Past the cheering of people as the blitzball flew around the stadium. Past the ever glowing lights of Zanarkand. Past the Happiness, the parties, the entertainment, high up on the ridge of a mountain called Gagazet, something stirred. Hundreds, thousands of men poured out silently from the many caves. Machina rifles were held tightly in their hands. Several hand signals were sent back and forth as they prepared for the mission.

Standing on the cliff was Maestor Mekis, staring out across the rigged land to Zanarkand. His jaw firm, his form official, and a large machina rifle in his hands, he could easily be mistaken for a military general had it not been for his robes.

One soldier ran up and bowed in front of him. “Sir, we await you orders!”

Maestor Mekis looked at Zanarkand one more time. “Such a beautiful sight… let it be burned! Prepare the machina ‘Fireshot!’”

He pulled his hand into a fist, a bloodlust look in his eyes. The soldier nodded without looking up. “Yes sir!”

It took twenty men to pull the monstrous weapon out of its hidden alcove in one of the various caves. It stood thirty feet high, metallic cannon of death. The barrel itself was held up by three large pillars. The power concealed within the metallic shell was powerful enough to destroy a small island. Or, with a couple of shots, it could completely wipe out Zanarkand.

Maestor Mekis seated himself at the control panel and began pulling various levers and pressing several buttons on a keyboard. The machine lit up, illuminating everything around it. Smoked billowed out of the barrel as it began to heat. The hinges creaked, and the barrel began to adjust, pointing straight at the heart of Zanarkand: the blitzball stadium.

“Ready the soldiers.” The maestro said to the soldier beside him. “The minute I fire, charge.”

The soldier nodded, and sent a quick hand signal down the ranks. Rifles were readied, senses sharpened, and adrenaline increased. All the soldiers were on their feet, eagerly watching as the maestor as he mad the final preparations. The maestor pressed one final button, and the barrel began to glow. A small reddish sphere appeared in the barrel, and it began to grow.

The ball of destruction continued to increase in mass until it filled the barrel. The Fireshot began to shudder. The barrel filled with a crimson glow. A fiery beam shot out, speeding towards the stadium. The soldiers let out a loud yell, and began charging down the mountain, firing their rifles off.

A white light shot out from Zanarkand into the air, right into the pathway of the Fireshot’s blast. They intersected, and exploded in midair.

“Impossible!” the maestor hissed, pounding his fist on the control panel.

The army stopped the charge, watching as the explosion vanished into the sky in large clouds of smoke. The Maestor continued to rant.

“How could they even know about this attack? Even if they did know, they don’t have the machine to stop Fireshot! How could they-!”

Even Maestor Mekis grew silent as it appeared. Its powerful wings separated it from Zanarkand and pulled it into the sky. Its powerful arms were covered in thick back armored scales, Leading down to the clawed hands. Its thick legs followed with the wings, the claws jutting out of its padded feet. The tail stretched out beyond the legs, leading up to a spiked end. Its piercing red eyes glowed in the darkened night. It flew with grace and power towards Mt. Gagazet. It floated above the mountain, showing its majesty to all.

“Bahamut…” Maestor Mekis whispered. “Guardian of Zanarkand. I thought it only to be a myth!”

Bahamut let out a loud howl, and dived at the army. Its claws tore at the soldiers. Its jaws unhinged, and let out a starry blast, cutting through even more soldiers. They began to panic and tan for any source of cover from the flying demon.

The Maestor regained his senses. Looking around, he saw his army scattered amongst the rocky outcrop of the mountain. His face grew a deep red as the anger boiled inside him.

“What are you doing?” he bellowed. “It is only an Aeon! Turn around and fight!”

The soldiers stopped, torn between two choices, neither one feeling very safe. Then, the bullets began to soar through the air. Bahamut let out another roar as the bullets pierced between its scales.

“That’s right, that’s right!” the Maestor cried, shooting wildly into the air with his rifle. “It is only one, we can kill it!”

In the distance, another sound overpowered the echo of gunshots. The loud yell of an army charging up the mountain. Over the ridge thousand of Zanarkand foot soldiers came, brandishing swords and spears. Confusion took control of the army being mercilessly slaughtered.

“Split into two ranks!” Maestor Mekis yelled to his army. “ One kill the Aeon, the other go after the soldiers!

”

The army obediently divided themselves, and continued the useless battle. The Maestor knew his army was destroyed, but he had not lost yet. He jumped back into the Fireshot’s control panel and began to frantically press buttons. The large machina began to heat up once again.

A bolt of lightning cut through the night sky, striking the machina. The maestro was thrown from the control panel as the bolt hit him. He laid momentarily stunned on the ground. Several more shots of thunder flew past him, continuing to destroy Fireshot. Flames jumped from the interior as it imploded. The barrel wobbled and fell to the ground.

Maestor mekis, his limbs still shaking from the shock, forced his legs up. He looked for who caused the destruction of his machina. There on the cliff stood the mages, the bolts of lightning still jumping between their hands. All were heavily cloaked in black robes with a flowing red pattern running across the torso, the sign of zanarkand. Maestor Mekis glared at them with utter hatred.

“This war will be won by Bevelle! Yevon has scorned you all! You will all die!”

He pulled the machina rifle out from beneath his robes.

“Blizzaga…” the head mage whispered quickly.

Small chunks of ice collected all around the maestro, and exploded, connecting into one large burg. The maestor disappeared into the ice screaming.

The head mage lowered his hands. He grabbed a nearby soldier.

“Deliver a message to captain Hedo.” He said. “The war has begun.”