Start Date: February 25, 2022
Windwillow
Final Fantasy IV
Chapter Five
Leviathan took what Baron left. After having been shipwrecked by the ancient beast, Cecil finds himself at the land that started it all: the nation he sacked, Mysidia. They alone hold any hope.
But, that hope had moved past just the crystals. Not only had he failed to protect Rydia, but now his lover Rosa was being held captive by the new Red Wings leader Golbez and, under some circumstances, his old friend Kain. Edward, Yang, lost.
All that remains is Mysidia.
Scene One
The trip THROUGH Mysidia was harder than the trip TO it. Not only was he more exhausted by the time he reached the city, the glares of its townspeople struck deeper than a blade. What was there to say? They were right. He'd murdured their friends and family. And now, he comes crawling back to beg for help?
Cecil threw Deathbringer to the side and went to his knees. He stood before the head Elder of Mysidia, whose words had fomented the whole mess.
Do you not think for yourself, sir?
"It takes some audacity," said the Elder, "to come here and ask for what you do."
Cecil bowed his head.
"Take my life, then. I could not blame you, or perhaps, I'd support it. My wretched self was the hand by which this all happened."
The Elder paused. This was not an evil man. But, he tred the path of the dark knight: evil, destructive.
"If you wish," the Elder said quietly, "to right this wrong... forsake the dark sword and become a paladin - a holy knight."
Cecil paused.
"Have I that right?"
"I believe," said the old man, "that all have that right. If you wish, go to Mt. Ordeals far to the east and pray at our shrine. If you truly wish to repent, you'll be reborn as a Paladin... and if so, you'd have earned our respect."
Cecil lowered his head further.
"I'll depart at once and rid you of myself."
As he rose, the Elder clasped his shoulder.
"Not as you are," he said. "A dark knight stands no chance of climbing the mountain alone."
Cecil cocked his head.
"Do I take that to mean, that you would send me aid?"
The Elder nodded.
"Palom, Porom. Come forward."
He couldn't believe his eyes when he saw his guides. They were small children, one dressed warm and the other cold.
"Elder!" protested Cecil. "You would send me with children?"
One of the twins raised his fist.
"I'm five, y'ol' fart! Plenty old!"
The other twin bopped him on the head.
"Show respect, Palom."
With a sigh, the other child bowed.
"My name is Porom, and this is my brother Palom. We will guide you through Mt. Ordeals."
Cecil shook his head.
"You must be mad. Why send them?"
The Elder shrugged.
"The adult mages wanted to shank you."
Cecil bowed his head.
"The Gods seem fond of jesting with me of late..."
Scene Two
The Tower of Zot was a large fortress high above the Earth. Of unearthly origin, it was the base of Golbez and his men. Its architecture was almost more organic.
In a distant room, several people sat. One was Golbez, the other Kain, and a third a restrained Rosa. A small, hunchbacked figure entered the room.
"Milord, Cecil seeks Mt. Ordeals."
Golbez shook his head.
"Find him and kill him."
Rosa struggled with her bonds.
"Please, no! Kain, stop him!"
Kain lowered his head, but said nothing. Rosa glared at him.
"Dammit, Kain! He's your friend!"
Kain looked at her, but lowered his head.
"He's brought this all done upon himself."
"Kain, stop!" shrieked Rosa. "Why are you doing this?!"
Golbez turned back to the hunchback.
"Scarmiglione, Blighted Despot. I give you your task."
The Archfiend bowed.
"And thus it shall be done, milord."
Rosa glared at Kain, furious. He caught her gaze, but couldn't meet it.
Scene Three
Cecil, Palom, and Porom departed Mysidia. They made good time and set up a magic circle at night time. At camp, Palom eyed Cecil suspiciously. He narrowed his eyes.
"Y'caused a lotta hell, y'know."
Cecil lowered his head.
"My sins are inexcusable, and I accept that. All I desire now is to renounce the Deathbringer and find some redemption."
Palom scoffed.
"Fancy words. Y'even mean'em or ya just posin'?"
Porom threw a rock on Palom's head. He recoiled, but didn't respond. The young girl turned to Cecil and bowed.
"Pray, forgive my brother. I, too, though wonder: are you sincere or trying to trick us?"
Cecil sighed.
"Perhaps if my motives are unclean, I'll just be offed by the mountain's judgment. I accept that danger."
The two exchanged glances but said nothing. In the morning, the three exited the magic circle. Only a few hours in, though, they were attacked. This monster was a gigantic bird, a Zu, that is legendary for its ferocity.
Cecil drew Deathbringer and moved to strike, but paused. The Zu shrieked and dove towards him, but Palom hurled a fireball at it that stunned it. Palom shook his head.
"Y'ain't gonna fight back?"
Bowing his head, Cecil looked closely at his sword. He shook his head.
"I don't know if I deserve a fight."
The Zu again charged, but was repelled by a barrier created by Porom. She sighed.
"You bring death, but it needn't be wanton. But to protect, a sword may be needed."
Cecil paused. As the Zu resumed its attack, he coated his blade and cut the beast down. The monster fell dead, and he turned to the twins. He sheathed his sword and bowed. Palom scowled.
"Y'poser"
Porom whacked him.
Scene Four
Mt. Ordeals was a majestic sight. It was several meters high with clean, beautiful bridges and roads across it. The undead here mostly consisted of pilgrims and other travelers who ended up dead from the other monsters.
The three party members entered the mountain at morning, and by high noon they'd climbed half way up. From the caverns ahead, a horde of undead appeared. There were zombies, a few skeletons, and several floating abominations called will-o-wisps.
Cecil drew his sword, but Palom laughed.
"Y'c'n try if ya want, but dark swords won't do jack to these guys. Try it."
Rushing forward, Cecil swung hard at the zombie, but was unable to get through its flesh. Palom incinerated it with a sharp spear of fire.
"Y'see," Palom chuckled. "Undead don't take much damage from weapons, period. Cursed ones even less. We'll pull the weight."
Porom nodded, and created a stream of holy pearls.
"We will dispose of them."
Throwing the holy orbs, Porom dissolved several of the zombies, while Palom fried others with columns of flame. From behind the twins, though, a zu appeared. Cecil leapt forward and cut it down, as the two children finished their fights.
Porom paused.
"There shouldn't have been THIS many undead..."
Palom nodded.
"Somethin's up."
Cecil shook his head.
"Like what? Wait... Who is that...?"
The party looked ahead and saw a robed figure confronted by a trio of zombies. Though Porom and Palom moved to aid him, the man fried the undead with a massive wave of fire. Cecil narrowed his eyes.
"Lord Sage Tellah?!"
Tellah turned and adjusted his glasses.
"Oh, my. It's you."
Porom bowed.
"Great Sage, it is an honor."
Palom raised his hand.
"Yup. You're a legend 'round Mysidia. Didn't think you were still kickin'."
Porom whacked him. Cecil approached, sheathing Deathbringer.
"But why come here?"
Tellah sighed.
"Simple question. I suppose the simple answer would be that I'm trying to learn Meteor..."
Palom shook his head.
"Meteor?! What, you wanna sink a battleship or somethin'?!"
Porom nodded.
"Such a spell is... extreme. What would you use it for, sir?"
As Tellah moved to answer, Cecil stepped forward.
"Golbez, right...?"
Tellah clenched his fist.
"I'll make that bastard rot. If I can figure out Meteor, I have a good shot."
Porom shook her head.
"At your age, sir, it may kill you."
Tellah sighed.
"If I can drag Golbez to Hell with me, I'll be satisfied."
Cecil paused.
"Why not join us, then? Four is better than three."
Palom nodded.
"Yeah, I wanna see the legend in action."
"I agree," said Porom. "It will be an honor to travel with you."
Cecil sighed. Whatever Meteor was, it was clearly too dangerous to touch. But there was no convincing the old man otherwise...
Scene Five
Just ahead was a holy circle. Palom raised his hand.
"It's right there."
Porom nodded.
"Let us go-"
Cecil stood between her and the bridge, drawing his sword.
"Show yourself!" he shouted. "I can feel the evil from here!"
A dark portal formed, and Scarmiglione emerged.
"Dear, dear. I'd hoped to surprise you. Such a shame..."
Tellah stepped forward and charged a spell.
"Who... wait. WHAT are you?!"
Scarmiglione bowed.
"Archfiend of Earth, the Blighted Despot. Scarmiglione, at your service."
A horde of undead emerged from several portals around the archfiend. Scarmiglione pointed a robed, bony hand at Cecil.
"I've no interest in the old man and the children. Leave."
Palom hurled a fire spell, but it was deflected by Scarmiglione.
"Y'know what?" he said. "Up yours."
Scarmiglione sighed.
"Rude child. Fine. Tear the skin from his bones, and then you can chew on them..."
The undead roared and charged. Tellah released a spell, but the fire fizzled before reaching the zombies.
"Rot," he cursed. "I knew that wasn't the right formula."
Palom shook his head.
"The hell? Fight, old dude! Or we'll fight for ya!"
Placing his hands together, Palom created a circle of fire.
"I'll show ya the great Palom's power!"
Porom sighed. She created a large wave of light energy around her hands.
"Palom, just... no."
Palom charged the circle and slammed his hands to the ground, sending a spiraling wave of fire forward in several lines. The undead reared back, but Scarmiglione dissolved the flames before they could connect.
"I think not," said the archfiend. "I'd rather not have my precious minions catch fire."
Tellah clenched his fist.
"Fine. Firaga!"
He threw out his hand, but nothing happened. He sighed.
"Oh, fudge."
Palom shook his head.
"What the hell kinda sage says 'fudge'?!"
Porom hurled her light wave, and this time it connected. The undead were rent apart, but Scarmiglione lunged towards her. He leered above her, a large, bony claw emerging from his robes.
"Begone, child."
As he swung, Cecil quickly severed the limb. Scarmiglione roared in pain, but Cecil placed himself between the fiend and the children.
"You bastard. You would strike this poor girl?!"
Scarmiglione ripped off his arm and tossed it.
"Yeah, pretty much."
With rage, Cecil coated his sword in darkness and cut Scarmiglione in half. His remains fell clattering down the mountain, and Cecil sheathed his sword.
"You rotten cur. May your bones be scavenged, though they'd poison its eater..."
As Cecil continued along the bridge, Palom jumped forward.
"Behind you, idiot!"
From beneath the bridge, a huge, gnarled beast loomed above Cecil. It was vaguely undead, with an oozing right arm that pulsed and reformed into a claw. It skittered on the bridge and faced Cecil.
"What in God's name are you?!" yelled Cecil.
Scarmiglione grinned.
"Wrong way to word it."
Tellah stepped forward.
"You... Are you... THE..."
Scarmiglione nodded.
"Archfiend of Earth, spirit of all the cursed soils of this world. I thought I'd told you my name."
Tellah paused.
"Y-you aren't just a DEMON, you're a GOD! Why come after Cecil?!"
Porom placed her hands on Palom's.
"Someone wishes him to die on this mountain..."
Palom clapped his hands on Porom's.
"... before he becomes a paladin."
Tellah shook his head.
"Golbez?!"
Cecil charged.
"To hell with you!"
He swung, and severed Scarmiglione's left arm, but sinew grabbed it and dragged it back in place. The flesh rippled and pulsed, and bulged with muscle.
"Nice place," said the demon. "Wanna join me?"
Cecil wanted to step back, but the twins were behind him. His sword was useless, but he'd rather die than place them in danger.
-Better that I die...- he thought.
"Run!" he yelled. But, to his amazement, a new light formed between the twins' fingers. It pulsed, shone, and flew out in a multicolored wave that enveloped Scarmiglione. The demon screamed, writhed, and dissolved to dust. Cecil swiveled around, incredulous.
"What in...?!"
Palom smirked.
"Two's better than one. Me and my sis double our power when we work together."
Tellah sighed.
"Nearly stopped my heart, I tell you..."
Scene Six
Now, the magic circle beckoned. The party gathered around the shrine, and Cecil kneeled.
"May I renounce this wicked sword! Pray, tell me what I must do!"
At first, nothing happened. Then, a brilliant light enveloped the party. When their vision dimmed, they were in a huge, crystalline room with a huge mirror just ahead. Cecil shook his head.
"Is this it...?"
Before him, his reflection stood, glaring. He sighed, and grabbed Deathbringer, then threw it away.
"May I be redeemed?" he murmured. "Or will I be stuck down...?"
His hand glowed bright, and a brilliant light flashed. The light began at his hand and quickly covered his entire body. Slowly, his black platemail dissolved and was replaced with shining silver and gold armor. As the light faded, his hand instinctively closed, and gripped a shimmering longsword.
Cecil looked at himself carefully. The dark armor he wore had now gone bright white, his gauntlets changed and a new cape fluttering behind him. He closed his hand and the light enveloped him, breaking apart to reveal his new form.
"Dear God!" gasped Tellah.
Palom paused.
"Wait, who's that?!"
The image of a dark knight stepped from the mirror and brandished its sword. Cecil looked carefully at it and took a defensive stance. The dark knight lunged and swung blow after blow, each parried by Cecil. What the others couldn't understand is that no attacks came in return.
Over and over, the dark knight slashed and clashed with Cecil, each time breaking apart light and darkness from where their swords met. With a final blow, the dark knight's sword shattered on Cecil's armor. It smiled.
"A paladin deals not in death, but redemption."
Cecil paused.
"Does that mean...?"
The dark knight shattered to pieces. Cecil looked at himself and marveled at the change he'd wrought. His new form seemed something straight from God's hand - the touch of heaven had redeemed him.
"Your light does shine with brilliant colors..."
All eyes turned to the voice they heard, but there was no source. Instead, it seemed to echo inside their hearts.
"I now grant you light... To wield this blade, I cut through my own heart. Rend the darkness, and embrace your new light. Go, my son..."
The voice vanished. Tellah held his head.
"So that's it...! Meteor!"
Porom shook her head.
"You learned it?!"
Tellah nodded. Palom sighed.
"Great. Now he can nuke people."
Cecil stared at his new sword, as a scabbard formed around it. He placed it at his side, but couldn't help but wonder...
"His" son...?