Fipp: Now for the (originally last) next chapter! The first Final Fantasy game, where most dungeons shared the same background music, and all battles did.
When the classic eight-bit was like today's HD.
You have to love the old school.
Hope you all like my personal renditions of the Light Warriors.
I
Warriors of Light
He looked across the city from his high vantage point as it bathed in the setting sun.
Everything was peaceful and calm.
Good. He liked it like that.
But . . .
"Yo!" called a voice from behind. "Everything alright?"
Warrior, clad in polished blue armor, a heavy metallic cape, and a horned helmet upon his head of silver hair, turned around to meet him comrade.
Monk walked up to Warrior. He was dressed in an open light gray robe, bandages wrapped around his hands and forearms, and a white headband tied around his head to keep his messy black hair out of his sight.
"Why are you all the way up here?" Monk asked.
The Warrior turned away and looked back to the city, to Radiant Garden.
"Something troubles me," Warrior said. "But, I'm not sure what."
Monk raised an eyebrow, before shaking his head. "Man, you need to relax, everything's been good for a while! You're just being paranoid!"
Warrior did not answer.
Monk sighed. "C'mon!" He wrapped an arm around the Warriors' armored shoulders. "I bet those guys are fighting again!" There was a glint in his brown eyes.
Warrior sighed, but complied nonetheless.
000
The sounds of metal clashing against metal rang out, echoing throughout the courtyard.
The young man, no older than a teenager, slid back. With a gloved-clad hand he slid back a lock of blue hair back beneath the green bandana that was wrapped around his head and over pointed ears. He was dressed in mostly green clothes, and a small green cape flowed from his shoulder. The heavy leather gloves his wore extended to his elbows, where the sleeves of his shirt ended.
"You're getting sloppy, ya know? Ya really need to get better of you don't want to get your ass kicked by me!" He narrowed his pale blue eyes.
His opponent said nothing. She was dressed in entirely in red; a large red cape draped around her body, a red mask to cover the lower half of her face and a red cap with a large white feather in it. Adorning her cape, hat, long silver hair, clothes and ears were a number of jewels, stones, metals and beads, which Thief estimated that had a combined value to buy the castle.
He once tried to steal these items, but was caught by Red Mage, and was punished.
He still had nightmares about the incident.
She looked back at him.
"Aren't you going to say anything?" Thief said. "Or, are you scared that I'll just say something that'll blow your mind?!"
Red Mage stared at him with passive green eyes, and said nothing.
Thief hissed. "You little bitch!" His grabbed the twin daggers tightly. "I'll teach you to disrespect me!"
Red Mage said nothing as she raised her rapier.
000
"I wonder whose going to win this time?" the blonde-haired, blue-eyed woman asked. She was dressed in white robes, white triangles lining the edge of the hood, and the large bell sleeves, and light armor placed on her chest and shoulders. She was sitting on a bench, reading a book, and swinging one of her crossed legs in circular motions, and tapping her other open-toes boot on the ground.
"I wouldn't think you cared about who was fighting, just as long as they didn't fight," said the figure leaning against the wall behind her. He was cloaked in heavy blue robes with numerous arcane symbols sewn into it, with a very high collar that reached above his ears, and a large wide-brimmed, pointed straw hat with grayed edges. The hat and the collar cast a shadow over his face, leaving only mysterious golden eyes to stare out to the world.
"I don't," White Mage said, turning a page of her book. "But, I have to know who'll need more healing after they're done."
Black Mages shook his head. "I say let them get hurt themselves. They'll never learn a damned thing if you keep jumping in and kissing their booboos." Black Mage thought for a moment. "Though, most of the time, it's Thief who starts it, and gets hurt." He mumbled. "Damn stupid kid."
The 'damn stupid kid' then flew to the ground, landing in front of the two mages.
"I hate her," he groaned.
Red Mage, sheathing her sword, walked up to Thief, and held out a hand.
He reluctantly took it, and was helped up.
"Can you believe her?!" Thief said to Black Mage, as Red Mage walked up to White Mage. "The way she just talks down to me! Always insulting me!"
"She's never said a single word in the entire time I've known her. Not a sound."
"She has her ways."
"What? Is the fighting over?" asked Monk as he and Warrior walked up to the four.
"We tied," Thief said.
"He lost," Black Mage said.
"Not cool!"
"I always miss the best parts," Monk shook his head as he walked past the two. "Hey, how about another fight?" He walked between the two female mages, and put an arm of each of their shoulders. "Or, I could just take you two lovely women to dinner."
Less then two seconds later, he collapsed to the ground.
White Mage gasped and began to cast a healing spell on him.
"Why is it you keep casting Bio on him?" she asked Red Mage.
Red Mage really didn't seem to care.
"Just be lucky you're around when she does," Black Mage said. "Because I highly doubt she'll do anything to help him."
"I'm not dead!" Monk said from the ground.
Thief looked to Warrior. "What's got you all down?"
Warrior shook his head. "I'm not sure."
"Is it that new guy?" Black Mages asked. "What's his name? Xena-something?"
"Xehanort," White Mage said, having had finished her healing of Monk.
Warrior sighed. "Yes, it is."
"What's your problem with that guy anyway?" Thief asked. "He seems nice."
"I have to agree with him here," White Mage said, siding with Warrior. "Something about Xehanort just seems off. He just appeared out of nowhere with a strange suit of armor and an even stranger weapon, with no memories of who he is."
Monk groaned as he sat up. "But what are we going to do about it? Even if we don't like the guy, it doesn't matter anyway." He shrugged. "Ansem really seems to like the guy."
"Actually, they've been having some problems with each other lately," Thief said. "They had a falling out regarding on experiments Xehanort was doing."
The other five gave him a look.
"I like to poke around," he said, causally shrugging.
"What do you think?" White Mage asked Red Mage.
She remained silent.
"I agree," Thief folded his arms and shook his head.
"But she never said anything!" Black Mage said.
"What sort of experiments?" Warrior asked.
Thief shrugged. "I'm not sure, I wasn't really paying attention it, but they said something about doors, and hearts, and something about the worlds. But all I do know, is that Xehanort wanted to take it somewhere that Ansem didn't want it to go."
Warrior looked down. "Just what is Xehanort planning?" he asked aloud.
"Who cares what he's planning," Black Mage said. "Even if he does something stupid, I'm sure we can take him out. We're the Champions of Radiant Garden! The personal knights of Ansem the Wise!"
"We can take whatever that guy has planned," Monk said, standing up.
"Speaking of Champions," White Mage began to look around the area. "Has anyone seen our other fellow Champion lately?"
"Now that you mention it," Black Mage said, looking around. "I don't think I've seen him around for a while."
"And he's been distant lately," Thief said.
"Something is wrong," Warrior said, then turning around. "I can feel it in the air." He walked away.
000
Warrior wandered the halls of the castle for hours, deep in his own thoughts.
'Something terrible is going to happen, I just know it. But question is, what?'
Several feet behind him, a black spot appeared on the carpet, and it began to ooze wispy shadows.
Two beady yellow eyes rose out of the shadow, attached to a humanoid black creature with two long antennae attached to its head.
It spotted Warrior and leaped to attack him.
It found itself his a sword through its chest.
"What in the name-" Warrior said as the shadow monsters vanished into black smoke.
More of these creatures appeared around him.
Warrior readied his sword and shield, and prepared himself for a battle.
000
A shadow monster was thrown into the Main Hall, dissolving before it could hit the ground.
Warrior exited through the door at the top of the stairs and looked around the room, and saw that it was clear of all shadows.
He heard something approach him from behind, and quickly made to attack it, but stopped his assault before it could cut.
"Oh, it's you," he said, sighing in relief. "You've seen the creatures, yes?"
The figure nodded.
"We have to warn Ansem! If nothing is done soon enough they could take over the castle!" He turned around and looked to the door at the lower level and other side of the room. "For all we know, they've already spread to the city!"
"They already have."
"Wha-?" Warrior turned around, but was struck in the chest, and sent flying across the room, and sent crashing into the wall, then slid down until he hit the floor.
He cried in pain as he tried to push himself to his knee, and looked the figure directly in the eyes. "What are you doing, Garland?"
The massive knight, Garland, began to walk down the stairs, his massive and unique weapon dragging behind him.
"It has come," Garland said.
"What has come?"
"Everything that we have worked for has come into bloom, and soon this world will drown in the darkness."
Warrior glared at Garland. "Drown this world in darkness?"
"Yes. The Heartless Xehanort summoned from depths unknown are perfect for destroying this menial world."
"So, Xehanort was apart of something! But what about you Garland?! You are a Champion of Radiant Garden! Why are you helping the destruction of this world?!"
Garland reached the bottom of the stairs, and chuckled. "I am simply doing what must be done, as it is part of the eternal cycle of life and death!"
He raised his weapon, and made to crush Warrior, but looked to the left and jumped back.
The place he stood a second ago then exploded into flames.
"Goddamn!" Warrior looked to the door on the left wall to see Black Mage, with staff in hand, appear. "You know, that was a perfectly good spell I wasted just then. Don't make me waste another and stay still when I make to kill you!" He pointed his staff at Garland. "Be a good boy, and don't move." A large shard of ice shot from the staff.
Garland flicked his wrist, and the end of his weapon detached itself from the rest and dropped forward on the sword, now making it look like an axe.
Garland swung the axe, destroying the chunk of ice wholly, and sending shards across the room.
He was about to rush forward, to crush the mage, when Thief appeared behind him and swung his daggers.
Garland spun around and stopped the blades on his own weapon.
"Getting slow Garland," Thief mocked, but quickly jumped back when Garland reached for the bottom of the blade and split the weapon in two, giving him two weapons to strike at his opponent.
Warrior reached for his sword, but pain shot through his body.
This pain began to ease when a soft white light appeared him.
"Please stay still for a moment," said White Mage, running up to him.
Garland dodged a blast of lightning from Black Mage, and made to strike at Thief, but Red Mage suddenly appeared between the two of them and sliced at him, as well as threw a fire spell at him.
The knight swung his weapon, prompting Red Mage to jump out of range, but was surprised to see the blade separate from the handle, connected to each other by a chain.
She fell to the floor as the weapon flew over head. Garland quickly called it back and swung it downwards, right at her.
"YAR!" Monk appeared from the side, kicking Garland in the side, and sending him off course. "With gusto!" he yelled, spinning his nun chucks around skillfully.
Garland growled to himself and thrust the reassembled weapon forward, having it extend forward into a lance-like weapon. Monk managed to block this with his nun chucks, but the force from the blow was still enough to push him back.
The knight then spun around and blocked Warrior's attack.
"You still didn't answer my question," he said, grinding his blade against Garland's.
"I did answer your question," Garland said. "This is merely a part of the infinite cycle."
"'Infinite cycle'?"
"You will never come to understand, and because of this we will always be in battle!" Garland knocked Warrior back, having him stumble to where the other five Champions had gathered. "Fate has chosen this day as the beginning of the end! We might as well enjoy what destiny has for us!"
They all readied themselves.
"Then destiny, ends here!" Warrior called.
"End it, if you can!" Garland stabbed his weapon into the ground and brought an armored claw-hand to his face. "I, Garland, will knock you all down!"
The Champions charged.
000
Garland collapsed to the ground, and darkness began to simmer around him.
He chuckled.
"Farewell, Warriors of Light, we shall meet again when the worlds are consumed in chaos." These were the final words of Garland, as the darkness engulfed him, leaving nothing behind.
"We have to hurry," Warrior said, turning to his companions. "There's still time too save the city."
"I don't think so," Thief said, pointing to the door.
They looked to the it to see many more Heartless pouring into the room.
"Not just from there." Black Mage gestured to the rest of the room, as Heartless were filling it from every possible entrance.
"This isn't good!" Monk said.
"Have we, failed?" White Mage asked aloud.
Red Mage pointed her sword at the shadows.
"We can't let it end," Warrior said, holding his sword. "We must fight!"
They did fight.
They battled the darkness that was swallowing their world.
While they fought to all their strength, they failed.
The six of them were soon taken by the darkness, making them the last people on the dead world.
000
"Is it over? Over for all of us."
"I can't see anything. Not a damned thing."
"We're going to die, aren't we?"
. . .
"But, it can't be over!"
"We still have to . . ."
The Warrior tried to remain, but he felt himself slipping away.
He felt them leave him. First Black Mage, then Monk, then Red Mage, then Thief, and finally White Mage.
He was about to fade any second now.
Then, in the distance, he could see a small pinpoint of light.
'As long as there is even the smallest light, it can battle the darkness.'
"Who are you?" Warrior asked.
He didn't know if the image of the shining woman in front of him was real, or simply a delusion, but he connected to it. He had too in fears if he didn't stay connected with anything, he would fade away.
'There is someone who will need your help one day,' she said. 'In order to restore balance to the worlds, he will need as many allies as he can obtain.'
He felt the woman place her hand on the side of his face.
Instead of darkness taking him, he was blinded with light.
000
Warrior opened his eyes to see an open blue sky.
He sat up and saw that he was in a large open field, dotted with the occasional tree, and a long dirt path that extended from horizon to horizon.
He looked around and was surprised to see his friends around him, albeit unconscious and lying on the ground.
Warrior would see to them, and make sure that they were alright, and help tend to any wounds they had. Afterward he would tell them about what he was told in the darkness.
He didn't know where they would go, who they would meet, or what they would encounter, but he felt at ease.
Whoever it was that they were supposed to help, they would find him and do so.
It was as though the light that had saved them, was watching over them.
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Mrfipp