Another chapter is ready to go. It's more of an intermission chapter, but I'll try to make it interesting.
This one won't have as much action as the last chapter. There's a small Firion/Maria moment though, and a Roxas/Xion scene. There might still be some OOCness, Final Fantasy II's characters had little personality.
Chapter 20: The Kingdom of Fynn
In Firion's home world, The Warrior of Light and Tifa headed on towards the Castle Town of Fynn.
" Does Firion live here?" said Tifa.
The Warrior of Light replied" I heard about his dream, something about a 'world filled with wild roses'. Firion was doubtless embarrassed about it."
" He said all that? Well, I'd be embarrassed about it, too." said Tifa.
As Tifa and the Warrior of Light entered Fynn, the Warrior spoke" We'd best get information at the bar."
In the bar, Tifa addressed the barman" Hi."
" Ah, good afternoon you two. May I intrest you in a drink?" inquired the barman.
The Warrior of Light spoke" I'm afraid I'll have to decline. Tifa and I are actually here for information."
" We're looking for Firion, you know about him?" inquired Tifa.
The Bartender replied" You aquaintences? He helped support the World Restoration effort in the areas surrounding Fynn. Firion is the hero of the revolution against the Palamecian Empire, though these days he and another hero, Maria, I think she's called, are working for the queen."
" I see, thank you for the information. Oh, and I think I'll buy a drink, nothing too strong though" said Tifa.
" Sure you're old enough?" spoke the Bartender.
The Warrior of Light sighed and put down some gil" I'll buy it, thank you for your service."
The pair left the bar and headed for the castle, Tifa carefully covering the drink and putting it into her inventory bag.
" You seem to know your way around a bar" said Quinn.
" Actually, I am a Bartender myself at my home world. My shop is called the Seventh Haven" shrugged the martial artist.
At the castle garden of Fynn, a youth with silver hair and a turban tended to some plants, while a violet haired girl helped out.
" Sure feels good to take odd jobs for Queen Hilda sometimes, huh, Firion?" sighed the young archer.
" You can say that again. It's been a week since we started a garden near the castle at her and Gordon's request, since it'll take a while longer before we can rebuild our house." smiled Firion.
Maria grinned coyly as she helped water a nearby plant" On account of a dream you supposedly had, huh?"
" Actually... It's kind of hard for me to explain. But it helps to brighten things. How's your brother?" said Firion.
Maria shrugged" Same as always, but Leon has been busy at Palamecia as it's govorner."
Just then, a Fynn soldier approached" Sir Firion, Lady Maria, Queen Hilda requested that I accompany you to the throne room."
" Okay" said Maria.
Firion stood up and dusted his hands" Let's go."
In the throne room of Castle Fynn, The Warrior of Light and Tifa had requested and were granted an audience with the Queen of Fynn.
Firion and Maria entered the room with the soldier, the Queen of Fynn spoke" Ensign you may leave us now."
The soldier bowed and left the throne room.
Firion addressed the queen" Your majesty, did you summon us?"
The queen, Hilda, nodded" Yes, they came to see you, and you happened to be finishing your task for the day."
Tifa addressed the young weapon master" Firion, right? You probably don't remember who I am, I'm Tifa."
Firion thought for a moment, then replied" I can't claim to remember everything that transpired in the past."
The Warrior of Light spoke" I have information, but also some grim news. The Thirteen-Cycle war, which was ended in the past, is on the verge of starting anew. Cosmos is alive, and I fear that Chaos will soon reawaken."
" Chaos? As in that monster that Firion told me about?" squeaked Maria.
" Chaos is not just a monster, he's the Deity of Discord. All I can remember of the events in Cosmos's realm is the crystal I got, and when I was sent back here" said Firion.
Tifa inquired" Anything else you remember?"
" Sorry, but I can say this. I've been carrying the crystal that I received since, as a little good luck charm" said Firion.
" A crystal you say? May I see it?" spoke Queen Hilda.
Firion reached into his pocket and showed it to her.
The queen was astonished" I must confess, I never saw anything like it."
The Warrior of Light spoke" There's more, the mastermind behind it is apparently someone named Mateus."
" The Palamecian Emperor has resurrected again? How is that?" frowned Hilda.
Firion replied" I can't say. But he and I were both in that other world, and I had to defeat him to obtain my crystal. Aside from my friends, the one thing that kept me strong aside from my allies was my dream."
" A world full of Wild Roses, right?" smirked Tifa.
Hilda chuckled" Ha, glad to hear you remembered our password there, Firion. On a more serious note, you must now go ensure that peace forever reigns in the world order, is that right?"
Firion sighed" I haven't finished working in the garden that you requested that we put in the courtyard."
" I can do it, Firion. Just make sure you come back alive, okay?" smiled Maria.
Firion hesitated, then said" I'll lend my service to Cosmos once more, then. Maria, tell Leon, Guy and Leila that I said hello, okay?"
Maria nodded.
Hilda spoke" It is getting close to evening, would you and your companions stay for dinner tonight? I'm sure Gordon and Leon will like that, and I must repay you once more for your service, Firion."
" I would be honored" nodded the Warrior of Light.
Firion, Maria and Tifa accepted, and they remained in Fynn for the night.
At Twilight Town, Roxas and Xion went to the top of the Clock Tower after finishing another reconnaissance mission.
" Feeling better yet, Xion?" inquired the blonde noboby.
" I'm still getting back into shape, but it's all well and good. I still don't remember everything that happened years go" said Xion.
Roxas was silent for a moment, then said" Once this war is over, you wonder what we should do?"
Xion shrugged" Nobodies exist only for the purpose they were created, for the most part. By the way, I took a break here and there to collect seashells, the beaches on some of the worlds were so pretty."
" Heh, forgot that you even collected seashells periodically, I just wind up looking for stuff to do on my freetimes. Organization XIII was nowhere as good, though it wasn't till a year later that I realized how evil they were" said Roxas.
" So you noticed. Well, we should probably head back" said Xion.
Roxas nodded" Okay."
At Fynn, The Warrior of Light and his companions spent the night at the inn at Fynn's Castle Town after a relaxing evening with Hilda, Gordon and Leon.
The former Dark Knight addressed Firion" So you're leaving for another mission."
Firion nodded" Yeah, I have to stop Mateus."
" Evil just never seems to stay dead. Just one thing, don't make Maria cry" said Leon.
In the morning, Firion, Tifa and the Warrior of Light made ready to leave for Cosmos's sanctuary.
" Firion, this isn't easy for me to say, but I wish you luck. I regret that you have to go through so much, come back alive." said Hilda.
Firion smiled" I'm used to it by now. And I will return."
The violet haired archer, Maria, addressed her old childhood friend" Firion, please be careful."
Firion hugged her" I'll be fine."
" Whenever you're ready, Firion, we'll leave" spoke the Warrior of Light.
The three Cosmos warriors took their leave.
Maria addressed Hilda" Are there anymore requests that I should take on after I finish the garden?"
Hilda replied" There is very little left to do this week. You will recieve your payment this afternoon."
" Thank you, your highness" said the violet haired girl.
This was a pretty short, but sweet chapter, huh? I hope I wasn't too OOC with the characters this time, Firion and most of the other FF II cast seem to be all business, though I haven't played FF II in a while.
The next chapter will resume the action, because like I said this one is more of an intermission.
Please feel free to review.