DISCLAIMER: I KNOW THIS STORY IS A LITTLE BIT OFF OF THE FINAL FANTASY GAMES BUT IT'S MY STORY AND I OWN EVERY CHARACTER HERE, ALTHOUGH SOME PARTS AND PLACES FROM FF12 HAD BEEN CHANGED TO FIT THE STORYLINE.
TITLE:
ULTIMATE FANTASY "TWILIGHT OF THE GODS"
CHARACTERS WIKI:
PROTAGONISTS
JOHAN ARKS: (Yohan Arks) The main protagonist of the story, a 16 year old boy. Has brown hair and emerald eyes. Also he is a hidden child of The House of Von Krieger; Johan's arsenal is consists of twin handguns "Ebony and Ivory" and a long Katana blade "Caladbolg". He is very passionate about his goals, expressing his wishes through energetic speeches which seem to affect all those who hear them. Johan believes that with his manliness and honor, he can do anything he feels like, saying such quotes as "Go beyond the impossible and kick reason in the face!" and "Who the hell do you think I am?!" he has a strong combination of shyness and stubbornness that Lacus finds it cute whenever he acts this way. He always shuts everyone out bearing all the burden of life as an orphan. He controls the Avatar Flynn.
VAAN FANEL: The deuteragonist of the Story a 16 year old Paladin in training. Vaan's arsenal is consist of a long red broadsword "Hrunting" Has a kind, caring, timid and shy nature he also has a jealous side that is rare to see. Has a rivalry with Johan although their swordsmanship's are equal. He was trained by Johan's grandfather who is a mighty warrior back in the day.
LACUS CLYNE: A 16 year old girl has long pink hair and has ocean blue eyes. A very talented girl famous for her singing voice, she hopes for peace and harmony. Lacus is friendly, humorous, sensitive, silly, bubbly and kind. She comes off as naive and rather clueless, which is at odds with her exceptional ability of reasoning. Her cooking style can be described as very bad, disgusting, or, more often strange to the point that aside from Johan no one would think it delectable. She is also a member of one of the 13 Noble Families, Clyne.
MIYUKI VON WINCOTT: A 16 year old Knight Cleric and also a member of the 13 Noble Families, Von Wincott. Miyuki is kind, patient, and warm, not only to Vaan and Johan, but to everyone, without exception. She can easily sense other people's emotions, and tries her best to be empathetic to all those around her. However, even though Miyuki tries her best to be as kind as possible, at times, as a result of latent jealousy, she can become very insecure and sad, especially when she is confronted with an implication that involves either Vaan or Johan in one way or another.
PROPHECY OF AURA
Yet to return, the shadowed one.
Who quests for the Twilight Dragon
Rumbles the Dark Hearth,
And Helba, Queen of the Dark,
has raised finally her army.
Apeiron, King of Light beckons.
At the base of the rainbow do they meet
Against the abominable Wave,
Together they fight.
Alba's lake boils.
Light's great tree doth fall.
Power- now all to droplets turned
In the temple of Arche Koeln.
Returns to nothing,
This world of shadowless ones.
Never to return, the shadowed one,
Who quests for the Twilight Dragon.
Unknown where the Cursed Wave was born…
After the stars doth cross the heavens,
The sky in the East doth darken and air doth fill with mourning.
From the chosen land beyond the forest, a sign of the wave comes.
Riding the wake is Skeith, the Shadow of Death, to drown all that stands.
Mirage of Deceit, Innis, Betray all with the flawed image, and did aid the Wave.
And by the Power of Magus, a drop from the Wave doth reach the heavens, and creates a new Wave.
With the Wave, Fidchell, the power to tell the dark future, hope darkens, sadness and despair rule.
Gorre schemes when swallowed by the Cursed Wave.
Macha seduces with the sweet trap.
Wave reaches the Pinnacle, and escape none can. Tarvos still remains with more cruelty to punish and destroy.
And with the turbulent destruction after the Wave. Only a void remains. From deep within the void arrives Corbenik.
Perhaps then the Wave is just a beginning as well....
Now and forever
The golden regalia of the shadowed one is lost
And thou shall be reborn
As the Soulcalibur
Of the man
Who will become the pinnacle
Of the new world
In the middle of war, a love blossoms that will change the destiny of man forever, a Savior that was destined to fight forever will Defeat the new horror that plagued Ivalice......
Let the Twilight of the Gods begin.....
The land of Man: It was once ruled by The Mighty King Arthur B Nargin and his 13 knights. He held a mighty sword which cannot be broken, the Golden sword Excalibur. At the age of 25 The King has passed on after he severed the bonds of Cubia the King of Demons, before his death he entrusted his kingdom to the 13 Knights and now the 13 Noble Families. They divided the land into 13 regions one of which is ruled over by one Noble Family.
The Land of Beasts: A land made of different races of animals which are divided into tribes they called themselves beastmen that worships a deity named Folset. This land is neutral and doesn't aid the other lands and will retaliate when threatened, they are known for their fierce warriors.
The land of Ruin: A place full of corpses known as the "Cursed Wave" that was once an unstoppable army commanded by Cubia, Skeith, Innis, Magus, Fidchell, Gorre, Macha, Tarvos and Corbenik using the cauldron of rebirth.
Al Rhevis: The Land of the Draconians, also known as the Archangels. A place that resembles heaven, a city of pure white and in the center of the city is the Hulle Grantz Cathedral a place where the Twilight Goddess Aura sleeps awaiting the day that King Arthur will return.
CHAPTER 1: CONDEMNATION
Ironic
That's what life is, at least that's how I, The former heir to the Von Krieger throne, Johan Von Krieger as I call myself. But now I'm only known as Johan Arks... Arks a name that I made on my own, well not essentially, I got it from the mine shaft I was placed. Thrown away like trash to the deepest part of the Hene mines, I also call this place hells prison. How did I end up here anyway? Oh yeah! That's right I was condemned here for being a half breed.
10 YEARS AGO
It was a bright sunny day at the Sky City, Cleos. A benevolent city that mines the finest magicite in all of Ivalice, an enchanted Kingdom that even rivaled the architectural designs of Al Rhevis, a City that Floated in the Azure Sky. There were airships leaving and entering the Aerodrome, This is where our Story starts as a Noble's Airship the Durandal Entered the Sky City which is owned by The Von Krieger's, it was small, a passenger Ship that could only accommodate up to 8 people, although the designs was as amazing as ever, as expected from The Noble Family. The ships iron crust has been inlayed with gold and silver lines and from the side of the Ship the Von Krieger Crest was finely designed on the white door. The Von Krieger Crest, a golden Griffon over a fully bloomed ruby rose it symbolizes the Strength of The Great king Arthur.
The Durandal flew across the vast floating earth, circling the many towers until it reached its Main Destination, The Clyne Castle, The pride of Cleos, The glorious structure that symbolizes hope and peace. As it made a landing the hatch door opened on the side revealing a brown haired 6 year old boy, he had a goofy grin on his face as he ran to the opening hoping like little toad.
"Mommy Look!! It's so beautiful!! "The child called out to his pregnant Mother who was just leaving the Airship to walk her little boy to the Castle.
"Come on Mommy!! I want to go inside" The little boy huffed.
"You'll get there soon my little Johan" Trisha Von Krieger flashed Johan a heart warming smile. "Although Mommy needs to go to the meeting first before anything else or Grandpa will get mad again" With that the little Boy chuckled and nodded 3 times to her smiling Mother.
"...I wish Papa were here, then we could be a family again" The boy's expression changed. "I know it's hard but, we all need to accept that he's gone...He is in a better place now, Johan someday we'll see him again, don't worry" Trisha assured him.
"I hope so, Papa went to Avalon a year ago, hasn't he missed us even one bit" The innocent boy pouted at her mother which in turn giggled at her sons puffy pink cheeks, although in her heart, was agony, a pain, an illness that you get if you lose a love one, the kind that could kill you if possible. There and then a man with blonde hair walked up to them. "It has been a while since I last saw you Trisha, you are as beautiful as I remember" The man bowed to her. "Same old Siegel, you never change, you're always so formal". "Trisha we need to talk, are you really okay with this and surely there must be some other way to settle this matter!!" Siegel looked sternly at her. Trisha sighed at her blonde friend she bended over to look her son in the eye and said. "Johan please go to the gardens I'm gonna talk with Mr. Blondie for a moment okay?" Johan beamed at her and nodded and went straight to the Gardens of the ever so huge castle. He ran enjoying the breeze as he looked around the lily flowered maze.
"EEEKKK!! Look at her hair!!..." He heard a girl screamed in the distance. Curiosity over took him and he ran to wherever that scream was coming from. He turned left and then right to a corner he then heard another scream. "EEWW!! She's so weird!!" Johan heard another voice, it sounded as if the one who spoke is disgusted by the mere fact that whoever was that girl must be pretty weird or ugly or maybe a freak for that matter.
"NO STOP IT!!!" a little girl called out for help. It would seem as though she was in some sort of pain, which gave him the urge to go to the rescue like he always does, one of the naive actions that he inherited from his father and a whole lot of different things that Trisha calls 'The little silly things that Father and Son do'. Johan turned to a corner and grabbed a short wooden pole he saw laying around and proceeded to were the voices were coming from.
Finally he was able to exit the maze and he saw a bunch of kids circling a little pink haired girl at the middle, she was crying while sitting at the ground, her hands had cupped her face to force back the tears but failed to do so. "Listen Johan, beat the crap of whoever scum bag that will sink so low as to make a girl cry" the words from his father echoed in his mind. He gripped the pole as hard as he can with both hands and ran up holding the pole high, he yelled "YYAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!".By now he got the attention of the kids who were bullying the pink head puff who was in the middle still crying. They looked terrified as Johan had just knocked out one of the boys with a single strike to the head. "KYYAAAAHHHHH!!!!" one of them screamed and ran away, others following carrying the knocked out one with them.
"Ah...umm... are you, okay?" Johan extended an arm to the girl who was still on the ground although she was just sobbing now. He sighed in relief "It's okay, I'll protect you, promise" she raised her head. There were still some tears flowing out of her blue eyes. He knelt down and grabbed his scarf; gently he wiped her wet face. "I'll protect you" he repeated. Johan beamed at her the most comforting smile he can give "My name Is Johan, Johan Von Krieger" he extended his arm and she gladly took it with a smile of her own. "...Lacus, my name is Lacus Clyne... do you want to be friends" she made circles with her feet while blushing. "OF COURSE!!...WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK I AM!?" Johan shouted out eagerly and excited at the same time. She was shocked, she expected him to refuse but no, she was greeted by a happy go lucky, care free, naive boy smiling at her and she couldn't help but to smile back at him. "So....umm do you want to play with me?" Lacus asked again shyly. Johan in turn nodded his head eagerly which made his puffy cheeks bounce like a ball. Lacus in turn giggled and then she laughed with all her heart that made Johan pout at her. "Heeey!! What's so funny" Johan whined waving his hands.
"Aww don't get mad" Lacus poked his puffy cheeks. "No I'm gonna stay mad" Johan's cheeks became puffier than ever if that was even possible. Lacus grabbed his hand and began dragging him. "Come on lets go play!" and with that Johan got dragged to places that Lacus called "Her one thousand favourite spots!" and for once the little girl who was just crying turned into a bubbly happy go lucky girl smitten by puppy love. 4 hours have passed and it was almost dark, the sun is setting and while in another garden that shows the clouds below them Johan was panting for air, he didn't expect that a girl like Lacus could have so much stamina and can still be so bubbly and jumpy. they talked about everything, about their lives, about their ideals and wishes, everything there is to know about the other person.
"Johan?" Lacus muttered.
"Yes?" Johan noticed the blushing girl beside him as they watch the stars.
"...Promise...Promise me that you'll....be my lover when were all grown up" Lacus said shyly but she was also serious, her fiery eyes showed her determination.
"...I don't know what to say" Johan admitted he looked at his foot blushing.
"Please?" Lacus purred at him.
"We-well that is...well I mean that I...well I...well if we can be friends for now and worry about that in the future then, well it's okay I guess" the flustered boy said, his face completely red.
Lacus stood up smiling at him and Johan smirked at her in return, they both understood each other and that was enough for him and unknown to Johan is that Lacus also understood him, a boy who wishes to be someone, to break through conflict and to protect all, a naive boy who loves to thinker around with swords and micro units, that was also enough for her.
"Then lets cast a spell, to honor that promise" Lacus said while making circles on the ground with her feet.
"Yeah" Johan nodded as he stood up from where he was sitting just now.
"Take my hand" Lacus offered as she raised her delicate hands to him and Johan in turn also raised his right hand. Both of their hands had intertwined.
"What spell are we going to cast?" Johan suddenly realize but he didn't let go of her hand just yet. "Tell me what your heart wants to say" Lacus told him as she closed her eyes.
Johan closed his eyes and thought about what to say 'Tell me what your heart wants to say' her words echoed in his mind. He let his heart took over.
Like the brightest star of the darkest skies of night
Hearts that have truly joined will never fail
And even if these hands ever pull apart
The connection between us will never fail
Lacus' grip had tighten, now was her turn to speak.
I paint on the night sky
The only dream I have
To become your shining star someday
They opened their eyes at the same time and smiled at each other as they continued on with their make believe spell.
Lit by the midsummer constellation
Together we both pray in silence
In our heart of hearts
That we may always stay together
The two parted their hands and blushed on what they just did, while Johan smirked at her red faced. Johan unbuttoned his collar and removed a necklace that was hanging on his neck, it had two chains that were connected to an egg shaped ruby that has been surrounded by silver steel at the middle that was connected to the two chains, he twisted it a little and the necklace separated into two halves. "Here, wear this, it was a gift from my father, I want you to have the other half of it" Lacus accepted the gift and unexpectedly Lacus kissed Johan lightly on his lips, he was dazed, it was his first kiss after all and even though it was just a light feathery kiss it was amazing, well for him it was just that. "Well let's get going its almost time for the banquet" The energetic Lacus took hold and has just dragged the red faced boy with her.
It was a long walk but they finally managed to arrive at the entrance to the banquet where a mad Trisha and a pissed off Siegel were waiting just outside the door. "Where were you!!?" Siegel scolded at Lacus. "Daddy you should have seen Johan beat those kids who were bullying me, he had this stick and he just wacked this big boy who was calling me names..." Lacus excitedly said as she waved her arms in the air violently. "Johan what did she mean by you just wacked someone in the head...Didn't I told you not to hurt others!!" Trisha pinched Johan's cheeks. "I'm sorry! But dad said to beat the crap of anyone who makes a girl cry so" Johan explained through his gritted teeth. "Is it a silly thing a Father and Son do every time?" Trisha sighed, her little baby boy is becoming more and more like Dante, Dante Windscythe the Ex Captain of the Colossal Terra, a proud warrior of Dalmasca, he was only a commoner born from Lowtown and he was and will always be..... The biggest idiot she ever choosed to be her husband, whom she loved with all her heart with no exceptions, and when he died on the battlefield she was never the same again, for she and her father decided the faith of the fruit that was born from their love.
Eight old men in white robes came accompanied by five Archadian soldiers armed with spears and a short sword on their wastes. "It is time..." one of the old men declared, Trisha moved away from Johan and Siegel held Lacus very tight as if to restrain her from unnecessary actions, Johan was confused he looked at everyone but they all have this sympathetic look "RUN!!" he heard the voice of a girl a teenage girl, a voice of distress, warning him to run, it echoed in his head "W-Who are you?" Johan asked through his thoughts "RESTRAIN HIM!!" one of the old men shouted. The soldiers grabbed his shoulder but the boy struggled to get loose but to no avail; they have putted hand cuffs on the boy and a metal collar on his neck with a chain connecting it. "MOTHER PLEASE!! HELP ME!! MOTHER!!" Johan reached out to his mother, her back was facing him. What was happening, he couldn't understand, he didn't want to understand, all he wanted was to be with...
"LET GO!! DADDY PLEASE!! HELP HIM!! STOP IT!! LET GO!! WHERE ARE THEY TAKING HIM!?" Lacus cried out and Johan also cried in despair. "A SON OF A COMMONER DOESN'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO BECOME THE HEIR!!" an old man pulled the collar on his neck that made him fell face first on the floor.
It's been 10 years since that fateful day, I still remember their faces those god damn bastards, those old farts who damned me in this place. They say that " A child born from the Union of Noble and Commoner has no right to be the heir to the Throne of Von Krieger" Leaning back on that hard cold solid wall, I can't seem to feel but miserable once again. I sigh inwardly, sounding like a thorn has been pricked from inside of me
I'm hurt.
I've felt this kind of pain before. And I'm sure you must've felt it too.
The stinging pain that pierces through your heart, the constricted breathing you make. The gasps you utter and the twists and flips your stomach is making. The eyes filled with everlasting band of tears. The scream you vocalize as you wail in agony, desperately hoping that your voice will reach someone, SOMEONE who could make the pain go away. You cripple and bend on the floor. The aching head numbs your logical mind. And the feeling of helplessness is there by your side, strong and steady.
I'm feeling all of this again.
Sure, I've felt this a lot of times; it's like my routine visitor. The strange feeling comes back even though I shut the door. It always finds its way back in. It penetrates through me and the walls I built to secure myself shatter into pieces right before my eyes. And I again, am lost in this myriad of feelings.
"QUIT DAYDREAMING!!" The 16 year old Johan stumbled to the floor; someone had just kicked him he looked up and a pair of crimson eyes met his gaze. "What the hell was that for Lancer?" " You were day dreaming again idiot!, we've got bugs at shaft 2" The man in front of him that had spiky dark blue hair with a ponytail on the back of his head said in a stern voice. He reached out offering his hand to him. Then as he stood up he realize that Lancer was already wearing his armor that consists of a blue leather body fit armor that covered most of his body except the head part and he had silver shoulder plates that covered each of his shoulders. 'My partner in crime, Lancer we met each other back when I was sentenced here at the mines. I was only 6 back then and he was 4 years older than me, back when I arrived here, everyone acts so cold to me and I was being pushed around a lot by the other kids but only one person their acted sincere and kind, and that was Lancer and ever since then we've become comrades in arms, Me and him are soul brothers. Although back then Lancer didn't have a name, he was born here and no one bothered to even name him so most people call him 3rd because he was born at the 3rd mine shaft, his parents also died early so I named him Lancer, a true man's name that I come up with myself but I only named him Lancer because his soulcalibur is a spear so he was a Lancer and that's just about it'.
"It's unlike you to daydream like that. Is there something wrong?" a familiar blue haired girl with sapphire eyes asked concerned. "It's nothing Miyuki; I was just reminiscing about the past that's all" she was standing behind Johan the whole time. 'She always had the talent in sneaking up on someone unnoticed' Johan sighed at the thought. She was beautiful, her long blue hair was braided into a pigtail that had a pink ribbon at the end, her long beautiful locks was covering her forehead, her Violet eyes had this gentle look as always that makes anyone feel at ease whenever they looked at them. Her attire is consisted of (A/N I don't know what to call it or even describe it but please just imagine Ashe's armor, the one that had a white top and a pink skirt okay.) her mere presence can melt even the strongest of warriors although Johan doesn't have any intention to flirt or even court with her, she was his friend and Johan had the utmost respect for her. 'We met each other back when we were 9 years old, like me she too was a noble abandoned by her family because her mother was a commoner, they told her she was an accident or something like that, well that's what she told me back then, although all of us here know that she is of noble blood while they only thought of me as a common theft who was sentenced to forever be in here'.
"Johan, why are you staring at me like that?" Miyuki tilted her head and made a quizzical look on her face. "It's nothing, well let's get going or I'll be scolded again by Ogam" 'He is going to be so pissed if I don't get there in time, tight fisted bastard!' Johan rolled his eyes at the thought. He grabbed his custom 45 calibur dual handguns and he spun them around with his index finger and placed it at the two back pockets of his black jeans and readied his brown leather boots that ended to his knees. "Are you sure you're going to be alright?" Miyuki said worried about his melancholy issues. "Who the hell do you think I am!?" He smirked at her 'I guess he's fine now, that's good' Miyuki thought a small smile graced her lips. 'So the brats okay again huh, geez he's as unpredictable as always' the 20 year old Lancer rolled his eyes.
"Well it's time to clean house everyone!" Johan was stretching his arms, Miyuki is putting on her gauntlets and grieves and Lancer is sitting at a corner chugging down a bottle of Dalmascan Madhu. "I hate you" Lancer muttered. Miyuki giggled at them "Johan and Lancer are such good friends" she said enthusiastically making the other two sigh at her. 'You got to be kidding me' Johan thought his eyebrows are twitching. 'I hate you!' Lancer glared at Johan sternly, his teeth gritted in anger. 'Oh my, did I say something?' Miyuki panicked she looked to Lancer then to Johan both glaring at each other. "You guys! Don't do that!"Miyuki scolded while patting Johan on the head lightly with her palm. Like a good puppy Johan obeyed Miyuki while Lancer rolled his eyes in disgust at his so called soul brother.
Johan walked pass Lancer and Miyuki "Let's do this!" Johan looked behind his shoulder and smirked at them. 'There's no need to regret the past anymore I just don't need to get lost twice through all these countless regrets, I find myself walking under your shadow, Dad and by coming this far there's some things that even my wandering self can do. What you told me that day still echoes within my heart and now I began to understand the reason to why I was born, because the answer is here with me, always. I have a sword that will pierce the heavens and even if this hole becomes my grave, as long as I break through, then victory is mine to taste'.
TO BE CONTINUED
A/N IF YOU'RE WANDERING WHAT A SOULCALIBUR IS THEN I'LL TELL YOU. A SOULCALIBUR IS THE MANIFESTATION OF A PERSONS SPIRIT ENERGY TURNED INTO A WEAPON, EACH PERSON HAS HIS OR HER OWN UNIQUE SOULCALIBUR WITH DIFFERENT ABILITIES.