were scattered all over the floor but her makeup case lay untouched within her jewelry box. Terra gasped.
"I knew I forgot to do something when I left! I'm not used to always putting the espresso machine away!" She cried. She ran to Zelgadis who was hyper as ever with his eyes bulging. Terra forced him out of the dress and into the living room while she cleaned up the mess in her room, still relieved that he didn't get into the makeup like last time. Terra giggled remembering how funny he looked when she came in and saw him dancing around the living room with a coffee mug is his hand. The biggest coffee cup she owned at that! And then there was the smeared lipstick and pink blush covering his face. It was hilarious, and had Terra laughing for hours.
When Terra emerged back into the living room Zelgadis was drinking water and seemed much calmer as he gazed out the window. He was still blushing from embarrassment since Terra had seen him in such a feminine dress. Yuck! Pink with ruffles, almost resembling the dress of the young woman with the mace he had met about two weeks ago. Terra giggled.
"What have I told you about the espresso machine, Zelgadis?" She asked, shaking her finger in front of his face as though disciplining a child. Zelgadis sighed.
"Sorry, Terra. I just couldn't help myself..." He replied. She laughed again and then sat down on the couch beside him, smiling happily.
"I have good news from the moogles I visited today!" Terra cried out joyfully. "It seems one of your friends drifted here close to Narshe and they're taking care of him! I even met him..." She paused. "A little dense but a nice guy. Said his name was Gourry and that he knew you quite well," Terra finished. Zelgadis stood up with an astonished look on his face.
"You mean Gourry is alive? This is great!" Zelgadis cried. He actually smiled and took Terra's hands within his own cold ones. "This is great! When can I go see him?" He asked energetically. Terra giggled.
"Don't get too excited on me. You just got of your espresso... Anyway, we should be able to stop by the caves again tonight. Just keep yourself contained until then would you? Oh, and by the way, the caves are very cold at this time of year. I was almost freezing to death in there. And the moogles, being their happy selves just laughed at me and kept on dancing," Terra said in a sarcastic voice. Zel happily nodded, recalling Terra telling him about the happy-go-lucky creatures that lingered in the north caves with the "Snow men".
Terra would tell him wonderful stories of her life on cold, dull, winter nights. They would sit near the fire drinking lattes with Terra going on and on about the empire, The Returners, and all her odd friends. She had an odd life that seemed to start out too depressing for her to act so happy all the time... Even so he knew she really loved children and her team and creating peace. Those are thing's that can warm people's hearts... But somehow none of that warmed up his heart of stone, from his terrifying childhood. That was something he never wanted to remember. But the nightmares would still creep up in his silent, calm sleep.
Zelgadis had only been in Final Fantasy for a little over a week and he and Terra already held some of his fondest memories. But still he would NEVER give up on Lina and the others! Gourry was alive and they had to be as well. Zelgadis smiled and bounced out of the living room into his guestroom.
"Sure is happy. Glad I could do something to help warm that stone heart of his..." Her eyes gleamed. "I'm no one to talk... He knows about me too, now..."
" Name: Lina Inverse. Identity: Bandit killer and Dragon Spooker. Class: First rate sorceress. Weaknesses: Large fish or slugs, and her big sister. Special Information: Is the only one in the world able to use the Lord of Nightmare's powers to cast the Giga Slave. Was once possessed by the Lord of Nightmares and used as a pawn to defeat the Hellmaster, Phibrizo. Also has read the Claire Bible and discovered the Laguna Blade spell, and is the only one to know it. With it she defeated Zeigram and Garb, two of the strongest Mazokus. Lina also loves Gourry Gabriev and will do anything to try to save him from danger," Valgarb explained to Kefka. They were sitting in the conference room, accompanied by Jirasu and Kurabos who were just playing around with the little war toys on the large table.
Valgarb held out a picture of the hyper redhead and Kefka took it and examined it.
"She doesn't look so tough or sound very tough... You sure she beat your master?" Kefka asked after remembering what Valgarb had told him about his original master, Garb. Yet he still hadn't explained why he was so hard up about using dragons for testing.
Valgarb held out another picture, now showing a handsome blonde haired man, still ignoring Kefka's question... It was painful to think about it. The more he thought about it the more he wanted to kill Lina, and sometimes it was unbearable to hold it in. Hearing the esper dragons screech in pain always reminded him of the big war with the golden dragons and how much he regretted them as well. This palace brought anger and violence back into Valgarb's heart, but Kefka might have been the only way to get the sword of light.
"Name: Gourry Gabriev. Identity: The keeper of the sword of light and first companion of Lina Inverse. Class: Wonderful sword fighter, no magic skills. Weakness: Hits from Lina Inverse on a steady basis, stupidity, being without his sword of light for five minutes. Special Information: Is especially dense, yet wise in sword battles. Can revert the sword of light into a normal sword by using a pick like device in the handle. The sword of light was the family's treasure that has now passed on to him. Lina Inverse travels with him in effort to get the sword from him. Also loves Lina Inverse but neither of them will admit it," Valgarb paused and passed the next picture out.
"Name: Zelgadis Greywers. Identity: Chimera fighter and shamanist magic user. Class: First rate sorcerer. Weakness: None, protected by stone skin. Special Information: Was transformed into a chimera by a great sorcerer, and searches the land for a cure. Travels with Lina Inverse to discover new lands. Also a strong sword fighter. Hardly any attacks can harm him through his stone skin. Quiet, serious, and powerful. One of the only shamanist magic users," Valgarb continued. He pulled the last picture out from his cape, which revealed a picture of a black and purple haired girl, seeming very young.
"Name: Ameria Wil Tesla Sailoon. Identity: Little Miss Justice, the princess of Sailoon. Class: Second rate sorceress. Weakness: Fighting single, fear for the death of loved ones. Special Information: The princess of Sailoon. Very annoying, not very strong, etc. Justice loving and will do anything to conquer villains of evil. Fears much for friends and father. Loves Zelgadis Greywers. Killed by Zeigram and the Hellmaster Phibrizo," Valgarb finished. Kefka grunted.
"They don't sound very tough... Except maybe this Zelgadis Greywers. I mean afraid of slugs, fish, and big sisters?" Kefka laughed. Valgarb's eyes flashed.
"Don't underestimate her, and keep in mind you promised to leave her to me. She's my foe to defeat!" He said evilly. Kefka giggled and nodded.
"Hi, Gau-san!" Ameria cried happily as she approached the Veldt. Gau sat up from under the tree and watched her run to him. He smiled.
"So, what's up with Mr. Thou?" He asked. Ameria sat down breathing heavily; running from Doma to the Veldt wasn't easy with all the wild beasts running around. Then again, Gau had talked to the animals and told them not to be afraid of Ameria, and that she was a friend of nature. After that even the birds flew down to sing lovely songs on her fingertips. Ameria loved to come to the Veldt after her business with King Doma was completed and the work of teaching unjust criminals in the jail to succumb to justice.
" He said that Setzer is at Zozo for a poker tournament. He won't be back for another two weeks so I'll just have to sit tight here until then," Ameria replied happily. She always tried to be cheerful for Gau's sake, but deep down she could still remember all the nights in Doma where she had cried herself to sleep in grief of her friends. She hated it... Thinking about Lina, Gourry, and Zelgadis being gone forever...
"You eager to leave?" Gau asked in a slightly sad voice. Ameria gasped and shook her head in a pitiful effort to lie.
"No, it's not that! I'm just worried about Daddy and everything..." Ameria said joyfully. Gau laughed and nodded.
She no know how deeply Gau feel about her... How important it is for Gau to know she like to come here and be with him... Gau thought. He shook the thoughts out of his head and smiled.
"Suppose I guess your age..." Gau said, changing the serious topic. He paused in thoughts. "Thirteen, right?" Gau asked. Ameria grunted and then winked at him.
"I'm fifteen I have you know!" Ameria said in an sarcastic voice. Gau gasped.
" Really? You one year older than Gau!" He cried with his fangs slightly showing. He grinned at himself and blushed. Ameria giggled.
"You told me that you were 13, that makes me TWO years older than you!" Ameria corrected. Gau gasped.
"Gau almost 14, so shut up!" He said loudly, trying to topple over Ameria's hysterical laughter.
That okay... I glad Setzer not come for while. Ameria no can leave for a few more week now! Gau thought gleefully.
Zelgadis sat silent and alone in his small guestroom, watching the clock tick minutes away. Memories came pouring into his head. Of the raging tempest... Gourry falling off into the merciless sea... The touch of Ameria's hands before he forced himself to let her go... If it weren't for him Ameria might have been alive like him right now.
He sighed and laid down his head on the pillow for support. It wasn't that he couldn't hang on anymore, it was the fact that he tightened his hold to save her and she had to scream... Scream at his hold, pressure from his terrifying stone skin. This body had given him enough grief, but to take Ameria away from him was worse than anything else was. Losing Gourry and Lina was almost as hard but at least they weren't lost because of him, like Ameria.
She had torn out of his awful hold and was swept away by cruel waves with her fingers sprained. A picture of Ameria being pulled into the deep ocean gathered in his thoughts. He gasped and wanted to scream, but he didn't want to disturb Terra and have her come in and make him explain what was wrong,
Terra... He had woken up from a three-day sleep to her sympathetic face looking over him with large eyes, asking if he was okay. It was only luck that the waves had washed him up to safety at Narshe. He was so very lucky to be alive, lucky that a girl had come away from the village to watch the silent waves and discover him. That was Terra. She had saved his life, and for that he owed her everything.
Terra had powers that most other people on Final Fantasy didn't... The power of magic to heal. If she hadn't had healing magic, she wouldn't have been able to heal his battered chimera body. That's was felt the most mysterious about her... She had treated him like an equal from the moment he woke up again. She had never even asked what he was or why. He told her that by choice when they were sitting at the fire. He didn't know why but he trusted her more than anyone he had ever met for some reason. She was so kind and loving and different.
He noticed that immediately. She had a strange aura of power that couldn't be explained. Some kind of new magic power. That was why he had asked her to come out of town, and asked her to fight with him so that they could show each other their powers against the outside beasts. It was then that he realized that she, as well, had a heart of stone deep down. Terra was also a monster with gentle eyes like him...
"That's magic field, don't let it get to you, Zel!" Terra had said. Zelgadis nodded. A spider web of white light surrounded them and Terra tried to jump out with Zelgadis following her lead.
"Come forth almighty Unicorn!" Terra screamed. A gallant white horse with a horn on its forehead appeared before her to protect them. It shrieked and absorbed the magic field from affecting them.
The plant-like monster facing them seemed to grin evilly. It opened up its black pedals, revealing a space-like portal, releasing a shot of ice aimed at the two. Terra gasped at the strong spell of darkness and tried to run in front of Zelgadis.
"Zelgadis watch out!" She cried. A pink light surrounded her and Terra howled. Her skin and hair turned as white as the snow. Her body absorbed the light and clothes ripped off, revealing the fur like skin. Her eyes flashed red and her hair grew out like a wild beast. Terra screamed, two fangs slightly showing over her tight lips.
She quickly jumped in front of him and the spell reflected off her monste- like body. The forestland exploded with darkness, with Narshe going into panic. Zelgadis gasped and caught the unconscious creature in his stone arms. He gazed into its gentle eyes and he knew it was Terra.
"Terra... She knows how I feel... Because she is monster too..." Zelgadis said sadly while gazing into the mirror that seemed to reflect his soul. "An esper," he whispered.
" You guys are twisting my arm!" Gourry said in an annoyed voice while watching the moogles dance to the popular song of "Mad Machine". It was a song from the great anime series, "The Bubblegum Crisis". The moogles giggled and spun around with the rhythmic drumbeat. Gourry tried to follow their lead and tripped over on the cave rocks. Mog giggled.
"Dance, Gourry, dance!" He cried in an childish voice. Gourry grunted.
"I'll never be able to go a fast as you guys go!" He cried. A feminine voice echoed through the cave over the sound of the loud music.
"Mog, we're here!" Terra cried happily as she ran into the small room of the moogles. She was completely covered in sweaters and coats to protect her from the cold. Her voice was muffled through her scarf and her earmuffs made it hard to hear. Zelgadis wearily followed her as Mog ran up and threw his arms around Terra's legs, still to short to reach her waist. Terra giggled.
"Still a pro dancer, eh Mog-chan?" Terra asked in a cute voice. Mog nodded joyfully. Terra smiled down on him and looked up to see Zelgadis and Gourry hugging.
"I thought you were dead, you idiot!" Gourry cried. Zelgadis laughed.
"I guess it's going to take more than that to do me in!" He said happily. Seeing his friends die and perishing himself in the battle with Phibrizo, Zelgadis had finally realized the value of life and seemed in higher spirits afterward, but still kept to himself a lot. But seeing Gourry again and seeing Zelgadis again after the wreck got their hopes up to meet Ameria and Lina on this strange island of power and espers.