A/N: This is the sequel to "Trials of a King." Much like the aforementioned fic, this was made before the Interlude existed; however, it s still canon. This is very much like the DS version of the game itself. This takes place several months after both the midquel and the original story as Rosa is reaching nine months in her pregnancy. Yet, Domin, the dark chieftain of the Injukhal, is still planning his next move.
Chapter 1
It's been six long months since the Tower of Babil was deactivated from its sudden chaos. Cecil found out that Rosa is with child, and is now approaching her final trimester. The Paladin kept having really intense nightmares, they were very similar to each other: during the dreadful dream, he witnessed her giving birth to their kid but he never seemed to identify him or her. He only watched her cringe and scream in agony during the delivery. He kept reminiscing on the time when he saw his mom, Cecilia, give birth to him at Mist. She died by the time it was over, and so did she. Their bodies were both very frail, yet the fetus couldn't be kept in any longer. It was always a scarring sacrifice the two made...
By the time the unidentified baby started crying, Cecil woke up. Rosa was sound asleep and everything was calm. Slowly, trying not to disturb her, he climbed out. He was plagued by these night terrors, and he had lost a lot of sleep, always worrying of his beloved's fate. He couldn't possibly lose her the same way he lost his mother by his own birth. The guilt still hung over him like a dark cloud. He snuck to the exit and abruptly turned, looking back at his slumbering wife. Satisfied, he marched down to the throne room.
Meanwhile, Cid was discussing some important news with his close comrades Biggs and Wedge. Ever since the fake king of Baron, Cagnazzo, stripped off Cecil's command of the Red Wings, and Golbez was himself over Zemus' thrall, no one was able to fill in his stead. Since he was so preoccupied over Rosa's well-being, Cecil left it up to the fleetmaster to decide for him. So he relied on the twins.
"Alright you two, listen up! Cecil has left me in charge to make the decision on who should be the next Lord Captain of the Red Wing army. Since you both are my most entrusted colleagues, I'll leave the obligation to you guys." Cid barked.
"Ok, we'll do our very best!" Biggs replied in admiration. His twin, Wedge, was less confident. "Shouldn't the king make the order?"
Cid just dismissed that, like swatting away a fly. "Bah! No need to worry about that. He's already nerve-wrecked as it is. His job is to watch over Rosa who's about to give birth real soon." They couldn't be more excited; they constantly debated whether it's going to be a boy or girl. Biggs and Wedge were the ones who built all the furniture, including the crib, and set up the unisex room below the impending parents' bedchamber.
The twin captains nodded and the badge of honor was official. Biggs and Wedge high-fived each other as Cid granted them rights of their ranks!
Elsewhere, things were less pleasant. Cecil just moped over his breakfast, without moving a single inch. A door opened, and when he managed to lift up his heavy face, he noticed it was Rosa walking in. He lowered it in mere seconds. She sat down on the elaborate chair beside him; her stomach was only extended by a few circumferences. "Still can't sleep?" she asked. Cecil shook his head.
She laid a hand on his. "You want to talk?"
Without facing her, he said, "They're just nightmares."
"If you are afraid of something..?"
"No...I just wish... I just wish I knew what I should do, if anything should happen to you delivering our child. That's all. I just wish we were more prepared of what's to come. I'm always afraid that perhaps-"
"Cecil, I'm not like your mother. I'm a White Mage, I can take care of myself. And we have the most skilled students in the land if need any help." Thanks to her teachings, the Mages' powers could even rival those in Mysidia, if not better. "They always say that the more intense the dreams are, the less painful the pregnancy and delivery will be. They know this; don't worry." She gave him a peck on the cheek, but it didn't lift his spirits.
Just then, Cid burst in. "Are we ready?" Rosa asked, anticipating the meeting.
"We're already late, Rosa. Move your keesters."
When they got to the main hall, they were met by an enormous crowd: Black Mages, White Mages, Cid, and even some of the Red Wing soldiers mingled as they were discussing the preparations. They were all anxious for the baby, and they made sure they went over every worst-case scenario, even beefing up security. Any day now, Rosa will give birth to a new heir. They were all happy, as well as anxious, and some were just as nervous as Cecil. Everyone was so absorbed that they didn't anticipate a visitor. Someone with red skin and wearing a tribal outfit was approaching the main gate. The king felt a chill going down his spine, making his heart race. He knew something was wrong...
Rosa looked over to his frightened face. "What is it, Cecil?" she whispered. "I don't know...But I feel something's not right. Stay here, I'll take a look." He marched out to the portcullis.
Two guards in purple armor blocked the entrance. They never saw someone this exotic before; however, he gave off a sinister complexion. "What business do you have with us?" one spoke. "Yeah, what brings you here from afar?" said the other.
The aborigine responded in a vehement tone, "I'm looking for the Paladin, Cecil. He must be here."
"Never heard of him." The patrolman denied. He could tell just by looking at him, and hearing his words, that he was bad news. "Why do you need him?" the other said in his partner's defense.
"My chieftain, Domin, wishes to speak with him. He needs him now. We shall be unstoppable if he would join us in our cause. Give this to him, if you happen to see him." his eyes gleamed with desire.
But the soldiers just stood there like unfazed statues. "Fine, whatever. Good luck finding this 'Cecil.' Now, begone."
"Who is it?"
The pair noticed. "Lord Cecil, we had a visitor. He looked very strange, and evil-like."
"He said his chieftain, Domin, wants you. To 'join his cause.' Apparently, his tribesmen have been looking for you for quite a time, and he was not pleased. He wanted to give you this." Cecil thought the name Domin sounded familiar, and so was the arrowhead soaked in dry blood. His eyes went wide with fear, he just put 2 and 2 together. It was his recent enemies, the Injukhal. Everything started to come back to him.
"My lord, are you well?"
"Where did he go?" Cecil asked desperately.
"Ah-I think he went southeast, to the village."
"I'll be back." He ran as fast as a pair of Chocobo legs. The guards were startled at his sudden rush.
At the entryway, the same red man was igniting an arrow with a Fire spell as his palm glowed in an orange hue. The tip went ablaze and he aimed it toward the highest point of the village, which happened to be Cid's and his daughter's, Mid's, house on a steep hill!
"Stop!" A voice halted the arrow from being shot. He lowered the burning arrow, turned toward the voice, and recognized the meddler right away. "If it's me you want, I'm here!"
"You have come, at last."
Two more warriors emerged next to him. "Yes, he is what our chief wants."
"The noble knight, Cecil, has returned to us. He is truly ours." They drew out their axes as the first red man threw his bow and arrow aside. "Come what may." they demanded.
Cecil took out his Excalibur and Diamond Shield. He'd rather not be taken into their vile hands again, not without a fight. "Huh, the Injukhal." He wishes not to be controlled by their motives this time.
He took them out almost seamlessly, as if it was a bit too easy. He could obviously tell they were low ranks, as their style isn't all that good. They were slow and pretty weak and he figured they were just used as bait to take him in.
Little did he know, one more tribesman was hiding behind a thick bush, witnessing it all. He ran off and Cecil never noticed him. He just discarded the burning arrow into a nearby lagoon and sighed with relief.
"That was fantastic!"
"Cid. Is everything all right?"
"Yeah, yeah, no prob. Just going over some last-minute details on Rosa's birth, that's all. I never wanted to stay here anyway, so I followed you instead." His expression sobered. "Who were those guys, anyway?"
"Cid, you must increase our defenses. The Injukhal were looking for me, they now know I am here. They are a savage people from a distant island named Tenebre; it's located within the eastern archipelago. It's where Dameon used to be."
"Oh... I see. What do they want with you, are they planning to control you again-?"
"Lord Cecil!" A Black Mage interrupted the conversation as he ran up to them. He was very drastic. "It's Lady Rosa. She's very sick!"
Without hesitation, they ran as they followed him to their personal quarters. She was resting in their bed, and she looked as white and bleak as a blizzard.
"Rosa!" Cid stood by while Cecil hurriedly went to her bedside. He kneeled over her and his face fell at the sight of her gravely ill body. "Oh, Rosa..." Touching her cold face, his throat tightened, and his heart skipped a couple beats. She had never looked this bad since she was befallen with desert fever in Kaipo. Although, she didn't feel hot, just lifeless and nearly as cold as ice. He was close to sobbing as he asked what happened.
A White Mage said she suffered from complications. She saw a huge gush of blood escape from her, then she grew very pale and numb. She got dizzy and she collapsed to the ground. She kept begging for Cecil to come to her aid before she blacked out. They've tried every White Magic spell they could muster to wake her, but to no avail. And the baby is still trapped inside her!
"Rosa..." Cecil could hardly find the words as he sulked. He leaned in and kissed her forehead. "We'll find a way to keep you and our child well. I promise."
Jus then, there was some muttering outside, and a guard marched up to his tower. "Lord Cecil...I greatly apologize what just transpired, but we have a wounded visitor. He says he wishes to speak to you at the Infirmary, and he's a survivor from Mythril."
Without facing him, he said, "Alright, I'll be there."
"You might want me to take care of this for you..." Cid offered.
Cecil shook his head. "No, I'm fine. I'll attend to him." He looked over his sick wife once more. He kissed her on the tip of her nose. "I'll return. Please be all right..." His mind wavered, but he set aside his angsts. He needed to see what the island survivor wanted from him.
It didn't take long before he reached his bed. In it was a miniature man, though he appeared to be almost a foot tall. He looked very much like the other midgets at Mythrill, with his short, brown hair and green overalls. He was battered and heaving, his voice was incoherent. A White Mage attended him. Although Cecil volunteered to give him a Cura spell. His body was healed instantly in a glowing hue, then he opened his eyes. With one finger caressing his body, he assured the wounded man he was safe.
Despite his small stature, his tone was still from a normal man. "Thank you, m'lord. How can I ever repay you?"
"You don't have to. Why don't you tell me what happened to you. How were you hurt, why you came here?" As the midget tried to sit up, Cecil said he should never overexert himself.
"I s'pose. I'm the mayor of Mythril, I'm from a distant isle in the archipelago to the far east. I managed to get here by a raft, I desperately needed somewhere to hide."
"Who attacked you?" Cecil queried with deep concern. This was a first to find the citizens abused. Before he jumped to a conclusion, the mayor explained. "I don't know. It all happened so fast. The people were enormous. I could hardly see 'em. They were also pretty noisy, and I was brutally tortured numerous times. So were my poor people, we couldn't stand a chance 'cause of their monstrous size! They were all wearing feathers, and then they eventually torched my village!"
"...What..?!" He couldn't believe what the councilman was saying. He never thought the Injukhal would be doing something this horrid; then again, this was clearly Domin's work.
He went on. "I was fortunate enough to escape during the rampage on a raft I'd built. I was very lucky I never got stomped on by the stampede. And the current alone brought me to the shoals here; I was far too weak to steer it..." He coughed, Cecil relaxed him and told him he's said enough.
He was very shocked the Injukhal would do something this devastating. I'm certain they would wipe out other villages as well, he thought. They must be stopped..! But... He couldn't shake off Rosa's sudden illness. He was in a dilemma on what he needed to do, torn even. Looking at the saddened and injured mayor, he had an epiphany. "I'll save your village, chancellor. I'm certain Rosa's illness can wait. I must prevent the Injukhal from doing any more damage." And I can't possibly let them control me again...
"What you say? About Rosa?"
"Yes, my wife is suffering from complications during her final trimester, and the baby should be due soon. She became very weak, and the child is still trapped inside her. We've tried every healing spell imaginable. but to no end."
The mayor midget rubbed his chin. "There may be a way." Cecil listened with intent. "There were some patches of Glamour Greens that were planted not too long ago. It's a medicinal herb, but it's very rare. It can cure any known sickness as the victim consumes the plant."
"I must head to Mythril at once! Rosa's life, as well as the citizens' welfare, are at stake. Rest here, chancellor, until you're well. I'll see to it your people are safe from those savages."
He coughed again, "My lord, please, I implore you, be careful."
"I shall." He nodded and went back to his bedchamber where Cid, some White Mages, and even Rosa's mother, Joanna, saw him. "Everyone, I have a solution." Cecil declared. He told them about the assault on Mythrill as well as a way to obtain the Glamour Greens to help Rosa. Cid volunteered to go with him, but the Paladin turned him down. "You mustn't go with me, Cid. The isle is too small for both us, as we may stomp on the poor civilians. I'll go to Mythrill using the Enterprise, you stay with Rosa and Joanna and increase our defenses until I return. I promise, I will heal Rosa by any means."
"You're determination and courage astounds me, Lord Cecil." Joanna commented. "I'm actually glad my daughter chose someone as pure and valiant as you. Please, find a cure for her."
"It shall be done, my lady. I swear it." He held his heart as a promise he'll never break. Then he rushed out to the secret passage underneath the candlestick and he lifted off posthaste east to Mythril.
A/N: The intro sequence was actually an inspiration I got from the third Star Wars film. I'm not much of a fan, but the story was a but compelling, especially when Anakin was desperate to save his wife from the impending birth. Well, the Injukhal make a return here, and they're more evil than ever. Domin's conquest had only just begun as they finally found Cecil, and assaulted the poor village of Mythril. Will Cecil succeed and save Rosa in time, or would he find himself in the tribe's shadow? Find out next chapter!
