Author Notes: Bwahahaha! Only doing this because I'm in a huge slump for my original fic, and I need to practise writing and stuff. And that I'm temporarily obsessed. I don't enjoy many novelisations of Final Fantasy games simply because they stick too much to the original script and not breathing life into it. What's the point of reading a fic where every word is familiar to you? I'm hoping to not do the same as some others. I'm gonna be taking some artistic license here, so I hope you enjoy.

Standard disclaimer (i.e. I do not own FFV in any way) applies.

During times of trouble, the world has called for heroes to save it from almost certain oblivion. There have always been people willing to take up the task? Why? Why do they do it? Is it to stop evil from spreading? Is it for their belief in justice? Is it for the great riches that are found along the way? Is it the fame that comes about afterwards? Or is it just because there's the chance that there won't be a tomorrow to wake up to if they don't do it? Whatever the reason is, the world is always returned relatively safe and sound...until it's dumb enough to get itself into trouble again.

Final Fantasy V – Elementus Crystalis

Part 1 – First World

Prologue

The beginning is always an important part,

Though where it's situated isn't always in the beginning.

The beginning could be at the end,

Or even in the middle of another beginning.

But for now,

This is the beginning.

The old dragon, the last of the Hiryuu, napped in its home at the top of Tycoon Castle. If it was awake, it could simply turn its head for a marvellous view of the rolling plains near Tycoon. During its better days, the Hiryuu would lie down and lose itself looking at the thick forests and high mountains that seemed to stretch up and touch the sky. However, today the beautiful view was obscured by the unusually dark clouds hovering above. The clouds were particularly ominous as they loomed over the castle, adding to the sense of impending doom that even the sleeping Hiryuu could feel.

"Father! Must you leave?"

The king of Tycoon looked down at his daughter beside him, drawing a long, weary sigh of one who has been kept awake until the early hours of the morning for too many nights. "Yes, Reina," he replied, "I must. The wind feels...odd. I am going to check up on the crystal in the Wind Shrine, to make sure nothing is amiss."

He didn't mention the knotting in the pit of his stomach that made him positive something immensely horrible was going to happen. And that he feared for his last daughter's as well as his kingdom's safety.

The young woman opened her mouth to both protest and tell him she wanted to go too, but he held up an armoured hand to stop her.

"No, Reina," he said quietly, "you can't come with me. Tycoon will need someone to watch over it when I'm gone."

He smiled slightly at the disappointed face she was pulling. "Don't worry," he said, fondly ruffling her pink coloured hair, "I'll be back soon. I promise."

Whispering quietly into the Hiryuu's ear, the beast laboriously stretched its limbs to remove the stiffness from its sleep. Then with a yawn that could be mistaken as a roar, the dragon allowed the king of Tycoon to climb onto its back. As the pair took off, Reina forced her face into a smile and slowly waved at their retreating backs.

A pirate ship sailed unheeded upon the high seas, the waters unusually calm. Her crew went about their work, though at a more comfortable pace than normal. But there was a sense of unease aboard despite the welcome break from recent battles against nature. The captain stood upon the prow, gazing at the blue sky and watching the small waves roll by through half-slitted, emerald green eyes. His long purple hair flowed out behind him, a beautiful ocean in itself.

Suddenly, something changed. It was a small change, but it was noticeable to all the world. The captain barely changed is expressions, other than to narrow his eyes the slightest bit more.

"Uh, Capt'n Faris?" said the first mate, coming up behind his captain with a questioning look on his face.

Faris slowly blinked, sensing something unnatural amiss, then murmured, "The wind stopped."

The light blue light of a portal played over the bearded old man's determined features. It swirled before him invitingly, its 'flames' dancing just out of reach. They danced a merry waltz from their invisible confines. Then, the light flickered for a moment. The man felt a shiver run down his spine as he stood in front of the portal. He knew what it meant. He knew what would happen if he delayed much longer. "The wind!" he cried, "I must hurry!"

Reina sat on the balcony where her father and the old dragon had taken off, taking comfort in the wind whipping about her face and flowing through her short hair. She watched a bird in the star dotted sky lazily ride on the breeze with nary a thought in its mind. She felt her fears float away with the soaring bird, feeling more at peace than she had been for a long time.

Then the wind disappeared. Squawking, the bird frantically flapped its wings to stop itself from plummeting to the ground. Reina stood up and looked up at the spot in they sky she had last seen her father before he faded from view, her worry coming back tenfold. "Oh no! The wind! Father!"

The king of Tycoon dashed through the marble corridors of the Wind Shrine, the sense of urgency pounding in the back of his head. It was quiet, too quiet. He increased the speed of his run, taking the stairs to the next floor three at a time.

His footsteps rung uncomfortably loudly through the passages as he sprinted down them. He felt a prickling sensation run through his body, like a hundred little needles poking his skin. He couldn't shake off the feeling his every move was being watched. Even the vines that curled around the sculpted pillars seemed to cast unnaturally long shadows. He quickened his pace further.

Bursting through the huge double doors of the Wind Shrine, the king of Tycoon reached the holding place of the huge crystal of wind. Just in time to see the marvellous crystal shatter into a multitude of glittering shards. He was too late.

Author Notes: Insert stupid remark of some sort here.