Pandemonium

[tntoverlords]

Characters: Mikoto, Warrior of Light, Firion, Refia, Edward, Locke, Genesis, Blank, Vivi, Rikku, Mjrn, Serah
Progress: Ongoing
Summary: The group finally confronts Garland.
Location: Pandemonium
Date: August 15, 1804
Warnings: Violence
Notes: Additional information on this week's segment can be found here. To see the entry walk into Pandemonium,

Comments

ahaha I kinda fail.

[morehatthanmage]

Since the encounter with Lufene, Vivi had started to become less and less overtly afraid and more and more overtly irritable. He hadn't been able to find the courage to challenge Lufene but after spending the last few evenings thinking of numerous ways he could have said 'no, shut up' and stopped her from saying things he was more than ready to pick a fight with her 'father'.

He didn't like being afraid and so, problematic as he was aware it was somewhere in the back of his head, he was more than happy to continue onwards replacing it with anger and false 'I could have done' bravado. He walked faster than usual, determined to go and fight Garland before he was afraid again. He fumbled around in his pocket, withdrawing a small bottle of Ether. He had only been able to find three in Lindblum when he searched, the relative rarity of them combined with sudden demand in the form of people stocking up for the shrine missions had made seeking them out difficult. He'd been careful with them so far, resting rather than using them so to save them for emergencies.

This was, he was fairly sure, an emergency. He held the small bottle up to Refia once the sled had stopped.

"Um. You were casting float this whole time, right? And we don't have anyone else who can heal as well as you. You can have this."

[for_cosmos]

The Warrior of Light showed less apprehension than most of the group. Instead, he was prepared, and even confident. He had faced his Garland time and time again in battle. He had bested him before, fighting alone, though he had not always escaped completely unscathed. This time, though, with the whole group of them there, defeat was almost impossible.

“There is no other way but to face him head on in battle,” he said quietly. “There is no need to hide from him when we are prepared to face him, trap or not. We shall do what we came here to accomplish, and defeat Garland.”

[notathiefcole]

Locke checked his belt for his trusty boomerang and dagger. If Garland was ready to fight, then so was he? Nobody went after his friends and got away with it.

"What are we waiting for? He must be stopped."

Still he had learned over the last couple of weeks that his place was from the safety of the back row, so he would patiently wait until the group was ready to move on.

Headspeak to Mikoto

[cycleofchaos]

Welcome home, Mikoto. Are you ready to fulfill your purpose?

[knowshermachina]

Well, if everyone else was intent on running head-long into the obvious and pre-stated trap, Rikku supposed she'd better tag along! She finally shrugged at them and turned back to the door.

Besides, there was a sort of infectious courage about some of these warriors all eager to rush inside. "Well, alright. We're gonna win anyway, right?" She grinned.

[nomerevessel]

Mikoto didn't jump this time. She'd been expecting this. She came to a dead halt though, looking around as if she could find the source of the voice.

"I'm ready, Garland," she said, lifting her chin defiantly. To the others, it would look as though Mikoto was speaking to thin air, but she didn't bother to explain.

She continued onwards, hopping from platform to platform. Retracing Zidane's steps...

[smallmage]

Refia had brought a small pack like the rest of the group, leaving the sled outside when they came to any large structure - and this certainly counted. She'd stuffed as many bottles and items as she could into it for an emergency pack, and she didn't like letting it out of her sight. Aside from her rod, it was the only thing she carried into Pandemonium.

Vivi's offer, though, was met with surprise - and even in this chaos she had to smile. He might not be a real boy, but he really was very nice. "It's okay - I have my own." She'd... badgered the Regent. Not that he hadn't wanted them well-prepared, but she'd probably overdone it. "You use that - you'll probably need it later."

The path they had to take was winding and looked to be made out of petrified mushrooms, which wasn't the nicest thing she could think of at the moment. But when Mikoto spoke to the air... This place was strange, and nothing here was a coincidence. "Are you all right?"

[morehatthanmage]

Vivi hadn't thought much of Mikoto talking to herself, he was distracted enough to reach the conclusion that she was just saying she was ready to fight him. He placed the ether back in his pocket, picking up his staff and following the group.

"We're going to win." He said to Serah, shaking his head. He wasn't entirely sure of it himself but for once, thinking about it too much was helping. Losing and not fighting had the same consequences, letting fear of losing stop them from fighting was probably a little pointless. And they'd beaten him before with less people. And Edward had said he could probably stop Garland from using his magic.

For once, even if it was mostly false bravado, Vivi was fairly confident.

[dewdrop_pebbles]

Mjrn's nodded to Vivi, expression more determined than enthusiastic. "We must, for the sake of Gaia." There was a brief, grateful look at Warrior of Light, since his confidence bolstered her own, and a nod to Locke as well. She was ready, as ready as one could ever be prepared for something like this.

Mikoto caught her attention, apparently speaking to...nothing as she did, but rather than repeat the questions directed at her, the Viera simply followed and listened. Her senses were -false modesty aside- better than any of them. It was up to her to anticipate danger, as much as it was possible.

[for_cosmos]

“Right.” The Warrior of Light said, nodding in agreement of Vivi’s determined statement. “Have faith in our strength. We have already come this far.”

The unprompted words from Mikoto, who had been quiet and surly for quite some time, raised some questions in his mind, but he did not ask about it, as some of the others had. The words seemed to him to be a resolution, a simple preparation for the battle that was to come. Instead of asking, he focused on navigating the platforms, trying to search out the most direct and easiest pathway for the group to take.

[nomerevessel]

Mikoto glanced back at Serah and shook her head. "No. This is the first time since we spoke to Lufene."

Garland's prompting had given a sense of urgency, however, and she turned to press forward again with renewed vigour. Leaping from one platform to another, Mikoto was much more agile than her normally sedate movements might indicate. Of course, she had perfect balance: one advantage of having a tail.

She made another jump, looked up, and almost fell over. Her heart seemed to freeze. Garland! There he was. They had reached Garland's observatory, a large platform above which a model of the planet was suspended. The black figure of Garland stared down at them from the top of the observatory.

Mikoto came to a halt, staring up at him with wide eyes. Now that she had finally encountered her creator again, words failed her.

She managed to greet him at last, her voice flat. "Garland."

[cycleofchaos]

Garland stood on the observatory platform, continuing the monitor the glow of the planet, despite the arrival of the others. No fear of a back attack entered his mind, as he had been tracking this group's movements long before they opened the portal. Not even Mikoto's flat greeting drew his attention from his vigil.

Satisfied at last with the progress, he turned, black cape fluttering as he did. "Well done, Mikoto." Step by step, with measured care, he descended the stairs. "Are you now ready to take your place, to fulfill the purpose for which you were created?"

[thisdesertrose]

It was odd to see the man with the same name as the one who they had fought in the Void. He did not look the same, not at all. But the urge to run and draw his weapons were becoming more and more difficult to ignore as he descended the stairs, looking very casual as he spoke to Mikoto. "She does not work for you," He said, his voice hard. "We are here to defeat you."

[knowshermachina]

Rikku didn't have much trouble with the platform jumping, though she nearly missed a step and fell off at one point, laughing nervously to herself before she continued. When they reached Garnet's observatory she couldn't help but stare at everything. Whatever was holding up the planetary model had to be impressive.

When Garland spoke though, she frowned but managed to bite back a response, instead focusing on Mikoto. She reached out to give the genome a pat on the shoulder. "We're all with you, ya know." She offered in a whisper, trying to sound reassuring, before she turned her attention back to Garland.