Here is the first real chapter of this fanfic. I hope it starts to get
everyone interested. Please respond if you have any suggestions.
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Four Months Later
"To remember forever the defeat of Kefka and the final overthrow of the Empire, we hold these celebrations today, two years after our triumph! Remember this date for all your lives, and teach it to your children, and to your children's children, so that they may always remember this day when people united to destroy the tyranny of Kefka! Let us rejoice!"
The streets of South Figaro were packed with people. King Edgar looked around with incredible pride. He had rebuilt his city, and now the largest celebrations for the second anniversary of Kefka's defeat were being held here. People had flocked to Figaro from across the world to participate.
"Nice little speech," commented a lady's voice.
Edgar turned and bowed deeply. "Celes, you look stunning, as always."
"Come on, you old geezers! Can't you keep up?" called Relm.
Strago and Cid were breathing heavily behind her. Cid was grinning at her youthful sense of humor. Strago was not smiling.
"Damn kid," he grumbled, "She should know we can't move as swiftly as we used to."
"Oh come on, gramps," said Relm, grabbing his arm and pulling him along, "we're supposed to be celebrating today. Put a smile on for once in your life!"
Strago wanted to laugh out loud. He didn't mind his granddaughter's antics half as much as he indicated, but now was not the time to let his gruff facade down. He wasn't about to let all the others see her win again.
Relm playfully gave up on her grandfather and ran over to Edgar and Celes; specifically to Edgar. She leapt up and locked him in a tight bearhug.
"It's so great to see you again!" she exclaimed. Edgar turned a bit red with embarrassment as Celes chuckled.
Edgar pushed Relm back to the ground. She'd grown in two years. Edgar had last seen her before Owzer had hired her to be a personal artist. She'd been eleven. Now she was thirteen, but still full of the same energy that had made them all smile during the fights against Kefka.
"So how's living at Owzer's?" asked Celes.
"It's so cool!" said Relm in a rush, "I mean, the house is huge! And it doesn't matter what I paint, he loves everything and puts it all up in his gallery. And all the money he's giving me, I'm sending to gramps to help out the other people of Thamasa. They need the money more than I do."
Celes and Edgar exchanged a look. Relm was turning into quite the little philanthropist.
"Good morning, Your Majesty," said Cid formally, as he and Strago finally made it over.
"Cid, enough with that," admonished Edgar, "you saved the life of one of the most beautiful women in the world. For that, I'm not your King, but your friend Edgar."
Celes rolled her eyes, but Cid continued to speak. "Edgar. Are the rumors true?"
"About what?"
"That the Salvation Council is moving down here from North Figaro?"
Only a few months after the defeat of Kefka, Edgar had begun construction on a new city at the end of the Serpent Trench, which he had called North Figaro. The village had quickly attracted merchants and shippers, and was quickly growing into a significant town. As a symbol of the freedom from Kefka's dangerous impulses, the Salvation Council had made their headquarters there.
The Salvation Council had been formed by families who had suffered under the rule of Gestahl or Kefka, and wanted to punish those who were still loyal to the Empire. There were still some who remembered the power of the Imperial army and wished to return to it. But there were rumors that the Salvation Council, twelve men and women who had been selected by their peers, was persecuting people who had simply been members of the Empire and were no longer loyal. That fact worried both Cid and Celes, as they had been high-ranking members of the Empire and were both responsible in their own way for terrible atrocities.
"Yes, it's true," said Edgar, "I guess the Council is beginning to run its course, but the members like the power they hold over people, so they probably are going to want to make it a little more public."
"Can't you keep them out of here? They freak me out," said Relm.
"I wish I could, but I signed the agreement to abide by their judgments," said Edgar sadly, wishing he had never done that, "Cyan also signed for Doma, as did Locke in Kohlingen, and Arvis in Narshe. There's nothing that any of us would be able to do; our hands are bound."
"I'm worried that they'll come for Cid or myself," commented Celes, her eyes downcast.
"Hey, don't worry about it," chirped Relm, "we're the Heroes. They wouldn't dare come after any of us. We're too famous."
Celes and Cid nodded reluctantly. Behind them, Strago remained silent. He also worried for his youthful friends. Their fame might make them attractive targets of the Salvation Council; to show that even the Heroes are accountable for their actions. Which is ridiculous because the purpose of the Council is to condemn those still loyal to the Empire, not those who fought against it. But the whole cause of the Salvation Council had been corrupted, the usual problem with people who gain power.
"There have also been rumors that some of the most senior and powerful Imperial sympathizers that the Council has imprisoned have been escaping recently," reported Cid, "They think someone is trying to gather former Imperials around."
No one had any reply to that, and they stood around in an uncomfortable silence for several moments. Finally, Celes couldn't stand the silence any longer.
"Hey Edgar, where's Sabin?" she asked, "I was kind of hoping to see him here. I've missed him."
Edgar had to smile. "I thought you and Locke were an item."
Celes shrugged. "We really like each other, but we both have a bit too much baggage for each other right now. I still can't express myself, and he is still in love with Rachel. It's a bit hard to love a person who is still in love with someone who's dead."
The young king smiled again. Then it faded. "Well, to be perfectly honest about Sabin, I have no idea where he is."
"What?!" cried Relm.
"And neither does anyone else," continued Edgar, "No one has seen or heard from Sabin in over six months."
"Six months?!" repeated Celes, "Why hasn't anyone gone looking for him?"
"Because the last time he disappeared it was for nearly ten years," said Edgar with a weak smile, "He's more than capable of taking care of himself."
"Where was he last?" asked Strago.
"Mobliz, with Terra and Gau. I talked to Terra a while ago. She said that there was something wrong with him. He seemed... well, more restless than usual."
"They were not the last to see him," a voice whispered.
All five of them spun to see a figure in the shadows. All that could be seen was the figure's steel-gray eyes.
"Dammit Shadow," said Edgar, "don't do that anymore."
Beneath his mask, Shadow grinned. Interceptor padded out behind him and immediately went over to Relm.
"Hey Inty!" she laughed as the dog licked her face. Shadow shook his head, suppressing a chuckle.
"What did you mean that Terra and Gau weren't the last to see Sabin?" asked Celes.
"After he left them, I encountered him leaving his master, Duncan," explained Shadow, "I got the feeling that he had surpassed Duncan's skill. But Sabin had a look in his eyes, one that I have seen in few men. He had the look of a man seeking oblivion."
"He wanted to die?!" cried Edgar.
"No," said Shadow calmly, "he wanted oblivion. For some, it means drinking until you can no longer think. For others, it means death. For Sabin, I suspect it means extensive meditation and training. He said that his life was empty. He had lost his focus. But I am also worried for him. Five months is a long time for one of us to disappear with absolutely no one knowing anything. I have begun to keep my ears open. If I hear anything, I will be certain to let you know."
"Send news to me too," said Celes, "I've got a very bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. I would love to get some reassurance."
"Hey everyone!" yelled Relm, though she was only kneeling at their feet, "This is supposed to be a celebration! Sabin is tough, he can take care of himself. Let's have some fun!"
The others smiled at her youthful enthusiasm and moved to join in the festivities.
****************************************
Four Months Later
"To remember forever the defeat of Kefka and the final overthrow of the Empire, we hold these celebrations today, two years after our triumph! Remember this date for all your lives, and teach it to your children, and to your children's children, so that they may always remember this day when people united to destroy the tyranny of Kefka! Let us rejoice!"
The streets of South Figaro were packed with people. King Edgar looked around with incredible pride. He had rebuilt his city, and now the largest celebrations for the second anniversary of Kefka's defeat were being held here. People had flocked to Figaro from across the world to participate.
"Nice little speech," commented a lady's voice.
Edgar turned and bowed deeply. "Celes, you look stunning, as always."
"Come on, you old geezers! Can't you keep up?" called Relm.
Strago and Cid were breathing heavily behind her. Cid was grinning at her youthful sense of humor. Strago was not smiling.
"Damn kid," he grumbled, "She should know we can't move as swiftly as we used to."
"Oh come on, gramps," said Relm, grabbing his arm and pulling him along, "we're supposed to be celebrating today. Put a smile on for once in your life!"
Strago wanted to laugh out loud. He didn't mind his granddaughter's antics half as much as he indicated, but now was not the time to let his gruff facade down. He wasn't about to let all the others see her win again.
Relm playfully gave up on her grandfather and ran over to Edgar and Celes; specifically to Edgar. She leapt up and locked him in a tight bearhug.
"It's so great to see you again!" she exclaimed. Edgar turned a bit red with embarrassment as Celes chuckled.
Edgar pushed Relm back to the ground. She'd grown in two years. Edgar had last seen her before Owzer had hired her to be a personal artist. She'd been eleven. Now she was thirteen, but still full of the same energy that had made them all smile during the fights against Kefka.
"So how's living at Owzer's?" asked Celes.
"It's so cool!" said Relm in a rush, "I mean, the house is huge! And it doesn't matter what I paint, he loves everything and puts it all up in his gallery. And all the money he's giving me, I'm sending to gramps to help out the other people of Thamasa. They need the money more than I do."
Celes and Edgar exchanged a look. Relm was turning into quite the little philanthropist.
"Good morning, Your Majesty," said Cid formally, as he and Strago finally made it over.
"Cid, enough with that," admonished Edgar, "you saved the life of one of the most beautiful women in the world. For that, I'm not your King, but your friend Edgar."
Celes rolled her eyes, but Cid continued to speak. "Edgar. Are the rumors true?"
"About what?"
"That the Salvation Council is moving down here from North Figaro?"
Only a few months after the defeat of Kefka, Edgar had begun construction on a new city at the end of the Serpent Trench, which he had called North Figaro. The village had quickly attracted merchants and shippers, and was quickly growing into a significant town. As a symbol of the freedom from Kefka's dangerous impulses, the Salvation Council had made their headquarters there.
The Salvation Council had been formed by families who had suffered under the rule of Gestahl or Kefka, and wanted to punish those who were still loyal to the Empire. There were still some who remembered the power of the Imperial army and wished to return to it. But there were rumors that the Salvation Council, twelve men and women who had been selected by their peers, was persecuting people who had simply been members of the Empire and were no longer loyal. That fact worried both Cid and Celes, as they had been high-ranking members of the Empire and were both responsible in their own way for terrible atrocities.
"Yes, it's true," said Edgar, "I guess the Council is beginning to run its course, but the members like the power they hold over people, so they probably are going to want to make it a little more public."
"Can't you keep them out of here? They freak me out," said Relm.
"I wish I could, but I signed the agreement to abide by their judgments," said Edgar sadly, wishing he had never done that, "Cyan also signed for Doma, as did Locke in Kohlingen, and Arvis in Narshe. There's nothing that any of us would be able to do; our hands are bound."
"I'm worried that they'll come for Cid or myself," commented Celes, her eyes downcast.
"Hey, don't worry about it," chirped Relm, "we're the Heroes. They wouldn't dare come after any of us. We're too famous."
Celes and Cid nodded reluctantly. Behind them, Strago remained silent. He also worried for his youthful friends. Their fame might make them attractive targets of the Salvation Council; to show that even the Heroes are accountable for their actions. Which is ridiculous because the purpose of the Council is to condemn those still loyal to the Empire, not those who fought against it. But the whole cause of the Salvation Council had been corrupted, the usual problem with people who gain power.
"There have also been rumors that some of the most senior and powerful Imperial sympathizers that the Council has imprisoned have been escaping recently," reported Cid, "They think someone is trying to gather former Imperials around."
No one had any reply to that, and they stood around in an uncomfortable silence for several moments. Finally, Celes couldn't stand the silence any longer.
"Hey Edgar, where's Sabin?" she asked, "I was kind of hoping to see him here. I've missed him."
Edgar had to smile. "I thought you and Locke were an item."
Celes shrugged. "We really like each other, but we both have a bit too much baggage for each other right now. I still can't express myself, and he is still in love with Rachel. It's a bit hard to love a person who is still in love with someone who's dead."
The young king smiled again. Then it faded. "Well, to be perfectly honest about Sabin, I have no idea where he is."
"What?!" cried Relm.
"And neither does anyone else," continued Edgar, "No one has seen or heard from Sabin in over six months."
"Six months?!" repeated Celes, "Why hasn't anyone gone looking for him?"
"Because the last time he disappeared it was for nearly ten years," said Edgar with a weak smile, "He's more than capable of taking care of himself."
"Where was he last?" asked Strago.
"Mobliz, with Terra and Gau. I talked to Terra a while ago. She said that there was something wrong with him. He seemed... well, more restless than usual."
"They were not the last to see him," a voice whispered.
All five of them spun to see a figure in the shadows. All that could be seen was the figure's steel-gray eyes.
"Dammit Shadow," said Edgar, "don't do that anymore."
Beneath his mask, Shadow grinned. Interceptor padded out behind him and immediately went over to Relm.
"Hey Inty!" she laughed as the dog licked her face. Shadow shook his head, suppressing a chuckle.
"What did you mean that Terra and Gau weren't the last to see Sabin?" asked Celes.
"After he left them, I encountered him leaving his master, Duncan," explained Shadow, "I got the feeling that he had surpassed Duncan's skill. But Sabin had a look in his eyes, one that I have seen in few men. He had the look of a man seeking oblivion."
"He wanted to die?!" cried Edgar.
"No," said Shadow calmly, "he wanted oblivion. For some, it means drinking until you can no longer think. For others, it means death. For Sabin, I suspect it means extensive meditation and training. He said that his life was empty. He had lost his focus. But I am also worried for him. Five months is a long time for one of us to disappear with absolutely no one knowing anything. I have begun to keep my ears open. If I hear anything, I will be certain to let you know."
"Send news to me too," said Celes, "I've got a very bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. I would love to get some reassurance."
"Hey everyone!" yelled Relm, though she was only kneeling at their feet, "This is supposed to be a celebration! Sabin is tough, he can take care of himself. Let's have some fun!"
The others smiled at her youthful enthusiasm and moved to join in the festivities.