A/N: And here we have the climb up Mount Ordeals. Enjoy.


The Blighted Despot


Sora: "Man, I hate it when people don't listen."

Kairi: "Can't say I blame them though"

Sasuke: "Indeed."

Pith: "Twincasting? Hey, do you think Tria and I could do something like that someday?"

Sasuke: "Couldn't say for sure. It is a tricky thing to pull off. Then again you two kinda remind me of Palom and Porom. Pith is responsible and cool-headed like Porom, while Pat is stubborn and hot-headed like Palom."

Patria: "Ye-HEY!"


Cecil and I set out to Mount Ordeals, guided by Palom and Porom. It was quite a long trek just to get there. Man, I wished Rydia was here to summon her chocobos. Unfortunately the closest Chocobo Forest was just south of the mountain entrance. At least we won't have to make the trip back on foot. Still, my legs were already killing me. By the time we were close to the mountain it had gotten dark out, so we decided to set up camp for the night.

As we sat there, I decided to ask something that's been on my mind lately. "So I've been meaning to ask, these crystals that Golbez is so interested in, what exactly are they?"

Palom laughed at my question. "What? You don't know what the Four Elemental Crystals are? Where have you been man?" I just gave him a deadpan stare.

"Palom!" shouted Porom. "You're forgetting that he's not from our world, which is probably very different from ours. It makes sense that he wouldn't know much about this kind of stuff."

Cecil chuckled. "Well, it's not like we could tell him that much anyway. Truth is, nobody really knows their true nature."

"Is that so?" I asked.

Porom put her hand on her chin. "All that's really known about the Four Elemental Crystals is that they're a source of great mystical energy, and are especially in tune with the element they each represent. The only other things we can tell you are legends and rumors. Some believe that they are the source of all magic on this world. Some legends say they are keys to the heavens. And some believe that they have a purpose beyond mortal comprehension. Nobody really knows for sure."(1)

Palom put his hands behind his head. "There are also rumors that these four crystals have dark crystal counterparts, or something like that, supposedly hidden deep underground somewhere. But nobodies ever seen them, so it's doubtful they exist."

"One thing thats for sure though," said Cecil, "is that they'd make incredible power sources if someone were to figure out how to harness them."

I took in what I was told. It was curious how so little was known about such important objects. Still, a lack of knowledge of their true nature can be just as disconcerting when someone of evil intent takes an interest in them. "And now Golbez has three of the four crystals: Water, Fire, and Wind."

"Only the Earth Crystal remains. After that, who knows what he'll do with them? Once we get an airship from Baron, we'll need to get to Troia as soon as possible, assuming we're not too late already."

Palom chuckled. "Well, you're not gonna be much help if you can't even hurt this Golbez guy."

"All the more reason to take this trial to become a paladin as quickly as possible. If there is a chance this power will help me rescue Rosa, I will take it."

We rested that night. The next morning we continued our hike until we got to the base of the mountain where a large wall of flame was blocking our path.

"What the heck?" I asked.

"That's odd," Porom said concerned. "There isn't normally a wall of fire here." She then turned to her brother. "Well, what are you waiting for?"

Palom sighed. "Yeah, yeah. Keep your cape on." He walked up to the fiery wall and pointed his rod at it. "Blizzard!" Then a gust of ice blew onto the barrier until the flames were doused. He then put his hands on his hips with a cocky smirk. "Ha! Too easy!"

Then his sister went up to him and whacked him in the head. "Palom! When will you take our elder's advice to not submit to arrogance!" She then turned to us. "Please forgive him for his antics."

We then started our trek up the mountain. Like at Mount Hobbs, I couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive because of the rockslide incident...both of them. I was seriously hope Xigbar wouldn't come around for another try at that. As we climbed, we encountered some monsters and fought them off.

I came to learn how the twins fought. As stated before, Palom is a black mage, and Porom is a white mage. What surprised me though was they were both capable of casting second level magic spells at their young age. That was pretty impressive. Palom is even able to increase the potency of his spells if he concentrated hard enough. And Porom was able to confuse common monster by letting out a loud wail with fake tears. I hadn't yet seen what they could pull off with Twincasting, but given the energy and concentration it required, it was something to save for intense situations.

Soon, we came across some unexpected company. An old man with a staff had his back turned to us, looking down a ravine. It took me a second to recognize who it was.

Cecil recognized him too, as he called out to him. "Tellah!"

The old wizard turned to us and looked surprised to see us. "Cecil? Sasuke? What brings you two here? Wait... you seek Meteor as well?"

"Meteor?" I had heard about that spell. It was one of the most powerful spells in existence, almost on par with Flare and Holy if I'm not mistaken.(2)

The twins jumped in surprise. "You know about Meteor!?" asked Porom.

"That means you're the Tellah!" said Palom. "Hey, old man, am I right?"

Porom glared at her brother. "Don't be rude! You stand before the great sage himself!" She then bowed to the Tellah. "It is an honor to meet you, Sage Tellah. We came here from Mysydia under orders of our elder."

Palom snickered. "Yeah, we're spying on..." He got whacked in the head by his sister real quick before he could finish. Yeah, don't think I didn't catch that. I couldn't help but narrow my eyes at the two while they weren't looking, but at the same time, I shouldn't be surprised. A dark knight who raided their home? Of course they'd spy on him and his cohort, make sure they're not up to anything.

Porom cleared her throat. "Excuse me. As I was saying, we're just serving as guides for Sir Cecil. My name is Porom."

Palom rubbed his head before giving a thumbs up. "And I'm Palom, Mysidia's most exalted mage! I heard a lot about you!"

Tellah had been looking at the kids as if studying them. "Kids from Mysidia, eh? I can sense you two certainly are strong in magic for your age."

Palom grinned smug. "See even the sage thinks I'm strong." He then laughed.

"Though the boy clearly could use a lesson on discipline." That comment made the boy face fault. Both Porom and I just couldn't help but snicker at that. The sage then turned to me and Cecil. "Cecil, Sasuke, where are Rydia and Edward?"

As you can expect that question made me look down in with anxiety. Cecil answered, "We were attacked by Leviathan on our way to Baron, and..."

"What? They aren't dead, are they!?"

"We don't know... And Golbez has captured Rosa...

Palom then turned to his sister with a smirk. "I'll betcha this Rosa person he keeps talking about is his girlfriend!"

Porom elbowed him. "Hush!"

"What are you doing here?" asked Cecil. "I thought you'd have headed straight for Baron to confront Golbez."

Tellah grumbled in frustration. "As much as I hate to admit it, against the likes of Golbez, my spells are still lacking in power. My memories of most of my spells are still not what they use to be. I've come here to seek the legendary spell, Meteor. I sense a strong aura on this mountain. I believe it holds what I am looking for."

Porom shook with concern. "But that spell is much too dangerous! It requires tremendous vitality. For a man your age..."

"I admit I am old. But I will make Golbez pay, even if it costs me my life!" Boy Tellah really is dead set on getting revenge for Anna. I really couldn't help but be concerned for him. I could tell Cecil was also concerned.

Palom then groaned. "Geez. Why are adults so pigheaded?" I rolled my eyes at that. Look who's calling who pigheaded.

Porom shot her brother a glare. "You don't understand because you're still a kid!" Burn! "Now hush!"

"I still don't get who this Golbez person is, or what's so great about him."

"Palom you seriously need to pay more attention. He's the one controlling Baron."

Tellah growled. "He is no mere man. He is the source of all the evil deeds that have plagued us! The destruction of Damcyan, the robbing of the crystals, the death of innocent lives, there is nothing that villain won't do! And from what I hear, he's a powerful warlock! Not to be taken lightly!"

"True that," I said. "Cecil and I, as well as several of our friends, experienced his power firsthand. We may have been exhausted, heck I was injured, but he wiped the floor with all of us with barely a few flicks of the wrist. Trust me, he's dangerous."

Palom just grumbled in response.

Tellah then looked to Cecil. "Cecil, you have yet to answer my question. Why did you come here?"

Cecil looked up the mountain. "I came here in hopes of becoming a paladin. I cannot defeat Golbez with darkness...and besides that..." He then looked down at his hands. "I have longed to renounce this hateful thing."

"A paladin you say? Then this mountain must hold some secret, just as I suspected. If you don't mind I wish to accompany you. Perhaps together we'll both find what we're looking for."

"We'd happy to have you with us," said Cecil.

"It'd be an honor to fight along side you," said Porom.

"Just try not to slow us down, old timer," Palom said, earning another glare from his sister.

"As long as you don't run out on us like you did in Damcyan," I said firmly. "Seriously, you had us worried sick."

"As long as you don't get in my way when I confront Golbez, I'll let you tag along," he answered. I couldn't help but sigh at his obsession, but that was probably as good an answered as we were gonna get for now.

With that, we continue our trek up the mountain, fighting more monsters along the way. We were nearing the peak when I could swear I was hearing an ominous hissing noise.

"Palom, stop that!" I heard Porom say.

"Stop what?" asked Palom.

Yeah, I was pretty sure this wasn't Palom playing a prank. My sixth sense was giving me the feeling we were being watched.

As the hissing continued Porom once again snapped. "I said, stop it!"

"It's not me!" Palom exclaimed.

"Quiet you two!" Tellah shouted. "I sense an evil presence lurking about."

We paused as we readied our weapon. We looked all around us for the source of that hissing. I, myself, was getting a bad feeling. We were then startled when the hissing then gave us words.

"I ssshall take great pleasssure in killing you all."

"Who's there!?" Cecil shouted. "Show yourself!"

Suddenly, a crack appeared on the ground in front of us, and then something came bursted out from underground. It was a figure hunched over shrouded in a dark brown cloak, claws were visible from its sleeves, and a pair of eyes were glowing from its hood. I couldn't see its mouth, but I had a feeling it was grinning at us.

"Ssso, you thought you could climb up here to become a paladin?" The hissing figure chuckled. "Sssorry to sssay, but you will die before you get the chanccce. I am the oarsssman who will ferry you beyond the veil! The Blighted Dessspot! Ssscarmiglione! Archfiend of Earth! And firssst of Massster Golbezzz'sss cccircle of four!"

"Archfiend?" I couldn't help but ask.

Tellah grunted. "I've heard of their lot. The Elemental Archfiends, four demons with terrible power."

"That'sss right!" said Scarmiglione. "And I ssshall make thisss placcce your grave. But firssst..." Soon, four blood red zombie-like monsters emerged from the ground. "My undead minionsss hunger...for your flesssh!"

Cecil then charged dark energy into his sword. "Dark Flame!" He stabbed his sword into the ground and a pillar of black flame engulfed the zombies. However, the creatures just slowly approached us, not even fazed by the attack.

The Archfiend laughed. "Niccce try, dark knight! But your darknessss won't even tickle my Ssskulnantsss!"

"Cecil!" shouted Tellah. "We'll handle the Skulnants, you focus on the archfiend."

Cecil nodded as he started to run passed the zombies.

"Feassst on hisss sssoul!" Scamiglione commanded. Then the Skulnants leapt onto the dark knight, piling on top of his. I could then sense them draining his energy.

"Cecil!" I shouted.

"Don't worry!" Palom smirked as he pointed his rod as it ignited. "I'll burn those guys to a crisp!"

Then Tellah waved his hand. "Hold on! You might burn Cecil too. I have a better idea. Porom?"

"I know just what you're thinking!" replied Porom.

Both then pointed their staves and shouted, "Cura!" and a green light enveloped the Skulnants. You see, healing magic has an adverse effect on the undead. It actually hurts them rather than heals them. The only way the undead can heal is by draining the life force of others. So when those zombies got hit with that Cura spell, they were writhing in pain and ceased their life draining.

The spell had also healed Cecil, who was able to gather enough strength to force the monsters off him before he charged at the cloaked archfiend, only to find himself dodging lightning and stalagmites jutting out of the ground.

I turned my attention to the Skulnants as I pulled out my red fang and jabbed it onto Moon Cutter, imbuing it with fire magic. "Flametongue!" I then slashed at one that was coming at me. The cut ignited the zombies flesh, causing it to stagger back in pain. However, it then release an ominous force around itself that seemed to put out the flames, though the burn damage was still there.

I swiped at it again before glance around me. Cecil was struggling to land a hit on Scarmiglione while Palom and Tellah were pelting the others with fire spells. They also seemed able to douse their fire. "These things are tougher than they look," I said.

"Where gonna need hotter flames if we wanna take them down quickly," said Tellah.

"Hotter flames huh?" Palom smirked. "I think I know just what we need! Sis! You ready for a twincast?!"

Porom smiled back. "Ready when you are, Bro!"

The twins then started concentrating. I could sense them synchronizing their magically energies together. I had to give them credit: Despite their differences, those two sure knew how to work as one. They then grabbed each other's hand and pointed their rod and staff at the zombie horde. "Pyroblast!" And a multitude of fiery explosions cover the Skulnants in flames.(3) They writhed in pain and the Pyroblast cremated them into ash.

"Soul Eater!" I heard Cecil shout. I turn to him to see the dark knight plunging his dark covered sword into Scarmiglione's chest, then blasted him in his hooded face.

"Urrrrgghh... My Flesssh!" The archfiend hissed in pain as I noticed his claws seemed to turn to stone. Then his whole body then crumbled into dust, leaving nothing but his now empty cloak.

I should've been relieved that our enemy was vanquished, but something was gnawing at me. I shouldered my sword before saying. "Is it just me, or did that seem a little too easy?"

"Indeed," replied Tellah. "I would have expected more from one of the Archfiends."

Palom approached the empty cloak. "Ha! Some Archfiend!" He then started stomping the cloak. "If this is all these jokers got, what do we have to worry about?"

I really didn't like this one bit. My sixth sense was still giving me a bad feeling. Soon the sound of the archfiend's hissing reached my ears again, and it took me a second to realize it wasn't in my head. Then suddenly, giant hand bursted from the ground and grabbed Palom, who screamed in fright.

"PALOM!" shouted Porom.

"Foolsss!" Scarmiglione's voice called. "That wasss impressssive, but my true ssstrength liesss in death!" Then the more of the large creature came out of the ground, revealing to be a hulking zombie with dirt-brown decayed skin, a couple large tusk-like protrusions jutting out of his torso, and sickly green hair on top of a face that has soul piercing eyes and almost half his face had his actual skull exposed. "And now you ssshall join me in it! Behold my true form! Thossse who sssee thisss faccce mussst die! I'll sssmite your ruin upon thisss mountainssside." He then holds the terrified Palom near his face. "Perhapsss I'll ssstart by feasssting on thisss brat!"

"No!" Brat or not, there was no way I was letting an innocent child get eaten by a monster! I launched a Sonic Wave at the monster's face. He barely flinched as I used my Red Fang to reapply Flametongue onto Moon Cutter and charged at the archfiend.

As I ran, I noticed pellets of ice pelting the beast, probably Tellah covering me. Scarmiglione raise his free arm brought it down on me, but I was able to leap out of the way, landing on one of his tusks and stabbing my fiery sword into the arm gripping Palom. The reaction was immediate as his decayed arm caught on fire and he dropped the boy onto the ground. I immediately jumped to Palom's side, picked him up with my free arm, and ran him back over to the others.

Cecil started attacking the archfiend with his sword, with Tellah backing him up with fire magic, as I set the boy down next to his sister. "Palom! Are you okay!?" Porom asked.

"I-I'm f-f-fine!" Palom answered, still trembling. I could tell being at the mercy of such a monstrosity really frighten him.

"Get it together, kid!" I told him. "We need all the help can get against this thing!"

I then charged at the archfiend. However before I could get close, Scarmiglione slammed his fist on the ground, shaking the earth so hard we all fell to our knees. He then seemed to magically gather dirt around him, putting out the flames all over his body. "Cursssed Elegy!" He called before letting out an ear-piercing screech. I tried getting on my feet and running to him, but the ringing in my ears was slowing me down.

Before I knew it, the archfiend swiped at me with his claws, knocking me away. I tried getting up again, but suddenly my whole body was writhing in pain. What the heck is going on? I thought. What happening to me?

"Esuna!" Tellah called. I light surrounded me and suddenly the pain completely disappeared. "You're lucky that was a magic-based poison he hit you with." Poison? Is that what that was? "Be careful everyone! His claws are imbued with poison magic!"

Scarmiglione chuckled. "If you think that'sss bad, then breathe thisss, and walk asss the living dead." He then took a deep breath! "Breath of Pessstilenccce!" And then he exhale a sickly gas on us.

We coughed up a storm before I felt that same poison pain all over my body again. But that wasn't all, I suddenly felt my body stiffen and I found myself hardly able to move. Paralysis? I was able to turn my head at least to look at the others. Cecil just seemed to be poisoned. Tellah looked poisoned, but he seemed to be trying to cast spell but his voice wouldn't work. Silence? Porom seemed to be on the same boat as Tellah, while Palom seemed to be poisoned, paralyzed, and silenced. Blast! He's managed make most of us unable to fight back.

The archfiend cackled. "Now you ssshall all wallow in dessspair!"

"Not yet!" Cecil shouted as he charged at the enemy.

The hulking zombie swatted the dark knight away. "Oh come now, dark knight! You know that darknessss isss ussselessss againssst the undead! You all will sssuffer from my poissson! Your fatesss are sssealed!" He then began to approach us. "Now allow me to put you out of you misssery by consssuming your sssoulsss!"

I tried desperately to move, but it was no use. Cecil continued to fight back, but was doing very little to the archfiend, and the poison was getting to him. It wasn't looking good until...

"Cura!" Porom's voice shouted as a green light enveloped Scarmiglione, it was his turn to writhe in pain. Then I heard the girl shout, "Esunaga!" and a yellow light enveloped the rest of us.

The poison was gone and I could move again. Everyone else appeared to have been cured too. I looked back at Porom, wondering how she was casting spells when last I checked she was silenced. I got my answer when I saw the vial of a powdered subtance in her hand. She must have taken some kind of remedy, an echo herb for her silence I believe.

The girl collapsed on her knees again. "Sis!" Palom shouted with concern. "Are you alright?"

Porom panted. "Esunaga took more out of me than I thought," she said.

"You little brat!" Scarmiglione shouted. "You'll pay for thisss!"

"No you don't!" I shouted at I charged at him. He raise his fist in the air and brought it down like a hammer toward me. I blocked it with Moon Cutter, which proceeded to absorb the attack. Once it glow red, I then push back a little before leaping up, letting the fist hit the ground and then swing at his wrist. "Counter Cutter!" And I completely sever his wrist from his elbow.

Scarmiglione wailed in pain before swatting me away with his remaining arm. "THAT'SSS IT! I WILL BURY YOU!" He then raised his fist in the air. "GAIA'SSS GRAVE!" He punched a hole in the ground, and stalagmites started jutting from the earth all over the place.(4)

The earth spikes came from under us fast. I was lucky my instincts kicked in or else I'd have been impaled, but I still got scratched a few times. I noticed Cecil got his dark armor severely damaged. And Tellah put up a barrier to protect himself.

"AAUUGGHH!" I heard Porom scream. I looked back and saw that an earth spike had put a major gash on the little girl's side.

"POROM!" Palom shouted before looking back at the archfiend with anger. "You rotting freak show! Take this! Fira!" The boy pointed his rod and blasted him with a potent fire spell which set his body on fire again, which he started use the dirt to put out the flames.

However, I wasn't gonna let him recover again. I reapplied the Red Fang's fire onto Moon Cutter one more time as I heard Tellah casting a Cura spell, most likely on Porom. I also saw Cecil throw a couple vials of potions at the monster, which was like acid to the giant zombie. I then rushed over to the enemy, used one of the stalagmites to propel myself over, and impaled my flaming sword into his skull. I removed my sword and leapt back as the flames started consuming him from the inside out.

Not willing to give him an inch, I then pointed the Red Fang at him and just at I released its raw power I heard Tellah shout, "Firaga!" And the fire intensified, and Scarmiglione could do nothing but writhed in pain. He was practically a walking bonfire now.

"No... I will not be defeated by the likesss of you!" The archfiend began staggering towards a nearby cliff.

"Comet!" I heard the twins shout as several star-shaped projectiles pummeled the burning zombie until he fell over the edge.

"Ugh... Gahhh!" Scarmiglione cried out as he plummeted to his doom. Cecil and I hurried over to the edge and looked down into the abyss below. I really hoped that we'd never see that archfiend again, and that his resurrection did not work when his true form is defeated.

I suddenly heard Tellah shout, "Watch out!" and heard a fire blast. Both Cecil and I turned around swords at the ready, only to find a burning arm in front of a frightened Palom. I looked at Tellah who just wipe the sweat off his forehead in relief.

"What happened?" asked Cecil.

"That arm that Sasuke severed from Scarmiglione suddenly moved on its own and tried to attack Palom," the sage answered. I looked at the severed arm as it soon burned into ash.

I sighed before looking at the Red Fang in my hand, which had dulled in color and was letting out some steam. I could tell that this fang's power had drained significantly. Yang wasn't kidding when he said it could only be used so many times before needing time to recharge. I pocketed the fang before turning to everyone. "Is everybody all right?"

"A little winded, but still alive," answered Tellah.

"That... was... exhausting..." Porom said between breaths.

Cecil look down at his damaged armor with a sigh. "It's a good thing I'm planning on discarding this darkened armor. Wish I was able to do more in that fight."

"At least you were able to hold your ground while the rest of us regained our bearings," Tellah assured him.

I then look over at Palom and found him still trembling from almost becoming zombie food. I sighed before approaching the boy. He may be a arrogant brat but he was still a child so I knew I had to console him somehow. I decided to start off with a little light jab. "Well Palom, you see what can happen when you get cocky and let your guard down?"

"Sh-shut up!" he snapped fearfully. I could tell he knew he screwed up, and that the experience would probably traumatize a kid his age.

I then knelt down before putting my hand on his shoulder. "Hey, don't let this get to you, kid. Everyone makes mistakes once in a while, even prodigies like us. It's all part of growing up. The important thing is that we learn from our mistakes and that we strive not to repeat them. I know what happened back there probably scared you to death. It's normal to be afraid. But you can't let fear stop you from fighting back. And hey, you managed to pull through in the end, both you and you sister." I chuckled as I looking towards Porom. "You two really surprised me today. Those other mages weren't kidding about your magic prowess for your age." I looked back at the boy as I patted him on the head. "Keep up the good work and you'll definitely go far."

Palom stared at me for a moment. Then he shook his head before putting on his cocky smirk. "Of course I will! I'm Mysidia's greatest black mage after all! No giant zombie beast is a match for me!"

I rolled my eyes a smirk of my own. Yeah sure, pretend you only care about my praise, I thought. I know you appreciate my consoling.

"Ugh, Palom," Porom groaned at her brother's antics.

"We should get moving," said Tellah. "The peak is just ahead."

We all nodded as we finished our climb. We saw a stone structure lying across a bridge. Looking at it, I couldn't help but wonder if that was a shrine, or a gravesite. Either way, my sixth sense was telling me that it had to be what we were looking for. So we crossed the bridge to investigate this structure.


A/N: And that was my take on the fight against the first archfiend, Scarmiglione. I hope you enjoyed. Next up, it's Cecil's trial to become a paladin. And boy to I have a plan on how to shake that one up.

Footnotes:

(1) Figured I'd address this given what is learned in The After Years about their true purpose.

(2) In some Final Fantasy games Flare and Holy are paired up as legendary spells. My friend Kristen Verne has even brought to my attention how dangerous the higher levels of Flare are to cast, especially alone, citing how powerful Donald Duck has to be for casting Zettaflare all by himself(though he did collapse afterwards). Interesting fact: Flare and Holy are the only two spells in FF4 that Tellah never learns. Kinda says something considering Porom is worried about what Meteor could do to a caster of Tellah's health.

(3) Interesting fact: In the 2D versions of FF4 Pyroblast is a non-elemental attack, while in the 3D version it's a fire element. I guess in 3D one they decided to give it some kind of difference to the other twincast spell, Comet. In the 2D versions they do the same damage with the only difference being I'm pretty sure Comet can bypass the Reflect spell.

(4) Funny how despite being the Archfiend of Earth, Scarmiglione never once uses an earth-based attack in game. I mean, I get what they're going for, death and zombies being associated with underground, and being a zombie it makes sense why his main battle gimmick is poison, but still, I thought he should have at least one earth attack.