Cosmos' ten legendary warriors gathered around a bonfire in the Rift.
Onion Knight stayed close to Terra as always. He was her little guard but no one dared to challenge his wit. Squall and Cloud stayed a few metres away.
Warrior of Light sat beside Squall.
The SeeD member could not help but growl. Light did not notice. He was too busy finding entertainment in watching Bartz and Zidane fighting over the last piece of Chocobo kebab.
Firion laughed at their puerile behaviour. Squall stood up immediately to dismiss the dazzling warrior with the horned helmet just when Cecil walked over to the group.
He transformed into his paladin form and flicked his hair as he passed Cloud.
The man with glowing mako eyes curled his fists into a compacted ball until he could feel his blunt nails tearing through his leather glove slightly.
He was jealous of Cecil. Who wouldn't be? Cecil was gorgeous.
True, he had a few feminine features but he was blessed with the most perfect muscled body among them all, Firion and Warrior of Light drawing after him.
But Cloud,
He was the most jealous of all.
To him Cecil was an over-abundant freak. The man did not go to bed without his beauty products, something Cloud had longed to do himself.
Terra's hand cream had wasted one day so she borrowed her Lunarian comrade's more expensive one without asking.
Cecil roared like a beast when Luneth accidentally slipped the information. Thankfully, Warrior of Light, the leader, was there at the time and helped Cecil gain control over himself and act like the knight he was supposed to be.
Anyways, back to our story.
Cloud had planned for twelve days on a good plot against Cecil. He smirked surreptitiously.
"Hey Cecil, you know when you're a dark knight? How do you compromise you're good and dark side?"
Cloud polished his sword. His voice was low and quiet but he managed to capture Light and Squall's attention.
Cecil blinked as if the Ex-SOLDIER asked an absurd question. His beautiful, pale skin emitted celestial light onto his features.
He shifted uncomfortably.
"Well, I won't have the kind of answer you're looking for."
Cloud's sudden wolfish sneer did not bother Cecil Harvey because the blond wore that expression most of the time.
Cloud knew he was evading the question just as he evaded the question about what he dreams for when Cloud had told him about Firion' s petulant drean.
"Honest men have honest dreams".
That was what the Lunarian told him. Cloud came to the conclusion that Cecil was probably not honest.
Behind that mask of chivalry, he was a son of a bitch.
"I'll take any answer," Cloud said. He sensed that he piqued Warrior of Light and Squall's interest in the topic. Their curious facial expressions caused Terra and Onion Knight to sit with them.
Cecil was trapped.
Too many of his allies were watching him. His blush became obvious on his to-die-for, pallid skin.
He cleared his throat to avoid a hoarse voice. That would be embarrassing.
"I suppose the best answer would be that you could either die as a hero or live being a villain."
Tidus stopped his blitzball training and glanced at Cecil with a raised eyebrow.
"Nice answer Cecil but does that mean you're a villain?" the youth asked quizzically.
Light's stern blue eyes shot open and looked larger than their usual size.
"Cecil is a villain!? He must be manipulated by one of Chaos' minions!" he exclaimed.
Terra nodded in concern and told them how Kefka was good at controlling people.
Cecil laughed unaware of the danger he has gotten himself into.
Before he could reassure them that he got the phrase from a famous movie, Light threw his heavy shield on the beautiful Lunarian.
"Shine!"
Cecil fell back as he suffered an attack of the purest light. It was light so pure that it did not show any mercy.
"Shine!"
Another blow for the dark knight.
He knelt in pain and pleaded for the Warrior of Light to stop. Firion trembled in panic and slipped away into the shadows so he did not have to interfere.
"Shine! Let the light be your saviour!"
Cecil rolled across the plain and sobbed when the third strike of burning light cracked the armour around his chest.
"Shine!"
"Somebody stop him!" gasped Terra. She looked around for Firion. He would be the strongest to stop their leader but he was nowhere in sight.
"Shine!"
Cecil screamed as one of his front teeth broke away from his gum.
The light poured into his throat and scorched the sensitive tissue.
Bartz ran in front of the Warrior of Light and mimicked a sleeping spell. The tall warrior immediately collapsed onto the floor, his face peaceful as he slept.
As Cecil watched his sleeping comrade, it was hard to believe that this young man was a killing machine a few minutes ago. He smiled feebly at the others to ensure that he would live.
Cloud scrutinized the dark knight's wounds hungrily.
The white skin that looked similar to a full moon was burning red in some areas. That could easily be cured by Terra's curaga. As for the missing tooth, Cosmos would be able to regenerate it with her goddess abilities.
"Damn!" Cloud whispered as he looked at the floor.
He did not realize Squall staring at him.
He watched Cloud with his feline eyes. The Lion knew what the Lamb did not.
"I only took my phrase from the Dark Knight movie" Cecil chuckled.
Cloud cursed his jovial and pure heart. Cecil was able to forgive unlike him.
"You should play for Batman in a Final Fantasy version!" Zidane blurted.
"Yes and Kefka should be the Joker!"Terra smiled.
The group immediately began to agree.
"You know, when Light-boy there wakes up, we should tell him to tell Tetsuya Nomura to make a Final Fantasy version of the Dark Knight starring Cecil Harvey" suggested Squall.
He ran his gloved hand through his brown hair and felt proud to have taken part in the conversation.
Cloud smirked.
"I'm Nomura's favourite character and I've had the most appearances in many different games. He'd pick me obviously."
He did not see the Yoshitaka Amano characters glare at him (except for the Warrior of Light who was still sound asleep.)