Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy.
A/N: This story as been rewritten as of Feb 22, 2017 to ensure that it reflects the canon characterization of all characters included. This means there are a lot of spoilers for many Final Fantasy games, both old and new. And it also means this is now a companion piece to a fanfic I wrote called Ruby Red. Be sure to read that one as well as the two go hand in hand. I sincerely hope you all enjoy the revamp. With that being said, I'm dedicating this fic to all Final Fantasy fans who have truly loved the series since the very beginning. This fic is for those who, till this day, continue to ensure the fantasy lives on!
The Gift of Light
"But in the tales of fantasy that people tell one another, the memory of their deed will live on..." (Final Fantasy)
Every soldier has a long and colourful history, and the veterans of battle carry the past upon their shoulders while the fallen rise again to meet the destiny that awaits them. The warriors of old and those still to come all carry a tale or two of their heroic deeds as a badge of honour, and both their glorious victories and their crushing defeats belong more to the realm of myth than reality. A flight of fancy, or a fleeting dream. A legend that spans generations. This is where the warriors gather to begin the final fantasy of their journey, and to bring an end to the quest that will leave their mark upon the world.
Or is it?
Every warrior is only a man, and every man has a story. In time, the past fades, and history is forgotten, but perhaps if you whistle loud enough the sound of your call will reach the ears of another, and history will live on.
Our story begins with the keeper of the rose and his blond companion, who has a story all his own that to this day remains inside all of our hearts. It begins in the land of discord, where the atmosphere is bleak and the air is filled with longing and despair. But deep within the darkness a flicker of light guides the way, and somewhere within the heart a spark of hope remains.
It was a night like any other night in the land of discord, but on this particular night something about the atmosphere seemed just a tad bit out of the ordinary.
It was quiet. Perhaps a little too quiet.
Or was it?
A soft rustling sound disturbed the silence of the night, and the talented warrior known as Firion carefully opened his unique amber-grey eyes, his entire body immediately growing tense from top to bottom. There was a frown upon his handsome face, but he dared not move for fear of alerting the suspicious intruder who was bold enough to have wandered so pretentiously into their camp.
He lay there for a moment in the darkness with his back towards the blond warrior who was snoring softly at his side, and gazing into the flickering flames of the fire burning in the centre of the camp, he held his breath and strained his ears to listen. The rustling sound seemed to come from the corner where they had stacked their supplies, and if he hadn't been having such a restless sleep he probably would have missed the noise entirely.
Now that all the crystals were in their possession, the ten warriors of harmony were on their way to defeat Chaos and his group of warriors once and for all, and their journey had led them into the land of discord. They still had a long way to go, but even the bravest and most talented of warriors needed to rest to keep up their strength. It had been a particularly exhausting day, and by the time night had fallen, Firion had lost count of how many manikins had died at the hands of his many weapons. The Warrior of Light was a wise leader, and taking note of the tired looks upon their faces the man had decided it would be best if they stopped for the night and got some sleep. Thus, their little camp had sprung up at the base of the rocky mountains leading into the heart of the lands ruled by Chaos, and it was agreed upon that they would take turns sitting watch for the night in pairs. Firion had already finished his round of watch duty earlier with Tidus, and he had been asleep for several hours before an odd feeling that something was off had jerked him awake. Immediately the sound of something moving in the darkness had caught his attention, and sensing the intruder he was careful to remain inconspicuous.
Who would risk entering our camp at this hour of the night? A bold warrior indeed to wander so recklessly into the midst of his enemies.
The rustling sound stopped, and taking a chance Firion slowly sat up, the colourful beads in his hair clinking softly as he raised his head. It was hard to make out anything past the fire, and shifting slightly so as not to disturb Tidus, he cautiously took a look around the camp.
Perhaps it's simply one of the others searching for a late night snack? Or maybe they couldn't sleep and decided to go for a walk?
A short distance away, Terra was sleeping peacefully on her right hip, the Onion Knight ever-present at her side. The clever boy was curled up next to Terra, and he seemed determined to protect her at all costs. Cloud and Squall were sleeping near the base of the mountain, their weapons lying close at hand. Cloud was on his back, and Squall had rolled over onto his side, his face turned towards Cloud. Both looked as if they were fast asleep, though Firion suspected they would jump up at a moment's notice if the camp was attacked, alert and ready for battle.
Off to the left, the Warrior of Light was sleeping soundly with his helmet resting in the crook of his arm, and Cecil was sleeping next to him, his back turned towards the warrior with no name.
That left Zidane and Bartz, who were supposed to be watching the camp.
It would not surprise me if one or both of those two were up to no good.
That thought immediately caught Firion's attention, and growing suspicious he glanced in the direction where the treasure hunting duo should have been keeping watch over their sleeping companions.
To his surprise, he discovered that Bartz and Zidane had not in fact left their posts, but upon taking a closer look, a soft sigh escaped his lips. Bartz had drifted off to sleep against the fallen rocks that littered the edges of their campsite, and next to him Zidane's head had drooped onto the mimic warrior's shoulder, the blond thief's feisty tail curling around himself for warmth. The pair of them were obviously not in any shape to effectively maintain watch over the camp, and shaking his head, Firion couldn't help smiling in amusement.
So much for setting up a watch.
Thanks to the ever lovable Bartz and Zidane, anyone or anything could have wandered into their camp without being seen, and if that was the case then they could be in serious trouble.
Everyone has been accounted for, so it couldn't be one of us. Perhaps it was a manikin?
That seemed highly unlikely. The manikins didn't normally make a habit of trying to hide their presence. As a general rule, they were noisy and quick to engage in battle. He couldn't imagine one trying to sneak about in the attempt to act as a spy.
If whoever it is was planning to hurt us, they would have done so by now...
A warrior of Chaos perhaps?
They were more the type to lurk about, especially if they didn't want to be seen. That was a likely explanation, but despite the fact that his theory made a lot of sense, Firion wasn't satisfied. There were still some things about that explanation that didn't sit right with him.
I believe there's something I'm missing...
The rustling sound came again, and turning to the blond warrior sleeping next to him, Firion took a moment to study is energetic companion. Tidus was curled up on his side, and the blond warrior's back was facing towards him. He looked like he was sleeping peacefully, and Firion couldn't help feeling a tad guilty for what he was about to do. Unfortunately he didn't have much of a choice, though, and reaching out he gently shook his fellow warrior's arm to wake him up.
"Ouch! Hey!" Tidus mumbled, slapping at his hand and pulling away from him. "Stop hitting me, Wakka! I'm not a blitzball!"
Firion raised an eyebrow, and shaking his head, he gave the blond warrior's shoulder another shake.
He had no idea who this Wakka was, but at the moment he had more important things to worry about. The strange dreams of a fellow warrior being treated like a blitzball were the last thing on his mind considering the circumstances, so really nobody could blame him for being a little unsympathetic towards his blond companion.
"Tidus, wake up."
Tidus let out a soft groan, and rolling over his blue eyes fluttered open, albeit reluctantly. "Firion?"
Firion was kneeling next to his golden-haired friend, and sitting back on his heels he nodded in confirmation. "I'm sorry to bother you, but this is important."
Tidus rubbed the sleep from his eyes, and sitting up he ran a hand through his golden hair, a frown slipping across his handsome face. "Important? Seriously? It's the middle of the night. Why'd you go and wake me up?"
Firion gave his golden-haired friend a look, and crossing his arms over his chest, he said, "There's no need to get defensive about it. Besides, you should be thanking me. From what I could gather you were not in the midst of a very pleasant dream."
"Huh?"
Firion put a finger to his lips, and nodding his head towards the supply area, he whispered, "Listen."
Tidus looked as if he wanted to make a retort, but the moment he heard the rustling sound his mouth snapped shut and he cocked his head to listen. The noise had grown louder, and whatever it was that was causing the disturbance sounded as if it were growing more desperate.
"What is it?" Tidus whispered, his expression becoming much more curious now that he was wide awake.
The blond warrior sat up on his heels for a better look, and reaching out a hand to steady him, Firion leaned close and whispered, "I'm not sure, although I'm quite certain it's not a manikin."
"Did monkey boy get hungry and decide to go searching for a midnight snack?" Tidus whispered back, snorting softly in the night air.
Firion pointed towards their two guards, who should have been watching for intruders, and catching sight of the sleeping treasure hunters, Tidus smacked a hand against his forehead and let out a second groan. "Well, looks like everybody's here, so...uh...what could it be?"
Firion frowned, and speaking quietly, he said, "It could be a trap or a diversion of sorts."
"Chaos and his flunkies?"
"Perhaps. We can't leave anything to chance."
"You're starting to sound like Squall," Tidus joked, giving him a teasing smile.
Firion gently elbowed his friend in the side, and keeping his head close to the blond warrior, he whispered, "I'm being serious, Tidus. We need to be careful. Chances are it's related to Chaos."
Tidus nodded, and summoning his sword, he stood up and said, "There's only one way to find out. Come on, Rosebud. Let's check it out!"
"Wait! Tidus! We can't just go-"
Tidus was already strolling towards the sound, weapon in hand, and with an exasperated sigh, Firion quietly hurried after his impatient friend. As much as he was curious to know what was going on himself, he still believed it was best to exercise a bit of caution.
"Hey, Rosebud! Hurry up!" Tidus called back, waving him over.
Of all the ridiculous things to do...
Firion raced over to the golden-haired warrior, and slapping a hand over his friend's mouth, he leaned close and whispered, "If you keep that up you'll alert our intruder that we've spotted him!"
Tidus pushed his hand away, and elbowing him in the ribs, the blond warrior said, "You worry too much."
"I merely think we should be cautious. You have no idea what could be-"
"You're way too uptight sometimes," Tidus interrupted, poking him in the chest. "Lighten up, Rosebud. You might want to loosen that armour up a bit."
Firion felt a tad insulted by his fellow warrior's teasing remarks, and holding his head high he marched over to their pile of belongings with his nose in the air, leaving Tidus to scramble after him.
The resulting sound was definitely coming from their supplies, and gazing at the Onion Knight's plumed helmet, he could see it moving ever so slightly.
"Whatever it is that's hiding under there, it must be pretty small," Tidus remarked, moving to stand next to him.
Firion nodded in agreement, and crouching in front of the pile, he proceeded to study it more closely. Whatever it was, it didn't yet seem aware of the fact that it was currently under surveillance.
"Definitely can't be Chaos. He wouldn't fit under there," Tidus joked, crouching next to him.
"I think it's also safe to assume it isn't one of his warriors either."
"What do you think it could be then?" Tidus asked, dismissing his weapon with a flash of light and sitting cross-legged on the ground. The blond warrior rested his chin on the knuckles of his hand, and staring at the moving pile he studied it with interest.
Firion was quickly running out of ideas, and as a result he didn't have an answer for his golden-haired companion. Luckily he didn't need to come up with a response because Tidus suddenly pointed at the pile and said, "What's that?"
"What's what?" Firion asked, frowning in confusion.
"That!" Tidus insisted, gesturing impatiently with his hand.
It took a moment for Firion to notice what it was Tidus was trying to show him, but once he did spot it he found himself leaning forward for a closer inspection. It looked like there was something red moving in the corner of the pile. It was small and round, and it seemed to have a life of its own.
It also looked like it was glowing.
"What do you think it is?" Tidus asked, reaching out a hand to touch the thing.
"I really don't think you should-"
"Relax, I just want to get a closer look."
Firion made an attempt to grab the blitzball player's arm, but despite his excellent reflexes he hadn't reacted quickly enough. Before he could stop Tidus, the golden-haired warrior grabbed the red thing sticking out of the pile, and without a second thought he gave it a hearty pull.
There was a loud and rather indignant squeak that sounded suspiciously like 'kupo,' and then a small moogle tumbled out of the pile, catching Firion by surprise. It rolled head over heels to a stop in front of Tidus, and giving itself a shake it let out another 'kupo' and proceeded to stare at them in eerie silence.
"Are you kidding me?" Tidus complained, crossing his arms over his chest. "It's just a moogle! And here you had me thinking we were being hunted by Chaos himself! Talk about serious disappointment."
Firion chose not to reply. Though Tidus was still ranting on about being woken out of a perfectly good sleep for nothing, the weapons master tuned out his friend and focused on the moogle instead.
This particular moogle looked just like any other moogle, but even so Firion could sense there was something not quite right about it. The moogles who normally wandered the lands of harmony and discord were shopkeepers, and they were also very vocal. This particular moogle had yet to say a word, and it did not appear to have any items for sale in its possession. If Firion recalled correctly, there hadn't been a moogle shop anywhere within the area earlier, and while moogle shops could often spring up out of nowhere, this particular moogle did not seem to have any interest in selling anything to them. It also looked smaller than the average moogle they had come across thus far, and unlike the other moogles the red pom-pom upon its head was glowing.
"It's pretty bad if a harmless little guy like this can manage to sneak into our camp without getting caught," Tidus remarked, smirking slightly. "Monkey boy is gonna be in some serious trouble when the Warrior of Light finds out!"
Firion reached out a hand towards the moogle, and speaking softly, he said, "Tidus, do you feel it?"
"Feel what?" Tidus asked, frowning in confusion.
"This moogle...There's something different about it."
The moogle remained exactly where it had fallen, and letting out a soft 'kupo' it continued to gaze at them in silence. Firion couldn't be certain, but he almost felt as if the moogle was trying to tell them something.
"What are you talking about, Rosebud?" Tidus asked, shaking his golden head. "It looks like any other moogle to me."
Firion let out a sigh, and smiling softly, he said, "You are not the most observant person, I see."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Tidus demanded, looking suspicious.
Firion was about to respond when the moogle suddenly floated into the air, the glowing light from its pom-pom reflecting off the golden-haired warrior's face. The light penetrated the deep gloom around them, and all of a sudden Firion felt as if the darkness had dissipated somewhat.
"What's it doing?" Tidus asked, looking confused.
"I'm not quite sure..."
The moogle ignored them, and leaping into the pile it pulled something free that was almost as large as its own body. Once it had a secure grip on the object, it floated back into the air and proceeded to gaze a them once more in silence.
"Hey!" Tidus shouted, giving the moogle an indignant look. "That's my blitzball!"
Tidus made a grab for it, but the moogle flew out of his range before he could get a good grip on the ball. It caught the golden-haired warrior by surprise, and losing his balance he stumbled and almost fell flat on his face.
Why do I have a feeling this isn't going to end well?
Firion had to resist the urge to smile, and catching his friend's arm he waited until the blond warrior had steadied himself before letting go. The moogle's expression hadn't changed throughout the entire ordeal, but Firion had a sneaking suspicion it was laughing at Tidus.
"Give it back!" Tidus complained, making another grab for the blitzball.
Once again the moogle slipped out of his grip, and letting out a happy 'kupo' it turned its back on them and proceeded to float away from the camp with blitzball in hand.
"Hey! Come back here, you thief!" Tidus cried, racing after the moogle.
"Tidus!"
The blond warrior completely ignored him, and letting out a deep sigh, Firion proceeded to follow his friend. If he wanted to catch up to Tidus then there wasn't time to alert the Warrior of Light about what was going on, and although Firion knew he would probably be scolded for it later he put the thought out of his mind.
At first glance it appeared as if the moogle simply wanted to play with them, but as Firion kept close watch on the light of its pom-pom up ahead, he started to have second thoughts.
The moogle moved with a sense of purpose, as if its path was predetermined, and not as if it was simply playing around and taking them in circles. It was almost as if the moogle was acting as a guide, but whatever it could possibly be leading them towards, Firion had no idea.
What if this really is a diversion by Chaos to catch us off guard? A moogle is innocent enough in appearance, and it could act as a perfect decoy. If the camp is attacked while we're gone...
That particular thought almost made Firion turn back, but concern for his friend kept him moving forward. The blond warrior had almost caught up to the moogle by now, and Firion could tell Tidus was starting to lose his patience.
"Give that back or I'm gonna use you for a blitzball!" Tidus shouted, making a wild grab for the crafty little thief.
They had been running for quite some time now, and somehow they managed to make their way into the mountain pass. There were outcroppings of large boulders and rocks all along the path, and Firion could see the largest peaks of the mountain hovering in the distance. The longer they chased the moogle, the stronger its pom-pom seemed to glow, and it lit the path up ahead with a brilliant red luminescence. The light seemed to grow stronger as they got closer to what Firion assumed would be their final destination, and as he studied the moogle he became more convinced that the glow of its pom-pom was connected somehow to whatever awaited them at the end of the road.
Firion continued to chase after Tidus, his cape streaming out behind him and the beads in his hair dancing to a haunting musical melody of their own making. Above him the dark, dense clouds hovering over the land of discord seemed to break apart as the moogle passed underneath them, and soon Firion was able to see the stars twinkling in the night sky. Beams of bright moonlight began to penetrate the thick cloud cover, and they streamed across the mountain path in beautiful arcs of silver light. It illuminated Tidus up ahead, and the blond warrior's hair turned a sparkling shade of pale blue. Somehow Firion managed to catch up to his golden-haired friend, and racing alongside Tidus, they were able to gain some ground on the persistent moogle. By the time they were right on his tail, they had reached a break in the path. The road ahead had widened into a circular clearing filled with towering obstructions that blocked their view of the path going forward, though there were also other paths leading to the left and right. The moogle reached the centre of the crossroads, and to Firion's utter shock it suddenly disappeared without a sound in a flash of red light. The blitzball dropped to the ground with a faint thump, and rolling through a patch of moonlight that streamed across the ground, its momentum was abruptly stopped by a black boot that suddenly landed heavily upon its smooth surface.
Tidus, who had been scrambling to scoop the ball into his arms, let out a gasp of surprise, and tipping backwards he landed ungracefully on his backside.
"Tidus, are you alright?" Firion cried, racing over and kneeling next to his injured friend.
Tidus let out a soft groan, and reaching behind himself to rub his injured buttocks, he said, "I'm fine, but..."
Firion glanced at the black boot holding the golden-haired warrior's blitzball in place, and taking note of the red sole and black laces that decorated its surface, he frowned at the unfamiliar footwear. Lifting his gaze, his eyes traveled over a black t-shirt with an interesting design on it that gave the shirt some detail closer to the collar, and he took in the black, short-sleeved jacket worn over the t-shirt and a pair of black cargo pants before his eyes eventually settled on the face of a handsome young man whose dark hair glowed silver in the moonlight. The newcomer's deep blue eyes looked like pools of liquid sapphire in the dim lighting, and though his expression was neutral, there was a cool aloofness and a relaxed air about him that immediately caught Firion's attention.
"Not exactly a smart idea to wander around in the middle of the night without a weapon close at hand," the young man said nonchalantly, the pleasant tone of his voice catching Firion off guard. "Lucky there aren't any daemons hanging around this joint, though those manikins put up a decent fight."
Daemons?
Firion knew he should have been concerned about this stranger wandering so close to their camp in the early hours of the morning, but for some reason he couldn't quite summon the energy to feel suspicious. Though he couldn't explain it, there was something about this man that seemed to instantly put him at ease.
Which he knew full well was dangerous, since he had no idea what the man was capable of, nor the reason behind what he suspected was not by any means a chance encounter.
What is it about him that intrigues me so much, and what are these 'daemons' he speaks of?
Firion slowly stood up, but before he could say anything, Tidus immediately went on the defensive, his words carrying the suspicion that the weapons master wasn't able to summon for himself. "You're one to talk. I don't see a weapon in your hand either!"
The young man leaned against the nearest outcropping of rocks, and crossing his arms over his chest, he proceeded to stare at Tidus with little to no expression on his face. Immediately, an array of dangerous artillery appeared around the mysterious stranger in a flash of light, and Firion's eyes widened in shock as the weapons circled slowly around the man's slim form. Raising an eyebrow, the stranger drawled, "You were saying?"
Tidus merely gaped at the other man, and taking a small step forward, Firion gasped, "You're a weapons master, like myself!"
"Something like that," the man replied, shrugging his shoulders. "A regular jack of all trades, that's me."
"And master of none, probably," Tidus snorted, glaring indignantly at the stranger.
Their unexpected guest let out a soft snort, and as the weapons floating around him disappeared in a flash of light, the dark-haired man said dismissively, "Relax, blondie, I'm just messing with you. I know all of you can summon your weapons, sort of like I can. I gotta admit, I'm impressed. It caught me by surprise."
"Wait," Firion said slowly, unable to take his eyes off the young man. "You know about all of us?"
"You could say that," the stranger replied, that steady blue gaze focusing intently on his face before the young man turned his head slightly to glance briefly at Tidus. "Word travels fast around this world."
Could he possibly be...one of us?
Firion was about to inquire further when Tidus suddenly leaped to his feet, his sore backside all but forgotten, and placing his hands on his hips, the blitzball star said distractedly, "Hey, where did that thieving moogle go?"
"A moogle, huh?" the dark-haired man asked, flexing his left hand, which was covered by a fingerless black glove. "Crafty little bastards, aren't they."
"Yeah, it was here just a second ago!"
It didn't surprise Firion that Tidus had completely lost track of the conversation, since it was obvious the blitzball star had only just now remembered the moogle's abrupt exit, and watching the newcomer, who had the barest hint of a smile on his face, he secretly suspected the dark-haired man knew more than he was letting on. Unfortunately, thanks to the fact that Tidus was easily distracted, Firion had lost his opportunity to inquire further, but maybe if he was lucky he would get another chance later on. If Tidus would finally quiet down and let him speak, of course.
"A festival mascot in my world, or a variety of cute toys for enthusiasts who collect that kind of stuff," the young man murmured, speaking almost as if he was talking to himself. "But in this world, they're real, making them a fantasy based on reality in Eos. Huh, who would've thought."
"What are you going on about?" Tidus asked, scratching the back of his head in confusion.
Surprisingly, the dark-haired man looked completely unfazed by the question, though he had obviously just discovered some important revelation, and letting out a yawn, the stranger said casually, "Nothing important. I guess, where some of you come from, the moogles must exist there, too. So that means...the reality we know might not be the reality that makes up the laws of this world."
"What the heck is that supposed to mean?" Tidus shot back, making a face. "And give me back my blitzball!"
The dark-haired man scooped the blitzball up off the ground, and twirling it on his finger, he regarded Tidus in silence before tossing the ball back to the golden-haired warrior. Tidus caught the blitzball expertly in his hands, and studying it closely he gave a satisfied nod upon determining that it had come through the bizarre ordeal with the moogle relatively unscathed.
At this point, Firion was completely enthralled by this strange warrior who had virtually appeared out of nowhere, and taking another step closer to the man, he said, "If I many ask, who are you?"
"Yeah, what's your story?" Tidus demanded.
Firion placed a soothing hand on the golden-haired warrior's arm, and bowing politely at the waist, he said, "May I ask you your name?"
"Nobody you know," the man replied, gazing directly into his eyes. "A name that means nothing in this world."
"Pardon me? I don't quite understand."
The dark-haired man lowered his gaze, and laughing softly, he said in a rather ironic tone, "Here, I'm just like everybody else. Out of the empire's reach, my fate not sealed by prophecy. The burden of my bloodline nothing but a distant memory."
"Wait, you remember your past?" Tidus asked, blinking in surprise.
"I remember more than most here," the man said shortly, shifting slightly against the rocks, his dark clothing blending in with the blackness of the night. "My past and future. Here, my duty goes beyond my kingdom. In this place, the realm of the dead can't touch me."
Firion glanced at Tidus, but the golden-haired warrior merely shrugged and tucked his blitzball securely under his arm.
The realm of the dead?
Firion had no idea what the man meant, and growing hesitant to inquire further, he said hesitantly, "You speak as if you carry a great burden upon your shoulders."
This seemed to catch the man's attention, and Firion gasped as the dark-haired warrior (for he had to be a warrior, just like the rest of them) suddenly pushed away from the rocks and came towards him, the silver light of the moon reflecting in the stranger's sapphire eyes. "I did at one point, and the bastard paid for it. And he'll pay for it again when I see him next in this world."
Firion bowed his head, and feeling oddly humbled in the young man's presence, he murmured, "I can tell you have a strong sense of purpose."
"Don't we all?" the man replied, shrugging his shoulders. "You guys are fighting just as hard as I once did. And still am, by the looks of it."
"Maybe so, but...there's this warmth about you I can't explain. You have magic in you, that much I can tell, but that's not what I'm feeling. It's something greater even than that. What is this gift you have?"
The man suddenly leaned close to him, and speaking softly in his ear, the dark-haired warrior said dryly, "The gift of light, so I'm told. At least the Astrals here leave me in peace. It's your goddess of harmony who's pulling my strings this time around."
Is he talking about Cosmos?
The dark-haired man suddenly pulled something out of his jacket, and catching sight of it, Firion let out a gasp of surprise. It was a crystal like the ones they each carried in their possession, and as the man held it out in the palm of his hand, Firion could see that it was glowing softly in the moonlight. "You are a warrior, like us. I suspected as much."
"Maybe, but is he friend or foe?" Tidus interrupted, giving the dark-haired man a suspicious look. "That's the real question. He might have a crystal, but that doesn't mean it's not a fake or something."
The young man tossed his crystal into the air, and catching it in his hand, he let out a rather impatient sound and said easily, "My duty has always been to protect the crystal. That's nothing knew for me. Looks like I'm forever bound to my fate, the Astrals saw to that. The blood flowing through my veins didn't exactly give me a choice. Even in this world, I can't escape this damn thing."
Firion could sense this man was full of secrets, and he did not think the dark-haired warrior was going to reveal his true self to them any time soon. But even so, he liked this young man. There was something about the stranger that sparked a sense of companionship within him.
"So, what's the deal? You with Chaos?" Tidus accused, holding tightly to his blitzball. "Say what you want about the crystal, that doesn't mean I trust you."
"This war between Cosmos and Chaos is about a genuine as the armistice between my kingdom and the empire," the dark-haired man said sharply, turning his face away from them. "As long as the Great Will remains, we're nothing but a bunch of puppets. Chaos and your goddess included. You might want to watch your back. There are eyes everywhere, watching us, and they're the ones who ultimately decide our fate."
Firion was unable to take his gaze off the dark-haired man, and growing curious, he said, "What do you mean?"
"Cosmos is...dead," Tidus said reluctantly, bowing his head in respect.
"She's about as dead as I am," the dark-haired man replied, tucking the crystal back into his jacket and stepping back to once again lean against the rocks with his arms crossed over his chest. "The afterlife doesn't exactly follow the same sort of rules as the world of the living. She might be gone, but look around you. Even here in the land of discord, a fleeting memory of her light remains."
"You mean, within us," Firion said softly, placing a hand against his heart.
"In you, me, and even this joker here," the dark-haired man replied, jerking his thumb at Tidus, who let out an indignant 'hey!' in response. "Look around us. Darkness as far as the eye can see, just like my home world used to be, but the light of the goddess continues to shine within all of us. See that in the distance? Order's Sanctuary, glowing like a beacon to guide us. That's your reminder to keep on fighting until there's nothing left worth fighting for."
"Then...you're not the only one who has the gift of light," Tidus shot back, looking suddenly triumphant.
The dark-haired man rested a hand on his hip, and nodding in approval, he said, "Not in this world, I don't. And when I think back to what got me here now, I don't think that was true even in my own world. It was their light that got me to the citadel and dispersed the darkness. Without them, my throne would have been lost. That's why one of them is here with me now..."
"Your...throne?" Tidus asked, scratching his head in confusion.
He talks of his kingdom and now his throne. Is this young man some kind of royalty?
"You all have that same light within you, even if you don't see it for yourselves. With me, my past just makes it more obvious," the dark-haired man said calmly, dismissing the blitzball star's words with a flick of his wrist. "The force of that light is the reason Cosmos called us here to begin with. It's our duty to protect that light at all costs. You might defeat Chaos. Hell, you might even be sent home if you do, but this war is far from over. There will be peace for a while, sure, but don't get too comfortable. Even if you break the cycle, the reality of this world is a union of souls that ties us all together. This is where it all begins, and one day this is where it will end. Think you can handle it?"
"I can handle anything!" Tidus boasted, making a fist. "Just you watch."
The dark-haired warrior slowly nodded, and summoning a sword into his hand, he pointed it at the blitzball star and said casually, "Don't disappoint me then."
"Do you...have some foreknowledge of the future?" Firion asked quietly, gazing into the man's deep blue eyes. "When will all of what you said come to pass?"
"Dunno," the man said easily, not looking the least bit fazed. "It won't be for a while, though, so don't get your beads all in a twist over what I said. I only know what I've been told. We've got a long road ahead of us, so keep your guard up. Rest assured, until then the light of your goddess of harmony lives on."
Firion exchanged a look with Tidus, who seemed even more at a loss as to what was going on than he had before, and pulling out his own crystal, he said, "I do not understand. Your words don't make any sense to me."
The dark-haired man suddenly stepped forward again and placed his hand over the crystal in Firion's possession, and a spark of light seemed to pass between them. The contact made the weapons master jump in surprise, but he didn't pull away. He could sense a strange aura hovering around the other warrior, but despite the way the energy between them seem to throb in his veins, the sensation wasn't unpleasant. More than ever now, he felt like the two of them were connected somehow, and though the man hadn't touched Tidus, he was sure the same thing would have happened to the bliztball star if the two had come in contact with each other.
"I don't need any foreknowledge to tell you will survive," the man said, his brilliant blue eyes burning into Firion's own hesitant gaze. "You have a long road ahead of you, warrior of harmony. Use the time wisely."
"What is this magic you wield?" Firion whispered, unable to turn his eyes away from the man's burning gaze.
"Not magic, though you already figured out I have plenty of that to arm myself with," the man replied, gripping his shoulder in a friendly manner. "When you are surrounded by death and despair, there's only one thing that can possibly keep you going. Care to take a guess what that might be?"
Firion glanced at Tidus, and realizing what he was staring at, the man nodded his head and said firmly, "We're on the same page, you and I. I have people like that in my life, too. They've always been the strength of my will to survive. Friends, companions, brothers...all that and so much more. When you share that kind of bond with those you love, you're not bound by the chains of destiny that dictate your inevitable fate. The fact that I'm here in this world, against all odds, is proof enough of that."
Firion felt a lump forming in his throat, and sparing one more fond look for Tidus, he gently placed his hand over the palm that was resting on his shoulder and said softly, "I see. You speak the truth, that I do not doubt. Whatever my fate will be, I will not forget your words."
Like the warrior standing before him, the people who were most important to him were the driving force behind his will to overcome adversity and protect all that was dear to him. He was nothing without the people he loved, both in his home world and in the world where he found himself now.
"You sure like to talk in riddles," Tidus interrupted, looking a bit flustered at the warm glances he was receiving. "Which doesn't suit you, by the way. You look more like a straightforward kind of guy, so why don't you cut the act and get to the point already."
The dark-haired warrior slowly pulled his hand away, and turning to look at the blitzball star, he said dryly, "Not as dumb as you look, I guess."
"What did you call me?" Tidus demanded, raising his fist in a threatening manner.
The dark-haired warrior laughed softly, and giving the blitzball star a surprisingly affectionate look, the man said, "I've got this friend. Blond, like you. Real happy go-lucky joker. You kind of remind me of him."
"Are you making fun of me?" Tidus asked, looking suspicious.
"No, doofus, that was a compliment."
Tidus blushed, which made Firion smile, and quickly looking away from the dark-haired man, the blitzball star grumbled, "Better not be."
"You're right, you know," the man said, his intense gaze never wavering. "Even with all my baggage, I'm a pretty uncomplicated kind of guy. Hate riddles just as much as you. Don't have a choice, though. Just doing my job. Not the job I was given, but one just as important. This world is a fantasy, but even so it's the reality that connects us all together. Warriors from the past, those of the present, like myself, and those still to come. This is our story. This world is the link that holds us together, the final fantasy that will eventually bring on the last chapter of our history. But until then, the fantasy lives on in all of us, and it'll continue to live on in the warriors who follow the path I leave behind."
"Our story..." Tidus said slowly, a hint of recognition flashing across his face. "This is my story."
"You'll have your peace, and no doubt you'll see your homes again, but one day the warriors of harmony and discord will be called to battle once again," the dark-haired man warned, hefting the sword over his shoulder and turning his back on them. "You want to know whose side I'm on? When that day comes, you'll get your answer when we meet on the battlefield."
It looked as if the young man was about to leave, and catching his arm, Firion cried, "Wait!"
I cannot allow him to leave like this!
The man glanced over his shoulder, and taking a deep breath, Firion said, "A warning. You came to warn us. Why?"
Something bright appeared in the dark-haired warrior's hand, and Firion gasped when he realized the man had somehow gained possession of his rose. It glittered in the moonlight, and studying its glowing surface, the stranger said calmly, "All worlds are connected, and we all share the same fate. You could say I'm doing you a favour. When our roads cross once more, you'll see her and the others again. Remember the password, if you want the fantasy to live on."
Firion suddenly had a vision of a woman with rose-coloured hair, and in that vision there were faces of others who looked somehow familiar to him. Nameless warriors he was sure he had met sometime in the past. "What...are we? Who are we?"
"We're the bearers of light, so she says," the dark-haired man said quietly, lifting his deep blue gaze to the dark sky. "And our cycle will continue. Our reality will live on. And when the fantasy finally comes to an end, the victory will be ours. At least, that's what I'm told."
"I don't understand."
"You said it yourself. The light is our gift. You, like me and blondie here, are a bringer of light. They will remember, and in their hearts, we will live on. The past always resurfaces and the dead never really stay dead. I would know."
"Who...are they?"
A ghost of a smile slipped across the young man's face, and letting the rose dissipate in his hand, he said nonchalantly, "The ones who keep the fantasy alive. Which is why it's never really final, is it."
Firion wanted to ask more questions, but before he could the dark-haired man slipped between the rocks and disappeared from sight. Firion could still sense his presence, and bowing his hand, he let the man's light wash over him.
"What was that all about?" Tidus asked, coming towards him and wrapping a comforting arm around his shoulders.
Firion closed his eyes, and summoning the rose in his hand, he said, "I do not know, but I am sure of one thing."
"What's that?" Tidus asked, his voice drifting gently into Firion's ear as the other man affectionately patted his back.
The weapons master slowly opened his eyes, and smiling softly, he said, "I believe we haven't seen the last of that man. We will meet again, someday."
"Just make sure you remember the password, whatever that means," Tidus joked, mocking the dark-haired warrior's words from earlier.
Password...
Firion frowned. He did not know any password, but for some reason he felt like he should.
The rose. The wild rose...
"Hey! Hello in there! Wake up, Rosebud. Let's get back to camp before anybody notices we're missing."
Firion gave himself a shake, and following Tidus, he proceeded to head back down the mountain path.
As they passed through the rocks, he could have sworn he saw a glowing pom-pom hovering in the distance, but that could have just been his imagination.
The line between fantasy and reality was indeed a fine line.
A man whose name I still don't know, and yet there was a sense of self-sacrifice about him. He seems so young, and yet I cannot help but wonder if at one point, he might have worn a crown...
As the two warriors of harmony disappeared from sight, the dark-haired man stepped out of the shadows to gaze after them, his slim body bathed in moonlight.
Listening to the silence of the night, he turned his head slightly and said shortly, "You heard?"
"Loud and clear," an enthusiastic voice replied, a hint of amusement in the other man's tone. "Aw, Noct. I love you too, bro."
The former king of the now rebuilt city of Insomnia, who was looking ten years younger from the day he last saw his throne, turned to gaze calmly at the lithe form of a golden-haired man crouching in the shadows behind the rocks to his left. Clearly, the blond was referring to the unexpected compliment that highlighted the strength of the bond they shared, and shaking his head, he said, "I'm surprised you were even paying attention. Ignis would be proud."
The blond warrior laughed, and leaping lightly to his feet, the other man said in a teasing voice, "Come on, Noct. Cut a man some slack. It's not like you ever paid attention to half of what Ignis said either."
"Still wasn't as bad as you."
"At least I'm not as bad as that surfer looking dude," the blond joked, eagerly flipping through the photos on his camera. "What's his name again? Tidus? Man, he would've drove Ignis crazy. Even more than I do. And I can just see Gladio's reaction."
Noctis kicked at the rocks scattered beneath his feet, and smiling slightly, he said, "Yeah, poor Firion. I know exactly how he feels."
"Hey!"
Noctis laughed, and dismissing the sword in his hand, he said, "You're such an easy target, just like Tidus."
"And after all that nice stuff you said about me and the other guys," the blond complained, dramatically placing a hand against his heart. "Dude, you're hitting me right where it hurts."
"You'll get over it."
"Ouch. Cold, bro. Frosty. I can feel the chill from here."
Noctis rested his elbow on the large rocks that had blocked him from view earlier before he'd stepped out to confront the two warriors of harmony, and motioning with his hand, he said, "Prompto, come here."
Immediately, he felt the blond move to stand dutifully by his side, and flipping through his photos, the other man glanced curiously at him and said, "What's up, Noct? Something wrong?"
Noctis closed his eyes, and thinking of the two warriors whose path had led them to a hint of what was to come, (with a little bit of help from a certain moogle) he said, "There's going to be another cycle, no question about it."
"Yeah..."
Prompto's quiet voice drifted on the breeze, and opening his eyes, Noctis turned to find the blond gazing at a photo of Firion and Tidus, both of whom stood tall and confident in the darkness, their eyes filled with determination. The next photo showed the back of his own dark head as he spoke with the two warriors of harmony, Firion's expression indicating he was listening with rapt attention. There were several more shots, each one more impressive than the last, and staring hard at the blond, he said, "When it happens, we'll have to fight."
"Especially since he's here," Prompto replied, making a face. "You're sure of that, aren't you."
"Wish I wasn't, but...I can sense him. He's here alright, and he knows about us coming to this world."
Prompto let out a sigh, and tucking his camera away, the blond said, "Where are Ignis and Gladio when we need them? How come they didn't get roped into this gig?"
"No use worrying about it now. We'll just have to make due."
"And hopefully pick up a few new buddies along the way?" Prompto suggested, giving him a look. "As much as this deal kinda sucks, I'm looking forward to all the new photo opportunities. I'll be sure to hang onto all my shots to show Gladio and Ignis once we find our way outta this place."
Despite the passage of time, Prompto looked just as he had on the day they left Insomnia in the Regalia, much as he did, and like him, the blond could still mostly remember his past, unlike the other warriors of harmony. They still had no idea why, as Cosmos had refused to answer many of their questions, but the mysterious nature of her riddles still intrigued him, as much as he hating beating around the bush with pointless guesswork. Instead, the goddess of harmony had given them their mission, a task they were to fulfill before it was their turn to enter the battle and allow it to became the focus of their journey.
"Hey, Noct?" Prompto asked, nudging his shoulder to get his attention. "I don't get it. Why'd you feel the need to warn them? Cosmos never said anything about that."
Noctis shifted slightly to make himself more comfortable, and stretching his arms above his head, he said, "Let's face it. No matter what world you're from, the path of a warrior is a hard road, and much like my royal bloodline, the will of the goddess is ever a shadow hanging over our path. But no matter the cost, we can't let the light that protects us all dim and leave us stuck in the darkness forever. That's not something I'm going to leave up to fate, the Great Will and his all-seeing eye be damned."
There was silence, and then hesitantly leaning against him, Prompto said quietly, "I'm not quite sold on this whole being a warrior of harmony thing, but...I'm glad I'm here with you. It's...it's good to see you again."
Noctis put an arm around his old friend's shoulders, and giving the blond an affectionate squeeze, he said simply, "Same to you."
"What...what happens once we're done here, and I do finally go back to Eos? Will...will you just...disappear?" the blond asked quietly, his uncertain words ending in a whisper.
Noctis could tell Prompto was avoiding his eyes, and forcing the blond to look at him, he held tightly to the other man's shoulders and said, "Do you remember what Cosmos said to you? The night we followed that moogle and we heard her voice speaking from beyond our world?"
He could feel Prompto's shoulders trembling, and taking a deep breath, the blond summoned his crystal and quoted softly, "Chosen son of the Kingsglaive, protect the one you trust with all your heart. Your loyalty to your king, whom you faithfully serve, will bring forth a new dawn."
Noctis remembered those words just as clearly as Prompto, spoken to him several weeks after the moogle incident. The confession, a mere whisper in the darkness of a sleepless night, had occurred when Prompto had jerked awake from a terrible nightmare, leaving him to gently rub the other man's back and speak in soothing tones while the blond trembled against him. After revealing what had been said to him on the day the moogle had led them on a wild chase, Prompto had finally fallen asleep in the queen-sized bed they had shared at one of the outposts, the sound of the blond's soft breathing floating on the breeze coming through the open window of the caravan. Long after Prompto had drifted off again, he had remained awake, thinking of the words that the blond had taken so much to heart, and it had filled his soul with a warmth he had never quite experienced before. It also made him think of his own message from Cosmos, which he in turn had revealed to Prompto, the incident bringing them even closer together than they were before.
"Noct?"
Noctis leaned into the blond's shoulder, and closing his hand over the one that still held the crystal, he said, "No idea, but no matter what happens, I'm always with you guys. And don't you forget it. That's an order from your king, not a request."
He felt Prompto smile into the fabric of his dark jacket, and pulling him close for a moment before stepping away again, the blond said in a teasing voice, "As you wish, your highness."
"Ready to go?"
"You know it. If they're taking on Chaos, I want a front row seat."
"Gotta get the perfect shot, am I right?"
Prompto nodded in agreement, and practically bouncing with excitement, the blond said, "Ignis and Gladio are never gonna believe this. Not without some fabulous pics as proof."
"And this time, they won't disappear out of the shot like our moogle friend did."
"Speaking of which..."
They both turned to watch as the soft light of a glowing red pom-pom bobbed in the distance before winking out of sight, and smiling slightly, Noctis said, "He sure is a pain in the ass, but I guess he comes in handy once in a while."
"Thanks for the help, buddy!" Prompto called out, waving after the small creature. "Come on, bro. We've got places to go and pics to take. Time's a wasting."
Noctis snorted, and tugging the blond after him, he said, "Fine, but next time, we'll be the ones dealing out the damage."
"So much for not killing anything anymore," the blond joked, summoning his gun and twirling the weapon expertly in his hand. "And there I was, getting used to all that peace and quiet. Hope I haven't gotten too rusty."
Noctis raised an eyebrow, and shaking his head, he said dryly, "Somehow I doubt that."
I haven't forgotten, Cosmos. My love for them will be my strength, and together, all of us from all different worlds will bring forth a new dawn.
The two young men slipped away into the darkness under the watchful eye of the Great Will, and with crystals in hand they set off on the path that would once again take them on the journey of a lifetime. For like all those who came before them, it was their duty to carry on the fantasy. To ensure that their road was never final, and that the memory of their deeds would live on in those who followed.
For no matter the challenges they faced, their resilience and determination was a force that would never waver.
For that is the legacy of the warriors of light.
-End-
"Remember always that the forces of the world must be used as they were intended-that the power of light must never be used for dark, and that the true Crystals reside in your heart." (Final Fantasy)