The Hidden Island

[lutz]

*******A few days passed*****

The Silken Armies had formed and a soft breeze blew to the forest as the Silken arrived. Lutz walked over to greet the Silken, He bowed before Grom.

Lutz: "Hello I am a Maloki Known as Lutz....Pleased to finally meet your people..."

Grom studied the new looking creature with great interest and bowed as well.

Grom: "Please to meet you...Lutz, Where is Amnesty...I would make like to speak with the...Human...."

Furion apporch Grom and Lutz.

Furion: "The time for battle draws near....and do we know were we are attacking?"

Abel: "Yes we do..."
Abel to joined the group.

Abel: "Master Furion I to have some secrets....The only reason we do know the location of the enemy base is by the help of a Sarsha.....with the help of Samson....."

Furion: "Samson! he helped you!?"

Abel: "That is correct..."

Grom: "I know Furion....Fool of a Silken to put that much trust in a Sarsha!"

Furion: "No Grom...as it seems fate has led us to cross paths with a Sarsha....a race who started it all, I would only make sense for the race to truely be forgiven, to fight back with what they have done..."

Abel smiled and Grom grunted.

*******************

Samson looked out the airship window.
Oh no The Kilka are going to kill me!

[Amnesty Lazuli]

Inside the shelter they had finally managed to hack together, the brothers looked outside through the cracks in the wood beams. "Looks like you have a visitor, sister," Kadaj noted.

Ami, half asleep in a pallet at the back, groaned and turned over. "Tell them all solicitations must be made by electronic note." She'd been made to sleep in here and share a room with her brothers all three nights of waiting... she'd tried to slip away a couple of times to be alone with Squall, but her brothers were far too watchful to allow THAT.

Loz shook his head. He got her ankle and started dragging her outside. She snorted and yelped. "Hey! Knock it off! OK, I'm getting up!" She stood and straightened out her jacket. "Geez..."

Kadaj laughed quietly and hits fists with his older brother. "Loz, it is a comfort to know I am not the only one who retains his gift for... motivation."

Ami snorted, pulling on her shoes and dragging a brush through her hair as she went out to meet Grom. "You three better run combs through your hair or something. You lot are a mess." In a huff, she headed outside.

She approached the leaders and bowed slightly in respect, ignoring the muffled sounds of snickering coming from the shelter behind her. "You wanted to speak to me?"

[lutz]

Furion nodded.
"As you can already see the Silken are ready..."

Hundreds of Silken began to build shelters of their own and make weapons.

Grom: "The Silken are here at your command....might Amnesty human."

Abel smiled.
"We wait for your command, Samson will lead in his ship to the hidden base as the Silken and Kilka follow, we just want to know from you if there is any battle tactic!"

[Amnesty Lazuli]

Amnesty looked out at the vast camp.

Oh, d**n.

She smiled gently. "Excuse me."

She spotted Vincent across the clearing with his back to the others, warming up by doing some sniping practice. She made a beeline towards him. "Ahem... a word? 'Hello, Silence, my old friend.'"

He turned as she reached him.

"Plan," she said simply.

He blinked. "I beg your pardon?"

She groaned. "OK. I'm going to go for broke. Here's the situation... listen carefully." She said it slowly and carefully. "I don't know what I'm doing."

There was a long moment in which she waited for a reaction.

One did not seem to be forthcoming.

He finally replied. "And?"

She blinked. "My mind is a total blank. Yes, that covers it. I don't know what I'm doing, and my mind is blank. A concise summary."

He watched her. Inside, he was groaning... This is what panic does to normally sane people. "What are our resources?"

"A Lizard Army, the location of the base, and a tribe of forest mystics," she replied, almost without thinking.

He nodded. Better. "What are thiers?"

"A Sarsha Army, a very tough base, and a demon general. Which means we are fairly evenly matched."

He nodded again. "Keep going."

Ami thought about it. "This is a case of unstoppable force meets unmoveable object. The unmoveable object must have a notable weakness if we can defeat it... if it doesn't, then it defeats us."

"Almost, Amnesty. Try again."

She blinked... she hadn't known there were any right or wrong answers. "Uh... wait. I think I have it." The gears were turning fiercely now. "Both have a weakness. It's a question of which weakness is greater... or..." She lit up. "How well the weakness is exploited."

"Or?"

"How well OUR weakness is defended."

He turned away, going back to his target shooting. "Go to the head of the class." He squeezed off a round, and a pinecone on a distant tree shattered.

She grinned at his back and returned to the Silken. "What notable weaknesses do they have?" I'll ask Abel later about our weaknesses... I don't want to offend Grom.

She thought back on what she could remember of the Sarsha army base... Middle of the desert, which means enemies can be seen coming for miles... but also, that means there is no direction from which they cannot be attacked, no high ground to give them shelter, no easily accessible escape routes, no sustenance besides what they get from supply lines... easy to lay seige to. But I'll avoid that if I can... any seige with demonic creatures like that would last forever. I don't know what kind of supplies they have.

[lutz]

Furion scratched his chin.
"Weakness...."

Abel: "Well Amnesty, the Dark Sarsha are a bit more advanced then humans, but you can kill thim just as easy, unless your dealing with a Shaman....then you got problems."

Fruion: "Yes even us Kilka fear the Shaman power...."

Grom: "Not to mention the Demonic power Lucifer and his last Sin has."

Lutz: "Yes....Belphegor....he is Lucifers body guard..."

Grom: "I have see this Belphegor in battle and he is a nightmare....very very dangerous the power he wields..."

Lutz: "Though Amnesty is right...they must have a weakness...."

Grom thought.
"One thing I noticed was normal Sarsha could never handle the heat for to long....even you humans I can see it on your faces when you entered my village...."

Abel thought as well...
Lack of water.....

Grom: Draw out their troops into the hot desert, weak they will become if not properd...."

Kilka: "Yes without plenty of water, that will not last long in this world the Quicksand..."

Lutz: "I can see why you call your realm the Quicksand haha"

Abel: "So how will was draw out the Sarsha armies without them bringing much water with them...."

[Amnesty Lazuli]

Amnesty thought that over. She was about to open her mouth when a voice sounded behind her. "A sudden attack, a short fight, and a fast retreat just might pull them out after us." Her youngest brother smirked as Amnesty turned to him. "It worked for me."

And flashes of the first battle with Cloud, out beyond the limits of Midgar, came into Ami's mind. She smiled. If it worked to call out the champion of one planet, it should serve to attract the scourge of another. "Perfect," she assented. "So you and the other two stooges will need some kind of preferably very fast transportation to lead that attack. It's in your line, let's just say."

Kadaj turned to Abel as his brothers joined him. Yazoo spoke for the three. "Don't suppose you have anything analogous to motorcycles in this dimension?"

Ami returned her mind to other facets of the riddle. "Hmm... about Belphegor... sounds like a real trump card."

Amnesty heard a thump just behind her heels, and she half turned to find its source.

A pinecone had just fallen out of a tree and landed there.

She almost relaxed when, unexpectedly, it exploded.

She jerked in surprise, brushing pine chips off herself, as Vincent came over to inspect the accuracy of his shot. Hmm. A bit towards the right this time. He straightened. "I heard someone mentioning trump cards."

Amnesty grinned again. "Nice. OK, so the bodyguard's all yours."

He picked up the blown-apart pinecone and set it ablaze in his hand. "Trite but true: always fight fire with fire." Or Chaos cells with Chaos cells, in this case.

Ami nodded. "So that's two problems solved. Now we move on to the big one. We got to take down Lucifer. Blood said he had a blade that could be used to defeat him, the Final Blade. But Blood was kidnapped before we came here. So we've got to think of something else."

"Maybe we do, maybe we don't," a thingy voice called from a lopsided tent, followed by a red head that looked like it hadn't seen a comb in a while. "Looking for something?"

He had the Final Blade in his hand.

Ami's jaw dropped. "Wha--"

"Kid left it after whatshisname took off with him, yo," he shrugged. "Figured we'd need it more than he did."

Ami was positively beaming. "Don't suppose you'd like the honors?"

He laughed. "Yeah, right! I ain't crazy like the rest of you people, yo!" He passed the blade off to Ami. "I'll pass, thanks. But those Shamans, you guys keep going on about... now THEY sound like fun."

Ami c0cked an eyebrow. "Don't forget, your powers are moot now, Red."

He shrugged. "Yeah... but a good old can of whoop-a** never fails to work miracles, yo." He winked and strolled off, leaving the blade with Ami and whistling tunelessly.

Ami looked at the blade in her hands. "All right... I can take a hint." She looked up at Grom. "Leader on leader. Makes a freaky kind of sense." She shrugged off-handedly.

But inside, she was thinking... Oh, s**t.

[lutz]

Abel laugh.
"here in the Quicksand we don't have much but our airship...."

Samson heard one word and it was Airship.
Airship! me Pit Bull...now what are they planning!?

Grom: "The Airship is fast enough to do a hit and run, as the ship leaves the troops follow, the ship could lead the Dark Sarsha troops into a ambush!"

Furion: "Us Kilka could find a way to trap the dark Sarsha so they can't return to the base..."

Lutz: "No dout Belphegor will lead the Dark Sarsha Army, so be ready for him."

Furion: "One of those demons in the heat of battle plus shamans....might be harder the it sounds...."

Abel: "But still its the only way!"

Grom: "Abel your getting brave..."

Lutz: "We will leave the rest of the choices to Ami!"

[Amnesty Lazuli]

Ami turned to Lutz. "Then I have one more to make. If I've learned nothing else from all these people I've fought and bled with, it's a person can't face her demons alone." She smirked. "Lutz, I need you to help me take down Lucifer."

****

Reno, leaning against a nearby tree and eating something that looked vaguely fruit-ish, was having a rare moment of intelligence. "Y'know, these Kilka guys... I betcha they could make quick work of these Shaman guys, yo."

Rude, who was stubbornly trying to get the tent straightened up again (it got lopsided every night somehow or other, and he had to straighten it back up every morning), managed to shrug. "Don't talk to me about that. Ask them."

Reno glanced over at the group of Kilka, who had thus far mainly kept to their own counsel. "Uh-huh... I'll think about it. All right, thought about it. Nope, I'll have Ami ask 'em for me later, yo."

Rude tied down the anchor rope again. Being leader of the free world must s**k.

[lutz]

Lutz smiled and patted Ami on the shoulder.
"And I will be there with you friend, watching the demons eyes go dead!"

Furion stepped towards Amnesty.
"It is time we attack...."

Grom: "The Silken are ready human Amnesty!"

Abel walked over to Akasha. She was sitting down by a near by tree with pink pettles.

Abel: "Hey....."

Akasha: "Fighting starting soon..."

Abel: "Yes...."

Akasha: "You made it this far let leave now....just go Samson has his ship...."

Abel: "I can't do that not other people lives are on the line now..."

Akasha: "Abel you could die!"

Abel: "No akasha you know why...because I am coming back to you!"
A small tear ran down his cheek."
Abel: "I am coming home to you when this is all done with...."

Akasha: "Promise!?"

Abel: "I promise!"
little pink pettles fell swiftly off the tree from the gust of wind, the air was full of them.

Akasha: "Then I will wait right here....for you...I will be waiting.....I promise..."

Abel dropped his head to give her a kiss on the head.
I love you Akasha....
and slowly walked away and as he walked back to the group Samson stopped him.

Samson: "Hey partner....you look a bit scared...."

Abel: "Yeah a battle is about to take place...."

Samson: "Yeah I can see that...listen I know what you got to do with the pit bull, you need it as part of your plan, no worries, shes all yours! you just promise me you make it back to that young lady over there!"

Abel: "I will Samson...."

Samson: "Be sure on that, war is a horrible thing...many people get hurt in it, Like my dear Carissa..."

Abel realized this is the first time hes finally brought his mystery girl up.

Samson: "The first war, you know it, when Vacsh was over thrown, Yeah I fought in it, to keep my freedom....I was caught in a blast from some Shaman magic and I was lost in the desert, I had no way of conntacting anyone, and I suppose over time Carissa believe me to be dead....she....she killed herself Abel, he wanted to be with me that bad...she thought I was gone, and when I finally made it home, I come home to that news.....I should have never fought in that war Abel, Just don't make the same mistake, come home this time as soon as possible."
Samson patted Abel on the back and he slowly walked to his airship in saddness,
Let me know when your ready buddy.....

[Amnesty Lazuli]

Ami smiled at Lutz and thanked him with a warm embrace. "The best ally a former Remnant could ever pray to have."

The brothers, making their way towards the Pit Bull, overheard her compliment. The statement sparked a similar train of thoughts in all thier minds.

Former Remnant... we hope you're ready to be more than that, Amnesty.

Because we know something you don't.

With Jenova finally gone forever, someone has to take her place as Matron. And you're the last direct descendant, even if you're human now. The last Larval Queen. We know why you are a natural leader. It's in your blood. You are the last Matron.

So you'd better not get yourself killed out there.

They turned to Samson. "Whenever you're ready, Captain."

****

Ami pulled away from hugging Lutz and began heading out into the camp to rally the troops. Vincent was not far in following her.

"Amnesty?"

"What?"

His eyes were on the Final Blade. He knew too well what she intended to do with it. "You're going out there to die."

She stopped, not looking back. "You're wrong."

He stood still, staring at the back of her head. Long, black hair. "No, I'm not."

She smiled to herself. "I'm not going out there to die. I'm going out there to live."

He decided to give up. It wouldn't be any use either way... she would either go out there and get herself killed or be killed later when the demon finally invaded.

Or else... she might just somehow survive.

"This isn't sacrifice, Amnesty. This is suicide."

Ami continued to stare straight ahead. "Straight question, Vincent. Be honest. If it were Cloud standing here in my place, or Cid, or even one of my brothers... would you be saying this?"

He didn't answer.

"I thought not."

She resumed her walk.

"What will you say when you see her?" Vincent demanded.

Ami stopped again, only for a moment. "That you haven't changed a bit."

This time, when she carried on, he followed.

It's true. I have to admit it. It's perfectly true.

Ami made it to the front of the Silken encampment. Reno and Rude caught up to her and Vincent a few minutes later.

Ami waited for a second before turning to Reno. "Get thier attention."

He cleared his throat. "You asked for it."

He started yelling. "HEY, LIZARD GUYS! THE KIDS GOTTA SAY SOMETHING!"

He turned to Ami, sounding slightly hoarse. "Take it away, Two-Tone."

She smiled and nodded. "All right." She elevated her voice a little bit. "Everyone... I'm a stranger here. I gave you no reason to follow or trust in me. But here you are, ready to fight and die at my word. And I have to confess, that is a notion that frightens me far more than a hundred Lucifers. I know you all have families, lands, homes to protect... all these things that I, paradoxically, can never fully understand. So I'm begging you. Let your blood become mine. Let me be a part of you, all of you. I want these families, and homes, and lands, to suddenly be on my shoulders, mine to protect, more precious than any of the material things humans hold so dear for such foolish reasons." She paused and swallowed. "I need to have everything to lose in this fight. I was once a part of a family that joined together to strike against a planet. I have to become part of a new family now, that strikes to save it." She paused again, exhaling deeply. "As of now, I adopt anyone who will fight and die for me. And as it was for the mothers of my former family's world, so it is for me. I'll sooner have every drop of my blood, a once green blood that now runs red, drained out of me before any one of my children are made to suffer for what I have called them to do today." She swiveled out her gauntlet blades into locked position. "Ladies and gentlemen... brothers and sisters... sons and daughters... move out."

She turned and began to march into the desert, towards the base.

Reno let out a low whistle. "Nice one, kid. Though your variation could have used some work. And next time, don't fidget with your hair."

Rude elbowed him.

Vincent said nothing, wearing the mask-like face again.

If only she could have lived to see this.

[lutz]

The Silken didn't say a word, instead they all bowed in respect to Amnesty. Grom walked up to Amnesty.
Grom: "Ready when you are...."

The Silken troops ready themselves for battle, Abel aboarded the ship with Samson, Samson jumped on a mic speaking to everyone outside the ship,
"Who ever is planning to be the bait with us better hope on the ship now because we are taking off now!"

Lutz turned to Ami.
"What road are we taking....the ship or with the troops..."

[Amnesty Lazuli]

"Depends. Where do you think Lucifer will be? I'm not going to mess around this time... I'm making straight for him, and he's going down." Ami tried to predict where he would go in the battle... On one hand, if he's any kind of self-respecting general, he'll be on the field with his army... but as he's a vile demonic worm, I wouldn't put it past him to stay in his fortress, letting his men bleed and die for him while he watches in total safety.

Vincent watched silently. One thing is certain. Belphegor will be on the field with the others... so there I will go to meet him.

And when he is finished... I have certain other plans of my own.

[lutz]

Lutz: "I don't know where Lucifer will be, hiding or battling, but you must follow your heart in this Amnesty remember why Aztar forsaw you as the great leader..."

The Pit Bull began to to lift off the ground.

Samson: "Ok well looks like its me and you Abel the bait! haha you think there is anything to worry about?"

Abel: "Me and you have been in worst situations..."

Samson: "haha yeah.....wait we have!?"

Abel: "Samson relax Amnesty's brothers are with us."

Samson: "Ohhh they are back there...NICE."

the ship lifted and began to fly in the direction of the base but not going to fast for the rest of the army to follow on horse back.

[Amnesty Lazuli]

Amnesty looked back at the troops. "Well, I don't care if HE decides to be a coward. I won't. I'll be on the field with the troops, where I belong." She smiled at Lutz, and then at Grom. "I'm going to need a ride, folks. Who's got a spare horse?"

****

Kadaj watched from the viewport as the ship flew off, leaving Ami with the other generals...

He considered sending a message to her and ruled against it, not wanting her to think he was losing confidence in her... he just said it to himself.

Be careful.

He joined his brothers near the exit hatch as they primed their weapons, their eyes narrowed and senses sharp, ready for the battle to begin...

[lutz]

Grom nodded at Lutz and he jumped on his horse back and started to ride off with the army of Silken. Lutz looked at Amnesty,
"I never told you the gift Aztar gave me...."

Lutz's red glew red and slowly he transformed into his Chaos form and gave off a howl! massive horns, razor sharp claws, black crow-like wings.
Chaos....

Lutz: "Do not be scared Amnesty.....I am now able to control my Chaos form....."

His wings spaded out.

Lutz: "Jump on my back Amnesty I will take you into battle..."

****************

The ship flew high in the sky, advancing on the hidden base of Lucifer, The Dark Sarsha saw the airship from miles away and were all ready for the attack. blasts of magic power from the shamans shot out at the ship,

Samson: "Oh no shamans I hope they take the damn bait."

The ship fired back at the Shamans and began their retreat.

Samson: "So how is this going to work?"

Abel: "Well the Dark Sarsha are going to follow us now for a couple miles till we bump back into the Silken Army...."

Samson: "And then..."

Abel: "And then we drop off the brothers to join the battle and whatever..."

Samson: "Your not thinking about fighting in this war are you? remember Akasha!"

Abel: "I know but....I have to be brave now..."

Samson: "Lets hope you know what your doing Abel...."

the pit bull advanced to the Silken Army not to far behind. the airship began to land and open the hatch for the brother to join the brawl. in the distance the Dark Sarsha matched and sure enough leading them was the Sin Belphegor, the Red skinned Demon looked emotionless as he martched with the rest of his troops, the demon was covered in demonic gyph tattoos and had many samurai swords sheathed.