Notes: FFT spoilers. You were warned twice. No crying at me about
anything. This is a post-Tactics fic, with the ever-"famous" Mintaka
takes. Enjoy! I'd thank some people for both the origins of this, and
other things, but most of y'all don't care. [I'll save it for
elsewhere/another day.]
Obscurity By D. Mintaka Peal
Chapter One :: A Moment in Time
"Johnathan, get out of bed this instant or you'll go hungry for the entire day!"
There was certainty in the groan that escaped the youth's lips that gave agony a new definition. Every muscle in his body strained at the effort, and could they speak, would have cursed his name for some time. Pulling himself upright, he blinked a bit as the mid-morning sun poked through the curtains of his small room, much to his annoyance. After yesterday's battles, he wasn't too sure if he should have even been up and moving, despite the white mage's tending. Still, there wasn't much use arguing with Aunt Meredith. At least, not when you want to eat.
He reached about with failing strength, trying in vain to find his shirt before he collapsed back in bed and lost his meals. There were two things that Johnathan enjoyed; food and fighting. Well, that didn't argue back, and made sense. A small grin crossed his lips as he recalled Lillina yesterday, watching him fight. That was, before Doran cleaned his clock and left him sprawled on the tournament field. Even with the training he had received, he still fell before winning.
Shirt acquired, he brushed up his pants before throwing some leather shoes on and running down before his Aunt clocked him upside the head with a wooden spoon - or worse, an iron pan. Eighteen years of age, and still under the glare of a mother figure. Somehow he felt it unfair, but wouldn't complain just yet. Not after everything that had passed since he could remember. Wars, fighting, heroes, villains, demons...
His favorite part was he heard it straight from someone who had been there. It had only been three years since the two had arrived at the farm on a pair of chocobos, travel worn and exhausted. Aunt Meredith was shocked to say the least, but knew better than to ask at the time. She had taken the pair in that fateful date, calling them family and lending the Chalthriem name to them as they took new identities. They were in the gray Ivalice borders, near Ordalia, and much out of the prying eyes of authority in Ivalice, and ignored by much of Ordalia. Johnathan knew the truth however, that his older cousins "Richard" and "Anita" were in truth Ramza and Alma Beoulve. His Aunt somehow had known the family - he assumed because she had ones lived near Igros before marrying his Uncle Harriton who had passed away in the Lion War. Still, it was rather fascinating having two famed - and supposedly dead - people living with you.
There were many things, however, that Ramza did not share about what had happened three years ago. This was still on Johnathan's mind as he slid into the chair between his 'cousins' and helped himself to a roll as the bacon finished sizzling. Silence gripped the room aside from the sound of the food cooking, and he glanced at the twenty-one year old Ramza and twenty year old Alma. Something seemed heavy on both their minds, and it took a very long moment before he realized what today was.
'Today is the three-year anniversary since the defeat of ... oh. Yeah, I get it now...'
Three years since the defeat of Ajora's attempt at resurrection, the final climax to their struggles, and the near loss of Alma. It seemed like ages in a way, yet it didn't. The bacon was set down quietly on the table, and he waited until they had taken what they wanted before he took a large helping of what was left. Meredith glared a bit at him, and he replaced a few pieces until she relieved that cold stare from him. They ate in silence; the only noise the occasion bellow of a cow from the pasture.
As they were finishing, the barking of their dog, Telha, broke the silence. Johnathan stood first, pushing his chair back quickly as he wiped his mouth and fingers on a checkered napkin before breaking for the door. The sight that greeted his eyes was astonishing, as a cart pulled up with a collection of people so varied and mixed he couldn't make heads or tails of it. "Aunt... I think we have company."
Ramza came up behind quietly, looking out the door with a double take as he recognized the people climbing out. He moved Johnathan aside and stepped outside, breaking into a run as he passed the door. "Agrias! Mustadio! All of you!" he cried, running to meet the Holy Knight in a friendly embrace.
Johnathan blinked. 'Agrias. The Agrias?' If Alma hadn't been beside him that moment, he would have passed out on the spot. Alma smiled at him saying, "looks like they didn't forget after all. I knew my brother would be pleased to see all his old friends again." She gently reached up and pushed his jaw up. "You'll make a bad impression standing around like that."
"I... never..." he managed.
His aunt passed him by, walking out the door, commenting, "I knew it would stun him, Alma."
She giggled and grabbed his arm. "C'mon, you've got to meet them all." She dragged him out into the morning sun, as everyone gathered around Ramza and Meredith. She stepped in behind her brother, depositing Johnathan beside his aunt in the midst of the collection.
"Well, its good to see you all here," Meredith said in a warm voice. "I'm glad there weren't any delays; and the weather seems to want to cooperate too. Now, I don't rightly know all of you..."
Ramza cleared his throat slightly, fighting back a slight blush. "Ah, well, everyone, this is 'aunt' Meredith Chalthriem and her nephew Johnathan Chalthriem. Meredith, Johnathan, this here is Agrias," he said, indicating the blonde-haired woman dressed in blue. She still wore her hair the same, and the spirit was still in her eyes, as well as the sadness that always seemed to haunt them. She smiled and bowed slightly, still used to how it was when she was a knight in armor. "I take it Olan couldn't make it?"
"No, he and his wife had some things to attend to in Goug," she said. "They sent their wishes and respects to you and Alma though."
"And Mustadio," he said, clapping the blonde engineer on the shoulder. The three years had been good to him, and he was a handsome young man now, still keeping a short ponytail behind him and a gun slung on his back for emergencies. His clothing was a bit dirty, and evidence of the cause was in the back of the wagon in the form of a busted wheel. "He's always getting into mischief."
A good laugh was shared all around as Ramza turned to the next person. "This lovely lady is Meliadoul Tingel," he said, grinning slightly as she flushed. She brushed a loose lock of brown hair from her face and curtsied in her green dress, a far cry from her days as a Shrine Knight three years ago. "She certainly has changed."
She reached over and ruffled his hair a bit in return. "And he certainly has too," she said, smiling. "Not quite so scrawny."
More laughs ensued, and even Johnathan couldn't help but grin. "Its the cooking," Ramza said in defense. "And here we have Rafa and Malak, brother and sister." The two looked very much alike, but were different in ways barely perceptible. Rafa's eyes were soft, yet filled with sadness, while Malak's eyes seemed to still hold a rage barely contained about something long since past. They were dressed in simple clothes, and looked to blend in easily with any town they chose. Beside them stood an older man, who easily could have been the grandfather of them. Ramza's voice intoned respect as he introduced him. "This is Cidolfas Orlandu. Also known to many as Thunder God Cid."
Next to them was a definite couple, holding hands. The woman was dressed in a pink skirt and white blouse, with a blue sash at her waist. She had been silent the whole time, and hid partly behind the taller man. He had slicked back blonde hair and a clean-shaven face, his clothing was slightly worn, and the look of a hunter was well marked on him. "Beowulf and Reis Kadmus. You two were married...?"
Beowulf spoke. "Two years ago, Ramza. Its something we've never regretted." Reis nodded solemnly, though a small smile touched her lips. "I notice you haven't found anyone..."
Ramza blushed furiously as chuckles broke loose. "Ah, well, that is..."
Johnathan found this to be a good moment to interject something to get back at the blonde for what he had said the day before. "Ah, but he has been looking at someone!"
"Johnathan!" Ramza pleaded, whirling around. Alma was trying hard not to laugh, and was failing quickly as she dissolved in helpless gales of laughter, crouched down on the ground.
"Ah well, I didn't say whom at least," he said, winking. He helped Alma back up, plucking a long reed of grass from her hair. "Anyway.... eh? What's that?"
Standing behind everyone was a large robotic thing that stood there in silence. Ramza grinned and lightly punched Mustadio in the arm. "Still going, hm? Without beating up Mustadio." A small laugh was shared by all as Mustadio glared at Ramza over the old incident. "This is Worker 8."
"Yeah, he works even though the stone's missing," he replied.
Ramza's grin faded slightly. "Missing?" Ramza looked at the great machine and back at Mustadio. "When did that happen?" The concern in his voice didn't escape anyone.
Mustadio leaned his head back, thinking a bit. "It was, oh, a month ago that I noticed it. I was doing some maintenance on him at the time and noticed it was missing off his back. I searched the entire house and yard, and everything, but I couldn't find the Aquarius anywhere."
Ramza rubbed his temples a bit. "Ah, well, lets forget about it for now. We're supposed to be enjoying ourselves!" As they turned to go inside, Johnathan noticed the general mood had dipped slightly. He had heard about the stones and their powers, and he even felt a rather unnerving feeling about the missing stone. Eighteen years on a farm often proved rocks don't just get up and move on their own. They usually needed help, and people were only too happy to give it to them.
Obscurity By D. Mintaka Peal
Chapter One :: A Moment in Time
"Johnathan, get out of bed this instant or you'll go hungry for the entire day!"
There was certainty in the groan that escaped the youth's lips that gave agony a new definition. Every muscle in his body strained at the effort, and could they speak, would have cursed his name for some time. Pulling himself upright, he blinked a bit as the mid-morning sun poked through the curtains of his small room, much to his annoyance. After yesterday's battles, he wasn't too sure if he should have even been up and moving, despite the white mage's tending. Still, there wasn't much use arguing with Aunt Meredith. At least, not when you want to eat.
He reached about with failing strength, trying in vain to find his shirt before he collapsed back in bed and lost his meals. There were two things that Johnathan enjoyed; food and fighting. Well, that didn't argue back, and made sense. A small grin crossed his lips as he recalled Lillina yesterday, watching him fight. That was, before Doran cleaned his clock and left him sprawled on the tournament field. Even with the training he had received, he still fell before winning.
Shirt acquired, he brushed up his pants before throwing some leather shoes on and running down before his Aunt clocked him upside the head with a wooden spoon - or worse, an iron pan. Eighteen years of age, and still under the glare of a mother figure. Somehow he felt it unfair, but wouldn't complain just yet. Not after everything that had passed since he could remember. Wars, fighting, heroes, villains, demons...
His favorite part was he heard it straight from someone who had been there. It had only been three years since the two had arrived at the farm on a pair of chocobos, travel worn and exhausted. Aunt Meredith was shocked to say the least, but knew better than to ask at the time. She had taken the pair in that fateful date, calling them family and lending the Chalthriem name to them as they took new identities. They were in the gray Ivalice borders, near Ordalia, and much out of the prying eyes of authority in Ivalice, and ignored by much of Ordalia. Johnathan knew the truth however, that his older cousins "Richard" and "Anita" were in truth Ramza and Alma Beoulve. His Aunt somehow had known the family - he assumed because she had ones lived near Igros before marrying his Uncle Harriton who had passed away in the Lion War. Still, it was rather fascinating having two famed - and supposedly dead - people living with you.
There were many things, however, that Ramza did not share about what had happened three years ago. This was still on Johnathan's mind as he slid into the chair between his 'cousins' and helped himself to a roll as the bacon finished sizzling. Silence gripped the room aside from the sound of the food cooking, and he glanced at the twenty-one year old Ramza and twenty year old Alma. Something seemed heavy on both their minds, and it took a very long moment before he realized what today was.
'Today is the three-year anniversary since the defeat of ... oh. Yeah, I get it now...'
Three years since the defeat of Ajora's attempt at resurrection, the final climax to their struggles, and the near loss of Alma. It seemed like ages in a way, yet it didn't. The bacon was set down quietly on the table, and he waited until they had taken what they wanted before he took a large helping of what was left. Meredith glared a bit at him, and he replaced a few pieces until she relieved that cold stare from him. They ate in silence; the only noise the occasion bellow of a cow from the pasture.
As they were finishing, the barking of their dog, Telha, broke the silence. Johnathan stood first, pushing his chair back quickly as he wiped his mouth and fingers on a checkered napkin before breaking for the door. The sight that greeted his eyes was astonishing, as a cart pulled up with a collection of people so varied and mixed he couldn't make heads or tails of it. "Aunt... I think we have company."
Ramza came up behind quietly, looking out the door with a double take as he recognized the people climbing out. He moved Johnathan aside and stepped outside, breaking into a run as he passed the door. "Agrias! Mustadio! All of you!" he cried, running to meet the Holy Knight in a friendly embrace.
Johnathan blinked. 'Agrias. The Agrias?' If Alma hadn't been beside him that moment, he would have passed out on the spot. Alma smiled at him saying, "looks like they didn't forget after all. I knew my brother would be pleased to see all his old friends again." She gently reached up and pushed his jaw up. "You'll make a bad impression standing around like that."
"I... never..." he managed.
His aunt passed him by, walking out the door, commenting, "I knew it would stun him, Alma."
She giggled and grabbed his arm. "C'mon, you've got to meet them all." She dragged him out into the morning sun, as everyone gathered around Ramza and Meredith. She stepped in behind her brother, depositing Johnathan beside his aunt in the midst of the collection.
"Well, its good to see you all here," Meredith said in a warm voice. "I'm glad there weren't any delays; and the weather seems to want to cooperate too. Now, I don't rightly know all of you..."
Ramza cleared his throat slightly, fighting back a slight blush. "Ah, well, everyone, this is 'aunt' Meredith Chalthriem and her nephew Johnathan Chalthriem. Meredith, Johnathan, this here is Agrias," he said, indicating the blonde-haired woman dressed in blue. She still wore her hair the same, and the spirit was still in her eyes, as well as the sadness that always seemed to haunt them. She smiled and bowed slightly, still used to how it was when she was a knight in armor. "I take it Olan couldn't make it?"
"No, he and his wife had some things to attend to in Goug," she said. "They sent their wishes and respects to you and Alma though."
"And Mustadio," he said, clapping the blonde engineer on the shoulder. The three years had been good to him, and he was a handsome young man now, still keeping a short ponytail behind him and a gun slung on his back for emergencies. His clothing was a bit dirty, and evidence of the cause was in the back of the wagon in the form of a busted wheel. "He's always getting into mischief."
A good laugh was shared all around as Ramza turned to the next person. "This lovely lady is Meliadoul Tingel," he said, grinning slightly as she flushed. She brushed a loose lock of brown hair from her face and curtsied in her green dress, a far cry from her days as a Shrine Knight three years ago. "She certainly has changed."
She reached over and ruffled his hair a bit in return. "And he certainly has too," she said, smiling. "Not quite so scrawny."
More laughs ensued, and even Johnathan couldn't help but grin. "Its the cooking," Ramza said in defense. "And here we have Rafa and Malak, brother and sister." The two looked very much alike, but were different in ways barely perceptible. Rafa's eyes were soft, yet filled with sadness, while Malak's eyes seemed to still hold a rage barely contained about something long since past. They were dressed in simple clothes, and looked to blend in easily with any town they chose. Beside them stood an older man, who easily could have been the grandfather of them. Ramza's voice intoned respect as he introduced him. "This is Cidolfas Orlandu. Also known to many as Thunder God Cid."
Next to them was a definite couple, holding hands. The woman was dressed in a pink skirt and white blouse, with a blue sash at her waist. She had been silent the whole time, and hid partly behind the taller man. He had slicked back blonde hair and a clean-shaven face, his clothing was slightly worn, and the look of a hunter was well marked on him. "Beowulf and Reis Kadmus. You two were married...?"
Beowulf spoke. "Two years ago, Ramza. Its something we've never regretted." Reis nodded solemnly, though a small smile touched her lips. "I notice you haven't found anyone..."
Ramza blushed furiously as chuckles broke loose. "Ah, well, that is..."
Johnathan found this to be a good moment to interject something to get back at the blonde for what he had said the day before. "Ah, but he has been looking at someone!"
"Johnathan!" Ramza pleaded, whirling around. Alma was trying hard not to laugh, and was failing quickly as she dissolved in helpless gales of laughter, crouched down on the ground.
"Ah well, I didn't say whom at least," he said, winking. He helped Alma back up, plucking a long reed of grass from her hair. "Anyway.... eh? What's that?"
Standing behind everyone was a large robotic thing that stood there in silence. Ramza grinned and lightly punched Mustadio in the arm. "Still going, hm? Without beating up Mustadio." A small laugh was shared by all as Mustadio glared at Ramza over the old incident. "This is Worker 8."
"Yeah, he works even though the stone's missing," he replied.
Ramza's grin faded slightly. "Missing?" Ramza looked at the great machine and back at Mustadio. "When did that happen?" The concern in his voice didn't escape anyone.
Mustadio leaned his head back, thinking a bit. "It was, oh, a month ago that I noticed it. I was doing some maintenance on him at the time and noticed it was missing off his back. I searched the entire house and yard, and everything, but I couldn't find the Aquarius anywhere."
Ramza rubbed his temples a bit. "Ah, well, lets forget about it for now. We're supposed to be enjoying ourselves!" As they turned to go inside, Johnathan noticed the general mood had dipped slightly. He had heard about the stones and their powers, and he even felt a rather unnerving feeling about the missing stone. Eighteen years on a farm often proved rocks don't just get up and move on their own. They usually needed help, and people were only too happy to give it to them.