Chapter 49 - Winds Of Fate
While Celes passed her days in prison, Locke and Edgar fled the city of Vector where they met with an acquaintance who went by the name of Setzer Gabbiani. The infamous gambler decided to join their cause, and had offered them the use of his airship so they could reach the southern continent. But after waiting for nearly an hour, Setzer began to worry that his newfound friends had been captured by the empire.
He left the airship and made his way through the streets of Vector, being careful not to cross paths with the guards that were patrolling the city. There were times when he was forced to hide behind the tapestries that adorned the walls, each one bearing the Gestahlian emblem in bold, red and black colors.
He knew that if they caught him they would arrest him, taking him to prison now and asking questions later. But not today, he thought, smiling in the face of danger as he made his way down the street. The winds of fate had brought him here, and they weren't about to let him down. Not when his adventure had only just begun.
Setzer looked up as he saw the Magitek factory looming in the distance, its shadow falling across his face like the wings of some gigantic bird. It rose higher than any building he'd seen before, with metal turrets and catwalks connecting it to the palace. His mouth opened as he stared at it an awe, then suddenly the ground shook, rocked by the explosion taking place inside the factory.
The explosion knocked him off balance, and he stumbled sideways before falling onto one of the crates stacked outside the building. The blow was enough to drive the wind from his chest, his muscles seizing with terror as he heard the sound of footsteps approaching from the north. His long hair whipped about his face, his head turning sharply as he glanced over his shoulder before ducking out of sight.
Setzer held his breath, waiting and hoping that Lady Luck would bestow upon him some wonderful gift of protection, keeping him safe from the soldiers that roamed the streets. A moment passed before he peered out from behind the crates, catching a glimpse of the thief he met at the opera house. There was a flash of royal blue, of fabric rippling on the wind, and Edgar came to an abrupt halt, colliding with Locke who had stopped in front of the crates.
"Setzer!" Locke exclaimed, his sentence cut short as Edgar caught him around the waist to stop him from falling over.
"So sorry," said Setzer, glancing over his shoulder to make sure they weren't being followed. "I was getting worried. I hadn't heard from you so I thought I'd - " He paused in midsentence, blinking and staring as though he were looking for something. "Weren't there three of you when you went in?" he queried. "Where's Celes?"
Locke was silent, his face falling as his gaze drifted towards ground. He couldn't find the words to explain about what had happened, not when it was still so fresh in his mind.
Edgar placed a hand on his friend's back, urging him forward. "Now's not the time, Setzer," he said, still breathless from running through the palace. He glanced at Setzer before giving Locke a push to keep him moving. "Come on. I'll explain everything on the airship."
Setzer was at a loss for words, his lips parting slightly as he stared at them in disbelief. Surely she hadn't been captured by her former comrades. The odds of her being captured twice in a single day were low, even though she had allowed herself to fall victim to the infamous gambler. But still, the odds weren't in her favor for a second kidnapping.
He followed them onto the airship where he took the wheel and steered them away from the city. They'd barely made it off the ground when it became apparent that they'd overstayed their welcome.
Locke was leaning over the railing when the sirens sounded. He cringed when he heard the noise cutting through the stillness of the late afternoon, then looked back to see a team of soldiers running down the street.
"Ha! Looking for someone?" Locke held up his right hand, grinning and making a rude gesture as they soared above the rooftops. He adjusted his bandana and turned around, coming face to face with Edgar, who was giving him a look that said there was no point putting up a bold front. Not when your best friend knew you well enough to know when you were hurting.
Setzer looked up from the steering wheel. "Is anyone going to tell me what's going on?" he asked, looking from Edgar to Locke then back again. "I was kind enough to bring you here. The least you can do is offer me an explanation."
Edgar sighed heavily, then turned to face Setzer. "Our friend," he said slowly, "has been taken by the empire. She left amid allegations of treachery, with Kefka claiming that she'd been spying on us. And though I find it difficult to believe, the news has had a profound impact on my friend."
"Would you just stop?" said Locke, his temper flaring. "I don't want to hear about it, alright? I don't need to know that someone I care about is a traitor. I don't believe it anyway," he added after a moment's hesitation. "It's bullshit. And I don't have time for that right now."
Edgar's gaze drifted to the side, lingering for a moment before lifting his head and nodding in Setzer's direction. "Can you take us to Zozo?" he asked, his somber tone indicating that he too had been effected by their loss. "We've left one of our friends there. She needs our help, and I think we've found what we need to revive her."
There was a pause, the gambler's eyes moving from the majestic king to the solemn thief. "Alright," he said, nodding and turning the steering wheel. The massive airship creaked and groaned, its sails rippling in the wind as it began to change direction. "I'll take you to Zozo. Perhaps we'll have better luck once we're out of this bizarre and unnatural territory," he added thoughtfully, a small smile creasing the corners of his lips.
There was always hope. And if fate didn't allow him to find what he was looking for, he would continue traveling the globe, letting the winds take him where they may, with little thought for the world far below.
"Thank you." Edgar moved to stand beside him. He reached into his pocket and removed one of the shards they'd collected. "Though I should probably prepare you for what you're about to see when we reach our destination," he said, his head down as he turned the shard over in his hands. "I don't think you've ever seen anything like her. And I'm not just saying that because of her pretty face."
"Oh?" Setzer's eyebrows rose towards his hairline, curiosity visible amongst the many scars that had been carved into the features of his face. It looked as though the winds of fate had decided to send him on a grand adventure, and he wasn't the sort of person to turn down an opportunity when it came knocking on his door.
.oOo.
The banister was slick with rain, flowing over patches of rust and peeling paint. Setzer moved slowly and cautiously up the winding staircase, one hand on the railing, the other reaching up and brushing the hair out of his face. When he looked to the sky he saw nothing but clouds, his clothing wet from climbing several flights of stairs in the rain.
"Come on," came Edgar's voice from up ahead. "Not much farther now. Oh, and watch your step. There's some floorboards missing on your left."
Setzer followed them up the last flight of stairs, grateful that they had finally made it to the top of the building. There were times when he didn't think they'd ever reach the top, and had been forced to climb out windows in order to reach neighboring buildings. They continued moving from one building to the next, going as far as they could before having to turn back, climb out another window, then up several flights of stairs before finally reaching their destination.
He placed the palm of his hand on the door, wincing as it swung forward, the hinges squealing in a desperate plea for oil. Edgar and Locke continued moving forward until they reached the bed at the back of the room, but Setzer stood frozen in the doorway, unable to move or join the group that had gathered at the foot of the bed.
There was something in the atmosphere, a change that made the air feel heavy with precious little oxygen. The room itself was bathed in an amber glow, with warm tendrils of shining mist creeping across the floor, obscuring the blue and gold paisley carpet. As he watched, the flowing mist snaked its way along the bedpost, enveloping the oaken structure and rising towards the ceiling. He could barely see the figure on the bed, her body wreathed in mist, distorting the image of the young woman so that all he could see was a hazy silhouette.
"It's alright," said Edgar, motioning for Setzer to come into the room. "She won't hurt you. Though you might want to stand back in case she has one of her outbursts."
Setzer looked from Edgar to the young woman on the bed, watching as she rolled over onto her back. Even from a distance he could see her long fingers gripping the bedsheets, with claws like daggers digging into the mattress. He took a tentative step forward, pausing as the mist cleared long enough for him to catch a glimpse of a young man standing beside the bed.
"Don't mind him," Edgar continued, nodding towards the muscular figure beside the bed. "That's my brother, Sabin."
The gambler watched as Sabin placed a damp washcloth on her forehead, causing a fresh wave of steam to rise from the surface of her skin. The steam obscured his vision, and suddenly he realized that the mist surrounding the bed had been caused by Sabin's attempt to lower her temperature.
"What's wrong with her?" asked Setzer, moving cautiously towards the bed. "Is she ill?"
"No." Sabin shook his head, frowning as thick spirals of steam rose towards the ceiling. He raised a hand to shield his eyes from the burning vapor and took a step back. "She's not sick," he said, glancing sideways at Setzer. "Her magic is out of control. We're trying to make her comfortable until she regains control of her abilities."
"This is extraordinary." Setzer stopped at the foot of the bed, his hair damp from standing in such close proximity to the shining mist. "In all my years, I never would have imagined being in the same room as one of these Espers."
He watched in awe as Terra moved restlessly in her sleep, the sheets tangled about her lean form, with one arm draped over the side of the bed. Every now and then she would twitch and growl, her lips dawn back in a fierce snarl. The sounds she made were, at times, both terrible and frightening. Not that anyone could understand what she was saying, which left her howling and sobbing in frustration as she crawled across the bed, searching for someone who might understand.
She was reaching out in vain, her eyes scanning the room like a predatory animal. But in this form it was difficult for her to communicate, her friends retreating to the far corner of the room until only Sabin was left, holding her down as she kicked and thrashed. And in that moment she was shown everything that she'd ever left behind. She saw her father holding hands with her mother, a smile gracing the features of his face as he pulled her close, eyes closed as he inhaled the warm, rich scent that clung to her hair.
"I've chosen a name for her," Maduin whispered in the darkness of her mind.
A light was shining somewhere in the sky, a guiding star that would take her home. She reached towards the shooting star, and opened her eyes to the sound of her father's voice.
The beings that inhabited this world were fascinated by her; creatures with fur and feathers, with hair that shone like silver strands of moonlight, and horns that spiraled out in all directions. An Esper with delicate wings like those of a butterfly knelt beside her, blinking and smiling as the toddler wrapped her hand around the Esper's finger. They were joined shortly by a young wolf, his tongue lolling from the corner of his mouth as he approached the group of friends.
"It's alright, Terra," her mother soothed. "Fenrir is our friend. He won't hurt you, sweetheart."
Fenrir lowered his head, his tail wagging as the little girl leaned forward and patted his snout.
Terra felt safe here, surrounded by friends and family who not only loved her but treated her as though she were perfectly normal. They didn't look at her with curious stares, pointing and whispering every time she walked into the room. However there were those that looked at her with disapproval, frowning in disgust whenever Maduin left the house with his infant daughter. There were those who avoided them like the plague, there were friendships lost, broken by the coming of this stranger who entered their world one dark and stormy night. And then one day the storms returned, and Terra found herself cold and alone, her mother's lifeless body beside her in the rain.
It felt as though the storms would last forever, her cries lost amid the roar of thunder, with tears like rain cascading down her face. It wasn't until she was swept up in a pair of arms that she realized she wasn't alone.
"Please, sir," a voice pleaded. A teenaged boy with long, blond hair came forward, his cloak rippling on the wind. "She's scared. Let me hold her."
There was a resounding crack, and the boy hit the ground on his hands and knees. He was still for several seconds, his wet hair dripping into his face as he lifted his head, staring wide-eyed at the man who had assaulted him. Lightning flashed overhead, illuminating the figure of Emperor Gestahl as he raised the crying child above his head. There was no turning back once she entered the arms of the empire. She belonged to them now.
Years passed before she saw him again, that unfortunate boy who had begged the Emperor to let him comfort her. It happened one morning when the storms of her past returned with a vengeance, flooding the low lying parts of Vector as he ran with her in his arms, trying to escape the deluge that fell from the skies. Then one by one the years began to pass. She watched him turn like day into night, the world unfolding in the palm of his hand as fires erupted on the surface of the earth. She watched him spread his wings and move beyond the clouds, and all at once she awoke with a start, gasping as she sat bolt upright in bed.
It took a moment for Terra to regain control of her breathing, her chest heaving as though she'd just run nine miles uphill in the blazing summer sun. She was shaking uncontrollably, her mane of violet hair retreating into the base of her skull.
"You're alright, Terra. Stay calm. It should all be over in a minute."
She looked to her left and saw Locke standing beside the bed, a shining piece of crystalized magic in his hands. Sabin was beside him, watching carefully as she awoke from the dream that had been holding her captive. It took some time for her to realize where she was, and that the voice speaking to her was not that of Locke or Sabin. It was her father, speaking to her from within the crystal Locke was holding.
"Father," she murmured, her voice reduced to a breathy whisper. Her bottom lip was trembling, her eyes filling with tears as she reached for the magicite in his hands. Her hair, although noticeably shorter, was still an odd mix of purple and green, with patches of fur covering the back of her hands. "Please," she whispered. "Let me see him. I want to see my dad."
Locke hesitated slightly, looking to Sabin who nodded and placed a hand on his shoulder. He feared that it would be too much for her, seeing her father like this just minutes after she'd woken up. Then again you couldn't really prepare someone for something like this no matter how much time had passed.
He tentatively placed the magicite in the palm of her hand, watching as the light within the stone grew stronger at her touch. Terra collapsed against the mound of pillows, her eyes closing as she felt her father's energy flowing through her hands, down her arms and into her chest where it helped calm her racing heart.
"You're going to be alright," her father's voice whispered. "I'm proud of you, Terra. You've grown into such fine young lady."
The light faded as her human form returned, her eyes opening to see her father smiling up at her from within the center of the stone. "Daddy," she murmured, smiling through her tears as she traced the edges of his face with her fingertip. "I love you, daddy."
"And I you, Terra." Maduin raised his right hand, his palm pressed against the interior of the stone. "I'm here for you whenever you need me. You need only speak my name, and I'll be with you."
"Terra." Edgar moved cautiously towards the bed. "Are you going to be alright?"
"I think so." She looked up at him and nodded. "I remember now. I was raised in the Esper world and this... This is my dad. Maduin." Terra sniffed, raising a hand and wiping the tears from her eyes. "I'm the daughter of an Esper and a human. That's why I have these abilities."
Her voice trailed off into silence, her eyelids drooping as she struggled to stay awake. The transformation had taken its toll on her, leaving her in a state of complete exhaustion.
"I'm sorry, Terra," said Locke, a bitter note of regret lacing his tone. "They were holding him prisoner, along with a half dozen others, keeping them in tanks like some kind of animal. We tried to rescue them, but we couldn't reach them in time."
Terra was at a loss for words. She'd only known these people for a few months, and already they'd proven that they were willing to risk their lives in order to rescue someone she cared about.
"This isn't over yet," said Edgar, and Sabin lifted his head, looking back at his older sibling. "You saw what the empire was doing in there. If we don't put a stop to this, we'll be facing a second War of the Magi."
"What do you suggest we do?" asked Locke, his arms crossed over his chest as he leaned against the wall. "The empire is going to be on high alert after what happened back there. If we go within five hundred miles of that place we're as good as dead."
Silence stretched between them, all eyes on the King as they waited for a response. But instead of getting a reply from Edgar, it was Terra that spoke, her confidence growing now that she had a better understanding of what she was.
"We need someone," she said slowly, her eyes never leaving the burning core at the center of the shining stone. "Someone from my world who is willing to listen and see that we mean no harm. If I could speak with them, I might be able to convince them to help us."
A murmur of conversation arose from the group, some showing concern while others nodded in approval.
"It's possible that we could gain their trust if Terra were to speak with them," said Edgar. "And if the citizens of Narshe are willing to lend a hand, then we could attack them from two fronts. But in order to do that, we will need to open the sealed gate."
"The sealed what?" Locke turned to Edgar, a look of confusion showing on the features of his face. "What exactly is the sealed gate? And where in the world is this gate hidden?"
"It's located in the mountains east of Vector. I heard Banon speak of it during our time in the Returners hideout. He explained that opening the sealed gate would provide access to the Esper world. If we're successful, and Terra is able to convince them to join us, then we might just have a chance."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Sabin struck the palm of his hand with his fist, his eyes shining with determination. "I say we bring the battle to their doorstep and finish this!"
"What do you say, Terra?" Locke asked. "Are you willing to join us for one last fight? With your help we could finally put an end to this nonsense."
Terra lifted her head, finally managing to look away from the shard of magicite. She had never been sure of herself, her thoughts returning to the day when they first met. It felt as though her life began in Narshe, and everything that took place beforehand had faded into nonexistence. She felt so vulnerable then, so helpless and alone. It was because of them that she learned to believe in herself. Without them she never would have discovered her true identity, and slowly she began to realize that she was never truly alone. Not when she had them with her, encouraging her and helping her every step of the way.
"I'll do it. I'm the only one who can. And if I don't, more innocent people are going to get hurt." She ran a hand over the stone's jagged edge, a hint of sadness in her voice as she softly said, "Too many people have been killed. Good people, people who never wanted to get mixed up in any of this. The empire took their lives, their families and their freedom. But I still have a choice, and I choose to stand against them."
"Thank you, Terra." Locke offered her his hand. "Come on. We need to get back to Narshe."
Terra rolled over onto her side, one hand against the mattress, the other holding her father's magicite as she pushed herself into a sitting position on the edge of the bed. Locke and Sabin were at her side, the monk watching as Locke slipped his arm around her waist, helping her up and walking her across the room. She only made it a few steps before something caught her eye, and she looked down to see an envelope lying on the floor.
Her name was scrawled across the envelope in scarlet letters, her eyes slowly widening as Edgar stopped to retrieve the faded envelope, handing it to Locke while making some joke about how he needed to empty his pockets before getting on the airship.
"How do you expect Setzer to get the airship off the ground with all your treasure weighing us down?" he said jokingly. Beside them his brother snorted, laughing as the thief hastily stuffed the object in his pocket.
The rest of their conversation was lost amid the pouring rain as they stepped outside, their voices distant, a faraway noise in the back of her mind. It was just as well. Terra couldn't speak even if she'd wanted to, her thoughts focused on the image of the teenaged boy who grew up to write the letters they found.
