Twist & Turn

The Fall of Kain

A Final Fantasy IV Story

by Spaceman Spiff

Chapter Two

The Darkness

The monstrous sound of incoming airships was so close that Kain could feel the winds stirred by their propellers. He watched Rosa's splendid figure until she was clearly out of sight, quickly vanishing behind the large outcroppings of overturned earthen rock.

How could I let her go? Kain's thoughts rose up to meet his eyes, but before he could dwell on them she was gone. Now he only saw the ruins of Mist, and his thoughts sank down into the pit of his stomach. What a waste of life. How could I let this happen?

He wanted to just brush it aside, but how could he? This once delicate village had been a lively community. Now it was just a landfill for the dead. He still couldn't remember exactly what happened, but he knew more than he cared to. Just having these peaceful people's lives on his conscience was overwhelming enough, and he desperately wanted to rectify this mistake.

At that thought, he turned back to the increasingly violent roar of engines that would seem likely to crush him where he stood. The wind was starting to pick up now, as his sun-dried blonde hair swirled slightly, scratching his brow softly. His eyes never faltered, even as the sun screamed rays of bright light down upon him. He had to keep track of the skies, even though clouds roamed in rampant herds all over it. For the moment, he was solely relying on his sense of sound, which he noticed was heightened somewhat since he was not in his helmet. He had learned to hear so well through the steel of his armor, that it made his senses more attuned to his environment. An advantage he would surely have to remember.

They're so close. But where are they? His mind ran from ear to ear, as if somehow they could show his eyes where to look. He figured they were hidden behind one of the enormous masses of clouds hanging there in the sky, but they wouldn't hide there forever. Not unless they were just passing overhead, or if they were...They wouldn't!

Kain's eye twitched at the thought that had so swiftly and viciously struck his mind. Though it didn't seem to be plausible, it was possible that they would rain fire from the skies. Kain tried convincing himself that such a plan of action was a waste of Baron's time and money, especially if they could see the aftermath from their vessels.

But then again, the King has gone mad, he continued to wrestle with the idea of this cockamamie mission. Perhaps he believes we failed our mission, and has sent the Red Wings to finish the job. But so soon?

The persistent rumble of thundering ships was only getting louder, and trees started to waver slightly under the increasing winds. They were certainly not just passing overhead, for the stir of winds so close to the earth only meant they were descending, but still it left the question to linger. Kain was beginning to seriously worry about whether or not standing so close to these ruins was such a good idea.

Perhaps the cover of trees would be a wiser place to wait. His idea seemed like a good one, but he was reminded just of what was still left behind him, and it wasn't the thought of the dead. Rosa! Cecil!

He couldn't leave them there in the village to die, a vision passing through his mind of his two friends engulfed in flames. He wouldn't let them go like that, and he knew he was the only one who could save them. He would've started running if he hadn't seen something, a faint shadow lingering within a white blanket just above. His eyes were locked on that stray cloud, though his body had been nearly on its way back into Mist. He only turned back around completely when he saw the hull of the ship tear open the soft belly of the cumulus. He let a short sigh of relief escape his lips as he watched the stained red planks give way through its misty cover, the blades set tall on top, twirling valiantly to keeps its descending body from cratering.

Good. They are landing.

He watched and waited, as the enormous ship fell ever so slowly from the sky, and he wanted so bad to tear it down. If he could somehow send it crashing into the earth, it would have made his day that much better. The anger was swelling up in him as he watched this thing, seemingly so smug with its destructive power, its uncanny ability to spill the blood of innocent people. His fists were clenched so tightly, fingernails digging into the rough skin of his palms. He couldn't feel the pain, only the hatred of this country he had once fought for and the disgrace it had brought to his name as a Dragon Knight.

A true Dragon Knight would never let a thing like this happen! Kain thought violently, seething with the thought of his manipulation.

The ship had eventually disappeared behind a small wall of trees built just in front of the village. Kain watched with wary eyes as the trees stopped waving so wildly, the engines dying down to a mere growl. The sound made him feel as if they were issuing a threat, and it made him wish he had his spear. For all he knew it was lost somewhere in the ruins, and now was no time to go off looking for it, for he noticed the hint of animate shadow within the wall of trees. Three figures marched heavily through the thick darkness of the small forest, the sporadic sparkles of their golden helmets reflecting spots of sun clearly giving them away.

They stick out like a sore thumb, Kain thought with an amusing grin. If they were going into battle, they would already be dead.

The three soldiers soon broke through the darkness, and Kain still stood defiantly to whatever cause they could possibly have. They had noticed him as well on their walk through the woods, surely able to see his cerulean armor standing out in the open. They immediately approached him, and to Kain's alarming discomfort, they were smiling. They were happy to see him, but the Dragon Knight had no such similar feelings towards them. They looked familiar, and he knew he had seen them before while training outside of the barracks, or perhaps just having a friendly drink in the mess hall. But for some reason now they didn't seem so friendly, even with they're smiles plastered to their sun-darkened skin. One of them reached out a seemingly gentle hand as he walked up to him, the thought of shaking it never even crossing Kain's mind.

"Sir Kain, it's good to see you," the soldier said, so genuine that Kain almost felt bad for not showing him any respect. The soldier's hand continued to hang in the air as Kain stared so coldly back at him.

"I'm sure it is. Why are you here?" Kain quickly drove to the point, sparing no idle chat between them. The soldier disappointedly dropped his hand back to his side, keeping it firmly upon the hilt of his sword.

"We have come to ensure His Majesty that you have done your job, Dragon Knight." the soldier answered, a new tone immediately jumping into his voice, losing its respectful air. "And we have been ordered to take you and Sir Cecil back to Baron so that the King can decide what should be done with you."

Why do I not like the sound of that? Kain thought as he heard the words, spoken rather sadistically. He feared that they were here to take him to his execution back at the castle, and perhaps he was not far off.

"You should come with us, Sir," another soldier spoke up, stepping forward as if to try and get Kain into a compromised position. Kain didn't move at all, but he stared down the soldier rather easily, his figure obviously able to strike fear into even the army of Baron. It made him feel a little better to see that his status as a Dragon Knight was at least feared, if not respected.

"And if I don't?" Kain questioned, even though he knew the answer would not be what he wanted to hear.

"Then you will be taken by force, and once in Baron you shall be held before the King as a traitor." The cold words fell easily from the soldier's mouth, but not so easily into Kain's ears.

"A traitor?!" Kain returned sharply, taking a step back from them. He glared at each of them in turn, seeing what truth lay behind their eyes. It stunned him for moment, as he saw something horrible inside of them...something evil.

Two soldiers were immediately at Kain's sides, grappling his arms strongly, and the third had the tip of his sword quickly at the throat. Kain was speechless. He didn't even know what to think as they held him there, merciless. He didn't fight it, but he wanted to in the worst way. If he were set free at any moment, he could easily kill each and every one of them.

:::Yes Kill Them:::

What was that?! Kain immediately drew back, and the soldiers fought to keep him under control, the sword drawing dangerously close to his skin. He couldn't explain the voice that had just seeped into his head, but he was sure it was there. Someone else is here.

"Kain, if you resist us then we cannot guarantee your life," the soldier shouted, though Kain wasn't even paying attention. His eyes were darting swiftly across the open area, as well as the trees beyond. He found nothing, though he swore he could feel the presence of another, perhaps behind him.

:::I'm Right Here Kain:::

Who are you?! Kain tried to talk to the voice in his head, though he wasn't entirely sure if it would hear him. He wasn't even sure if this voice was real, but it had to be. It had clearly spoken to him twice now, and there was little more reassurance that he needed. The soldiers began trying to walk him back into the woods, but Kain resisted, digging his heels into the ground.

"You are not taking me aboard that ship!" Kain reeled against the soldiers, the one leading them once again raising his sword threateningly.

"You are leaving us with little choice," the soldier answered with a deathly solemn tone, a strange feeling that he wasn't truly himself. "We'd rather you be alive for His Majesty to see. But do not test my patience. I will not hesitate to leave you here for dead."

"And I suppose you would just tell that man you call a King that you found me that way?!" Kain gave him a flaring retort, almost playing with his threats.

:::If You Do Not Fight Them They Will Kill You:::

What! Kain was mentally staggered, as the words had hit him so earnestly, as if it were a guardian looking after him. It felt so strange...so iniquitous.

"I won't go peacefully!" Kain assured the soldier before him, the two at his sides still holding tight to his arms. The sword at his throat dropped down to the soldier's side, and a depressing sigh strangely fell out of the man. He glanced at Kain one last time, and the Dragon Knight could see the deepest, darkest emptiness filling his eyes.

"So be it!"

The sword was quickly back in the air, high above the soldiers head, prepared to deliver a fatal blow down through the base of Kain's neck. He had only a split second to react, and used that time as best he could, pushing hard to his left side. Kain knocked the soldier to his left off balance, dragging the other's arm into the line of the blade's descent. The sharp edge went cleanly through the bronze armor, tearing through bone and sinew. The arm was ripped apart at the elbow, and it fell with a sickly thud to the ground, wet with crimson blood. The air was quickly filled with screams of unimaginable pain.

Before the soldier even realized what he had just done, Kain was already taking the few seconds he needed to disable the man holding his left arm. His armored knee shot up into the soldier's gut, sucking the air from his lungs as the bronze plate impressed. The soldier's eyes were wide as his hand left its grasp at Kain's arm, meeting with his other at the pit of his stomach. With only a second to spare, Kain had taken the man's sword from its sheath and dropped the end of the handle into the back of his head, sending him face first into the dirt, completely unconscious.

The last soldier standing was taking no time mourning for what he had done to his friend, and was already charging at Kain in a possessed fury. The sword was coming quickly for him, and Kain knew he had no chance to block such a strike, and so he took to the air. As if he was but a feather, his legs propelled him over the swinging blade, the soldier staggered from the missed target. Kain started to twist in mid-air as his legs were brought over his head, back arching so elegantly, sending him into a reverse somersault. Upon the soft landing, he was facing the soldier's back, who still was trying to find his balance. Kain's sword was already aimed for the soldier's throat as he turned, staring down the smooth blade. Fear was evident in the soldier's eyes, as he knew he had lost and was unsure of whether or not the man standing behind this sword would send it through him.

"Drop it," Kain ordered sternly, his eyes giving plenty of warning that he should not be taken lightly. The soldier obeyed, his sword falling long seconds to the grass where a small stream of red was chasing after. Kain looked down to see blood swirling around his boot, and he could only imagine where it was coming from. Behind him, the soldier lay crying in pain, holding the stump of his arm, unsuccessful in stopping the cascade of scarlet from soaking the ground around him and filling the air thick with its stench. Kain knew he would probably die, a cursory thought that quickly faded as he recalled the voice from just moments ago.

:::Good:::

"What do you want with me?!" Kain blurted out, finally giving in to the tormenting curiosity that ate at him. He kept the sword upon his would be executioner, but he had to glance around quickly, as if the voice had come from some one place other than his mind.

"No need to shout. I am right here."

The voice had come from the woods, from where the airship had landed, from where these soldiers had once come. His eyes wanted to look, but the soldier before him had a warrant for his life, and he could not lose sight of him for even a moment. This matter soon became irrelevant, for the soldier had seen the man, and he fell to a knee, bowing with the respect only reserved for royalty.

The King? Kain thought for a moment, a moment that didn't last long as he turned to face what he never expected to see. The darkness engulfing the woods seemed to follow him, devour him, as he stepped through into the sunlight. Even in broad daylight, the man was but a shadow, towering in his darkness. The endless onyx plates of his armor curved and fitted like a perfect architectural stronghold, all the way from his sturdy steel boots to his devilishly manifested helm, horns jutting menacingly from either side. His cloak was like the blanket of midnight, swirling back and forth with each step…a curtain of death. Kain didn't know what to think, but he knew one thing for sure. That is definitely not the King.

"No, Kain. I am not the King, but you're not too far off." The man's deep penetrating voice seem to infest his ears like a looming disease, waiting to strike. His amusement to Kain's reaction was apparent as he chuckled a bit to himself, though Kain could hear it like church bells.

"Master Golbez," the soldier beside Kain uttered, still on his knee, head low enough to draw in the dirt with his breath. The man clad in darkness stopped only a few feet away from Kain.

Master? Kain pondered. One would never say Master unless they were—

"Slaves," the darkness finished his thoughts, speaking so nonchalant.

"So you can read my thoughts?" Kain immediately followed the man's statement, an apprehensive frown drawn across his face. He was worried about this, for it meant he had already lost any and all advantage over him if he happened to be an enemy. Chances were, by the sheer looks of him, that he was.

"Yes. Does that bother you?" he asked with such a strange tone of sarcastic kindness.

"You expect me to say no?"

"You didn't seem to mind at first," he spoke with a certain cold tone, and it sent a chill down Kain's spine. "But surely you were just curious, nothing more. I suppose anyone would've reacted just the same given the situation. Yet you followed my orders so well."

"Don't confuse me with one of your puppets," Kain responded, the soldier still on a knee at his side, unwavering in his Master's presence. "You can't make someone kill another if they don't have a good reason."

"Perhaps..." the man in black replied as he lifted a hand built into a claw by its dark armor. Some unseen force suddenly filled the space between him and the soldier kneeling beside Kain, and the soldier's head shot upright, staring at the hand lifted to him. The man then stood at his Master's command, following where the hand guided him. He was soon standing over the body of the soldier still bleeding to death from his wound agape in his arm. He reached down and took the soldier's sword from his sheath, taking it in both hands over his head, and driving it through his heart. The man was dead in a matter of seconds. No screams. No tears. Just silence.

Kain had watched it with some amount of surprise, but then again he would've liked to kill them himself. After witnessing the scene he turned back to the man standing in shadow, staring coolly without a change in the look of his face.

"He would've died anyway. Better to put him out of his misery," Kain explained, fully aware that Golbez was trying to prove his point. "I would've done the same thing."

"Very interesting," Golbez commented, seeing something inside the Dragon Knight that he rather enjoyed. "So you have no problem with killing others, as long as there is some reason for it?"

"Where are you going with this?" Kain demanded, not feeling up to answering such questions as these. He was a bit angered by this stranger who thought he could simply waltz in and take over. He wasn't about to become somebody's slave to carry out the dirty work.

"I'm simply trying to figure you out, Kain," Golbez answered, never moving at all as he spoke. "I like to know my puppets—as you say—before I take them."

"Sure," Kain actually found himself laugh a bit at the man's presumptuous attitude. Golbez seemed to find it amusing as well which set Kain a little off balance in his emotions. This man was certainly not to be taken lightly, but he surely could not simply take what he wanted, whenever he wanted. "I suppose next you'll wave your little magic hand and start stringing me up?"

"I wish it were that easy," the darkness replied, still rather amused at Kain's responses. "Unfortunately it's a rather painful process...for the puppet, of course."

"Of course," Kain came back dryly. "But still, you're just wasting your time with me. I won't be taken under as easily as these soldiers."

"No, I don't suspect you will, although..." Golbez seemed to trail off for a moment, as if he had a thought was too good come out with all at once. Kain was immediately impatient with him, and Golbez could see it, smiling behind the steel of his helmet"...your friend Cecil."

"What does Cecil have to do with anything?" Kain asked, a little worried that his friend had been mentioned by this unknown darkness. His telepathy meant he surely could retrieve such information, and yet Kain felt as though it was still wrong for him to know.

"Cecil has left you behind, Kain. After he woke up, he simply left, heading straight for Kaipo," Golbez informed the wary Dragon Knight, and he could see the distasteful emotions springing up, only to be quickly suppressed in Kain's mind. "He didn't even bother to look for you."

"And you expect me to believe you?!" Kain shot back at him.

"No. Of course not. But see for yourself."

With those words, Golbez's hand waved out from beneath his cloak, performing a short semi-circle. Kain's eyes couldn't help but follow it. Then a brief flash of light erupted from the dark figure, and a vision was played out within a radiant curtain of white. Kain could see something, a person. It was Cecil, as he focused more on the scene, and the Dark Knight was trudging through the valley, barely able to walk, it seemed. He had something in his arms, but it was just a blur of green and grey. Just as Cecil approached the Kaipo desert, the vision dissipated, and Kain was returned to a darker persona.

Kain couldn't believe it, Cecil had actually left him here, crushed and unconscious and—if not for pure luck—nearly dead. A pang of anger quickly coursed through him, but was just as quickly pushed away. For all he knew, this man was showing him a lie.

"Do you still expect me to believe you?" Kain once again asked.

"No. I expect you to believe what you just felt. What lies hidden so deep, and that you keep pushing away," Golbez let loose with a devilish smile, although Kain could not see it within the shadow of the dark helmet. "I think you know what I'm talking about. Your so called friend has done this to you before, has he not?"

"Shut up!" Kain shouted with a short burst of fury, nearly looking as if he would advance on the man. Somehow he had reached into the recesses of his mind, into vaults with intricate locks to which no one was allowed access. This was becoming too much for him to bear, and a flame of hatred was starting to ignite.

"Ah, I see. Struck a nerve, have I?" Golbez teased with such an evil, mocking voice. "You know, Kain, you are extremely open with your thoughts. Especially for this girl…what is her name?"

Rosa! The name immediately broke through every other thought in his head, despite his intentions to keep her safe from the darkness.

"Ah, Rosa. She seems to be very important to you," Golbez continued. "And yet, perhaps you are not as important to her as you would like?"

How dare he! Talking about Rosa like this?! I'd kill him if he gave me the chance! Kain thought with such rage as he had never remembered having for any one person. His teeth were gritting against each other so hard that his jaw was becoming sore, and his eyes seemed to breathe fire.

"I'll give you your chance, Dragon Knight. Take your best shot," Golbez mocked, even worse than before.

"Damn your mind games! I will not give in to this!" Kain shouted, even angrier than before. He wanted to kill him, put an end to his cruel mocking voice, but he continued to suppress it. He would not become his slave.

:::What Makes You Think You Haven't Given In Already:::

"Get out of my head!" Kain screamed, his hands grabbing his head as if to tear the dark presence that lurked there out through his skull. "I will not let you have me! I don't care if Rosa doesn't love me! I don't care that Cecil is better than me! I don't care that I'm all alone! I don't care!"

"But you do, Kain! Don't try to deny it!" Golbez continued his taunts, nearly yelling himself as if to drive his words into Kain's mind. "These are your true feelings, and you should embrace them!"

"No! Stop it!" Kain was frantically pushing thoughts in and out of his mind, trying to keep some sense of sanity inside. He was nearly about to fall to his knees with all the stress on his psyche. "I am not your slave!"

"Then prove it, Kain! Show me that you are not what I want you to be!"

:::Kill Me:::

That was it. He couldn't take it anymore. Kain was pushed to so many limits that he didn't even knew he had, and it was tearing him apart, setting wild emotions loose. He wanted to end it so bad, and he found no other solution than to destroy the source. Kain's knuckles turned ghostly white as he gripped the handle of his sword tight, took a slight crouch, and with tears bursting from his eyes he leapt at the man cloaked in shadows. Though it took only seconds to cross the space between them, it seemed to last an eternity as Kain was so infuriated inside, letting everything out at once. He felt as though he would die before he ever got there, and he didn't care. He didn't want to live like this anymore, with all the hidden guilt, the hidden love, the hidden jealousy. It was all so overwhelming, and the tears falling from his eyes were torn from his cheeks as he split the wind towards this endless darkness. He was so close, that he could peer through the dark slits in this evil's helmet, where his eyes began to glow eerily, and suddenly bright white.

:::I Have You:::

Kain didn't even have time to think, as a dark hand was swiftly lifted out before him, and Golbez sent a vicious shock of energy into his heart. Time was frozen for a split second, as Kain was held in mid-air, the sword fallen from his hand as it spasmed uncontrollably, and his eyes staring wide at a boundless white light. And then he saw nothing. Darkness.

Golbez kneeled down to the crumpled body, sent into an unconscious oblivion. The glow in his eyes had faded, and his figure returned to complete emptiness, looming over the Dragon Knight. He smiled so wickedly, filled with such evil satisfaction, and he reached a hand down to the Kain's head.

"Such hatred in your heart," Golbez spoke with such abounding pleasure, knowing that he had captured just what he needed. "The perfect slave."

Upon his hand touching Kain's head, a horrible energy was released, sending darkness throughout his body. Though he was unconscious, Kain could still feel the immense pain as this darkness stung every nerve in every fiber of his soul. He was surrounded by it, and he couldn't fight it, for it had him stripped of everything he ever knew. It broke him into pieces, and put him back in disheveled heaps, uncaring for what peace he had created before. This was all of his pain, all of his sinful emotions, all of his doubt in himself, all of his darkness, and it had complete control of him. He was lost in darkness, and at that moment when he realized it, he wondered why he had ever cared to fight it.