Chapter 3
The Enterprise landed and the trio walked through the thick woods. It was very dark, but Dragon Rose lit a torch to guide their way. When they finally got to a clearing, they could see a bunch of teepees and a tall, bright one in the heart of them. They walked toward it and heard people mumbling as they looked at Cecil and Rosa, even they have never seen people like that before. Like the redskins they fought, they were wearing clothing made from Ogres, Goblins, and Domovis.
The trio stopped at the entrance and she turned to them. "A moment, please, Paladin."
She trotted past the redskins sitting on each side as she approached her father, covered in feathers and war paint. Since Abdullah was the head of the tribe, he wore different feathers from many monsters such as Cockatrices, Zus, Helldivers, Rukhs, even Chocobos. He greeted her and was amazed for her return.
"Father, I have some exciting news! I was attacked by our rebels and two other warriors came and saved me from their treachery. Shall I introduce you to them?"
"Yes, my dear, please let them come forth."
She walked out and asked them to enter. They obliged and stood before the chieftain. As a sign of respect, Cecil and Rosa kneeled as they were introduced. After a few moments, the chief told them to rise. "So, you're the two fine warriors that rescued my daughter."
He looked at Rosa and exclaimed "A White mage, I presume?"
"Yes, Chief." Rosa replied.
Then he looked at Cecil. "And this must be the foot soldier, such great courage and strength he has."
"Indeed. This man is a Paladin, a warrior who possesses immense wisdom, virtue, and pure light!" she chirped.
He said wide-eyed "Is he now? So the legend must be true, then. We've been waiting for ages to meet you, and now we're grateful that we have."
"A legend?" Cecil asked.
"Yes. We've lived a solitary and prosperous life until one fateful day, the Blood Moon begun. Everyone have grown hostile by the numbers and the vegetation began to die. Many have tried to fight against the femine and the perversities but to no avail. And so we've decided to hide underground, which was why none of us could barely see them. Duiring that time we foretold a legend that a hero who bares "pure light" could end the war and restore peace throughout the world. After what seemed like aeons, we finally emerged into the sun again. There were no monsters, and food and flowers grew once again. It was a sign that the story became true, and we hoped to find this man of hallowed light. I'm glad it was you."
He announced that the their prophecy has been fulfilled and the audience cheered. When they quieted he insisted them to sit next to him and for Dragon Rose to set up the ritual.
She walked to a corner where no one can see or hear her. She whispered to a mysterious man shrouded in shadow. "Domin, the Paladin has come. You know what you must do."
"It shall be done, m'lady." he nodded and she emerged from the darkness.
Cecil and Rosa sat next to Chief Abdullah as the redskins crossed their legs. Cecil tried his best to mimic their posture; he never felt anything more comfortable. Just then drums started to beat quietly and steadily. Cecil and Rosa looked around and some of the red skins hit them. Then he started to falter and Rosa looked at him worried.
"What is it, Cecil?"
He murmurred "Strange...I've never felt this way before. Its like something's inside me, but I can't comprehend it. I feel like I should..."
He looked up and saw Dragon Rose motioning him to come closer. Slowly he stood up and walked to her.
She grabbed his arm and asked him what is wrong. He shook his head and spoke in a voice he never had. "There's no need for concern, Rosa. Dragon Rose awaits me. I must go to her."
He broke away from her and as he walked closer to her the drums sounded louder and faster. His heart was beating in tune with them and he felt himself breathing harder and faster. He saw her step up on a circular platform and started to dance on it.
Cecil, as if in a trance, watched her. Everyone was dancing except Rosa who sat there helplessly. In fact, most of the natives blocked her vision. All she wanted was to find Cecil and try to figure out why he was acting so strange.
She stood up and made way until he found him not moving, as if he was a statue watching Dragon Rose stomp on the platform, sway her arms, shimmer her body down slowly and seductively, and rotate her hips and stomach. When Rosa was trying to get his attention by calling his name, a fat redskin hollered and asked her to get firewood and then he mocked her.
"Ha! White mages. So primitive and submissive these weaklings are. How utterly pathetic."
She overheard and depressed she left by his orders.
Meanwhile, Cecil continued to watch while sitting on a log and after a few minutes, he rose and danced with her. The drums banged and everyone roared in glory as Rosa returned with an armful of logs. Wearily, she dropped them next to the redskin and he hollored again. "White slave, get more firewood."
"White slave not give you any. White slave had enough!" she retorted, her voice rising. Then she casted Silence on him, which took awhile because she needed to concentrate in such obnoxious clatter. When the spell worked, other warriors ganged up on her and she used Teleport to escape before they could grab her.
It was very quiet when she warped out the big tent and into the woods where a river was rushing through. She sat on a log hopeless as she tried to talk to Cecil, and then he broke his heart as he saw him flirting with Dragon Rose."Foolish sloven." she muttered.
She started to sob when she put her head in her hands. She heard a ruffle of leaves and saw a dark, shadowy figure walk toward her. In the moonlight, he looked very similar to Cecil as a dark knight. "Pretty harsh on his part, wouldn't you say?" he spoke.
She sniffled and asked. "Wh...who are you?"
"Don't be frightened my dear, you've needn't fear me. I'm Dameon, I was a proud warrior of the redskin clan."
So you're one of them, too, she thought but then he went on.
"I know what you're thinking. Your loved one betrayed you and now he left you out in the cold. Strange, though. The air is as harsh and bitter as his heart, abandoning you like this."
He sat down by her side. "You know...I've been depraved, too. I was a fine warrior just like that Paladin was. All seemed right with the world until the chief met Domin. He seemed to excel more than I did and soon enough, I've been pushed away as well. And that's why I'm here."
He looked at Rosa's tears falling from her cheeks. "Look at you, so young and graceful with a broken heart. Such a sorry state. Would you mind telling me where you're from?"
She explained everything, from where she was born to being the queen of Baron. Dameon was astonished by that information and so he insisted "Rosa, would you care if I came to your homeland, that way you show me everything you hold dear? Without that traitor of yours."
She breathed in deeply and sighed. Then she waited for a few moments, and Dameon waited patiently for her answer. How can she leave the man she loved, after all his dancing indicated that he had a deep relationship with Dragon Rose. So she said yes and it was off to the Enterprise.
Back in the center of Tenebre, Dragon Rose stopped and stepped down from the platform. "You are the one we want and so you shall remain with us. Because I yearned for your presence, I want you to stay with me always, and forever." He nodded slowly still dazed.
"And now I shall show you how much I do." She held his chin, closed their eyes, and leaned over for a kiss until it was interrupted as two smoke bombs landed between them. Then each of them flashed and emitted a lot of gas and the redmen, and Cecil, started to cough. The drums silenced and after a few minutes, when the tent was completely engulfed in mist, a small figure ran up and grabbed Cecil by the hand.
They escaped out of the village and into the forest where they can no longer be seen. When they stopped, Cecil took a couple breaths to clear his throat and muttered "Thank you, Puddingway. Thanks a lot." He panted and the rabbit spoke.
"That was a close one, wasn't it? Although my name, Puddingway, seems to be far inappropriate. So I've decided to name myself Redeemingway."
And then he explained. "I remembered you facing your darkness and cleanse yourself from it. I remember that ever since I became Cheatingway, everyone started to laugh and make fun of me as I went to Agart to settle with my true girlfriend, and so I've wanted to redeem myself as well."
He whispered "You've inspired me, Cecil. And you taught me that when people have a bad reputation, they can face their dark side and complete themselves in the process, and that's when it hit me; what if I can do the same to others. Oh, by the way, I actually saw what happened back there."
Cecil gasped "You saw...everything?"
"Indeed I have, that's why I came and saved you. I knew that Rosa was the one, not her. Oh...and she left without you."
How can she do such a thing? he thought, and then he knew why.
"Of course I can take you to Baron on my PedalPlane. I'm going back to Agart anyway. Would you mind?"
Cecil felt warm inside and grinned. "It would be an honor. And...I'm very grateful." They climbed inside and Redeemingway flew west to Baron.
When they went inside the throne room, Dameon looked around, astonished. "Wow, so this is the heart of the castle. And to think you're the queen of it all, fascinating!"
"Hey, what's all the commotion about?" said Cid as he stormed in. He looked at the Dark Knight shocked. "Is that...Cecil?"
She shook her head and explained "This is Dameon. He nearly looks like Cecil, but he's also a fine warrior from the redskin clan. He was abandoned and he will be staying with us for awhile."
"If that's Dameon, then where's Cecil?" he wondered.
She told him everything from when they rescued Dragon Rose, to when the Paladin disregarded her at Tenebre. Cid's face turned red with fury and clenched his fists. "How can he do this to you? That boy's gotta show some manners, especially since he's the new king. I don't know what's gotten through his head, but he'd best show up and apologize for abandoning you like that! Maybe I'll teach him a lesson when he..."
"Shhh. He's coming." Sure enough, Cecil walked toward them and he realized that his doppleganger was here.
What's a strange man doing here, and why is he with Rosa? he thought.
Then he stammered "Rosa, I-I can explain..."
"There's no need for an explanation you treacherous little runt!" Cid exploded.
Then he pointed at Dameon. "Even he is more considerate than you! How dare you break her heart and treat her like this?"
Despite his anger, Cecil stepped in and pleaded her not to have feelings for the Dark Knight, but instead forgive him. Because of the mushiness, Dameon took out his Deathbringer and declared "I've had enough!"
He struck him down and he grabbed his Excalibur. She was in no mood for combat as she seperated the two.
"Stop it! Both of you!"
"But, Rosa..." They said in unison.
"Cecil, I know it's not my place to make a decision...but..."
She walked over to Dameon then she calmed down. She held his shoulder gently and said "I'm sorry, Cecil. But he's the one."
He opened his mouth but immediately shut it, then he closed his eyes as he hung his head in despair. Dameon glared at him and he said farewell. He walked slowly away, crushed. And Rosa realized what she'd done, she knew Cecil had always been there for her and she just met Dameon for only a few minutes.
She begged the Paladin not to go but he stuttered "N-no. I know why you chose him. You've been betrayed. I-I...I've been much of a burden to you. I'll go."
He slowly walked away from the group and disregarded the guards who wondered where Cecil is going. He never looked up nor payed any attention to them. He couldn't tell his compatriots what he did to Rosa...he just couldn't.
He tried to hold back his tears as he walked past the village. After a few miles he sadly looked back at the place where he lived all his life. For the first time, he was homeless and he didn't have anywhere else to go. But what he did know is that he needed a place to stay, away from Baron; a place where he could hide himself. He needed to find a place fast because he could see dark, thick clouds roaming in from the west, and thunder from a vicious storm was closing in.
He kept wandering the wilderness until he saw a cave which was guarded by a Lobos. He didn't want to fight, instead he looked up at the traveler for a few minutes. The Paladin waited patiently as he slowly walked away with no signs of agression.
Lightning started to flash as he went inside. He could only see the inside for a second and he realized it was too dark to go any further. He lit a stick with a small Bomb Fragment as he marched in. He heard water dripping from the stalactites and he was surprised that no monsters were there, not even the Mist Dragon. He ventured deeply into the cave until he was convinced that nobody would find him. Eventually he stopped and made a fire, then he took off his armor and weapons as he lamented.
"Rosa...What's become of me? Why would Dragon Rose betray me like this? And why was she and her tribe so obsessed about me...? Was the legend all a lie? Do they want to use me as some kind of tool? For what reason!?"
He paused for a moment and moped his head in shame. "Those urges or no...There's no forgiving what I've done..."
He tried to hide his face in the darkness as he closed his eyes. He then tried to go to sleep, but he couldn't since his mind was wracked with guilt. He suddenly became thirsty, too.
A few inches away at the corner of the cave there was a tiny lake. He skimmered over and he splashed some water toward his lips. As he did, he started to feel sleepy. He soon dosed off next to the small body of water, and he slept soundly as the storm raged on.
A/N: Some of the scenes are references to various films. I'll let you guys figure it out. I do not own any of these references, and I'd greatly apologize for the lack of creativity. But, hey, at least the story itself is going in its own direction.
You have now met the enemies and they will become clearer in detail as the story goes on. Oh, and Domin is a made-up name; it's the first few letters of powerful words like Dominion or Domination. I thought it would be suitable for a villain. And Dameon was a name for the Dark Knight I played in FFIV. My older sister has given it to me, and I used to watch her play it a lot when we were kids. Abdullah was an interesting name I found in a book, and Dragon Rose was a clever mash-up; she may be as beautiful as a rose, but she is fierce and cunning lke a dragon.
What will happen next to Cecil? Where will his life be heading? And who exactly is this Dark Knight? The answers will come later, in the next chapter! Hope you enjoy it!
