Full Summary: Kain and Cecil are in love with Rosa. Rosa knows nothing more about her relationship with Kain other than they have been close friends since childhood, and she is in love with Cecil. Edge likes Rydia. Rydia feels that Edge is growing on her; maybe she likes him, too. Evil is approaching. Where does Asianne come in? CecilxRosa, EdgexRydia, KainxOC
Disclaimer: The characters of Final Fantasy belongs to Square Enix – I own nothing Hangs Head
Claimer: I do, however, own any OCs, plot, and ideas – You no steal!
Chapter I
Kain's POV--
I looked out from the mountains I was on, my mask finally removed. For the first time in nearly thirteen years, I felt the wind on my face. It was like a soft whisper, brushing against my cheeks and ruffling my hair. It was also slightly annoying – I couldn't turn away from its embrace. Like Rosa. Too much like Rosa.
From my spot, I could see dozens of Chocobos grazing, their yellow heads cocking ever so slightly sometimes to make sure there wasn't a predator around. They truly were faithful creatures – they had helped us so many times during our journey that I didn't know how to repay them.
Our journey. Those two words would echo in my head forever. I had betrayed my friends, my family, so many times during our journey. I had not fought the powers of evil with all my strength; it just proved that I was weaker than my best friend. Cecil, my brother. I would never be able to love Rosa like him. I would never be as strong as him, no matter how hard I tried.
Oh, but I will try. I won't give up; being a Dragoon has taught me that. My family has taught me that. Our journey has taught me that. And that is a lesson I will be sure to remember for a lifetime, I thought as I watched grey clouds roll over Baron.
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Rosa's POV--
I stepped out onto the balcony, sighing. Kain had been absent at our wedding, and we hadn't heard a word from him since. I was getting very worried. Cecil, Kain and I had been friends since we were children; even though I protested that even if I was the youngest of the three of us, I could take of myself – they wouldn't hear a word of that and swore to protect me.
One of my best maids came out and stood next to me. "Miss Rosa?" she asked, stepping closer. I said nothing, but motioned for her to stand beside me. Asianne did so, wrapping me in a blanket to protect me from the night's harsh winds. The younger girl looked at me with solemn green eyes and said, "There's a storm much bigger than this one, Miss. I can feel it." I smiled at her and patted her on the shoulder. "Now, Asi, nothing's going to happen. Trust me, alright?" I said; she was right, however. There was a storm much larger than tonight's coming. And it was man – made.
I swept off of the balcony, running down to Cecil's study. Asianne caught up with me once we were down the stairs, and together we ran in. Cecil looked up from his desk, and smiled. He got up from his chair and walked over to me. "Rosa!" he said, giving me a swift kiss on the cheek. His face dawned a look of concern when he took a good look at me. "Rosa, what's going on?" I shook my head, unable to speak; instead I just grabbed his arm and pulled him along with me to the outside of the castle.
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Asianne's POV--
I followed the King and Queen outside, wrapping my thin shawl around me. We stood outside for a moment, staring at the increasingly darker skies, when suddenly I grabbed both the King and his wife backwards. Not even a second later, a bolt of lightning struck right where they had been standing. His majesty looked at me in disbelief, but Mistress Rosa pulled on his sleeve and pointed. I squinted through the now pouring rain and gasped at what I saw.
Thousands upon thousands of monsters were just on the hills. Some were holding weapons; some were just baring teeth and claws. His majesty Cecil looked at Miss Rosa and I and said, "Get inside, I'll gather the army!"
We didn't need telling twice. Together we ran inside, and I took it upon myself to gather the women and children to take down to the bunkers of the castle. Miss Rosa accompanied me, despite my protests. "It'll take more than just you to round up the citizens, Asi," she commented, and I just nodded and led her through the tunnels I knew so well.
We came out of the basement of Miss Rosa's old home, which had been deathly silent ever since the young Queen's mother had died. I heard Miss Rosa take a deep breath next to me, and I put my hand on her shoulder. She looked at me, and I said soothingly, "The women and children." Miss Rosa blinked, and then nodded. "Yes. The women and the children. Right." I rushed to the door and held it open for her before going out myself.
Once we were outside, we saw everyone outside, looking at the skies. Miss Rosa and I split up – I was to get the children, and her majesty was to get the women. We gathered them into Queen Rosa's old home, and one by one, sent them down to follow Baron's new Queen. I stayed behind until every last woman and child was down into the tunnels. I was about to follow an old woman, but I heard a scream coming from outside; shutting the door to the basement, I ran outside and immediately wished I hadn't.
A thick black fog was gathering into a ghostly form, setting everything it touched to fire. It was like no evil I had ever learned of; I once accompanied Rosa to Mysidia and learned of many evils there. It was also where I learned that with enough training, I could become a black mage; but that's a different story.
The fog glided towards me with a woosh sound, and I felt frozen – not magically, but terrorized. It had not occurred to me that it could've been a trap, a real trap instead of a screaming child; all that I knew of now was my coming death.
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A/N: Short, I know! I couldn't think of a better way to end this chappie than on a cliffhanger. Let me all know what you guys think – constructive criticism is most definitely welcome, I'll need it for my next chapter!