The Second War of the Magi
A Final Fantasy 6 Alternate Universe Fic: By Eric S. Trendell
Author's Note: First off, Aurora is Terra. I'm going to use both at various points in the game. Just realize- if Aurora says she's Terra, or vice-versa – she is. =)
Secondly, I know I'm departing from the story in several points. A great deal stays true to the game- but enough is changed to call it an alternate Universe fic.
Prologue: Once upon a winter's day
Long ago, the War of the Magi reduced the world to a scorched wasteland, as Espers fought humans for control of the world. Eventually, the Espers sealed themselves away to prevent their own extinction, but it was too late, and all human civilization had been destroyed. Humanity entered another Dark Age.
One thousand years have passed since the end of the War of the Magi. Iron, gunpowder, and steam engines have been invented once again, and technology has become the predominant force in the world order. However, there are those who would conquer the world by reviving the dread destructive force known as magic.
Can it be that those in power are on the verge of repeating a senseless and deadly mistake?
Seconday, of Firstmonth, 293 AV
4:52:02 PM
2 km south of Narshe
The winter wind whipped across the frozen cliffs overlooking Narshe. From here, the mines that had made it famous were clearly visible, even to the unaided eye. The ground shook for a second, then stood still, as three armored war machines approached, the starburst logo of the Empire of Vector emblazoned upon the side. The man in the first robot wore gold oak leaves on his shoulders- the man in the second wore silver oak leaves. The woman in the third wore silver eagles.
"Well, there's the town," said Lt. Col. Vicks. " It's hard to believe an Esper's been found here, almost a thousand years after the end of the War of the Magi . . . "
"Yeah . . ." Wedge replied. "Do you think it's still alive?
"Probably- given the urgency of our orders."
"Vicks? I don't know- somehow, I think this is wrong. We shouldn't follow these orders. We all know Kefka's insane. We should talk to General Leo about this - he'd take care of Kefka! By the Goddesses, Narshe's a neutral city! We can't just invade like this, even to capture an Esper! You know as well as I do that General Leo would never approve of this . . ." pleaded Wedge. Somehow, though, he knew what Vicks would say.
"You know as well as I do, Wedge, that it's not our place to question orders. If we disobeyed, Kefka would just send out other troops, and have us court-martialed. Even General Leo couldn't help us- Kefka's got the ear of the emperor . . ."
"Yeah, well . . . What do you think, Terra?" asked Wedge, desperate now. "The Emperor would listen to you, wouldn't he?"
There was no response from Terra. She didn't even acknowledge that they had talked to her. Vicks sighed- he hadn't been looking forward to this. Truth be told, learning of it infuriated him- but a soldier's place was to follow orders, and he was a soldier.
"Wedge . . . There's something I've got to tell you. I needn't remind you that it's confidential."
"What is it?"
"Terra's . . . well, Kefka found proof that she told General Leo that Kefka planned to poison the people of Doma. Kefka was furious, and demanded that the Emperor place her under his personal command. The Emperor agreed." Wedge gasped, too shocked to reply, and Vicks continued, "Kefka used a device he calls a "slave crown" to prevent her from using her will . . . She'll obey orders, but the Colonel's gone. I've heard that the Slave Crown even erases parts of the victim's memory . . . I'm afraid that, to all intents and purposes, Terra's dead."
Vicks shook his head shortly, as if to clear it, then straightened. "We'll approach from the east. Let's move out!"