The Crystal Melody

Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy.

Note: Same notepad, different day.

FIC START!

Part 7

After breakfast was finished, the team felt mildly good about how the day was to go. Canti led them all over to a gigantic message board that she was known to check every day. Each keeper was given a basic directive, and they were to find something to do within that directive every day. She searched for her name, and found her square on the chart colored red, which made her frown. Another visit to the Doctor's office? Wasn't she just there yesterday? Whatever. This meant she would have a chance to discuss that upgrade to living space she asked for in agreement for recovering the Emperor Mateus.

"Okay, team," she said, grunting. "Stand by. I'll come back with our orders."

"Sounds good," Cid said, ruffling a little hair before she turned to walk off. Once he knew she was out of earshot, his expression turned downright nasty. "What. The. Hell. Is going on right now?"

"I would like to know as well," Minwu agreed quietly. "Our keeper isn't exactly herself this morning."

Kain hesitated before saying, "She thinks we all hid something vital from her. Can you honestly blame her for being distant?"

"But this isn't something we can just tell her," Vanille insisted. "Because that means we'd have to tell her about all the other memories that were removed, too..." She pouted as she looked down at the floor tiles, fidgeting with her fur=lined boots. She knew what that was like better than all of them. When she and Fang woke up out of their crystal sleep, she remembered everything and kept it all from Fang just so they wouldn't have to face their true destiny. Having to do it again made her heart ache. Based on her experience, everyone you hide the truth from finds out about it eventually, but having to face that moment was more than she could handle right now, so she was just going to act like the happy Vanille she'd always been. Just being the way everyone thought she should be.

Kain sighed. "I'm going to check on her."

"You mean eavesdrop again?" Minwu asked.

"...clearly."

Canti waited until the good doctor had the time to deal with her. She wasn't the type to just sit and wait very well, though. She paced back and forth, wondering exactly what she'd done wrong yet again. She'd spent far too much time in her life waiting in front of that door that she wasn't really all that nervous about it. She just wanted to get the punishment over all ready. When the door opened and she knew it was time to go in, she marched right in there and stood in the center of the room, turning to face the massive desk that was the workstation of just one moogle.

"I'm reporting in, sir," she said, bowing a little as was the tradition.

"So you are, kupo," Dr. Mog said, fluttering his wings. "I'm glad to see you here so early!"

"Just get my punishment over with, please..." Canti said, frowning.

"Punishment, kupo?" Dr. Mog asked. He shook his head. "No, no, Canti, you've done quite well for yourself, kupo! The mission went mostly without a hitch. I'm happy with the fact that you've completed the assignment that I've given you with no problems. Sure, there was a little difficulty for the cleanup team after you, kupo, but that couldn't be helped." He flew over his desk and put a key in her hand. "This is to your new living quarters. Congratulations, kupo."

"Y-you're serious?!" she looked down at the key. Instantly she decided she was going to turn it into a necklace, because she was going to lose this pretty damn fast if she didn't.

"That is what you asked for, isn't it?" Dr. Mog said, "I fully expect to see you moved by the end of the week, if you can manage that."

"Of course I can manage that!"

"Ah, right. There's another thing."

"I don't want any more keeper missions, doc," she said. "I all ready told you that I'd really prefer not to-"

"Kupo!" Dr. Mog interjected. "It's not that!" He pointed over to a poster that was hanging on one of the walls of his office. "It's that time of year again!"

"The Spring Music Festival," Canti read it aloud. "It's that time again all ready?!"

"In one more lunar cycle, yes."

"Well... I've done it every year."

"Yes, you have, and every year, we've all enjoyed it immensely," Dr. Mog said with a smile. "You and your team, plus whatever keeper-less heroes wish to help you, may be set to work on this. I won't have you anywhere but on campus until the end of the Spring Music Festival. One year you..." he stopped himself before he said anything else.

"One year I... what?" Canti asked, cocking her head to the side. "What did I do?"

"It's... nothing, kuuupo."

"Clearly it's... something..." she muttered.

"Go on. You get a start on leading the music festival, Canti. Don't let us down, all right?"

"Oh, yes, sir!" Canti said, gripping her key before shoving it into her pocket. This meant that Kain would be able to stay with her! Maybe even other members of her team could, too! She wouldn't have to be in that stuffy, tiny dormitory with barely any room all by herself anymore. Though the way Dr. Mog trailed off like that, it seemed as if something was massively wrong. Strange, though. She'd remember if she fucked up a previous music festival somehow. If something like that happened, Canti wouldn't have been able to live that down. No one would be able to stop reminding her that it happened. She turned around to leave, lost in thought. "Call on me again if you need me, doc."

"Of course I will, kupo. Keep up your good effort."

"...good effort, huh...?" she asked quietly as she walked out of the office and headed to the main foyer. There she was greeted by Kain.

"And what will we be doing today?" Kain asked, trying not to seem as if he heard everything from above. Dragoons had the ability to be just as sneaky as ninjas!

"Quite a bit, actually," Canti said. "But I don't want to repeat myself, so let's get together with everyone!"


"So!" Canti said, reaching into her pocket. "I got exactly what I asked for as a reward for our last mission!" She showed them the key and grinned widely.

"Oh ho!" Cid laughed, patting Kain on the back. "I fully expect grandbabies now." Kain had never blushed so hard before in his life.

"P-PAPA!" she yelled, whacking him with her left hand.

"I'm just sayin'. This is you we're talking about," Cid said, only causing Minwu to nod in agreement. "But I'm totally fine with Kain being their father."

"Papa Cid! Stop!"

The entire party laughed as Canti turned into a blushy blob in her chair.

"Was there anything else besides that?" Minwu asked. "Do we have any assignments?"

"Oh yeah, that's right!" she said. "We're on Music Festival duty until it's over! That means I can't leave campus at all, and even keeperless heroes can come to help out if they want to. It's all volunteer work, but I've done it the last few years, so."

"Oh..." Cid scratched the back of his head a little. "Music Festival time again, huh?"

"That's always lots of fun!" Vanille chimed. "You do a great job every time as the main coordinator! I remember last year when-"

Minwu slapped his hand over Vanille's mouth before she said anything. "Might I recommend that today we set up something to attract others over to assisting with the setup of the festival?" he asked

"Wait. What happened last year?" Canti asked.

"Oh, well, you got hurt..." Cid said hestitantly. "Was no big deal, really."

"Papa... are you hiding something from me?" she glared at him.

"No, no, not at all. I would never hide anything from my baby girl!" Cid said, ruffling her curly blue hair. "Minwu's right! Let's drum up some attention and see if we can convince all the lazy kids into helping!"

"Let's set up a karaoke station in the main foyer!" Canti said. "If we're all singing and having fun..."

Kain shook his head. "That could... work..."

She stood up and said, "Okay! I'm going to get the equipment from the music department. You four, set up the temporary stage over there between the apple and peach trees! Understood?"

"...we'll begin setting up the stage," Kain said quietly and they all watched her run off excitedly.

"This doesn't bode very well," Minwu whispered. "I do not sense good fortune from this."

"I'm not even capable of magic and I can sense nothing good from this," Cid grunted. "The Music Festival, huh?"

"Well the rule this time says she can't even leave campus while she's the director of the music festival," Vanille said. "She won't get hurt this time."

"But Cezre has returned," Kain said. "That's the worst thing since..."

"...since Mateus asking to join the team..." Minwu said, rolling his eyes.

"We'd better get to work," Cid said. "Setting up that stage won't be too hard... but... Everyone do your best to make damn sure that nothing happens this year. For fuck's sake. Last year's music festival was the beginning of the end..."


Canti found the first music room extremely quiet. She hadn't been in here for a long time. She couldn't remember the exact last time she was here, digging through all the wires and the sheet music stands looking for things she'd need, though. When was that? She thought about it as she gathered up the nicest karaoke machine she could find into a wagon. She used to have to ask for help to do this, but she noticed she'd grown stronger since the last time she carried this thing. But. When WAS the last time she'd been in here? Canti figured it had to have been during the last music festival. There was one every single year, after all. And ever since she could remember, she helped out with it. Last few years, she'd been asked to lead it. There was always a grand concert at the very end, where she was not only the host to many acts, but she'd sing and dance on stage herself. Once, she did a cover of "Kiss Me Goodbye" which was a love ballad from the Twelfth Realm. It was a powerful movement, where Balthier provided backup vocals to her lead. And then... she stopped, tears sliding down her face as she started to think about it. He had always been close to her, and they chose that song together. But something happened, didn't it? Something happened while they were singing that exact song... something she couldn't remember...

As she moved, carrying speakers, her foot got caught in a bundle of wires and she fell to the floor. "Oww!"

"Do you need some help?" a voice asked behind her. It was a deep voice, one that was very easy to sink into. Relaxing. Calming. Almost disorienting.

"No, I'm all right," Canti said, trying to pull her foot out on her own. They were quite stuck.

"Here, let me help you," the voice said again, pulling the wires off her feet. "You should have come back here with some assistance."

She didn't even look at the man who helped her. "Thank you, but..." she picked up speakers and loaded them into the wagon. "...I can handle myself. I normally don't trip like that."

"You're quite infamous for your clumsiness," the man said gently. "Everyone has something to say about things you've broken or done simply because you do not have a sense of balance. Or regard for your surroundings."

"I'm a dragoon! I have a... decent sense of balance..."

The man let out a chuckle. When she turned to see who he was, he was mostly covered in shadow. She didn't turn the light on in here at all, which was something she should have done, now that she thought about it. "You're adorable, when you aren't putting up that act of toughness."

Canti was confused. What was it about his mannerisms that made him seem so familiar? "I'm sorry, this might be a little strange, but... do I know you?"

"You saved my life. I would think you do."

"I feel as if I've... known you for a long time... like I've dreamt about you..."

"Good dreams, I hope."

"Only good ones."

"I would listen to you give every detail, if you have the time."

"Actually, no, I'm on assignment," Canti said, turning back to the work she was doing before. This stranger excited her in ways she knew she'd felt before, but she certainly didn't remember those feelings. "I'm going to be leading the Spring Music Festival, and..."

"Rumors about that you're adept in musical arts."

"Rumors?" Canti asked. "I thought it was pretty damn well known that I'm a vocalist. I've been on stage for every musical festival since I was brought here..."

"I haven't been here to see them, sadly."

"Well..." she said, "My party and I, we'll be setting up a stage in the foyer to generate interest in the music festival today."

"You will sing today?"

"If it means we'll get more help with setting up the festival, then I'll do it. I love music almost as much as I love flying. I want the whole world to celebrate music. All kinds of music from all around the world, uniting us all... it's such a peaceful thing that I can't help throw myself into it," Canti confessed to the stranger. She didn't care who it was, she felt as if it was safe enough to tell him this. She could have told the whole world this, as loud as possible, standing atop the highest mountain in all the Realms of Fantasy, and hoped that maybe it could change the world. "Music could save us all."

"Indeed..."

She felt her cheeks alight with blush, regardless if it could be seen or not. "So, if... you want to come to the foyer and sign up to help with the Music Festival, please..."

"I would be honored to assist in such a noble cause," the deep voice said gently. "Just as honored as I would be to assist you right now."

Canti lifted up the last speaker she needed and made sure all the cords were kept far away from the axels of the wheels. Last thing she wanted was to get them tied up and keep her that much more busy. "Oh, no, I think I'll be fine now. Th-thank you for helping me with my foot. Last thing I need is my party coming, worried about me over something so silly! They can be so overprotective that it gets sweltering sometimes..."

"They only wish to protect you from all that would seek to harm you... you should be thankful to them for what they do for you."

"Oh I am, it's just... I'm so used to being alone. I've never had people who cared like they do."

"What... if... they never had to leave you?"

"Huh?"

"What if... your party members didn't have to go back to their realms?"

She shook her head. "I'm a keeper, I know the rules. And so do you."

His hand landed over her lips softly, which caused her heart to skip a beat. "I must go now. Dream of me again, will you?" he asked as he suddenly left her in there, wondering exactly what all that mess was. "Sing. I will hear." And with that, his presence was gone.

She put her hand where his was on her lips, retracing the moment. Everything about that mystery man left her not only wanting more, but curious as to who he was. She could have listened to that voice for all of eternity. Just hearing him tell her to sing motivated her further to want to get up on that stage to sing her heart out. She wanted to obey that voice, to curl up in that presence. "I will," she whispered. "I will sing. So listen to me." She heard footsteps coming down the hall and hurriedly grabbed onto the handle of the wagon so she could pull it where she needed it to go. "All right, we're ready to get started!"


Kain paced back and forth. It wasn't like him to be so nervous, but here he was, on the very tip of his nerves, unable to control himself. He was the type to always keep his composure, to never react to anything. Perhaps he had been around Canti far too long, and she was rubbing off on him. And until he saw Canti pulling the wagon up to the stage that Vanille, Minwu, Cid, and he had built together, he was worried to high hell.

"I have the karaoke system and four speakers," she said.

"What took so long?" Vanille asked.

"All the wires were a complete mess. I fell over and had a hard time getting myself out," she answered honestly, though she didn't tell the full story.

"You didn't hurt yourself, did you?" Minwu asked.

"Not at all," she said, still able to feel where that mystery man had placed his hand upon her face. That was going to linger there for a while, wasn't it? She wondered if that was a blessing or a curse. "So! Papa Cid!"

"Yes, pumpkin?"

"You're the electronics expert! You can do the setting up!"

"I'm a mechanic, darlin', I'm not an electrician..."

"Everyone else here is from a world that doesn't have electronics."

Vanille raised her hand. "My world has electronics! The save points were like those things you call ATMs! I'll do it, I'll do it!"

Canti crossed her arms. "...Papa Cid, do you really want Vanille setting up the wires on stage?"

Cid immediately stood up and started to get to work.

"That's what I thought," she said, letting out a little laugh. "Kain, can you help with the background of the stage?"

"Of course, my lady," Kain said, taking the cloth banner in his hands and jumping up to the ceiling to attach it so that it looked like the stage had music notes flying around behind it. When he landed next to her, she gave him a hug. It made him give a gentle smile in return. "Y-you didn't have to... do that..."

"Yes, I do," she whispered, gripping to him tightly.

"Is there something wrong?" Kain asked. "Something seems... odd with you."

"Well, yes. All of today feels weird!" Canti said loudly. "Every aspect of today has felt weird from breakfast to this very moment!"

"I have to agree with that assessment," Minwu said. "The energies today feel nothing short of... strange."

"So. I wanted to just... hold onto you for a minute," she said, looking up at Kain. "To just... ground myself in the moment. Right now is what matters, right?"

"Absolutely," Kain agreed, returning the hug.

"I don't... want to lose you," she whispered. "Any of you."

"Is this what troubles you?" he whispered in return, trying not to catch anyone else's attention.

"It does."

"We can talk about this later, when we have time alone, yes?"

"I'd love that."

He gripped around her tighter to offer some reassurance. "But right now," he said, loud enough for the rest of the party to hear. "It's time to get started."

"Time to work your magic," Vanille said, fishing out a microphone out of the wagon.

"My magic, huh?" Canti asked, taking the mic and climbing onto the stage. She tapped the mic. No sound. So she turned it on and tapped it again. There it was! She put her hand over the mircophone and smiled at the rest of her party. "Minwu, you run the sign-up desk, okay?"

"Easy," Minwu replied, heading over there and putting up a sign that read 'SIGN UP TO HELP!'.

"Vanille, keep whatever people that come up here engaged."

"I can do that!"

"Papa Cid, Kain..."

"Yes?" they both asked, awaiting orders.

"Stand by, just in case I need you."

"Consider it done," Kain said as Cid just nodded in agreement.

Canti tapped on the mircophone again and said clearly, "Good morning, Corneria! If you're listening, why don't you come over here! Today marks one month from the Spring Music Festival, which is a week-long celebration of all things musical throughout all the realms! I am the coordinator of the event and I need as much help as I can get setting up all sorts of things!"

But no one even seemed remotely interested.

"Weird," she said. "HEY! PEOPLE!"

Still nothing.

"Okay...?" she said. "Papa, did you set up the speakers right? Can they just not hear me?"

"I think those people are ignoring you, pumpkin."

"What? Why would they ignore me? What have I done to deserve being ignored?"

The rest of her party looked at each other hesitantly. They weren't sure how, or if they should, answer that.

"Thanks a lot, you guys," Canti grunted. She gripped the microphone in her hands again, turning to who ever would lend an ear. "Who wants to sing karaoke?!"

It took a few moments, but a few people came over to the stage. Some of them were heroes that Canti knew, and some were heroes that she hadn't had the chance to directly meet. Standing behind everyone else was Balthier, looking directly at her. He had a smile on his face, standing next to Fran. For a moment, Canti and Balthier shared a longing gaze similar to the way it was before. She didn't hear any of the other clamor going on around her, and his eyes were the only things she could focus on.

"Balthier," she said into the mic, making everyone turn to him. "Would you like to sing?"

"Oh, no, princess, I wouldn't dare take your stage from you," he answered smoothly.

"I'm not singing just yet," she said. "I want to give everyone else a chance first. So, please. I know you can carry a tune."

"A-actually," Cid said, snatching another hero, Setzer by the arm randomly out of the crowd, "This feller here volunteers to go first! Don't you, uh... feller?"

"Who are you to-" Setzer began to ask before Cid cut him off again.

"You'll do it, or you are getting skewered by the entire Highwind family," Cid muttered in his ear, forcing Setzer upon the stage.

"...oh..." Canti said, passing the mic to Setzer and hopping off the stage to land in the middle of everyone that had come around to see what was going on. "Okay, my lovely sky pirate, why did you not want to sing? I thought you liked adoration from fans?"

"Oh, I do appreciate the adoring lady or two," Balthier said, reaching up to ruffle her hair affectionately. "However, the last thing I want is to repeat something we've seen before. My act must be fresh to be the most effective."

"You mean you don't have anything new to sing right now? Well that's not what karaoke is for!"

"I'm dreadfully sorry, princess. I am not going to sing today no matter how cute your expression gets... I simply cannot."

"All right. I'll accept that, under one condition," she said, putting her hands on her hips.

"Name it," Balthier said. "I will retrieve for you any treasure you could ask for, including, but not limited to, your favorite cake."

"I don't want a cake from you," she said. "I want you to sing at the actual festival! Please! That'll give you time to come up with a fresh act!"

"I... really..." he frowned for a moment. "I... wish I could do that for you."

"What?" she asked. "But... you're one of the best singers I know within the entire realm, and..."

"I can't participate in the Spring Music Festival, princess. Not anymore. But I can wish you all the best with it."

"Balthier, I..." she looked away from him, obviously being extremely disappointed with that news. "...I know I sang with you last year at the festival... and... you must be... so mad at me."

"No, no. I could never be angry with you," he said, pulling her close to him. "Especially not over sharing a duet with me. It was a beautiful, powerful piece."

"What did I do?" she asked, gripping to him.

"You didn't," he replied sadly, kissing her forehead. "Now go be the good hostess I know you are. Your father is having a hard time with the karaoke machine." He let her go and gave her a gentle push in that direction. "Don't get distracted. You are the main coordinator of an entire university-wide celebration for a reason, princess."

She couldn't help but be confused by his reply, but she climbed back on stage and started trying to engage the crowd anyway.

"Are you sure that's what you want?" Fran asked as she and Balthier passed through the crowd. They were walking away as more people were coming closer.

"It doesn't matter what I want right now."

"Do not betray your heart." she said. "You love her."

"I won't deny that. But after what happened last year, I don't want any involvement."

"Ah. I remember."

"I will enjoy it from afar for now. If she is in any danger-"

"You will rush in to rescue your princess."

"Nothing less for a leading man."

"You've become a cameo."

"How cruel a viera's tongue can be."