I don't own FFIV. I'm sure you guessed that already. As always, I welcome all feedback, including suggestions for improvement. Especially pointing out mechanical errors or plotholes.

This chapter was originally much longer, but I had to break it into two because it seemed strange if I didn't. So . . . the next part will come as soon as I can manage.


How to Save the Environment in Two Easy Steps

Step One – kill a lot of monsters.

Step Two – make the Lunarians go away.

by Maelstra


Chapter Twelve – Ruminations

Cecil had called together all the volunteers who were going to the moon into the courtyard outside the castle. Golbez did his best to ignore everyone else present. This was difficult, as all the humans seemed to be steadfastedly looking at him. Except Cecil, that is, because he was deliberately ignoring Golbez for the moment. Golbez was still not quite sure how to read his brother's present mood. Cecil had made no comment when he had gone about gathering people for a general meeting and thereby discovered Golbez and Kain downstairs, eating apples in the Dragoons' break room. Golbez just hoped Cecil was not terribly upset that his orders had been so flippantly disobeyed.

Yet, regardless of how Cecil might or might not feel, FuSoYa was definitely in a bad mood. He was silently fuming, not speaking to Golbez, but often looking darkly at him. This, however, was Golbez's own fault. Evidently FuSoYa had hoped to use the Giant Whale to ferry people up to the moon, but his attempts to raise it had failed. He had come to Golbez, to ask if he knew any reason the ship might no longer function, and Golbez had responded snippily that if Zemus was as clever as the Lunarians kept saying he was, then he probably would have found a way to sabotage the ship in hopes of keeping Cecil and friends from using it. Somehow, this had offended FuSoYa personally, and the old man had not said a word to Golbez since.

Crazy Lunarians. Always getting mad when I insult their lovely, world-shattering technologies. Golbez stretched out his arms and yawned loudly.

Kain came over. "Everything alright?" His voice was suspicious.

"Sure." Golbez was very tired of all this constant scrutiny, everyone reading sinister motives into his every move. His few hours of anonymity the first days he had returned here had been bliss. It had been enough to make him wonder if his choice to spend the rest of his life with the Lunarians had been the right one. But now, the eternal serenity of the moon was starting to look good in comparison.

Kain glanced at someone over his shoulder. (What did you say to get Cid all riled up?)

That Kain would initiate a telepathic conversation now surprised Golbez. He tried to keep his face blank, to keep other bystanders from catching on that he was talking with the dragoon. (Nothing! He just wanted to remind me that he knows how to make seventeen kinds of bombs, and that he can swing his hammer hard enough to break any one of my bones!)

Kain laughed telepathically, and a slight smirk crossed his face. (Typical Cid.)

(I'm so glad you find this amusing,) Golbez replied asparticly, turning his back to the dragoon. Cecil was talking to each of the other monarchs, finalizing plans. Golbez tried to catch some of what they were discussing so solemnly. But then Captain Ferrell came up beside the king and glared at Golbez so poisonously that Golbez quickly turned around again.

Kain observed this, and cheerfully commented, (You know, Cecil talked to Jared personally. He threatened to lock him up, I think, unless he promised to leave you alone.)

(How nice of Cecil,) Golbez replied, still sarcastically. (But I can't blame Jared for hating me. Not after his brother and so many others died pointlessly under Zemus's commands.)

(Orvin's death wasn't personally your fault, was it?)

(Do you really think Jared cares? I wouldn't, if I were in his place.)

Kain was telepathically silent for a moment. In the meantime, Golbez focused his gaze upward, searching the sky for any sign of the approaching, Lunarian moon.

Kain interrupted Golbez's thoughts yet again. (Rosa doesn't seem to hate you. )

With a start, Golbez turned to look at Cecil, and sure enough, saw Rosa standing there beside his brother. She was talking to Yang, but after a moment she glanced Golbez's way and noticed him watching her. Then she gave him a smile – a fairly hesitant one – but a real smile, nonetheless.

Golbez just stared back at her, bewildered. At last, he thought to Kain, (I can't understand why.)

"Hmh," Kain grunted. He nudged Golbez's shoulder to get his attention, then pointed up at the sky. "So, is the Lunarian's moon that pink thing?"

Golbez scanned the sky for said object. It took him a minute to find the pale circle. "Yes . . . that looks right." He decided to take Kain's vocal comment as a signal that the telepathic conversation was officially over.

"So, I guess we all get to crowd onto the Lunarians' little ship now," Kain said drily. "Fun, fun."

Golbez grunted. "You have no idea. The internal area of that ship is only half the size of Baron's dungeon. With all the people Cecil intends to bring . . ."

"Standing room only, huh?" Kain made a face. "Well then I really hope this'll be a short flight . . ."

FuSoYa hurried over to speak to Cecil, who then nodded and waved an arm in the air to try to take charge, and to begin explaining the first steps of the Lunarians' plan.