Based on: Final Fantasy Record Keeper
Disclaimer: This is a for fun story! I don't own Final Fantasy, Record Keeper, or any other SquareEnix franchise.
Notes: This story is based on a group collaborative project with multiple people and OCs. There is a ton of back story that won't be explicitly posted. Sorry if it's confusing at times! In this chapter Merlin is on trial for breaking keeper law.
Warnings: OCxCannon, Multiple OCs, OCC characters, angst, fluff, ect.
Merlin could feel herself being pushed as the sleep spell began to wear off. Metal clanked as her chains dragged against the floor, scraping as she was ushered to her place. Her body felt heavy, but she was starting to regain movement in her limbs.
"This is it. The trial…" Her eyes felt weighed down, but at least she was able to open them. A bright light poured down from above her. She blinked. The world looked as if it was smeared in Vaseline and her eyes couldn't seem to find a place to focus. There was a slight clamor of voices. Some in tongues she hadn't had to fortune to hear previously.
"Silence!" one voice boomed above the others. Those in the Court of Eidolons hushed themselves to nothing more than a faint murmur. Merlin had a feeling this was it; she was going to be erased. Something in her bubbled up trying to break free but she swallowed it. "Not now you!" she mentally chastised "herself".
"Keeper Merlin!" The voice thundered "You are here today to be tried by the Court of Eidolons for breaking sacred keeper law!" It paused only for a moment before finishing. "This law was established by our mother, The Goddess Cosmos, in order to keep those with in all realms safe, as well as aiding in our eternal task of keeping history preserved!"
Merlin's eyes were finally able to focus now on the figure speaking. Though she had never seen him before his size and stature were memorizing. It was then it all really sank in. The room was lined with many different figures almost all in human form. Each with an unreal ethereal air about them. These were no ordinary people. It took a moment for her to understand before noticing Shiva and Ramuh having taken their seat to the far left of the court.
"Merlin you have been charged for breaking our most serious law. Allowing yourself to succumb to feelings of an unprofessional nature towards hero. Now tell me, what love was so great you'd break keeper law? What was it that made you defy the law of her Mother Cosmos?"
Many faces peered down on her waiting for an answer. They looked hungry, waiting to gobble her whole. For a moment Merlin couldn't find the right words to speak, and she froze.
One of the Eidolon court took her momentary silence as an indication she wasn't willing to defend herself. His eyes were blaze like the robes he wore. Horns adorned his head making him appear more menacing. "Midgardsormr! Isn't this the one who's sole purpose to become a keeper was to bypass this very law?" Ifrit was having a very bad day. More than one keeper was on trial today, yet none of them were given an adequate punishment in his opinion. Even if the keeper Canti's trial had made the decision they may be pardoned, he wanted to make an example of this girl.
"Shouldn't she be on trial for something more heinous?" The beast of a man continued, "Unlike the others who fell in love, her very intention for joining was only to break this rule. Isn't that correct?" The council had begun to grow weary of Ifrit constant meddling. Still, there was something to his words that made many of those in the court start to whisper amongst themselves.
Merlin again did not answer at first but the guilty look on her face said it all. Her hesitation caused not only by fear of what was in store for her, but what might happen to Vincent if she said the wrong thing. Seconds ticked by but she managed to find enough of her voice to squeak the words. "Yes."
The Eidolon Court was taken aback in a flurry of gossip causing Ifrit to smile. Midgardsormr stayed quiet, debating how to proceed before the Beast of Flames continued his tirade.
"It's one thing for humans to succumb to these emotions, but to defy us with those intention?! To make a choice even before becoming a keeper." He growled before shouting. "Let her burn!"
Again, Midgardsormr stayed silent. No one took stage to speak on the girl's behalf. Carbuncles ear's drooped, he almost wanted to speak for she was Katerra's friend, but he wasn't completely sure he was on the girl's side. Allowing a few others to chime in.
"Although falling in love is a basic human emotion, as we've unfortunately seen…" Alexander sighed, growing tired of dealing with these humans. "This is something different all together."
"B-but, I…" She was cut off by another council member before she could finish her sentence. Causing the thing in side her to churn with both anger and anticipation. "Let me talk." It whispered sweetly, she could feel it creeping forward.
"She is a danger." Wings adorned the women's head and her voice sang each word. "We've heard about your enjoyment of violence, Merlin." Her wings fluttered silently as she spoke to the keeper. "Who's to say you didn't do this with the intent to hurt those relying on the timeline?"
"It should be death for her and Vincent should stay crystallized until he can be thrown back into the stream of time." A burly man who smelled of earth cut off any chance Merlin had of defending herself, nodding.
"You can't do that!" Merlin protested. "Kill me but Vincent shouldn't be punished because of…"
"Hold your tongue girl!" Bahamut's deep voice roared, loud enough to make her ears hurt. "You are here because of your transgressions! Any hero that suffers is doomed to do so because of you!"
"What a terrible girl, who allowed her to become a keeper?" Siren voice quivered.
Merlin lowered her head and laughed. She knew it was over and the thing knew it too. When she looked up her eyes seemed to have a strange yellow tint to them. It was only noticeable when she moved her head a certain way. Her voice was calm and smooth but had an undercurrent of something sharp, like that of a well-tuned piano who's strings has been cut. Her mouth tilted in an upturned grin, making her teeth more noticeable. "Counsel~!" The voice enthusiastically addressed them. "I'd like to speak if you'd pleeease~!" Someone tried to interrupt her but she wouldn't take no for an answer.
"Even if I did join only to save a certain hero, what does it matter?" She continued, the thing inside her doing most the talking. "I still saved the rest didn't I?" Her demeanor made some of the court uncomfortable. "Even if I did it for selfish reasons I still did what you needed me to, and will continue do so… That is…" she swayed slightly "As long as I'm not dead of course."
"As for my defense." The thing and her pressed on, "I have to admit at first, I was in love with the idea of him." She looked at her hands, "I just wanted someone to love me. I didn't want to be alone anymore. It hurt, I couldn't control the longing. It wouldn't have mattered who, but I felt he was destined for me. I project my selfish wants on him. I thought if anyone could understand he would. I just wanted to be understood!" She balled her fists and placed them definitely at her side.
"Eventually he did accept me… But I admit I didn't see him. Not the true him until he was here with me." Her eyes darted over the members of the counsel, attempting to stare them down.
"He taught me things aren't that damn simple. People don't magically love you! You can't just use someone to fill the void…You can't just have someone understand you! You have to understand them too!" Her voice reached a higher pitch, the thing talking mostly now saying the words Merlin had a hard time admitting. "I fell in love with an idea, and that was selfish!"
"But then I wanted to understand him, and being understood didn't matter as much!" She shook and her voice shivered with loathing direct at the summons. "Besides…" She stopped before gritting her teeth, both her and the thing shouted, "Don't tell me you've never done something selfish for the sake of yourselves!"
"Enough! It's been a long day let this be over with. She is a replaceable keeper unlike those who were tried before!" Alexander silenced Merlin, slamming his hand on the wooden pew. Many people nodded in agreement.
"Now just a moment my dear Alexander." A man in a black cloak and angular horns smiled, his expression was more than just a bit amused. This was what he was waiting for. "The girl and the Devil have a point." He tapped his long angular fingers on the edge of the wooden podium.
He continued on, "It comes to my attention you don't know about the incident this girl was involved in do you?" Diablos was enjoying himself taking pride in his knowledge. "This girl not only subdued the Devil ardent." There were murmurs all around. "But she welcomed a small part of it inside of herself. A piece of her and the devil are one. Isn't that right?" His black hair tipped in red fell to the sides of his face as he gestured towards the girl.
The thing answered, "That is mostly correct sir~! But I've always been here, I'm my own sort of devil after all. Still I did accept a certain part of the devil… Within me."
Diablos knew that but continued on, "If someone could come back from not only fighting it, but having a part linked to it… isn't that something to consider… remarkable?" In some ways he was making a bit more out of it than what had happened in reality. Mostly because he liked making a spectacle of it all and flustering all the other summons.
"What does it matter she still broke the law!" Ifrit barked at the others.
Oh how he hated dealing with the other "man", so stubborn. "Ifrit, was not everyone pardoned during Canti's harrowing speech?" He almost sounded sarcastic but it was hard to tell with Diablos. "Besides" He looked at the girl endearingly. "I agree, even we are selfishly motivated to do things. Why just keeping the flow of time correct is only for our own sakes!" Those with in the room seemed to become visibly upset at what he was suggesting.
"Do not tell me every one of it does it for altruistic means! I'll be the first to admit, I do it because I'd rather exist than be lost with in the flow of time." Diablos stated in a matter of fact tone.
Three men stood up speaking in unison. "This is something we agree on; we'd rather not be lost to the whims of a broken time line. We have no interest in doing this just for our Goddess Cosmos. Although, that is our main concern."
"How could you say that, Cerberus?" The singsong voice of Siren melodically interjected. "This is treason!"
"But…I also do not want to be lost again…" The gaunt face of this one resembled some sort of ghoul their voice shrill like a train whistle.
With the Eidolon counsel arguing amongst themselves Midgardsormr decided it was time to finally speak. "Enough!" the room fell silent. "It has been made clear some of us, myself included, agree the girl will be pardoned. I will tolerate no more out bursts." Midgardsormr continued, "Count your blessings that keeper Canti and keeper Clari had already changed our hearts to your plights. Otherwise you might not have been so lucky."
"As for Vincent, he may stay in this Realm. However, you must find a Soul of a Hero to take his place. This ruling is final!" His gavel hit his stand in one swift motion. Merlin's chains disappeared but she barely had the strength to stand. "As you were the one to speak for her, she is now your responsibility to return since no other is here to fetch her." He pointed the gavel at Diablos.
"Of course." Diablos raised his hand, "Sleep now girl, you've got a long road of ahead of you." In an instant she fell into a deep slumber, the devil of a man catching her before she fell. He gave Midgardsormr a curious look. "Wasn't there a certain rapist that needed a trial?" He smiled coldly. "Please don't start it without me, I wouldn't miss it for the Devil himself."