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Final Fantasy VI: The Sands of Time

Book 1: The Beginning

Chapter 3 - For the Lovers

Part 3.7 - The West Rises

With the fires of hope and vengeance burning in their chests, the three warriors set off for the entrance to the dungeon. None of them knew exactly how they would be able to accomplish this seemingly impossible task in their condition, but they believed in each other, and that was enough to try. Before the three entered the foyer at the base of the stairs that led upwards, Biggs stopped and motioned to the others to follow him down another path.

"I used to work as a guard for the dungeons here, and I know the layout pretty well. There is a path here that leads to a storage room. Our weapons are probably being kept there." Biggs glanced over at Draco with a look of concern. "I'm sorry sir, but I doubt your weapon will also be down here. Your blade is a treasure beyond worth, and I'm sure Ralse is keeping it someplace very safe."

Draco didn't seem to be bothered by this news, and simply smiled knowingly.

"The weapon does not make the man, Biggs. I am sure I will find something I can use here. Please, lead the way."

Biggs quickly led them down a short path and into a room lined with rusty suits of antique armor and various arrays of weapons of all shapes and sizes. Wedge managed to find the sword he had used earlier, and Biggs also managed to find a sword, as well as ammo and a gun, his weapon of choice. Draco carefully inspected the various weapons piled against the walls, and after some consideration plucked a long spear from the wall. He hefted it above his head and twirled it like a baton, skillfully bringing it down in front of him and then to his side as he spun it.

"This will do."

Now that the three were armed, they headed back towards the foyer and carefully made their way up into the castle. Sure enough, the castle hallways were almost deserted, with only a few guards scattered about. There were still too many Eastern guards to successfully sneak to the entrance to the garden a few corridors down, though. Draco knew just one confrontation and his part of the coup would be shot. He must find a way to get to the garden without being seen.

Luckily, a Western guard was waiting near the exit and spotted them coming up from below. With a subtle nod of acknowledgment in Draco's direction he casually walked over to the closest Eastern guards and started talking to them, distracting them from Draco's presence. Motioning to Biggs and Wedge, he slunk along the walls towards the garden hallway, always keeping in the shadows. Biggs and Wedge did well in keeping up with their leaders unmatched stealth, and all of them remained undetected by the few Eastern guards still on the prowl.

After a few tense moments the three had made it to the garden's entrance, and were greeted with the cool night breeze and pale moonlight filtering through the high rows of hedges. As they entered the garden, a shooting star appeared above them, as if welcoming them to this Eden. The garden was a beautiful sight at any time of the year, and tonight was no exception. Even in the darkness it gave off a majestic aura, a monument to the ceaseless efforts of the Western artisans. From where Draco and his men stood they could just make out the grand stone fountain in the center, surrounded by circular walls of lush green hedges. The fountain was in the shape of a large sea serpent coiled around itself, similar in design to the dragon above the doorway to the main hall. From its mouth a steady trickle of clear water arched outwards and down into the basin below. Draco, Biggs, and Wedge took this opportunity to get a much-needed drink before their assault on the ballroom. There were no guards out in the garden, and for the time being the men could let down their guard while they prepared for the coming fight. They sat on the rim of the fountain's basin for a moment, collecting their thoughts. Wedge was the first one to break the tense silence.

"Hey, Biggs. Remember that promise we made about seeing one more sunrise together?"

"Yeah, I remember. I still intend to keep that promise. Sunrises from behind prison doors don't count."

"Do you still think we can do it? I mean, we got lucky last time, but this time it really seems like we're going to our deaths. I...I'm a little scared."

"Don't think like that. We will make it through tonight alive, you just have to believe in yourself and the General. Isn't that right, sir?"

Draco hadn't been paying attention to their conversation, though. He was staring off into the sky, admiring the stars and twin moons. His thoughts were only on one thing at the moment - his love, Maria. As he watched the sky, a second shooting star raced across his view. As he followed its path, his eyes wandered onto a balcony on the other side of the castle. Draco shot up from his seat and looked hard in the direction of the balcony, his eyes seeing something he had seen only in his dreams for so long. It was Maria!

"Maria!"

Without thinking Draco let out the cry, then he stood silently, taking in the heavenly sight before him. Biggs jumped up at his sudden outburst, looking in the direction Draco was, a mixture of confusion and fear in his voice.

"Sir? What's wrong? Are you alright? You look like you've seen a ghost!"

Draco remained motionless, still looking at Maria's form before him, her back now to him as she looked out over the forest on the other side of the castle walls.

"No, Biggs, it is no ghost, but an angel. Look. Over there. There is your sunrise." Draco pointed towards his love, and now both Biggs and Wedge saw what he saw.

Both men could see what Draco was talking about as they took in Maria's beauty. Her flowing golden hair cast a bright glow around her, and the moonlight danced off of her in such a way that she really did seem as bright and welcoming as a new day's sun. As the three of them gazed at her, they were filled with the hope the Star of the West instilled in everyone she met. Unbeknownst to them, Maria too was suddenly filled with a new surge of hope as her heart heard the cry of her lost love, so close and yet so far away still.

As they stood there motionless, Maria's image vanished into the castle, and the brief moment of serenity passed. Draco, Biggs, and Wedge looked at each other as if waking from a dream, and knew it was time to go.

"Maria, I am coming. Just hold on a bit longer. I can feel your unease, but we will be together soon now." Draco painfully turned away from the balcony and looked at Biggs and Wedge gravely. "Let's get going, men. The secret path should be along the eastern wall, behind a specific hedge. Follow me."

Draco cautiously led them away from the fountain and towards a long wall lined with unkempt hedges. Draco brushed his hand along the hedges as he walked, searching for the location of the passage. His hand stopped at a section of hedge that looked identical to the rest of the garden, but Draco's touch knew better. He reached further in and pulled at an object hidden in the tangled overgrowth. With a slight creaking sound, a metal door could be heard swinging open behind the hedge. Now Draco turned to Biggs and motioned for his sword. With a few deft swings, a hole large enough to squeeze through had been made in the hedge, and the three of them vanished from the garden.

After a few minutes of blindly feeling through dark unlit passageways, the sound of music could be heard coming from around the corner. The three men were nearing the ballroom, and in a moment would make their move on Ralse and his subordinates. Draco stopped short of the exit and carefully peered around the corner. His view was partially obscured by curtains, but he could make out a wide open floor with many couples dancing, Prince Ralse and Maria among them. Draco could feel the urge to fight grip him, and checked himself. It was infuriating to see his love in the arms of that man, but he knew she must be hating it as much as he was. Losing control was the last thing he could let happen at a critical moment like this. He just needed to wait until Ralse came close enough and he could use his spear to trip him and then pounce on his unsuspecting prey.

Meanwhile, Maria and Ralse circled on the dance floor, with Ralse doing much of the leading. Maria's heart was obviously not into the event, and she looked despondently around the room as Ralse forcefully led her about. This was nothing like the precious memories of Draco she had just relived on the balcony. Ralse was a harsh man with little patience for her apathetic steps. As they danced Ralse whispered into her ear a reminder of her position.

"Maria, it would do you some good to try and be more courteous in front of our guests. You will be my wife tonight, and in time you may learn to enjoy your new position of fame and power. I suggest, for the sake of your country, that you at least pretend to be enjoying yourself."

Maria now looked back at Ralse and stared straight into his cold grey eyes, the loathing apparent for anyone nearby to sense.

"I'll never truly be yours, Chad. You can force me to marry you, and you can threaten my kingdom, but this prize will forever elude you. My heart belongs to Draco, nothing will change that, not even his death. Your position and power mean nothing to me."

Ralse's temper was rising now, but he kept dancing, pulling Maria with him as he spoke.

"So be it, then. Don't forget that I hold not just your life, but the life of your child and your country in the palm of my hand. Soon the wedding will start and what you think will not matter anymore. You are mine, Maria. Accept it!"

Ralse gave one more tug and turned her about as they circled closer and closer to where Draco was lying in wait. Soon he would strike. Draco looked back at Biggs and Wedge anxiously trying to see what was going on behind the curtains. One more turn and Ralse was now only a few feet away from the curtains. Draco motioned to Biggs and Wedge to ready themselves as he carefully extended his spear along the floor, right behind Ralse's feet. One more step and Draco would lift the spear and send Ralse tumbling to the floor. Now!

With a sharp thrust, Draco's spear rose up from the floor and caught Ralse in midstep, causing him to fall onto his back as Maria looked on in shock. Before Ralse could recover himself, Draco leapt out from behind the curtains and pointed the tip of his spear directly at Ralse's throat. Biggs and Wedge leapt out behind him and shielded him from the surrounding masses of stunned soldiers, the glint of blades already appearing at the sides of many of them. The two men let up a cry as Biggs fired a warning shot into the air.

"The Survivors of the West attack! Surrender and we will spare your lives!"

Draco glanced over at Maria, the hatred in his face softening for a moment as he took in her radiance. No words came to him as the two of them stood there.

"Maria...I..."

Maria smiled, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Draco, I've waited so long. They said you were dead, but I knew you'd come for me."

Ralse was still on the floor, his face twisted in surprise and hatred as he looked on at the two lovers enviously.

"Impossible! How did you escape? What are all of you doing, attack these scoundrels!"

Many of the soldiers were still in the middle of dancing with their partners when Draco struck, and none of them were prepared for an engagement here. The soldiers stood motionless as Biggs leveled his weapon at the crowd, slowly panning back and forth to give each one of them a clear view of the barrel of his gun. Daschel was the first to step forward, his long, slender rapier drawn.

"What do you fools hope to accomplish here? You're completely surrounded by the finest soldiers of the East! Surrender now and your deaths will be quick."

Biggs pointed his gun directly at Daschel, his thumb slowly pulling back the hammer in preparation to fire. Daschel could see the murder in Biggs's eyes, and knew if he took one more step he would be a dead man. He looked nervously at Ralse for a sign of what to do, but Ralse's eyes were on the tip of Draco's spear with the same fear on his face as the rest of the Eastern soldiers in the room.

Now Draco spoke up, setting the trap that would ensnare the covetous Ralse.

"Come Ralse, let us settle this here and now. Or would you rather have your lackeys claim the honor of dispatching me? Are you so afraid of me that you would send your entire army before yourself for one weary soldier? Stand up and fight me like a man!"

Draco slowly pulled his spear back from Ralse's throat, but not so far that he couldn't deliver a fatal blow if Ralse made any sudden moves. Ralse slowly stood up, his eyes never leaving Draco's. He knew that Draco was simply baiting him but it didn't matter. Ralse would never live down the shame of declining his rival's challenge, and his intense jealousy forced him into a fight he knew would breed nothing but problems for him. Ralse steadied himself and called for a sword, as Draco relaxed his spear a few more inches.

"Fine! I will get rid of you and the rest of your riff raff right here. Nothing will stand in my way after that. Maria will finally have to become my queen! Your corpse at her feet will make her realize that more than my words could!"

Draco just laughed as he hoisted his spear and aimed it at Ralse, the clash only seconds away. With one last look at Maria, he nodded at Ralse, his signal that he was ready.

"Maria, for the rest of my life I will keep you near to me. Never again will we be apart, and never again shall this man come between us."

Ralse had heard enough, and maliciously pointed his sword directly at Draco like a general commanding his troops to open fire.

"It is a duel, then! En garde!"

Ralse made the first move, and plunged forward at Draco, his sword lined up with Draco's heart. Draco parried the blow with the metal haft of his spear, then quickly stepped to the side as Ralse rushed past him. Draco spun the spear around and attempted to drive the butt of the spear into Ralse's back, but Ralse was too fast. He recovered from his first failed strike and turned his body just in time for the end of the spear to jab the air beside him. Ralse lunged at Draco once more, but Draco used his spear as a shield again, never letting Ralse get too close. Ralse vainly tried to attack his opponent several more times, but every time Draco either dodged or blocked his attack, never taking the offensive for himself.

Draco held his spear in front of him length-wise, waiting patiently for Ralse's next move, trying to enrage him into exposing himself. Unlike Ralse, Draco was not trying to kill, but delay his opponent. He needed Ralse as a hostage, not a body. He knew full well if he killed Ralse now, someone like Daschel would simply take his place. Draco would kill Ralse now if he had to, but if he could just hold him at bay him a bit longer, the reinforcements would arrive and the battle could then begin in earnest.

Ralse was visibly becoming frustrated now, his swings coming faster and less skillfully. Draco was no fool, though, and didn't let down his guard in the least. Ralse's attacks were still very dangerous, even with his escalating temper. If just one of Ralse's attacks connected, he would be dead. Ralse was trained in the art of quick killing, and every one of his blows was a death strike waiting for a chance to hit.

With a cry of anger, Ralse leapt into the air and raised his sword for a downward slash that would cleave Draco's exposed head in two if it hit. Draco barely managed to raise his spear above his head in time to block the blow, and he could feel the strength of the blow in his arms as Ralse landed. Draco was too weak to keep this game up forever, and that last attack left him visibly shaken. His arms trembled as he lowered his spear back in front of him. Ralse could see his foe's weakening state, and sneered.

"What's wrong, Draco? Too afraid to strike me? Come now, where's all that pent up hatred at? I know it's in there, threatening to overtake you. I can see it in those eyes of yours. Fight me you coward!"

Another quick, almost playful, strike was narrowly dodged by Draco, and now it seemed it was Ralse who was toying with Draco. He guessed that Draco was trying to subdue him and force him to surrender the kingdom, and suspected it was only a matter of time before he wore the tired general down. He just needed to keep the pressure on and not give Draco a chance to catch his breath.

Draco attempted to charge Ralse with the haft of his spear and knock him over, but Ralse was still faster, and nimbly jumped to the side. Draco turned around just in time to see Ralse slowly spinning his sword as he walked towards him. A smile played on his lips as he prepared for his final blow. Draco's movements were becoming more sluggish and predictable and Ralse knew he had him right where he wanted him. Ralse let loose with a series of zigzagging swipes, giving Draco almost no time to counter them with his spear. Draco was slowly fading as he tried to block one blow after another. There was no chance of subduing Ralse as long as he kept up this flurry of attacks. Doggedly, Draco stepped back and blocked one last vicious strike with his spear. These attacks had been well-planned attacks on Draco's spear, not his body, however, and with that final blow Ralse had managed to break the spear in half just as he had expected. Draco fell back as his spear cracked in two, his hands still clutching either side.

"Hah! Now see what your impetuousness has gotten you? Did you really think you could best me in your pathetic condition? Ironic that the Dragon of the West should be slain right here in his very own halls. Take a good look at Maria, friend, for you will never see her again. She is mine now!"

Taking his sword in both hands, Ralse stepped forward to kill Draco, but before he could deliver the blow, the large golden doors of the ballroom swung open and a large mass of Western soldiers poured in, swords and spears drawn. Ralse's men barely had time to react, and Ralse himself was caught completely off guard, his swing faltering and clanging against the floor beside Draco. With a sickening realization of his new position, he kicked Draco to the side and ran back to join the fight.

Draco looked up at Maria and yelled to her to take cover. She quickly gathered the rest of the women, huddled against the wall during Draco and Ralse's duel, and led them back through the passage Draco had come from. Now Biggs and Wedge sprang into action and helped their commander to his feet.

"Thank you, but I'm afraid I will not be able to fight with you now. Leave me be and join your fellow soldiers in the attack. Even if we have the advantage in numbers, these are no mere grunts we are fighting. These are the best fighters of the Eastern army. They will need your help more than I do. Go!"

Biggs and Wedge wouldn't hear any of Draco's pleas, though. They steadfastly stood their ground next to the fallen general. Wedge helped Draco back against the wall, ready to carry him off behind the curtains after Maria.

"Never, sir! We will not let them take you again! You saved our lives, and now it's our turn to save yours. You just stay there. We will keep you safe from harm."

Biggs fired off a couple shots into the melee behind him, then turned and smiled at Draco, proud to be able to protect his leader now. His smile turned into a grimace of pain as a cruel stab from behind pierced his side, causing him to drop his gun and crumple to the ground in stunned silence.

"Miserable insect! I knew I should have killed you when I had the chance! No more! You die here, mongrel!"

Daschel's high airy voice came from behind Biggs's back and once Biggs had fallen to the side, he turned his blood-stained rapier on Wedge. Wedge looked on in horror as his friend lay motionless on the floor, the fine red carpet stained by the growing pool of blood. He looked at Daschel and without thinking charged him.

"You! You'll pay for that, you coward!"

Daschel remained calm and smoothly veered to the side to dodge Wedge's blind rush. The full fury of Wedge's blow was unexpected, though, and Daschel couldn't dodge it without suffering a gruesome gash to his right arm. He pulled his arm back in pain, and raised his sword with the other, instinctively swinging wide as he turned back to face Wedge. In his rage, Wedge charged again without thinking, and Daschel's blade bit into his side as he came about He was too incensed to care about his own injuries anymore, and ruthlessly struck back at Daschel's extended arm, nearly severing it. Daschel dropped his sword and fell to the ground trying to recover, but with both his arms injured beyond use, he could do nothing but watch as Wedge staggered forward and ran his sword straight through his heart.

Daschel slumped backward and onto the ground, with his face looking numbly out across the hall. The last sight that met his eyes was a small, humble painting of the previous king of West Jidorik hanging on the wall across from him. It was painted with care and love by one of the king's pages, and hung unceremoniously, but respectfully above the king's throne. As his vision and mind clouded, for the first time in his life Daschel saw the remarkable, yet simple beauty of the West in that humble picture. He knew there would be no one to paint his portrait back in East Jidorik after his death, and for the first time in his life he regretted not being able to see the West as Ralse had until it was too late. A last gasp left Daschel's lips, and he was gone.

Wedge fell forward and crawled towards Biggs, his wound hindering him greatly. He grabbed at Biggs and struggled to get him to respond.

"Biggs! Hold on! We were going to see the sun rise together, remember? Just a few more hours, Biggs! Open your eyes, please!"

Without moving or opening his eyes, Biggs let out a small sigh, and struggled to speak, a smile slowly creeping over his pale face.

"We already...have...Wedge. Already...have..."

No more sounds of life came from Biggs, and Wedge fell forward onto his body and wept for his fallen ally as the life drained from his form as well. In his despair, he still remembered his duty to his general, though, and pushed himself over to where Draco was still lying, a look of intense sadness now on his face. With some effort the two of them managed to make it to the passage behind the curtains. Once safely in the passage, Wedge collapsed beside Draco, the last of his strength quickly fading.

"I'm sorry I couldn't save him, Wedge. I am too weak to fight now, and I can only pray we are not discovered back here. We will watch the sunrise together, and remember his valor."

Wedge did not respond, though. His body quietly laid across Draco's, and Draco knew he had gone as well.

"Farewell, friend. I will watch the sunrise and remember, I promise."

Draco carefully let Wedge's body fall to the ground as he struggled to make it down the passage and find Maria and the rest of the women who had escaped. He could not stay where he was, or the West would have no leader to guide them through the coming upset of power. He had watched the battle as Daschel fought Biggs and Wedge, and could see plainly that the surprised East was no match for the newly invigorated West. Soon all the highest ranking officials of the Eastern army would be either dead or taken hostage, and they would have no choice but to surrender their forces. He had tried to find Ralse in the fray, but saw no sign of him. Could the coward have escaped unnoticed, leaving his men to fend for themselves? Despicable, even for Ralse. Draco swore he would hunt him down and make him answer for all the pain and suffering he had caused someday. For now, Draco needed to recover, and with a slight groan got up and slowly felt his way back down the passage and into Maria's waiting arms.