Here we go, the chapter of earth. For the earth crystal, I got Dancer class. So here it is, a chapter for Krile, as well as the finale of this little story. Enjoy!
"Normal" = Talking
"Italics" = Thinking
Bold = Letter
Bold Italics Underlined = Setting
Disclaimer: I do not own anything Final Fantasy except merchandise, and rather than making any money because of them, I have lost money from the purchase of them. So no, I am not making any profit off of anything Final Fantasy.
Castle Tycoon - Bar
The Warriors of Light had been sitting around, laughing the night away, catching up on everything that's been going on with their lives. Eventually, it got late enough that they were the only ones left to celebrate.
At this point, Faris had drank too much and was already unconscious, and Lenna, having overworked herself to prepare for the day, was on the verge of falling asleep. Only Bartz and Krile really remained awake.
"So then Gilgamesh just showed up, yeah he's alive, crazy right!? And then he just picks a fight with me, and when I beat him, he just disappears. I'm telling ya, it was a weird trip over here."
Krile giggled.
"Are you sure you weren't just dreaming it all up? Maybe you're just getting delusional in your old age."
Bartz scoffed.
"How dare you. I will have you know that I am in fact, in my prime."
"Sure sure, whatever you say old man."
After they let the laughter die down, it was silent between them for a moment. Then, Bartz gained a solemn look on his face.
"So...you really sure you've been ok traveling alone these past few years? I know Galuf...wouldn't want that."
Krile's expression became just as sober.
"Yeah...you're probably right. If I know Grandpa, he'd just be constantly worrying about me. But you know, I think it's been good for me. I've learned a lot from it."
Bartz simply sat there, and Krile couldn't tell whether or not he agreed with it. In an attempt to further reassure him, she smiled.
"And besides. I haven't been alone. Even throughout all of it, I've kept Grandpa's spirit with me this entire time. As a little princess, you can imagine I was a lot more into things like dancing than I was in fighting. And so, to make sure I would always be able to take care of myself, he taught me how to fight through dancing."
Not being able to stop himself, Bartz chuckled at the thought.
"Yeah, that sounds like Galuf alright."
Krile nodded.
"Mmhmm. That's what I mean when I say Grandpa's always with me. Because I'll never forget everything he's taught me. Here, watch."
Getting up, she headed over to the stage, and instructed the bartender, who had stuck around to make sure he could eventually close up, to start playing a song on the piano.
Finding an ornamental blade on a nearby wall, Krile took a stance on center stage. With fluid movements, she started her sword dance. She moved, guiding her blade. Or rather, she moved as if her blade was guiding her.
As the music played, Bartz watched on, entranced. And as if in response to Krile's dance, Lenna woke up from her slumber, and even Faris snapped out of her drunken sleep. After taking a moment to adjust back to the living world, they too watched on in wonderment.
With each motion of her arms, with each step she took, with each swing of her sword, Krile thought of her dear grandfather, and it showed. Despite having been what could be described as a batty old man, Galuf was still a king that demonstrated grace and strength in all that he did, and Krile's movements, they could have sworn were identical to those of Galuf's himself.
Once the dance was over, the three of them simply stared, too awed to react. Krile, putting back the ornamental blade, skipped back down to where they sat.
"So? What'd you think?"
Faris was the first to snap out of her stupor.
"Well, kid. I think ye truly are, every bit yer grandfather's kin."
Bartz nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, that's for sure. Guess there was no reason to worry about you after all."
Lenna too, nodded in agreement.
"Indeed. You were quite wonderful. As expected of Galuf's granddaughter."
Ecstatic at all the positivity, Krile smiled, satisfied.
"Hehe, thanks guys! Well, I think that's enough. It's getting late. We should probably turn in for the night."
Taking note of the time, they realized it was indeed getting late. While it was of no consequence to Faris, and Bartz was fine with it as well, Lenna freaked out, and turned to the bartender, bowing in apology.
"Oh dear! I really am so very sorry! We didn't mean to keep you up so late."
Not expecting an apology like this from the queen herself, the bartender waved his hands in panic.
"N-no! It's fine, your majesty! I'm just glad to be able to be of service to the Queen and her friends."
Before Lenna could go on a tirade of an apology, Faris took her by the hand, guiding her to the door.
"Now now, sis. The lad said it was fine. So let's just leave it at that. Ye must be exhausted already after all."
Taking a look at one another, Bartz and Krile shrugged, following suit.
Castle Tycoon - Queen's Sleeping Quarters
It was late into the night. Lenna and Faris both deep asleep. Krile made sure of it before setting out to do what she planned to do. Finding some parchment and something to write with, Lenna started writing down what she wanted to say.
To my dear friends.
I know you will all be worried for me, and I appreciate that, truly. But I can take care of myself. You guys said it yourself. I am the granddaughter of my grandfather.
Being able to reunite with you all was wonderful, and I will always keep you all in my heart in my travels. I wish I could stay around, even just for one more day. But I fear that if I do, the temptation to settle down would be too great, and I think that I still have a lot to learn from traveling. And so, I leave you with this farewell.
Bartz, I know you'll just keep on roaming the world. You are a wanderer after all. I wish you the best on your journeys, and I hope that we shall meet up with one another on our travels.
Faris, of course, you need no sappy goodbye message. So all I will say to you, is that I hope we meet again on the high seas. Keep on forging forward the way that only you know how.
Lenna, you are a wonderful queen. If ever I return to my own kingdom, I have a lot to learn from your benevolent rule. I admire you for your kindness, but just remember to take care of yourself as well.
Farewell my friends, and may we meet again.
Having taken care of everything, Krile exited the castle. Taking one last look at the Castle of Tycoon, Krile started making her way away from the castle. However, rather unexpectedly, she ran into someone.
"Kweh!"
Not knowing how to react, Krile's jaw dropped.
"Bartz!"
Mounted upon his dear friend Boko, Bartz smirked.
"What is a little lady like you doing wandering alone at this time of night?"
"W-what are you doing here? You're supposed to be asleep."
Bartz sighed.
"Yeah, but I just knew you were gonna pull something like this. So let's go."
He offered her a hand. Krile hesitated, before taking it, and being lifted upon Boko's back.
"Go where?"
"To see Boko back to his family. Then afterwards, wherever the wind takes us!"
Realizing his wording, Krile still didn't know how to react.
"We? But-"
"I know, I know. You can take care of yourself. Yeah, I get that. But that's no reason to be traveling alone. If we're both just going to travel the world, we might as well keep each other company right?"
Taking a moment to let his words sink in, Krile smiled.
"Yeah, you're right. I guess I was being a little childish."
"Grandpa. Thank you for always watching over me. But you don't have to anymore. I have a group of wonderful friends to fight alongside now. So you don't need to worry. Because even without you, I know I'm not alone."
The wanderer monk that followed the wind. The summoner queen that was as calming as water. The pirate captain that blazed her own path like fire. The prodigal princess that stood on her own like the earth. These four warriors of light may be separated from one another in body, but they would always be together in spirit.
Word count: 1396
Because I don't buy that Krile would have just traveled the world alone instead of going with Bartz, who was doing the exact same thing and an expert at it as it's his calling in life.
Cheesy ending, I know. But I think it's rather fitting. As random as my thoughts might have gone throughout writing this thing, it is fundamentally, a story of friendship and family. And I think I managed to do that rather well with Krile. I'm pretty satisfied with this.
Thank you for taking the time to click on, and read through my story. Please leave a review, it's always nice to see what people think of my stories, and whether or not they appreciate it. And if not, then criticism is always welcome as long as it's constructive.
