Harmonic Sync

Chapter 8: Zao Ruins

 Finally, after a day of walking through the hot desert we had arrived at the Zao Ruins. I had to admit this place was really creepy, but when we stopped at the Oasis Luke had been contacted by Asch confirming that they were in the Zao Ruins.

"So this is the Zao Ruins. It's almost completely buried by sand." Guy said lightly from behind me.

"The rumors say that this use to be a once great castle but it was destroyed by a forbidden fonic arte." I said lightly, I remember reading it in one of my books when I was a child.

"Well let's get inside and find Ion." Anise said and we followed her inside and down to the bottom of the ruins. I knew the closer we got to the bottom the sooner I was going to have to reveal that I wasn't really here to help everyone. I looked ahead and finally saw the Sephiroth coming into view. Ion, Asch, Sync and Largo standing there.

"We found you." Luke said and rushed towards them. I rolled my eyes. He really was an idiot.

I disappeared from my place behind everyone and in Luke's path. He froze when he saw me there.

"You're an even bigger idiot than I thought. I mean to jump blindly into a fight before you even realize who is your opponent." I said shaking my head.

"You have much to learn reject." I stated.

"What did you call me?!" He growled. I smirked.

"Sorry was I not clear? I said you were a reject." He swung his sword at me and I moved my body swiftly and with no effort at all. "So was that supposed to hit me?" I asked brushing some dust off my shoulder.

"Who's side are you on?" Guy called out to me shocked.

"I'm so glad you asked Guy..." I appeared in front of him in a heartbeat and kicked him in the jaw. He landed a few feet away dazed and stunned by my sudden kick.

"I have to say that was quite the kick, Zora." Sync said laughing.

"Wait are you on their side?!" Anise exclaimed.

"I'm on the side that will win and unfortunately for you all that's not yours." I jumped back next to Sync and Largo.

"I knew something was off when you appeared suddenly in Baticul. I knew I shouldn't have trusted you after everything you said at the Tartarus, but I still trusted you." Jade said making his spear appear.

"Aw that's sweet Jade, you care about me. But sadly I stopped caring about people a long time ago. Being confined to a castle is hardly a life and listening to a father who does nothing to understand you. I have no love for others and that includes you." He clenched his teeth.

"I raised you and that means nothing?" He wondered.

"You see while I am grateful to you for raising me, you left. Just like everyone else did. I was left alone with my father, the ungrateful and hateful one. The one who couldn't help his anger and lashed out on his daughter when he was unable to think reasonably." Jade was frozen in his spot. "So when the chance came to where I could get the revenge I wanted, I took it. No offense, but I have no more need for any of you. Die!" I threw my sword at Jade, who deflected it only to have me there to kick him into the rocky wall.

"Zora, you have to understand that leaving you was one of the hardest things I ever did. You were the only happiness I had in this world, but I can see now what my leaving has done and I ask for your forgiveness on that part." Jade exclaimed and he dropped his spear. I shook my head.

"Pick up your spear." He shook his head.

"If you are going to kill me then just do it. I won't fight back." Everyone looked at Jade, everyone had stopped their side fights. Even Asch and Ion had turned to look at us.

"Do it, Zora. He's offering to let you kill him." Sync said sharply.

"Don't tell me what to do, Sync. I'm still angry with you." Silence followed that. "Jade, the Necromancer. I still don't understand you. You have a personality all your own, but when it comes down to it...I...I can't kill you when you won't fight back." I turned away from him and touched the ground lightly. "Ground Gasher!" The ground shook and everyone stumbled around a little.

Once the arte ended the walls started to crumble.

"If you value your lives then leave, we will return Ion to you for now." I signaled for Asch to release Ion and let him go back to Jade and the others.

"You're letting us go?" Luke asked. I nodded once.

"Yes, but don't think you've seen the last of us. The 7th God-General is me, Zora." I said and watched them rush out of the ruins.

"I think we should get out of here ourselves." Asch said and we rushed out a different exit. Once we were out we boarded the Tartarus and headed away from there.

"I don't understand; why didn't you kill him?" Sync questioned me again.

"If you ask me again I will kill you." He shut up at that point.

"I don't think I've ever seen Sync look concerned." I turned my head and saw Legretta standing there.

"Welcome back Legretta." I said lightly and she smiled.

"I should be saying that to you. You look a little shaken yourself Zora, is everything alright?" I nodded though I was having some doubts when I thought about everything that Jade had said to me in the ruins.

"Is this about Jade?" Asch asked.

"It's hard seeing him look so vulnerable, I mean in a sense I was his entire life when I was a child. He took care of me and made me who I am today. My father never once looked at me when I was a child. It wasn't until my mother and sister had died that he started to see me, but he wasn't seeing me he was seeing my sister. He wanted me to be her and I wasn't...that was when the pain started..." I trailed off and everyone looked at me.

"The pain?" Legretta questioned.

"I would rather not talk about it. Maybe one day, but not today." I walked away from all of them and headed down to the girl's room. I sat down on my bunk and thought about all the memories of Jade and I from when I was a child. He had been like a father to me when I was younger, he was the only one who had ever taken me serious when I asked my father to teach me how to use a sword.

Now Zora, you can't use a sword without knowing how to properly balance and fight. Let's start off with hand to hand combat and slowly work our way to the sword.

Okay Jade!

He was always so strict with my training, but that was how I learned.

Now what kind of defense was that?

I'm sorry...

I'm not angry with you, let's try it again okay?

Okay!

He was the only one who knew when something upset me.

Zora, is everything alright? I saw you were hardly eating anything at lunch during training today.

I'm fine.

Now I know that's not the truth, why don't we go into town and get something to eat. You can tell me about what happened later.

Jade...

Yes?

Why are you always so nice to me?

Because that's how a father should treat his daughter, I see the way he looks at you. I know he doesn't acknowledge you unless Lily is with you.

I just want him to accept me for who I am.

And one day he will...

I didn't think the fall of Hod would be when he finally saw me. But I could never replace his precious Lily, I could never be her.

A knock on the door followed by Arietta coming shocked me out of my thoughts.

"I heard from Legretta you were back. Are you alright?" I nodded lightly.

"Zora..."

"I'm fine." I said coldly. She sighed and left the room without another word. I knew I shouldn't have taken it out on her but right now all I wanted was to be alone.