Through the Fires of War:
A Final Fantasy IX fanfic
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy IX, nor any of the characters portrayed therein. All that I own is my own character that is being inserted into this story. I make no profit. Now please, sit back, relax, and enjoy what is sure to be a horribly clichéd fanfic.
Author's Note: This is my first attempt at a major work of fiction, and also at fanfiction. I ask your patience as a reader. Any and all constructive criticism is appreciated, as is all praise and other opinion. So please, enjoy.
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CHAPTER I: Transition
"Happy Birthday, baby!" cried my beloved Angel as she held a small box in front of my eyes. I quickly opened it to gaze upon the marvelous thing that she had bought me for my twentieth birthday: a bright silver band with four small garnets set in it at equal distance around the band.
"Do you like it?" she queried.
"Meg, I love it." I stated quite truthfully as I placed it on my right hand's middle finger, noticing that it was a perfect fit. However, before I could give my beloved the hug and kiss she had well earned, my attachments with reality started to weaken. As I was falling over the edge into the brink of unconsciousness, I heard a voice call out and proclaim: You have been chosen. After many thousands of years, the time has come for the elements themselves to take up arms. You shall command Fire as though it runs through your very veins. Now go! And bring peace unto these many worlds!
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When I came to, I had a slight headache but other than that, I felt fine.
"Megan…? Where are ya, luv?" I had yet to open my eyes, but something felt a little off.
I'm afraid that there is little point in that… She isn't here. Came a voice from deep within my mind.
"Wait… I've heard that voice before… You're the voice I heard as I blacked out! Who are you and why are you in my head?!"
Ah yes… I cry your pardon, young Dragonfire. I am Wyrmdyn, aggregate sentience of the Fire Crystal. As to why I am inside your head, as I stated before, you have been found fitting to command the element of Fire as my Avatar in an effort to bring peace into the many worlds.
Just as he said this, I heard a great roar in the sky overhead and opened my eyes to take my first look around. Directly above me was what seemed to be a boat hull, suspended in midair by a series of propellers strewn about the outer edges of it. What really caught my eye was the intricate sculpture of a mermaid in marble sitting upon the bow.
"The Prima Vista…? Well, my next question was gonna be 'where am I?' but I think that got answered for me…"
Yes, well, this world is in dire need of peace, and your familiarity with this world would make it as good a place as any to start.
"But Final Fantasy IX is just a game! How can I possibly be here?"
It isn't quite a game, nor is most any of your fantasy and science fiction media… The people who write the stories and characters for them are really something akin to prophets, with a few glaring lapses in their capacity. First, almost all of the visions they have are for worlds not your own. And secondly, they cannot see the changes that an Avatar would bring into the world.
"Avatars…? You mean that there are others like you, and like me?"
Like me, yes. Seven more to be precise, but we'll get into more of that later. As to others like you… I'm not too sure. I doubt that the other Soulstones were found that quickly, but it's always possible, however unlikely that it may be. Now, before we set out on what is sure to be a grand quest, do you find your attire acceptable?
At this, I looked down to find myself clothed in something completely different that I recalled being in beforehand. I was wearing heavy black jeans that fit loosely enough to cover all but the very tips of the boots underneath them. A pair of heavy leather belts hung off my hips, crossing in the front and back. Upon lifting up the edges of my pants, I discovered that I was wearing very sturdy combat boots with steel toes and heels. On my hands were half knuckle gloves that were essentially brass knuckles, as they had metal plates imbedded into each of the finger faces, and had one large plate across the back of my knuckles. I was wearing a light grey t-shirt with a dark blue button-up shirt over top of it. Looking down, I still had the silver pendant that Megan had given to me, though it was no longer the arrowhead that it had originally been. It was now a sword wreathed in flames. I also noticed that I seemed to be a lot slimmer than before, but I wrote that off as being my imagination for the moment.
"I think it's awesome… but it needs one very important thing." I stated after doing a full inventory of my appearance.
What's that?
I unbuttoned the overshirt so that it hung open. "There, all done."
Good, good. Now that we have established appropriate attire, there are a few things I ought to explain to you about the changes I've made before we depart. First is your metabolism: it has been greatly accelerated to accommodate a fast adaptation to the strength and speed of the Avatar of Fire. Second are your weapons and skills: I will soon arm you with a weapon and a slew of skills that are befitting someone of your position, but it will take time. And rushing things, while it can be done, is very much recommended against, as its cost is high in both pain and energy exerted. Lastly, so as to prevent impressions of your insanity as much as possible, I would like to point out that there is no need to speak aloud in order to palaver with me. Should you need help, or simply wish to discuss the events unfolding around you, simply form the words in your mind, and I shall do what I can.
-Like this?-
Indeed. Well, now that all of these things have been explained, all that is left are our objectives. We have only two: to bring peace to this world by whatever means are within our capacity, and to seek out the remaining Soulstones.
-Are all of the Soulstones set into rings? Or are the set into other things?-
The Soulstones have been set into many manner of things over the ages, but I can detect when one is near. Well, with that, I think that I have covered all things of great import… Feel free to set foot to ground and depart anytime. Remember, if you need help, just think of the kind of help you need, and I shall do what I can.
-Alright. I'm off.-