Chapter 22: Pursuit

 

Nagy’s POV

I still couldn’t believe it, Thunderchild….evil? The man I had known for years, fought alongside against the very thing he had become. He had always fought against the forces of darkness but now he seemed to be leading them, a powerful force at that. The more Reiganna spoke about the army which she had watched gathering at this place called Oeilvert, the more I worried about what we were up against.

Looking up and through the window of the Hildagarde III I could see a smallish dot on the horizon that was the other Hildagarde, Fury’s ship, I had to call him Fury because he didn’t seem like Thunderchild to me.

“Are you sure it’s him?” I asked for the umpteenth time.

“Nagy, I KNOW my husband…as much as it pains me to say it, it’s him.”

I sat down on the stairs which led up to the bridge telescope and sighed.

“What happened?” asked Cid

Reiganna shrugged

“I don’t know, something must have turned him evil, something must have affected him…I think I know when it happened.”

“When we had that row on the Invincible…” said Domino

Reiganna nodded

“Yes, he must have turned or began turning evil then, we should have spotted it sooner…I should have spotted it sooner.”

Domino put her hand on Reigannas shoulder

“Don’t blame yourself Rei, he’s very good at concealing things when he wants to. No one would have known.”

“But we saw the explosion…the Invincible, no-one could have survived that!” protested Zidane who where he sat on the handrail around the telescope.

I looked up at him and shrugged

“It’s not the first time he’s come back from the dead, perhaps he’s immortal?”

Zidane shot me a strange look and shrugged

“I don’t know what to expect from him anymore but Thunderchild or no Thunderchild I’m not gonna let him hurt anyone, I’m not going to let him ruin the peace we all fought so hard to get.”

Domino nodded, I could see a terrible emotional battle waging within her, torn between her love for Thunderchild and her hate for Fury.

“I understand Zidane, let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”

“The poison!” suddenly shouted Mikoto from down at the front of the bridge, she had remained silent up until now.

“What?!” asked Reiganna

“The poison he was injected with by Jara, when he turned against us on Terra. Remember?”

I did remember, Jara had struck soon after we arrived on Terra, knocking us all out with a stun grenade and capturing Thunderchild. The next time we saw him he was at Jara’s side, fighting with her against us. He would have won as well had Jara not ordered him and his sister Funaho to summon forth power to fire her assimilating beam. The brother and sister had merged and both shaken themselves free of Jara’s control, destroying the machine they had been told to power and leaving the way open for Thunderchild to defeat Jara once and for all.

But the poison had been defeated…

“I thought he got over that.” I said

“Evidently he didn’t.” replied Reiganna, sighing as she rubbed her temples

“No-one knows what poison it was do they?” asked Zidane

Reiganna, Domino and Mikoto shook their heads almost in unison.

“No, the only person that would know is Jara…” said Reiganna her voice suddenly fading as she realised something.

“And she’s long since dead.” Concluded Zidane

Reiganna turned around and put her head down, deep in thought, I didn’t question what she was thinking, it was best not to really because Reigannas thoughts were often closely guarded by her.

“So, what can we do against an army of that size?” asked Mikoto

“Not a lot, but we can prepare for it. Gather our forces together and prepare for battle.” Said Zidane with a grim determination on his face, I could see he was ready to fight to protect his kingdom.

“He could strike any moment now if what Reiganna’s said is anything to go by.” I said, heck I thought to myself he could even have already attacked by now.

“I shall go back to Alexandria, warn them of what’s coming.” Said Reiganna

Mizrah and Snikity nodded and stepped forward.

“We’ll go with you Rei, we can help organise the defence. We’ve done it before remember, at Ankh-Morpork.”

“Snikity!” I protested but she made me quiet with a glance.

“No Nagy, this is something we have to do.”

Domino walked forward and bowed to Snikity and Mizrah

“Thank you, both of you. Go to Treno, to the Thieves Guild, Alex should be there and she’ll help you send out messengers to warn the major cities.”

Snikity and Mizrah nodded and followed Reiganna out into the front deck of the ship where Silveria was waiting.

They climbed onto the Silver Dragons back and held on tight as he roared and with several heavy flaps of his wings flew off the side of the ship and back the way we had come.

 

Fury’s POV

I saw the dragon leave the Hildagarde, the telescope I used providing me with a clear view of much of the events happening on the pursuing fleet. There had to be seven ships in total, in a direct firefight we were outnumbered well and truly.

I love you Thunderchild

The voice came back to me, weak and yet strong, uttered by that damn genome as I threw her off the side of the ship. It bugged me, bringing back emotions and memories I knew I had but I never wanted to see.

“Damn you genome.” I whispered under my breath as I tried to focus on the Hildagarde, unfortunately the magnification wasn’t good enough to see anyone on the ship clearly, but I didn’t need a telescope to know that my attempt to kill Domino had failed. I could feel her still alive, could feel her presence on that airship.

“Persistent genome, even with the knowledge of my true identity you tag along, trying to get to me…well, I’m not going to let you succeed…”

“Are you alright Fury?” asked the voice of Rhiana, bringing me out of my thoughtful pause, I turned around and looked at her.

“Of course I’m alright! What do you want?”

“Nothing…nothing.” Muttered Rhiana as she backed away, I looked at the genome as she left and chewed on my lip gently.

Love…what was it?

The accursed genome had said she loved me, but what was this ‘love’, it seemed a powerful force, perhaps I could use the power of this ‘love’ to my own devices…

I shook my head, no, love was weak…the emotion my previous form had felt for that genome had made him weak, and I was determined not to repeat the same mistake. I would love nobody, besides…there was nobody I could love.

 

Lawrence’s POV

I looked at the blood sample Fury had collected for me, the blood of my greatest achievement and my greatest nemesis.

So…she knows her husband is a megalomaniac and still she follows him I thought to myself as I watched the red blood trickle down the jar as I turned it upside down.

I could see Fury was troubled by Mithril Yugami, and perhaps this was something which could be exploited. For too long he had kept me under his thumb, and I had let him because he had enough power to help my plan, even if he didn’t realise that was exactly what he was doing but I played second fiddle to no-one, not even Fury and I had plans which would end Fury once and for all, and hopefully Yugami at the same time, for united they were in life united they would be in death.

“Perhaps you are more useful than we realise Yugami.” I muttered with a smile.

 

Domino’s POV

My heart beat slowly, my breath was short, I was still in some state of shock and it wasn’t from my narrow escape.

Fury is Thunderchild…

Looking around the bridge of the Hildagarde III, I could see Zidane talking to Mikoto, Xola and Kitiara lurking in one corner of the room and Nagy sitting by himself by the telescope. I didn’t know what they were thinking or talking about but I didn’t care, nothing mattered at the moment except getting to him.

Perhaps I could reason with him now, perhaps there was a way to get through to him.

Before hand I was shocked, scared even, and didn’t have the power to get through to him but now I was prepared, I knew that he was my husband and no matter what stood in the way I still loved him.

Thunderchild is Fury…

I just hoped he still loved me, because if he didn’t then I didn’t know what I would do with myself.

How could I live knowing that he wasn’t dead but our relationship was.

“Are you ok Nagy?” I asked the thoughtful warrior

He looked up at me and attempted a smile.

“Yes, I think so…I’m worried about Snikity.”

“She’ll be fine.”

“But…nevertheless I worry.” He replied with a sigh

A bleeping noise from the front of the room made me look up, we were receiving an incoming transmission from another ship.

Could it be him? I wondered

“Hildagarde, this is the Vigilance. We require your assistance on a mechanical matter.”

Cid walked forward and cleared his throat

“Very well Vigilance, come alongside and I will board you.”

Cid then turned to Zidane and put a hand on his shoulder.

“Take care of the Hildagarde Zidane, I’ll be back soon.”

Zidane nodded as Cid turned and left the bridge.

Moments later there was another bleep indicating another transmission. As soon as the transmission began I knew who it was from.

“Hildagarde…this is Fury, break off your pursuit or I will be forced to destroy you.”

Zidane frowned and replied

“We have the entire Lindblum fleet here…Thunderchild…what chance do you stand?!”

“Hmm, that’s you isn’t it Zidane? How pitiful you sound…how small and insecure. How I shall take great pleasure in watching the life drain out of your eyes…”

“Don’t speak like that!!” I yelled

There was a lengthy pause, then the voice returned with a glimmer of surprise in it.

“Domino…you are still…breathing?”

“Yes, no thanks to you.” I hissed at him

“Interesting…that fall should have killed even you. Never mind, I shall get you in the end genome, and oh how I shall enjoy hearing your cries for mercy as I slowly beat the will to live out of you.”

The cruel voice made me feel physically sick, I was used to evil, I had faced it before in the past, but never anything as twisted as this, he actually sounded as though he really would enjoy hurting me…and I didn’t doubt for a moment that this was the case.

“Thunderchild you fool, listen to us! It’s the poison Jara gave you, that’s what’s causing you to be like this, fight it!” shouted Nagy

“Nagy? I wasn’t aware you were here…how are you liking Gaia? Do you think it’ll make a nice place to die? Don’t be an idiot Nagy, this doesn’t concern you…as for Jara, she made me who I am and I will not have you abusing her name.”

Nagy cursed and shook his fists at the tannoy system.

“Can’t you see what you’ve become?!”

“More powerful than any of you could possibly imagine.”

Now Xola came forward and leant on the forward handrail.

“Why are you doing this Thu?” she asked

There was another lengthy pause

“Xola?”

“It’s me…Kitiara has come as well.”

“Then you should both know as well as I…in the shadows there lies power. With power there can be peace.”

Xola raised her eyebrows and whistled gently

“You’re doing this for peace?!”

“You sound surprised Xola, but continual war brings no victories for anyone. Finally…when I am in charge of this world, we will all be united under my flag, to go forward as one nation.”

“Under your control.”

“Of course…who else could bring about this change?”

I swished my tail uncertainly, not liking the way this was going.

“And what about us? What part do we play in your plans?” I asked

“You die…all of you. Slowly….”

The transmission ended, all of us breathed out gently, myself included.

“He sounds so…evil.” Said Nagy

“The poison would have made him like that.” I said

“But last time, he was more of a puppet than a puppeteer. He followed Jara.” Muttered Nagy, shaking his head

“Jara isn’t here now…he’s become independent, the poison has adapted to the situation.” Said Xola

I swung myself up onto the telescope platform and put my eye to the lense, seeking to view Thunderchild, to see his face again somehow, just to confirm that it was his voice making those sadistic comments, his voice telling me how much he wanted to kill me, for it still didn’t sink in…it didn’t feel real.

 

Fury’s POV

“We can’t lead them all the way to Oeilvert.” Protested Lawrence

I nodded, watching the Lindblum fleet trailing us patiently, I wasn’t used to running from anyone, especially not pathetic creatures as those who were following me.

<Ilvian? Where are you?> I asked my long range telepathic companion

<Almost at home again sir, The dragon raid was a success although we suffered many casualties.>

I silently mourned the dragons who had been killed and vowed to avenge them.

<I have one more task for you Ilvian….>

 

Outside the plains of Oeilvert, two creatures sat watching the monsters swarming around the castle.

“Pika, pika.” Said one

“Meowth! You’re right, we can’t possibly hope to get in with that lot in the way!”

Meowth and Pikachu had been stranded on the desert plains ever since their masters had been captured by creatures who looked the same as Domino.

They hadn’t looked very friendly though.

A strange noise behind them made them turn around and look up, a horde of silver dragons flew past overhead and landed somewhere around the back of the castle.

“Pika!”

Meowth nodded and stroke some of the whiskers on his feline face.

They crawled slightly closer to the castle, being careful to keep themselves hidden so to avoid the same fate as their masters.

Not long after the dragons had disappeared, another noise rose above the sound of roaring dragons and marching monsters.

“Those sound like engines.” Whispered Meowth to Pikachu

“Pika…pika, piKA!” replied Pikachu, as it excitedly pointed at something near the castle.

Raising into view above the canyons around them came somewhere in the region of twenty five airships of all shapes and sizes, their propellers turning quickly and engines droning noisily as they turned east beginning to line up in a V shaped formation as they gained altitude.

The airships passed directly overhead of Meowth and Pikachu, sweeping up the desert sand into a miniature sandstorm as the downdraft from the propellers hit the ground around them.

And then they were gone, climbing steeply into the cloud layer.

 

Fury’s POV
<I’m on my way.> came the announcement, I smiled and rubbed my hands in glee, those stupid fools would soon learn not to meddle in my affairs.

“You look happy Fury.” Commented Lawrence.

“I have every reason to be happy, everything is going to plan.”

Lawrence shot a look at me and then pointed at the mirrors giving us a full view of the fleet strung out behind us.

“You call that going to plan?! Fury, if we don’t break off our run and try to lose them we’re going to lead the entire Lindblum battle fleet back to our home!”

“We’re approaching the Forgotten continent now Fury.” Warned Rhiana

I walked to the front of the bridge and smiled, above us was a thick layer of cloud which worked perfectly for my plan.

“Prepare for rapid manoeuvres Rhiana, things are about to get interesting.”

Little did Domino’s fleet know it, but they were heading right into an ambush.