Legacy of Light

A Final Fantasy IV fan fiction

Disclaimer - Final Fantasy IV, all of its characters, situations, and utter awesomeness are the property of Square Enix. This fan fiction merely shows my continuing affection and appreciation for one of the most enjoyable RPG stories of all time.

Summary - Light and darkness cast aloft once more! Rejected by the Lunarians who fear he carries the taint of Zemus, Golbez sought to end his life in the cold reaches of space. Fusoya, his uncle, had another idea, and sent his craft to crash-land on the Blue Planet. Cecil, along with unexpected allies, must now strive to teach his older brother his worth, and help him to discover his inner light. AU, character death.

Author's note - This is an amalgam of official information from the early version of the game for the SNES known as FFII, a partial play-through of the current version of the game on the Nintendo DS known as FFIV, a very cursory look at the FFIV: The After Years information on the web, the beginnings of playing Dissidia: Final Fantasy on the PSP, and watching various cut-scenes from pretty much all the games on-line. Some of it is wildly non-canonical so this story is classified as alternate universe. Please bear with me as some of the chapters are mostly prose, to impart a lot of information quickly. Perhaps, if there is inspiration, I will go back and write short stories fleshing out the action detailed here, but for now, to focus on the heart of the story, I am describing the action, instead of showing it. It's best to think of these parts of the story like the chunks of text that appear in many RPGs that advance the game without bogging down the central action.

Part One

Chapter One – Kluya – Descending Light

"It is decided."

Kluya and Zemus waited to hear the decree of the Lunarian Council, each hoping his suggestion had won favor over his rival's.

"It is not reasonable to expect us to hide and constrain our natural abilities merely because the more primitive people of the Blue Planet will fear them." Kluya's shoulders slumped. He had hoped to help the people of the Blue Planet advance with the skills the Lunarians could bring to them. Right now people of the planet below were dying from illnesses that the Lunarians had conquered long ago. Even the simplest of his White Magic spells would ease untold suffering. His heart ached a little, for the people he'd only glimpsed through long range viewing and scrying. If they were freed of some of the trials they faced, would they not advance more quickly to the point where the contact between the two peoples would be beneficial to all? The Lunarians needed a new home world after their own had been destroyed. Perhaps the restless wandering on this artificial moon had taken its toll on his people's natural compassion.

"But, it is even more unreasonable to expect us to destroy these people simply to make room for us so we can claim the Blue Planet as our new home world." Zemus turned and glared at his rival. Kluya had not been worried that the Council would seriously entertain this suggestion of Zemus'. Their compassion might have suffered from the eons of wandering, but they had not become heartless monsters. Not yet.

"Both suggestions are rejected. The Council has decided we will remain here, in orbit around the Blue Planet..."

"But, that's ridiculous! Why not use our power to seize what we need? They are primitives, after all – not worthy of possessing such a perfect world!" Zemus exploded.

"It is their planet, Zemus. It is not right for us to take it from them," Kluya replied.

"That is the position of the Council, as well. But it is not right to expect us, and our children, and perhaps our children's children to live out our lives on that planet suppressing and hiding our abilities, either."

Kluya dropped his head. "I understand, Elder." Inwardly he lamented the loss of life that would be suffered by those of the Blue Planet, with the Lunarians waiting and withholding their superior magical and technological skills.

"Some of us understand your desire to help, Kluya, but it is the decree of the Lunarian Council that all Lunarians enter stasis until such time as the people of the planet below are advanced enough to co-exist with us peacefully."

"No! This is intolerable! Why should we sleep away our years waiting for those muck-dwelling worms to advance to our level? It could be eons! I won't stand for this!" Zemus shouted. He wheeled on Kluya. "This is all your fault! If you hadn't discovered those maggots on the surface, we would have claimed it as our own!" Zemus raised a hand crackling with eldritch power and regarded Kluya with hostile intent.

"Restrain him," one of the Elders commanded wearily. Two guards trapped Zemus in an inertia field. "Zemus, your actions and attitude seriously distress us. We..."

"I will never accept this, and I will fight you every step of the way," Zemus growled.

"I was afraid of that," one Lunarian Elder stepped forward from the midst of the Council. "It is apparent that one of us will have to remain awake and keep watch. The machinery is excellent, of course, but it would be best to have one of us active to oversee everything. Zemus' wrath is formidable, giving him great strength – strength enough to go against the will of the Lunarians. Observe." Zemus indeed managed to break free of the passive grip of the restraining field. "Hold!" The Elder called out, catching his fellow Lunarian by surprise with the spell. "With the Council's permission, I will remain outside of stasis to keep watch over all during the great sleep."

"B-but, Fusoya, you will be cut off from the great Lunarian mind if you do that!" Another Elder stated. "To be active, alone – it is a harsh fate, one you do not deserve."

"But one that must be accepted, to ensure everyone's safety. Zemus even now tries to break my spell. His determination cannot be underestimated. In fact, I suggest we place him at the core of the Lunarian mind, and hope that many years of companionship with his gentler brethren will temper this distressing darkness within him."

"Many years..." Kluya said softly, to himself. Still, Fusoya heard him.

"Brother, is your heart inclined that strongly toward these primitive people?" Fusoya asked. "You've never met them, only observed them from afar."

"I can't explain it, Fusoya, but yes. Something there calls to me. I wish – I wish to help them, somehow. I know there's not much a single person can do, but if I can help even one of them, perhaps they will advance a little faster toward that time when we can let them know of our existence. Without harming them," Kluya told his brother fervently.

Fusoya's eyes glowed softly, indicating that he was in mental touch with the rest of the Lunarian Council. After only a moment the blue glow lessened, leaving a softly prideful gleam in its wake. "You have always possessed a light-filled, gentle heart, my brother. Go, with the Council's blessings, to the Blue Planet. We have no need to oversee you, for we know you will do no harm to either the people struggling below, or to us. I will miss you, Kluya. It could well be that we will never meet on this side of the Light again, but I cannot hold you here with my selfish wish to not lose you."

It hit Kluya then. He would leave behind his people and his heritage, and perhaps never see them again. He would have to live out his span of days on the Blue Planet if he left. It wasn't likely that the people of that planet would advance enough for the Lunarians to reveal their existence to them during his life-span – and he would never see his people, or his brother, again. But...

"Brother," Kluya lifted his troubled gaze to meet Fusoya's eyes. "I am torn. I do not wish to abandon our people, or especially you, but..."

"Kluya, there is a light within you brighter than that of most Lunarians. I have always sensed it. It is this inward light that is pulling you now. I hope, someday, to see you again, but, if not, I know that you never abandoned me, or our people. You followed your light. Perhaps, with your gentle guidance, the people of the Blue Planet will advance more quickly toward that time where we may meet them without fear."

Kluya's eyes were still troubled. Zemus cast off Fusoya's Hold spell, and rushed toward him. "Bah! Useless talk and feckless old men! I will not go calmly into stasis while this one gets to roam about as he pleases. I will kill him with my bare hands, first, then I will slay those worthless worms of the planet below! Talk is for old men, and action is for..."

Kluya calmly and without malice stunned Zemus with a blow to his solar plexus and dropped him into unconsciousness with a chop to the back of his head. "Forgive me for conducting violence in your presence, Elders, but I have heard enough of his hate-filled ranting to last me a lifetime."

"No need to worry, Kluya," one of the Elders spoke up. "We fear it is the only language he understands. Perhaps the time of stasis sharing in the great collective Lunarian mind will show him the error of his ways. Fusoya, this matter has been decided. We will retire, and leave the final preparations to you."

Fusoya bowed slightly as his fellow Elders left the Council Chamber. "Three days, Kluya. It will take that long to get the generators ready for the great sleep."


In the end, Kluya couldn't deny the light welling within him. It was with great regret he took his leave of his brother, his people, and their temporary world, but with an equally great anticipation he watched as the Blue Planet swelled to fill the screen before him. He hoped that the crystal shard Fusoya had placed on the ship would permit him to communicate with his brother, once he landed the great Lunar Whale on the Blue Planet. He would be lonely, without his brother, but he would soon be surrounded by the people of the Blue Planet. His brother, now that the stasis sleep held the rest of the Lunarian race in its dream-filled, implacable embrace, had no one.

He was greatly relieved that the contact had not been broken once he made planet-fall. Fusoya had the foresight to twin a smaller shard from the great control crystal, one small enough for Kluya to wear as a pendant. The two-way mental contact with his older brother comforted Kluya during those early days exploring the Blue Planet. Later, Kluya made certain to contact Fusoya to share with him the events of his day, each and every day, to help alleviate the boredom of the burden his older brother had taken upon himself. Fusoya appreciated the thoughtfulness and generosity of his brother, and shared vicariously in his adventures.

Fusoya advised his brother as he made his first contacts, pretending to be a traveler from a far country. Kluya worried that it was a falsehood, but Fusoya pointed out, rightly so, that it was quite true. Kluya had to agree with that, and even laughed a bit, that his homeland was much further away than anyone, even those becoming his friends, realized.

It was during these first few years that Kluya met and joined a band of adventurers. One of them, a gifted warrior named Baron, seemed to be the leader. Valyre was able to summon creatures to fight for him in battle. Jerika's haunting flute music did wonders for her comrades, and created chaos for her foes. Cythen was very short and stocky, befitting a dwarf from the Underworld, but no one looked down on him. His mastery with his hammer was second to none, as was his skill with repairing their equipment, or crafting new items entirely when inspired.

Kluya was grateful to be accepted so readily, and not only used his magic unstintingly for these new allies, but did his best to teach them some of the spells, too. Only Cythen was unable to learn any magic, but he professed he didn't care. He was taken with running questing fingers over Kluya's weaponry whenever time between battles permitted, declaring it filled with an energy he could sense, but not understand.

In one early battle, Kluya was shocked to recognize one of the summoned creatures as Cobalt the Blue Dragon, an Eidolon he knew from this planet's second moon that served as the Lunarians' temporary home world. After that battle, before the summoner's magic released Cobalt, Kluya heard/felt words in his mind, in the same voice he'd heard during a trip Fusoya had taken him when they were both much younger to the Eidolon's cave.

Son of the moon, keep my secret, as I will keep yours.

Kluya did, but pondered what it meant, and discussed it at length with his brother. Perhaps–perhaps the people of the Blue Planet were more advanced than the Lunarians had given them credit for, that some of them were able to summon Eidolons from the moon to aid them. Both knew the Eidolons were a proud and discerning race and only someone worthy would be granted the ability Valyre wielded.

"It is not the one or two, or even handful of people who are peace-loving enough to forge such bonds that we measure the advancement of the people of the Blue Planet against, my brother. It is the totality of the people who must be ready to accept us," Fusoya noted.

It was only after they had shared many adventures together, facing monsters in battle, and helping people along their way that the adventurers trusted each other with their most closely-held secrets. Valyre admitted that his life was now tied to that of his favorite and most easily summoned creature, Cobalt. If Cobalt ever died, he would, too. Cythen hung his head in shame when he admitted to feeling as if the world would collapse on him and crush him whenever he was in his Underworld home. Jerika told them that she had no memory of who she was prior to finding herself in a bed in an inn with nothing but the clothes on her back, the flute in her hand, and the name she used in her mind. Her hope was that it was her name, and someday someone would recognize it, and tell her who she was. "Baron" was none other than the crown prince of the country of the same name. Kluya hesitated to reveal his hidden truth to his friends, but in the end, urged by his brother, did so.

Valyre, Jerika, and Cythen regarded him quizzically for only a moment, then nodded. Something had always seemed a bit 'unworldly' about him, and his explanation fit. Baron alone was flabbergasted, assuming that his secret was the greater one than that held by his modest friend. He demanded that Kluya tell him everything he could about the society he'd left behind, and the advanced wonders the Lunarians took for commonplace.

After they had stopped adventuring, and returned to their far-flung homes, Kluya decided to stay with Baron. Once Baron assumed the throne of his kingdom, he wanted to name Kluya as one of his advisors, but, ever humble, Kluya declined.

Instead, he followed his heart, and taught magic to any who showed aptitude and cared to learn it. His joy when one of his pupils mastered a new spell was boundless. King Baron, as he kept his adventuring name as his throne name, invited any and all of Kluya's acolytes into the new White and Black Magic Schools within the castle. Not content to share his gift with only one group of people, Kluya would leave for months at a time, often seeking out their former adventuring friends to see how they were faring, though he always returned to Baron. His friends always welcomed him whenever his wanderings brought him to them, but King Baron was always relieved when Kluya's wanderings brought him back 'home'.

During one of his wanderings, Kluya happened upon the innately magical people of one of the smaller continents. He had landed his ship there, intrigued by the shape of their landmass, for it resembled a dragon, and discovered the higher than normal magical potential of the people living there. One of the people of this area pulled first his gaze, then his attention, and finally his heart. Her name was Cecilia.

Cecilia became one of Kluya's first pupils in Mysidia, learning the crafting of White Magic. Her natural aptitude was so strong that she developed White Magic spells unknown to Kluya. Her progress made his heart sing – first because he was falling in love with her, but also because she had learned something he hadn't taught her. He took it as another sign that the people of the Blue Planet were closer to advancing enough to meet with the Lunarians than the Council of Elders thought – perhaps during his lifetime.

He used one of the spells Cecilia taught him, Teleport, and the technology found on his ship, to craft the Serpent Road connecting Baron and Mysidia. He had kept his space-faring ship a secret from everyone except Baron and Cecilia. Fusoya suggested that it seemed wisest to hide the Lunar Whale lest curious eyes catch a glimpse of it. He cautioned Kluya that advancing rapidly in magic did not mean than the people were ready for the highly advanced technology of his ship – or that of the Lunarians themselves – aside from the few Crystals that Kluya had, with his brother's knowledge and blessing, situated around his adopted world.

In fact, Fusoya was so insistent upon secrecy that Kluya was not permitted to tell anyone where he'd hidden his ship, or leave any sort of a record of it – at least not openly. After Kluya had submerged his ship in its resting place, but before he triggered the transport to the surface, Fusoya asked him to place his blade against the master crystal. A brilliant flash blinded Kluya when he did so. After his eyes recovered, he noticed the words inscribed upon the blade of his sword.

Birthed from womb of Dragon's maw
And borne unto the stars
By light and darkness cast aloft
Are dreamtide oaths resworn
Moon is swathed in ever-light
Ne'er again to know eclipse
Earth, with hallow'ed bounty reconciled

Yet fleeting is the reverie
When moon from shadow has egressed
Guided forth anew by light made manifest

Two bound by ties of blood
By Time and Fate when wrest apart
Unto lunar light and Gaian breast

"What myth is this you've engraved upon my blade, my brother? A poem you wrote of our separation from each other and the meeting of our people with the people of Earth?"

"I suppose it is, at that. But, no. It came to me in a dream – one I fear might be prophetic. I sense a deeper meaning to the words of the myth. It speaks of us, truly, with me on the moon and you on the Blue Planet, but... I think it speaks of others, too. I – worry, when I ponder the words. They seem positive on the surface, but, underneath, I think there might be suffering to be overcome, first. I fear that suffering – is yours, Kluya. You could always use the power of the crystal to return here before that suffering happens, brother."

Kluya pondered for many long moments. "My heart is still here, Fusoya, with the people of this planet. Even with the little I've been able to teach them, they have done so much! These people of Mysidia, their capacity for magic is so great – nearly as great as a Lunarian. And they are innately peaceful, too. If I stay, and help them, and the others, perhaps the time of dreaming for our people will be shortened, and you and I can meet again, in person, here on the surface of the Blue Planet, a place where we Lunarians might be welcome and permitted to make our new home."

"I suppose your feelings for the winsome Cecilia have no say in this matter?" Fusoya teased.

"Brother! Of course, she... That is, I... Uhm..."

"Peace, Kluya. If your heart twines with hers, know that you have my blessing. She must be quite something to have tamed a wanderlusting dragon such as yourself."

"Dragon?"

"Do you not even know the meaning of your own name, brother? Perhaps it never came up. 'Kluya' is an ancient word meaning 'dragon' in Lunarian."

Kluya had reason to rely on his brother's calm but unseen presence in the years that followed. After a time of supreme happiness with Cecilia as his wife, and the overwhelming joy of welcoming his son into the world, he lost her while she struggled to give birth to their second son. She used the last of her strength, and the will of her magic, to cure the dying child even as she gave birth to him. Kluya couldn't bear to give a name to the ultimate White Magic spell she crafted to channel all his curing magic aimed at her into their newborn son – though in his mind he named it 'Cecilia's Love'. Ensuring the survival of her child was more important to her than her own life. He missed her intensely, but couldn't fault his infant son for her loss. He named the boy Cecil, after his mother, and resolved to tell him how much she had loved him, when the child was old enough to understand.

Theodor, his eldest son, was a different matter. He hated his brother for killing his mother. It was easy to see the pure light in Cecil as he started to grow, but just as easy to see the gathering darkness in his brother. Kluya was careful to treat each of his sons equally, but Theodor wanted all of his attention. He often demanded for his father to 'get rid of that mother-killer', and refused to call his brother by his name – hating that it sounded so much like his mother's name.

"How can you not love the child your mother loved so much?" Kluya asked Theodor in sorrowing wonder.

"How can you bear to look at the mewling maggot that cost Mother her life? You must not have loved Mother much at all, Father."

"That's not true, my son."

Theodor's hatred reached a peak when Cecil was four. The younger boy just wanted to follow his brother around, and be just like him. For all the hatred Theodor sent Cecil's way, the youngster adored his older brother. Not welcoming the attention, Theodor struck Cecil.

Kluya responded instantly to the note of terror and pain in his youngest son's cry. He stopped in shock at the scene before him. Theodor still held the iron poker over his head, aiming another strike at his brother. Cecil curled in a ball of agony from the stab wound in his shoulder, but stared up at his brother with large, betrayed eyes. He wailed when he saw his father, and dashed into Kluya's protective arms.

How could I have been so blind? How could I let it get this bad? Kluya chided himself even as he comforted the boy, and used his strongest curing magic to heal his grievous wound. While he was tending his youngest child, Theodor skulked away. I know what I must do.

He waited until Cecil, worn out from the attack and the aftermath, dropped off to sleep. He gathered his sleeping son in his arms, and made his way to Baron Castle. His friend Baron listened, and agreed to take charge of the boy for as long as Kluya needed. Truth be told, Cecil was liked by pretty much everyone, except his own brother. Kluya worried that Cecil had been traumatized by the attack, and when he woke and found both father and brother gone he might panic, but Baron reassured him that he'd take care of Cecil. There were other children in the castle, after all, and Kluya was not taking into account the resilience of youth. Cecil would be fine in Baron's care, freeing Kluya up to take care of his other son – the one in crisis. Reminded of his duty to his other son, Kluya nodded and left.

Kluya knew where he would find the boy. Theodor hadn't run away from him quite so much as run to his mother – so he was at her grave. Kluya could tell that Theodor feared what he would do as he approached, knowing that he had done something very wrong in attacking his brother.

"I miss her, too," Kluya said as he knelt next to his son at his wife's grave. He placed a gentle hand on the boy's back.

"I miss her so much, Dad," Theodor whispered. "And it is all that one's fault. There are words, dark words, inside of me. I wonder – if I kill him, would she come back? Would I be able to trade his life for Mother's?"

"There is no magic, either Black or White, that would permit that, my son." Kluya was appalled at his son's suggestion, but had to mask his revulsion of the idea. He reminded himself that he loved his son, he just shunned the darkness inside the boy. "And your mother would not permit it, if there were a magic that did. We can talk about it, and many other things. You and I are going on a journey."

"A journey, Father?" Theodor's eyes filled with a happy gleam at the idea. Kluya watched, and could tell the moment the thought of his hated younger brother crossed his son's mind. "What of that one?"

"He will remain here. This is a journey for just the two of us – a father, and his oldest son."

Theodor was happy with that thought. He was happy to have his father's attention all to himself. His happiness dimmed when they had discussions. His expression grew hard when his father began to tutor him in anything other than Black Magic and fighting skills. The gentler lessons fell on deaf ears, and Theodor finally declared White Magic to be a waste of magical energy.

Kluya wondered when his son had become so twisted by darkness. Against Fusoya's advice, he expended a great amount of his magical and spiritual energy to raise a mystical structure at the peak of the mountain where he was training with his son. Kluya hoped that his Sanctuary of Light, with its truth-reflecting mirrored hall, could do what he was failing to do – show Theodor the darkness taking control of his soul.

Alas, Theodor never saw the inside of the Sanctuary. The darkness welling within his very soul surged forward and washed away his consciousness. When he became aware again, he was standing over his father's body with blood on his hands. The initial spurt of horror springing from his heart was overtaken by a fierce feeling of satisfaction. He gazed down at his dead father, then threw back his head, and laughed.

Theodor was no more.

Golbez was born.


Author's note –

Obviously I haven't played up to the point in the DS remake where the details of Kluya's death and Cecil's earliest years are revealed. I hope that you will please forgive me for this and other departures from the FFIV canon and perhaps enjoy this story as an alternate universe look at canon events.

The poem in italics, etched into the Mythgraven Blade, is quoted directly from the Final Fantasy Wikipedia (and presumably the game, though I did not check when I played through that part).

Next Chapter: Chapter Two – Zemus – Rising Darkness