melodiesoflife | Final Fantasy || Melodies of Life

When the darkness and light fade, all the Heroes of Light will find themselves back in front of the Crystal; regardless of whether they had been fighting Kalki or the Calamity. The crystallized garden seems to be back to the way it was before the battle, with one major difference. Ramza-Kalki is now a blood mess, laying on the ground. Not dead, but certainly defeated.

"You... You imbeciles...!"

Ramza-Kalki very slowly pushed themselves off the ground, getting on a knee and coughing blood. For the first time, they looked angry and hateful.

"Don't you realize it was all for you...? For everyone?" Another bloody cough. There was obviously not enough strength left in them to fight the Heroes any longer. "Why must you enjoy this rotten existence that much... Do you think there are no other Ancients out there? People like them are everywhere... You fight them, defeat them and then they return. So long as existence is the way it is, people like them will always exist. And in their wake, other Calamities and Crystallises shall always follow. Their designs will always destroy lives and worlds, cause pain and death. That is the existence you're defending... It's not even living, it's just surviving. You can't stop all cycles. You can't save all lives. You can't even live what lives are saved. And when presented with an option to fix it all, you would deny it...? You would favor eternal return over a better existence?"

Edited 2017-06-23 08:13 (UTC)

"... I'm not in the mood to talk more philosophy right now."

Minato approached Ramza-Kalki without an expression, then shot a pensive look at the others around him. Inwardly, he exhaled a sigh of relief he was correct that those who were separated from them are alright. Back to his more immediate concern bathed in an ugly red... He doesn't turn his cool eyes away from the fire in theirs, unfeterred by wrath; at least outwardly.

"Would you hurt us, if I healed you? Or will you finally accept you're outnumbered?"

Edited 2017-06-23 09:02 (UTC)

"You're not a God," Selphie responded to Kalki's tantrum coolly. "Thus, you have no right to choose for the masses what we do with our lives. There will always be people, heroes, like us who will stand up against what is perceived to be wrong. Your intentions may have been in the right place but trying to destroy everything we hold dear is never the answer."

The SeeD wasn't sure if her words would hold much weight with the others who sooner kill Ramza-Kalki then try this route, but she still had to try. She sheathed her nunchaku and turned to the others with a thoughtful, but tired look. Ultimately, Selphie just wants to go home, wherever that may be.

"Well guys," she began carefully. "What now?"

"Oh, my God, shut up." Deadpool growled at Kalki, pulling out a gun and pointing it at her. "I've had to listen to that crap for five years and you're still at it! God, even when you're beaten, you still can't shut up about your cycles and crap!"

Cloud might have been patient enough to listen to her up to this point, but his eyes drift over to the body of Jack. He thinks of all the others who have died in the wake of everything Kalki has wrought. Palitutu is no better, but at least when she stole someone's identity she didn't steal their body too.

But all her ranting and raving makes him furrow his brow, shake his head and shout back at her. "Who asked you? Everything you say you're trying to save us from you've done or worse. All you're doing is demanding to have the last word."

Edited 2017-06-23 14:40 (UTC)

Duster had stood near the back throughout almost the entire confrontation, the entire fight, and now he was prepared to wait and let the others do the talking. That is, he had until everyone started telling that they were tired of listening to her, because she was a monster, because she was arrogant--and they were right. People like her and Porky existed in the dying worlds of Crystallis and the Nowhere Islands, and for what reason?

Duster didn't know, so he stepped forward. He had a chance to finally speak to her as a person, rather than a target of her power.

"I knew someone similar to you," he said softly before straightening up and raising his voice. "Someone who was immortal, who couldn't die. The world was his playground, and he hated everyone in it. By the time I met him, he was ready to destroy all of existence out of boredom...never caring about the lives he ruined to complete his plans.

"Kalki...what are you going to do if there is no life or death? If nothing changes? Are you going to wish things were different and erase everything? Are you going to suffer for all of eternity and wish you did something different?

"The point is...so what if suffering still exists? That's life. Everyone here has had hardships, me, you, Cid...those hardships taught us things, for good or for worse."

He fidgeted with the hem of his vest and sighed.

"...I think I can say I feel pity towards you, but at the same time, I can't forgive you for what you did to this world. Because of you, thousands have died.

"But." He looked into Ramza-Kalki's eyes. "They still live on. Haven't you seen the cities they're rebuilt? Despite everything, they refuse to give up. They found a new joy in supporting each other and surviving. Humans...humans are stronger than you think. For so many years, we're endured hardships, but that doesn't make life any less precious.

"Your goal is to turn the world into one devoted to eternity...We want one devoted to life."

Barkeep, however, was done with trying to understand Kalki or teach her the error of her ways. She was still inhabiting his son's body and slowly dying. He marched over to her side and gripped her shoulder.

"I had a hard day, we all did, but fact of the matter is that you're in possession of a body that ain't yours and it's high time you brought him back." He patted Ramza's back, the way he did so many times over five years ago. "If you got any sense left in you, you'd better hand him back over."

"It was for everyone... was it?"

Jade had no memory of what had happened between their final attack and reappearing before the First Crystal, but evidently they had been released from within the Calamity, alive and whole. Perhaps he'd thank Shakyamuni if he got the chance.

For now, he took his place back among the Heroes and looked down at the defeated Avatar.

"Kalki. Just a moment ago, you had us," he gestured to Chiaki, Sparks, Sheena, K'pandolu and Jaune, "absorbed into the Calamity. I don't know what you were expecting to happen, but I can tell you this: the Calamity didn't wish to harm us. On the contrary... It accepted our reasoning before yours. All those souls, all those worlds... and they all turned on you."

He flashed her a smile that was none too kind.

"You understand what I'm trying to say, don't you? No one wanted your eternal existence. That was your desire, and yours alone."

Edited 2017-06-23 16:23 (UTC)

Sparks was glad to be back and to see everyone on their feet. They did. This big group of dumb useless people actually did it. He's proud of you all. In his own restrained, Sparksy way. He gives Chiaki a pat on the shoulder for a job well done putting the final move on the Calamity.

He sighed deeply at Kalki. As much as he'd like to waste his remaining bullets on her, Ramza's in there somewhere, and there could still be a chance of getting him back. Stranger things have happened today.

"Didn't I say I hated bullies? Just let people live their lives and keep yer crazy plans outta it."

He waved a hand in Jade's direction.

"Basically, what he said."

Edited 2017-06-23 21:27 (UTC)

"Hope for a better world - for eternity," Chiaki said, stepping forward. "That's what the Calamity itself told us your motivation was. It also said that unrestrained hope leads to denial of reality and the rejection of all."

Her gaze turns serious, eyes closing for a moment as she bows her head.

"You know this - I've said it before plenty of times - but I've seen that kind of twisted hope firsthand. There was a boy named Nagito Komaeda who was so obsessed with hope that he viewed it as an absolute good. Anything done in the name of hope was good too. Even if it hurt people. Even if it killed them. Because hope always wins out in the end, and that end justifies whatever must be done to achieve it."

There's a pause as she chews her lip thoughtfully before continuing.

"He also believed in constant clashes between different hopes. Not everyone wishes for the same thing, after all. He called them 'strong hopes' and 'weak hopes,' and the strong ones would win every time. Weak hopes were meant to be devoured by the strong, used as stepladders to achieve the Ultimate Hope."

She sighs, finally smiling again.

"...I can't say I agree with him, or his way of thinking, or how he chose to achieve his goals... but I understood him. And I understand what you were trying to do here, too, Kalki. You really believed in this. Deep down in your heart, you thought this would be the best outcome for everyone. For Crystallis. For the people who live here. Even for the Heroes of Light. If he were here, Nagito would probably have different things to say about everything that happened, but there's one thing I think he and I can agree on."

Her smile quirks up just a bit. Not mocking or arrogant, but rather satisfied.

"This time, our hope was stronger."

She'd been hiding, waiting for the perfect moment to strike from the shadows. Such was her limit break. And so now it was working just the same. She stepped from the crowd of Heroes out of nowhere, having been there all along but her sudden appearance as she stepped forward to approach Kalki might draw a few eyes. She walked with purpose, her face betraying no emotion.

"I've seen many evil deeds committed in this world, and each time you or Palitutu would find a way to squirm and get away. For the longest time I thought that the Assassins were misplaced here as our needs changed from hindering you and the empire to simply helping protect people as the corruption spread. And perhaps the Assassins aren't needed this world, but they were there to protect the people."

She paused, standing over Kalki's bloodied body. "I at least have the satisfaction of knowing that I'll be able to bring one of you to justice." She twisted her left hand with a flourish, but instead of her hidden blade deploying she instead dropped the crystal from her sleeve and into her hand, "And I can at least save one soul from the damage you would do."

In a swift motion she dropped to a knee and stabbed the crystal towards Kalki's heart, aiming not to stab her bodily with it but to drive Kalki from Ramza's body. If this was to kill her once and for all, then Mary would at least bear witness to Kalki's final confession.

"You're wrong about a lot of things, Kalki." Twilight said, approaching the fallen attempted god. "All Ancients are not completely evil and they don't need to be destroyed. Even the most chaotic of beings can be the greatest of friends. Even if they like to pull pranks."

Twilight joined the others as she added further. "And what you consider 'surviving' is still living life. All living things struggle to survive. That's what makes us strong - because we overcome our limits and make ourselves better. All so we can live. When we have everything given to us on a silver platter, like you wanted, that's no life."

Of course, she would be shocked by Mary's action just as she finished. "What...?!"

"Other Calamities…?" K'pandolu settled back on the heels of her feet, tail flicking, arms folded. "I can't… I can't deny that. Not when Allag's doings brought disaster on us- long after they were gone. But we keep striving- for a better age- born of our own strength."

She started at Mary's movement- and held out a hand, watching the crystal. "That's-!" Could she dare to hope? Without a blade of light, she couldn't- but maybe- "Please," she breathed.

"No one else wanted it...?"

She laughed and shook her head.

"Soon you will see by yourself... There is no end to any of this. Live, live and see..."

Ramza-Kalki then screams as the crystal is used on them, the energy coming from it throwing them backward and falling on their back. When the light from the crystal fades, Kalki is gone from Ramza's body, effectively dead. And Ramza is free.

The expression on the bloodied face shift, the anger and arrogance draining away. For a moment, there is a serene smile...

...promptly ruined a second later as Ramza draws in a breath and starts coughing. He struggles to bring his hand to his mouth to cover it, the dangerously low energy he has left and the fact that he has not controlled his own body's movements for five years making the task seem a herculean effort.

The hand comes away covered in more blood. Ramza shouldn't speak. He needs to save what little strength he has left. But there is one thing that he needs to say, even at the cost of his life.

He forces his eyes open and looks in turn at the gathered Heroes.

"...you have...done well.... Thank you...."

His eyes close as he falls unconscious from the pain of his wounds.

Selphie moved toward Deadpool quickly. The vibe she was getting from Ramza felt completely different as she placed a hand on the barrel of the mercenary's gun and pushed it down toward the ground. She shot the fool a look that ordered him to stand down before she rushed to Ramza's side.

She was reminded of the time when she and her friends had tried to save a dying woman. The perky brunette fell to her knees as she used Dualcast to cast Cura on their returned ally. She wasn't the strongest healer, but she would do her best in light of what happened. She knew there were others who would help far more than she could but this was a good place to start.

"Jade!" She called to the Colonel with pleading eyes. "Help!"

While Kalki's last words were foreboding, they would have to wait. Jade strode over to Ramza and dropped on one knee to look over his current state. Alive, but very much critical -- and that wasn't even taking into account the emotional trauma of being possessed for five years.

"Well, what do you know? It actually worked," he remarked, joining in the healing effort with Curaga.

Having already been close to their body before Kalki was forced to make her exit, Minato wastes no time in a Curaga of his own. Mary's actions shocked him, but what was done was done. The conscientiousness was not an issue that could be discussed in the matter of the end of several worlds, and the hijacked body of a friend.

"Ramza-san... okaeri."

If he'd held out this long, he would surely survive even now. Minato observes their surroundings unaltered by their combat, almost in disbelief, if it wasn't equally preposterous as his school becoming Tartarus.

"What now? Ramza-san should be taken somewhere to recuperate, but the Crystal..."

"Hey, Ramza!" The Barkeep held him in a reclining position and patted his cheeks. "How'd you get someone to wake up, he should be enough alive."

He had exhausted so much of his healing power during the past...hour? Who knew how long they spent in the pit and the void. Time may not have existed for all they knew, but he felt he was draining himself of magic for eternity.

"We gotta get him outta here."

Throughout all of those last moments of Kalki's existence, Sephiroth had stood in silence with a glare carefully averted into some insignificant part of their surroundings on the floor somewhere. There were no words that he could have offered that hadn't well enough been said by one of the others.

Yet, as Ramza was tended to by other Heroes best suited, the stalwart and often stoic solider looked back in that direction and couldn't resist the light smile that grew across the lower half of his face. At least there was one less casualty, one more life saved where -looking around at those gathered here- he could have sworn there were pointedly less of their number standing right here, at the end of things.

To think how many lives had been lost throughout this whole ordeal...

Not that it needed Minato to draw their attention to the First Crystal; if indeed the great structure at the center of the garden had somehow managed to survive the apocalyptic power of the Calamity that the Heroes had just faced. Sephiroth looked over that way slowly, more than a little hesitant to take stock of the larger picture.

Good- it had worked. K'pandolu breathed a sigh of relief, giving Mary a smile. "Thank you," she said.

She went to touch the Barkeep on the shoulder, eyes on Ramza for a moment before she turned to him. "It may take him some time to recover from Kalki's possession," she said, and offered him a smile. "I'll sure he'll be fine, given a few days." Perhaps longer, given the time he'd been under- but she'd hope for the best.

"The Crystal… I don't know." She turned, to look at it, and frowned. "I don't suppose anyone's had the time to think about how we'd infuse it with power again."

"I think that just shaved a few years off of my life," Saori let out a sigh of relief as she walked over to Mary. She was more than happy to see Ramza coming back but the exhaustion of the battle came back with the adrenaline ebbing away.

She still kept an eye on things. Sure it was typical of such people like Kalki to hint at a future threat, but right now that could wait. Deep down though, she hoped it was just only a hollow threat.

Tear had been ready to jump in and help Ramza, and still was after the last of the shock over Mary's actions faded. But Minato had brought up a sound point, taking her gaze from Ramza to the great crystal before them. For all their efforts, it was still disheartening to see its light so close to being extinguished.

Stepping closer, she couldn't help but begin to reach out toward it. "The Calamity accepted our reasoning... But that doesn't change the situation for this world, does it? If we do nothing for it, elsewhere there might rise another who would allow desperation to drive them to do whatever it takes to survive."

And it would be as Kalki said... Another Ancient, another Calamity, another Crystallis just as they had saved this one. They couldn't allow it to remain so vulnerable.

It appears the heals are enough to save Ramza, he might just need sleep for awhile. And as the Heroes ponder on the Crystal's well-being, a ghostly figure appear before it. Some who met her before might recognize Shakyamuni. Others may recognize the voice they heard when fighting the Calamity.

"The Crystal is dying. In her attempts to kill you, Kalki drained it further to bring about the release of the Calamity. We cannot do anything to save the Crystal. Neither can you, for you have already accomplished your part. The responsibility to finish your work belongs to those who were born here."

She pauses.

"Narayana is resting, thanks to your efforts. But ere long, we shall awaken again. The Crystal is beyond your reach, but not all is so. You can put an end to this and allow the fragmented consciousness to find rest and be born anew. However should you opt to help us and end this, it shall have a price. A painful and decisive one which no living being should be made to take."

Twilight jumped at Shakyamuni's appearance, though her description of what's going on with the Crystal causes her to roll her eyes. "Of course - one last act of spite from Kalki. That woman would have cut off her own snout to spite her face."

However, her description about what the heroes could do to save everything does cause her to wince in shock. "Wait... are you saying we should...? H-Hasn't enough lives been lost already?!"

All Good Things…

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