The Esper World
by
Mark Briggs
FFVI fiction copyrighted their owners in 2012. To understand this story you should retrieve information about Final Fantasy VI video game released around the mid-90's.
Chapter One - A Bump for the Knight
Twenty Earth Years Ago, aloft a rift of dreams, a shining creature exhaled sound that materialized into music notes. The sound of a hum vibration reverberated across the expanse.
"Do I have to go to bed now?" Came a little voice over the fading wave of cacophony.
"Yes, you do." With a parents command reaching for the stars magic wove a blanket over the children of Siren. The entire dream scape dimmed into a single beacon of light tracing the horizon.
During the child's sleep, the little one witnessed a young girl crying over losing her jump rope. She had no idea a Cyron Guard hid it.
The multicolored sun appeared under the horizon with the distant translucent landscape allowed viewing of outer space. All encompassed by an aurora of magic.
"It's that time again." A male voice traveled throughout the house. "It's nice when a Golem like me makes Grand Elder. My kids have their meals brought to them." Smaller versions of Golem broke apart of glittered and golden colored spheroids.
"The best technology is magic. That's why we've never considered real steel structures. But there's been a few." Another one said to their child. Many Espers admired their beautiful wooden houses encompassed by green terraces overlapped by gardens.
"I'm off to practice magic with the others." A young female Unicorn creature took off for the sky.
Close and near civilization violet crystal veins grew into the sky like trees from caverns below. Carbunkle, a bald cold colored Esper with a tail, admired his home with his family.
The magma from the mountains of Ifrit, a darker colored Esper with two crooked horns, flowed like blood year around. Though trusted by the rest of the Espers, a hysterical glee beamed through the eyes of those touring it.
Stray cats littered the streets around the theater house. One minute the cats present a normal routine like other Espers to suddenly perform eagerly upon the town. They danced in pairs in the streets, stores, and rooftops.
In an armory led by a powerful Esper called Big M there, Ragnarok swords proudly looked out the magic woven window. Most of the population had to use scan to enhance their view of the swords tucked away from the streets.
Shoat, a stout boar type Esper, watched everything in his village from a treetop tower in a forest kept in autumn year around. These Espers loved to surround themselves with echos of the decaying.
Kirin, a blue tailed pale horse, used what the hospital provided. A magic regiment designation for any Esper that needed medical administration.
Meditating on a spreading cloud an old man with a white beard woke up as a bolt of lightning crossed the terminator into day. Ramuh used his magic to keep up close with the end of the day in the sky.
"How big is our world, father?" A young Esper asked walking down a street together.
"The dream scape shifts its momentum according to its own will. It varies with magic."
"Wow. Neat." The boy said.
"Glad you're happy, son." The father watched several others fly overhead.
After several moments most of the chamber Espers congregated for the meeting.
"You're getting better at retaining events in your dreams." Someone said to Tritoch the giant bird like Esper wearing a helmet. "I had a premonition of the same events happening a few moments ago." The Esper set down a book.
"Typical life here in our world. About families and their children learning our ways. This is the best so far. I can't wait to see what happens when you interact telepathically with others."
The two left the sitting area by floating down the main hall. The quorum call began in an elaborate room of ever changing walls and props. The large chamber consisting of boring white walls with the same shade of constant sunlight.
Most of the Espers knew any decor too opulent caused provocation impeding chances for useful discussions. Though the meeting began right on time.
"We've never known why our presence is demanded here day to day since the beginning." Said someone at the large podium. "If you want to live a free life be free. But expect to do things for free. If you want expense get expense, expect the same back."
"Now where did phantom disappear too?" Someone said under their magic breath.
"...Yes, that's why we all prefer to hone our magic." Someone else said out loud.
The chamber echoed that statement in whispers before continuing the discussion.
"Ever since we've settled here our powers have improved."
"It's ironic we follow a more human way of life at times."
The chamber experienced a brief pause.
"Someone refresh my memory. What was that human war called a thousand years ago?"
"It was called...the war of..."
"Emergency, emergency! Trouble with the dream scape" A seeker informed the meeting. Most of the Espers flew out of the open windows in the ceiling.
"The changing day is becoming steady day. I wonder what dimension has trouble now?" Someone said. They all looked to a Grand Elder.
"Whatsoever-happened-we-need-to-stop-it! The Barrier Brigade is in formation." A Grand Elder pointed to about a thousand Espers surrounding a bump in the sky. Before them it expanded.
"Everyone ready?" The squad leaders commanded to their troops in a magically thunderous voice. The troops maneuvered into an attacking stance.
Many of the Espers began to glow. The sky began to tear apart from the bump. Multicolored shades of blue overlapping one another.
"Starlight Ultima!" A sword danced in the sky appearing in the brigades hands one after the next. A bright sun beam pelted the grotesque bump.
"Ragnarok! I command." Zoneseek traveled out of a dimension emitted by the bump. He took Ragnarok crossing a full moon in the now cool blue and yellow sky. Fenrir howled as the shock wave from the bump dissipated after images of every Esper.
"It's draining my power. Cure 2!" An Esper cast on dozens of Espers that began to slump.
"We've sent in the squads several times." A commander said. "Whatever happened was pretty serious."
The moon broke into snow from Shiva majestically singing. Ifrit melted the snow into water when a whale gushed it from it's hole in the ocean below. The children watched the onslaught from the shores a distance away.
Hundreds of Espers had to be removed from the front line. Though in time the bump evaporated from all the damage dealt to it.
"I'm glad no one got seriously hurt." Another commander warped place to place attending to the weakened.
Moments later the bump faded as the sky cracks receded.
"Magi. The War of Magi." Ramuh revealed an image in the air of a human war. That's the reason for the bump yesterday. "I told Tritoch seconds before it happened."
"You were on your way here." After several more inquiries in the next meeting the Espers adjourned to update the repairs to the dream scape and underwater villages. Shiva rejoiced in her statement that it missed the polar region, Bismark's grand reefs, and the mountains of Ifrit.
"In their time it occurred over a thousand years ago. Why would we get a disaster now, Grand Elder Ramuh?"
"It means peril for us all in the near future." Ramuh grasped his glowing staff. "I fear I will be part of the magiverses new order."
If it scares Ramuh it's the most serious foreseen problem. Tritoch made notes in three separate floating white, red, and blue magical books. I've never sensed this much worry.
"We won't give up hope." Ramuh crossed his arms.
The remaining warmth of the evening winds brushed parts of the magical grass landscape of the Esper World. Siren again told the song of beauty and truth to calm the wary civilization. Siren's ancestors repeated the song miles upon miles throughout the dream scape.
Twilight broke part of the dark sky. In it Esper couples danced as if among the stars. The rainbow colored moon the only decoration at the night party.
"We're almost there. Keep flying." A young Seraphim admonished to their travel.
"I"m glad I can reflect most of the moonlight." Carbunkle's eyes glowed unfathomably.
"Siren has even turned in, but two misfits like us will show our deaf ears."
The two Espers in the full moon sky headed away from the dream scape.
"You know this area is out of bounds." Carbunkle motioned forward. He augmented his speed to counteract the vacuum.
"We can make it with our abilities." Seraphim increased her powers.
"You know what's out here?" Carbunkle communicated telepathically. "Space and that renegade really chill my spine."
"Don't worry, Car." Seraphim assured as a distant star illuminated her dress. "Your reflect field is repelling the vacuum with the help of my healing powers stabilizing it."
"I know it's worth it." He focused vehemently on his momentum.
A white light and blue light continued away from the planet surrounded by an aurora.
"Not long now, but it will be quicker if we warped." Carbunkle glowed a resilient array of colors to be transported along with Seraphim to a multi-ringed gas giant within a few seconds.
"Lets head for the pole where we can see it." They traveled to the pole to spot a hexagon mist circulating in the atmosphere. Out in the cosmos nebula with new stars began to form. The view also resembled a misty array of colors.
"Ever wonder what's out there?" Seraphim stared into it. "Where are the others?"
Memories of family entered their minds.
"My great grandfather said he's had visions of worlds without magic." Carbunkle chimed. "That the creatures are bound by the properties of that world. The Grand Elders know why."
"It's so lovely." Seraphim looked around. The cosmos echoed a supernova occurring millions of light years away. Others stars basking in a dazzling array of infrared.
"Do you feel that?" Carbunkle squinted.
"What?" Seraphim gazed changed to an object. "Where did that asteroid come from? It wasn't there before."
Carbunkle studied the motionless asteroid before osculating side to side. He shook his head beginning to feel dizzy. He purchased a perplexed look with a scan spell.
"Aahh!" Carbunkle screamed attempting another spell. "Lets run now! Something's wrong! I can't warp us away!"
Seraphim extemporaneously jolted from the gas giant catching Carbunkle in her angelic wake. She felt disheartened at the pain of Carbunkle catching his bearing to stabilize their field.
"I can hear it too, Car. It's a sharp buzz. Watch out!" They dodged an osculating rock.
"Meteors!" Carbunkle's mouth widened. "Lets combined our safe and shell powers for protection."
Seraphim spun around in an effervescent halo during Carbunkle's illumination.
"Could it be?" Seraphim looked to Carbunkle's face of terror towards a dark knight mounted on a horse appearing from the dim cosmos.
"Odin, the Renegade!" Carbunkle's aura shattered in seconds before mending in moments.
"What has Odin been doing all this time?" Seraphim said in her retreat with Carbunkle. Fiery rocks spewing blinding ash surrounded them.
Carbunkle led them allowing Seraphim to heal him sometimes from the beating by trails of cinder. Odin will fail to prevent their escape despite all the meteors as plentiful as the stars.
"What does he want with us?" Seraphim emitted a shock wave destroying a volley of meteors in their path.
Carbunkle reflected coarse objects. "Odin probably turned into a power-hungry fool, but I don't care. Once we use this last giants gravity we can leap for home."
Before then objects tore Seraphim's light to ribbons. Meteorites severed their link spinning the duo into different axis's.
"Seraphim! Seraphim!" Carbunkle's blue beams faded beyond the gas giant. A singularity enveloped a sparkling light leading toward the star.
Odin watched both of them from inside the atmosphere of the dark stormy planet. Echoes of thunder beat upon all in the gloom. Odin's eyes absorbed the colors of the planet upon inspecting the retreating lights. The singularity repelled his powers.
The indescribable situation turned awry.
"As you know Ramuh condemns the situation as the War of Magi. Does this mean we have to sacrifice our livelihood to investigate? What about the Grand Elder's decision?" Shiva addressed the entire dream scape. Her voice carried on the wind of magic.
A little gray Esper in the crowd muttered. "Shiva, our voice of reason."
"What was that, Shoat." Someone turned to Shoat.
"Nothing." Shoat yawned.
"I'm honored to be here." Shiva proclaimed. "I'm honored to speak on behalf of the Grand Elders. We all await their judgment at this moment."
"What about this rumor of a gate?" Someone turned their voice towards Shiva.
The members in the chamber turned to Shiva on stage at the podium. Shiva received several inquiries about certain aspects of the gate.
"There has to be an explanation." Shiva announced. "I'm excited."
The members began to talk as someone blurted out.
"Where would it lead? Does it have a power source? Who controls it?"
Shiva turned some of the assembly room air into glitter to maintain order. "Preliminary reports have turned up nothing right now. The Grand Elder's will decide a course of action."
The glitter faded allowing the members to discontinue refraining from inquiries. She answered questions about details of the gate.
"Is there more?" A lone voice asked. "Speaker Shiva?"
Shiva improved her posture before citing from memory information.
"We came hear a long time ago through one entrance." Shiva continued. "In all this time nothing public has surfaced."
"We've only done so much to unravel the mysteries of this world." Someone stepped forward.
"We've accomplished a great deal without humanity." Shiva opened her hands slightly across the podium. "We'll face the future and deal with the ramifications of our decisions no matter what happens."
The members understood.
"We are grateful to have these powers the humans would abuse." Shiva crossed her arms. "We are also grateful for our blessing by the statues over others."
Shiva readied herself for comments.
"Lets dare not ask the origin of all magic." Someone confidently conveyed.
"Or anything at all."
"Maybe the best answers is one of imagination."
"Faith!"
"Knowledge."
"..."
"Whomever created us, humans, technology, and magic has powers far greater than any of this." Shiva chimed in to interrupt the disorder that began to ensue.
"Nothing short of speculation, it doesn't surprise me of the diversity each day can bring."
"How can you tell if it's different or the same thing?" A male Esper from the side joined in the conversation.
The members edged out pauses before he continued.
"That floating out of bed is no different than how you did it yesterday." He stated. "Or doing it again tomorrow. Who has the power to warp out of bed everyday?"
"Nature has found the correct balance." A fish-like Esper pointed out. "That there's chances for both sides to do something different and/or the same."
"Now here we are again discussing it again in this chamber." Came another voice.
"I enjoy deliberating with you all." A vibrant Esper said. "It reassures me of my abilities each day."
"No better way than to hear from someone in person over telepathy."
Several Espers discontinued their telepathy.
"Ha." Someone in back said. "I might almost say each of his own. I had to leave an interesting conversation to be on time."
Some chuckled.
"You know what I mean." The one in back approached. "It comes with the job."
"We exist together for one another." Shiva said. "We also know where our devotion lies."
"And we put our faith in the Grand Elders and the Statues." Someone else said.
Each Esper gestured a sign of affirmation of the statement.
"Thanks for speaking today, Shiva." Someone in back of the room said. "I'm going out on a limb hoping one day humans and Espers can live peacefully again."
"Thank you back there...and thank you everyone. Since there's nothing else for today this meeting is adjourned." Shiva tapped a light-filled brooch on the podium.
For several minutes the Espers gathered around in groups to share personal insights about the meeting. Shiva declared equal concern about the topic at hand.
In a few more minutes Espers exited the chambers down the elegant steps of the capital building. Others flew out the open top or warped out to the gardens surrounding the building. The Espers flew off gracefully enjoying the time spent deliberating today.
The steps surfaces displayed swirling patterns of magic that climbed the plant filled stone handrail separating each flight of stairs. Eight stairs equally divided around the buildings radius with three breaks connecting the stairs before the bottom.
"It's fifty feet back to the entrance." Someone said getting close to the bottom. "This is your first day."
A younger Esper nodded.
"The issues aren't that complicated. This chamber is merely a symbol of our power and an informality."
"I still feel grateful for being chosen." The younger Esper watched two others appear a few feet in front of them before appearing at the bottom of the stairs.
"There were others with higher scores." The seasoned chamber member put his stern face to the day.
"Yes, I know."
"Is wasn't only a matter of high scores. When you answered the questions played a part."
The youth realized it.
"I figured there's something about the test."
He drew a map in his mind.
"You see."
"I'm glad I figured it out."
He finished the map.
"Then among the finalists in your region you were chosen by the citizens there."
"I've wanted to do this for some time."
"Oh, here they all are."
They continued through the gardens in their conversations. Many others had gathered to see all the flowers growing in vases and hanging flower pots between columns.
"These flowers are magically grown by the children of the capital. Since you're so young I'm sure your children will have many new breeds to introduce."
"I'm becoming overwhelmed."
"The unique patterns on the flowers will endure for years to come."
The young Esper studied the plants in amazement.
"Despite the attack the magic show will continue as planned." The older member turned away from the flowers heading in another direction.
"We made it!" The older member turned down a street leaving the flowers. The young Esper followed.
The two entered a village square to dancing and singing Espers traveling around it. The two navigated the crowds of people with noticeable tighter security.
The two eventually found the magical bleachers where other VIPS sat. A magical force field cleared them for entrance. They sat in the second row near the middle overlooking a gorge.
"Now I'm overwhelmed." He smiled jerking his head forward.
He saw two Espers of light and dark, fire and ice helix into the sky. In the background crimson fairy Espers drew a heart shape in the sky.
Soon, other Espers gathered creating a cascading tree of fireworks for the entire square and crowds to enjoy. More dazzling displays filled the sky for the audiences pleasure.
"How often does this happen?" He observed enthralled by the event.
"As often as necessary." The older member sat back to enjoy the show.
The Imperial Guard circled the sky around the capital building and the city perimeter. The unit captains used a constant scan spell to detect residual dimensional breaches.
"None in this sector of the sky. We'll move outwards from here." The captain commanded this troops to move.
"We have to be sure attacks like those don't cause permanent damage to the dream scape."
"Whoa!" A troop tripped in mid air viewing the gardens hundreds of feet below.
"OK, there?" The captain inquired.
"Yes, sir. The gravity is a little awkward now. Must be the dream scape trying to seal itself."
"We'll enhance a float spell ahead of us to spot any incoming rifts. Keep moving."
The troops at the perimeter experienced similar difficulties. In addition to problems with the sky the troops noticed tops of trees changing age at alarming rates.
"Our strongest cure magic is preventing the trees from breaking apart." A troop took another potion. "There's a strong wind beneath the treetops.
"Good work on it so far. This seems to be the strongest area of rifts." An officer studied the surroundings too.
"We have to keep our shell fields full constantly, sir. Should be all right, sir."
"Thanks for staying to help." The officer tapped a magic circle floating in sir signifying good work.
"I'm missing my daughters dream birthday right now." The troop readied another spell. "She'll understand though."
The officer smiled.
"In about an hour I can warp immediately to her." The troop continued. "The rifts should be all evaporated by then."
"Thank you." The officer began to fly away. "I'm going to check on the other patrols."
In an empty town square closest to the incident a person struggled to move. Out of MP and strength, she felt the presence of a troop catching her before being swept away.
"You shouldn't be out here, miss!" The troop yelled over the disturbance. "The dimensional breach has caused a great zephyr in this area."
Two figures struggled against the distant unseen wind that howled like a last days dawn.
"Sorry." She moaned. "Thank you for your assistance."
"Hold on. Warp!" The blue jagged skin troop disappeared with her.
The troop and the woman fell to the floor from twelve inches off the ground. He apologized for an inaccurate Warp spell before inquiring about finding her outside.
"I was swimming when the water changed." She replied. "I couldn't move. I managed to only get short warp bursts. I don't know why."
He caught his breath checking the locations safety. A slender orange layered woman accompanied him now.
"Don't worry, miss." He turned to her. "We've sealed the dimensional breach. The wind will die down soon."
"So that's why it's windy?" She stood up for the window. Wind beat against the window glass.
"We should be fine in this empty house until the wind subsides." The troop approached from behind her.
She stared outside to all the ruffling of the plants, water waves, and dust from the wind. The wind blew mostly clear with spots of various colors. Magical dust rose from the dream scape lending the horizon a colorful hazy background.
"Where are you from?" She asked him.
"The Imperial Troops." He fixed his gear. "I've been on assignment to assist the dream scape for a year now."
She listened allowing him to continue.
"There's many unpredictable spots around the dream scape we've noticed in the centuries we've lived here."
She mentioned a couple stories from her studies.
"We've developed advanced means to avoid most of them." The troop began a spell.
"Thanks for all the hard work." She smiled. "I was going to meet a friend for dining after I took a swim."
"Don't worry, miss." He completed his spell creating a table with two chairs. In another few seconds food on appeared on plates on the table.
"There's enough magic rations with me to last two weeks." He revealed glowing orbs in his undercoat.
"Thank you." She nodded.
"The wind should be gone in less than a day though." He stepped aside squinting towards the window that soon turned boring.
In moments the two had sat down at the table. On it glowing noodles, refreshing dream water, and magic tree fruit rested on floating plates.
"Pretty typical rations." He flicked his fingers that floated a dish towards her. "I also have this."
She looked up to see him pull out a bottle.
"Some ether to restore your magic power. You live on the other side of town I presume?"
She nodded.
"There's enough for several spells. Should only take one to get home." He put the ether away. "Until tomorrow."
She smiled at the thought of spending the night with someone who cares.
"We'll have to sleep here." He finished.
In another minute they began on the food. The rusty dark dust caused by the sunset dulled the surroundings. Dead leafs blew across the top of dark ponds sheltered by thick groves.
"I wonder who lived here before?" She asked from across the room.
"You might have a better idea who." He said.
The two combined their powers to create separate beds across the master bedroom. The unseen wind tapped the window time to time through the persisting darkness.
"I am somewhat related to Yura." She concentrated on a memory. "I'm getting an image..."
The next morning the wind died allowing the two to leave the house. The troop remained for another minute. She flew down the stairs towards the front door.
She had opened the door to notice a bright sunny day outside. She stepped out to observe families celebrating across the lawns upon the neighborhood.
She looked up to Esperites playing dodge the magic ball in the sky. The parents ensured a safe game from the ground. She noticed a couple having a conversation behind a tree.
When she arrived at the tree to say hello the man and woman embraced in a kiss. A glow illuminated from behind the tree. She turned away to the party.
She tried to say hello to others that ignored her. The party began its full swing leaving her to observe. Time slowed for a moment before the table sheets began to ruffle.
"Where are you going?" Came her own voice from the sky.
The party began to fade as the wind picked up. She looked towards the house to a dark hole capturing the family trying to escape through the front door.
"Whoa!" The troop caught her in both arms in the master bedroom. The wind still thriving in the darkness.
"What." She focused. "I was outside."
"When you used your power you levitated in mid air for a few seconds."
"Sorry, I had to cut my experience short." She floated out of his hands standing normally on the floor. "Someone terrible happened to a family a year ago during that day's celebration."
"Interesting and sad." The troop began for his bed again.
"What do we warn them about? Can we predict the next one?" She looked into the darkness outside.
Back at the Esper celebration the new counsel member with the older one felt exhilaration at the performance. Shiva frowned sitting in the back corner tilting her head to peek into the sky towards the sun.
The singularity carried Seraphim towards the inner system. The starlight sharpened in tone and illumination directing her ever towards it's warmth. Seraphim tried to concentrate before the light engulfed her.
Seraphim felt stillness. No vacuum, no warmth, the singularity brought her into a pure ivory background. Seraphim witnessed herself across many aspects before entering a different place.
"Where..am I? Where is this?" Seraphim's vision came into focus. She found herself in a room of lighter colored marble slabs and diamonds. Through the transparent walls shone a bright light during the sound of whispers of her name.
"Did Carbunkle make it? Odin was chasing us."
-su gnisahc saw nidO...ti ekam elknubraC diD-
Seraphim tumbled backwards falling into the seat of a marble chair. She shivered upon viewing the pulsing room walls. The substance began to change.
The walls, floors, and ceilings transformed into various scenes of her life. One memory that stood out implored her to rekindle events of being rescued by the Imperial Guard. Another event involved her curing a sick Esperite.
"Oh, my..." The light shaped itself into a lady with floor length black hair wearing a velvet dress lying down on a bed. More light bended into the shape of an old man with a staff.
Seraphim felt awe struck about her place in life by holding her hand over her heart. She snapped out of it to the sound of a voice.
"Esper Seraphim of the Angelia. You have broken the bounds placed upon the dream scape. The one will decide what happens." Starlet and Ramuh simultaneously communicated upon the room.
Seraphim sat up in the chair discontinuing her shivers with her mind clearing up.
"I'm sorry." Seraphim sat properly as possible in the chair. "We were curious and wanted to go."
In a blink Starlet came up closer to Seraphim. "You chose to leave also convincing Carbunkle to follow."
Ramuh held up his staff. He stood on an altar of light towering above them. "We shielded you from Odin who remains an outcast for unknown reasons to this day. Carbunkle returned to the dream scape on his own."
Starlet flew into the air. "His punishment will be the grief of possibly losing you to Odin."
A scene of the encounter with Odin appeared on all the room walls to the point of Carbunkle's escape.
"You are an Angelia Esper, Seraphim." Ramuh joined Starlet in the air. "You're duty is to set the best moral example for us."
Seraphim consciously blinked then looked to the floor.
"You are also the judge of law and character. Now it is time for the judge to be judged." Starlet and Ramuh vanished discontinuing in unison.
The room in front of Seraphim parted revealing a large knight with colorful pearly armor. The knight's power engulfed the surroundings changing in dimension upon command.
"No, wait! Alexander-"
End of Chapter One.