Author's Note: I've finally REVAMPED this story and figured out exactly how I wanted it set up. Thanks for sticking by me with this everyone!
Among this and many others, all stories are being worked on. Please bear with me. I've taken a break from The Kaplan Trials and Cora Chronicles to finish some other works including Distant Shadows and Tomb Raider: Back to Egypt. Feel free to RR any of my work in the meantime. Thanks!
Confessions of a Shady Past
-Nigrescence
Bevelle Underground
Paine stopped short of the long walk they had endured. How long was it going to be until they found what they were looking for. Obviously Bevelle had its secrets but why hidden in such a place like this? She halted the others as she heard some footsteps approaching and saw a shadow. Baralai appeared from behind the wall and raised his brows in surprised. He didn't think that the three would be here. Paine narrowed her eyes. Something about him was…off.
"The Gullwings? I was wondering who was there." He said in that sensual and calm tone of his.
Yuna narrowed her eyes. She too could sense that something was up. This wasn't the Baralai they had met in the beginning. He was hiding something. She just didn't know what. Baralai closed his eyes.
"You don't have to tell me." He said stepping forward. "I know why you've come. You're here to destroy the weapon that threatens all Spira: Vegnagun."
Rikku shifted her eyes over to him and nodded slowly. Could she also sense that he was…off?"Am I right?" he asked. His eyes drifted over the three girls and settled on Paine for a moment. He could sense the attraction growing in him, something he hadn't felt in so long as he watched her pale face and the crimson eyes that stared from behind the bangs that fell in front of them. He looked over to the others. "If it could be destroyed we would have done so long ago."
He emphasized with his hands as he was stepping forward once more. "But Vegnagun must not be touched. Neither you nor Nooj seem to understand that." Paine raised a brow. Had he talked to Nooj? She thought New Yevon and The Youth League wouldn't converse at all about the matters at hand. The only option would be to strike and neither side had begun to do so. Only a selected few temples were under order to keep the opposite side out. But that could have given the two the time to contact each other."You talked to Nooj?" She asked. She must have wondered why after what happened the last time any of them had seen each other.
Baralai nodded, looking to the dark woman.
"He...cannot be trusted."
Rikku wasn't buying it. If Nooj couldn't be trusted, then he certainly couldn't. She raised a brow and tossed a hand in his direction. "And you can be?" Baralai turned around and paced. "Touché. Yes, I suppose Yevon has brought that distrust upon itself." When he stopped pacing, he turned around to face them. "At any rate, you need not interfere. Leave Vegnagun to me." Yuna stepped forward although it was hesitant. That feeling that she caught in the beginning hadn't settled and she didn't know what he was capable of. "What are you planning to do?" "The only thing I can do," Baralai took a hold of his staff and brought it in front of him. "Keep those who seek to harm Vegnagun, away."Baralai narrowed his eyes. "Please Leave."
Paine wasn't finished. This was 'Lai she was up against. She knew something was a little off. They all knew it! And they realized it now that he was challenging them. This wasn't the same Lai that Paine left behind two years ago. His eyes were hard. Not sincere and sweet like she remembered. This…wasn't Baralai. She stepped forward and tossed the sword briefly into the air, catching the hilt in her right hand. "Rikku. Yuna." she said, narrowing her eyes on Baralai. She watched his soft expression grow into a look of pain. She could tell that he didn't want to fight, but he would if he had to. She nodded. "I'm going." Baralai froze as he listened to her words, but he didn't let his fear get to him. Why was she going against him? Didn't she trust him? "Paine." He said, his voice a little surprised by her actions. He saw as she stared at him. And he tightened the grip on his staff. "I don't…please, just leave." She frowned and rushed off into battle. Her dress sphere taking form of the dark knight she had acquired not too long ago. Time had waited for her as she was draped into the new armor and rise out of the fire with her long sword. She would have to get stronger with this suit and since Baralai had become the biggest challenge, she might as well earn some experience from him. Her sword slammed against his chest and he staggered back in a yell of pain and surprise. He pressed his hand to his chest as his eyes gazed down at the now torn clothing. Had she pierced him? He wondered, feeling lightly with his fingertips. A red liquid seeped onto his fingers and dropped onto the floor. He winced, looking back to Paine who slowly withdrew, stepping back. He narrowed his eyes on the girls. "It's not over!" He yelled as he reached to his side and pulled the custom gun from its holster. He aimed on Paine and pulled the trigger. And the gun exploded. He chose her specifically. She was the strongest and closest to him. If she were to fall first, maybe the others would retreat. They did not. Paine fell back as the bullet pierced through her hard metallic suit, splitting the iron that composed it as the bullet became wedged into it. She huffed as she slammed onto her back and cringed, trying to stand. She scowled, crawling to kneel and wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth. The force of the bullet had knocked the wind out of her. She worked to come to a stand but staggered back as she did. "Nice shot." she murmured with a glare. Yuna narrowed her eyes on Baralai. How could he do something like that? "Paine! You okay?" Rikku gasped, twirling her blades. She dodged Baralai's spiraling staff as he yelled in rage. "Just fine!" replied Paine as she ran off toward him. "I'll handle it!"Baralai dropped his staff and fell onto his knees. Panting as the blood seeped from his chest. His mouth had also collected some blood on its corner and he wiped angrily at it. He glared up at the three women who slowly took their steps to him. Paine tilted her head as she stared down on him. For once, his eyes had softened, sad-like, puppy-like, and she remembered him as he was then. The Lai she knew and respected, had returned. But she didn't want him to return in the state he was, bloody. He staggered back a bit as he stood, using his staff for support. He turned away and hurriedly took off around the corner. Rikku watched while Yuna tilted her head. They turned to the footsteps that went ahead of them. Paine stopped and turned to her friends. "Sorry." she said shrugging. "I'm going ahead." She didn't tell them why, but she must of felt the need to follow Baralai. Obviously besides Yevon hiding a large machine in their undergrounds, Baralai was hiding something too. And she'd find out. Paine wanted to save Baralai from whatever it was that was keeping him in that…dark era that she had sense. Baralai was always loving and compassionate. But just now, when they were fighting, it was as if someone else was fighting with him. He needed to be stopped! Yuna nodded. "You have your reasons." Rikku quite concerned for Paine held her hands to her chest. She nodded shutting her eyes, careful to show a smile instead of concern. "Fill us in later, okay?" Paine stalked off. "Much...later." And they watched her disappear.
Or not.
Rikku ran after her screaming for her to 'wait up' and Yuna soon followed.
"No way..." cried Rikku who was quite terrified.
It was the first time she had seen one. A monstrous beauty surrounded by pyrflies. An Aeon, Rikku had said. Not in happiness, but in fear. Yuna stepped forward afraid of what was to come if she had to fight such a creature. Paine stretched a gloved hand and pulled Yuna back. She wouldn't let this beautiful creature tear her 'friend' apart. Not even for a moment. This Aeon, Bahamut, stood on two legs with its long arms crossed over its large chest, with extraordinary wings stretching behind it. Such a creature to see, thought Paine. But still, it loomed over them like death, itself. "You wanna get killed?!" screamed Paine, pulling Yuna back. She stepped forward and withdrew her sword, turning to the Aeon with her crimson eyes locked with the fires of battle. She slammed the blade down against the platform. "We have no choice!" The Aeon loomed down over Paine and growled with fire seeping from its mouth. She glared and charged forward. No longer was she draped within the fine metal of her Dark knight dress sphere. She was fully adorned in the comfortable leather of her warrior dressphere. And that was something she could never part with. She was a warrior and it fit her very well. She could sense Yuna's hesitation. The fear that struck her friend's heart as she sadly looked at the creature. Paine frowned. "You must fight! You have to!" She yelled, struggling alone against the Aeon. Yuna's thoughts disappeared at her friends' words and she turned to her sword. But then she fell again into her thought realm. She saw that the sword-- It resembled that of His. Tidus's sword. And with that sword, he had overcome so much and he had protected her. But now that he was gone...It was her turn. Her turn to protect her friends. She turned to the others. Rikku and Paine, attacking the Aeon. And the Aeon would scream with each blow that it received, and each blow that it'd give out. Paine fell back against the platform, cringing as she went, her side bleeding profusely. Then Rikku fell, shrieking as she held her stomach, her face covered with the blood that poured from her mouth. She was the only one standing. Slowly, her eyes followed the slender form of her Aeon. And it glared back at her with no sense of realization within its glowing red eyes. She stepped forward and clenched the hilt of her sword. Tidus' sword. "Okay..." she breathed. "This...is my turn." The Aeon collapsed on one knee, lowering its head to the high summoner. She dropped her sword and stepped slowly toward it. The Aeon rasped its whines as it was in pain from the battle.
Yuna frowned and kneeled before it, stretching a hand to its head. But as her fingertips caressed its muzzle, it faded away into the pyreflies it was composed of. She watched as the pyreflies fell away, spiraling up into the air and away. Rikku and Paine stepped beside her as she let a tear fall from her eyes. They lowered their heads as well. Even for Paine, it was a brief moment.
"Why...is this happening...?" whispered Yuna as she looked over at all of the pyreflies swarming about the room. Rikku watched her Yunie with concern while Paine looked on. She didn't quite understand the situation, but could tell Yuna had a lot of sulking to do. She stepped up beside Yuna and gently touched her shoulder. "You were right Paine... we had to fight it, didn't we?"Paine remained silent. She felt that if she said anymore, their journey for spheres would end. Yuna wouldn't be able to go on. She'd be in fear that she had to fight her guardians, and Paine knew that was something she didn't want to do. Paine kneeled and took a gentle hold of Yuna's arm and helped her up.
"We have to go." Paine suggested. "Any longer and we'll have stayed too long."