Start Date: February 28, 2022
Windwillow
Final Fantasy IV
Chapter Six
For years the choice to take up the dark sword has tormented Cecil Harvey. The path of destruction weighed heavily on his heart, a conflict to his warm and pure soul. With the holy light of Mt. Ordeals, this wrong has been righted - he has become a paladin. Moreover, his companion, the great sage Tellah, recovered both his knowledge and the power of the legendary Meteor spell.
What troubles him, however, is a strange voice that gifted him his light. It called him its "son."
What is the nature of this being? Is there a greater force at play in Cecil's redemption? Only time can give the answers.
Scene One
Reality began to warp, and the crystalline room shattered to reveal the mountain shrine where they'd all began the event. The party took stock of themselves; everyone was intact and, in fact, standing precisely where they started.
Palom raised his hand.
"Cool! Why can't I have a cool sword?"
Porom shook her head.
"Palom, please..."
Tellah examined his hands.
"Firaga, Flare, Holy, even Meteor... I feel decades younger!"
Cecil stared at his new sword. It was a marvelous weapon, with odd runes carved into the blade. It had a pure white hilt and a gold-ribboned scabbard. Just holding it made him feel powerful. But the question remained: whose son was he?
"Our task is done," he said. "We must head back to Mysidia and report."
The party heard a low moan. They swiveled around to find a horde of undead.
"Must be more of Scarmiglione's puppets," mused Tellah. "Well, I can deal with them now."
Palom charged a spell.
"No, no! I wanna blow 'em up!"
Cecil stepped forward, to the surprise of his companions. He unsheathed his sword.
"I wish to test myself... If you would?"
The party nodded. Cecil lifted his blade and charged. The undead roared and did the same. With several deft strokes, he carved open the zombies, each slice dissolving their rotten flesh into mist. By the time he'd finished, no enemies remained.
Palom wiped his brow.
"Well, dayum. Dude's got some muscle now!"
Porom nodded.
"The power of the paladin surpasses my expectations..."
Tellah clapped his hands.
"Marvelous, marvelous!"
Cecil sheathed his sword. He turned and grinned.
"Back to Mysidia, then."
Scene Two
Back at Mysidia, everything had changed. Where the townspeople treated Cecil with disdain, they now stared in amazement. Nary a person spoke as the party entered the tower of prayer. The Elder turned and smiled.
"I see you've done it!"
Cecil nodded. The Elder cocked his head.
"Well, if it isn't Tellah! How have you been?"
Palom groaned.
"Old dude's got Meteor now."
The Elder shook his head.
"No good can come of that power. Please, do not use it."
Tellah clenched his fist.
"Oh, stuff it. My intentions are none of your concern."
The Elder sighed. Then he noticed Cecil's sword and his ears perked up.
"Incredible," he breathed. "Is that the Mythgraven Blade?"
Cecil drew his sword and examined its runes. He nodded.
"I noticed these odd symbols, but didn't know what they read. Can you tell me?"
The Elder cleared his throat, and nodded.
"The Mysidian Legend is etched upon that steel..."
Cecil cocked his head.
"Legend...?"
The Elder nodded.
"One born of a dragon, bearing darkness and light, shall rise to the heavens over the still land. The moon's light eternal brings a promise to Earth, with bounty and grace."
Porom sighed.
"I'd heard the legend, but never thought it could be real..."
Palom nodded.
"Learned it in school, never thought much of it. You're telling me this guy's legendary?"
The Elder made a prayer symbol with his hands.
"By moonlight's grace, it shall come to pass."
Cecil sheathed the Mythgraven Blade.
"I doubt I could be called a legend... I'm not worthy of such accolades."
The Elder nodded.
"As of now, we know nothing more than the legend itself. Its meaning remains unclear."
Tellah clenched his fist.
"Now, we take the fight to Golbez. Rotten son-of-a..."
Cecil gasped.
"Of course! Rosa!"
The Elder nodded.
"You've a task to fulfill. Use the Devil's Road to reach Baron at once."
Palom raised his hand.
"Uh... can I tell him now?"
Porom sighed.
"It's only right..."
Cecil cocked his head.
"What do you mean...?"
The Elder paused.
"I sent Palom and Porom to spy on you, to determine your sincerity. My apologies to you. Now, you two, run off and..."
Palom shook his head.
"No, I wanna go with him."
The Elder turned to Porom, who nodded. He sighed.
"If they so wish, they may go. Hurry. There is no time to waste."
Cecil nodded, and kneeled.
"By your grace."
He rose and exited with Palom and Porom. The Elder clapped a hand on Tellah's shoulder.
"My friend," he murmured, "please be careful. To bury a comrade would ail my heart."
Tellah paused.
"I... know. And I am sorry. But I've already given myself up for dead if I am to fulfill my wish. When I die, please etch both my name and Anna's on our graves..."
He turned and left. The Elder sighed, and made a prayer symbol.
"Moon above, be with him..."
Scene Three
The Devil's Road is a magical gateway between Baron and Mysidia. After Baron's assault the Mysidians had closed it, but for Cecil they now allowed it. The party passed through the spatial distortion and entered Baron. All the doors had been barricaded shut, and no one was around.
"Curious," said Tellah. "Last I was here, Baron was quite a bustling town."
Cecil nodded.
"Perhaps something has happened..."
A woman screamed, from the inn. The party rushed in and found two soldiers leering above her.
"Five thousand Gil, wench. A tax for the King."
The barmaid shook her head.
"I-I haven't the money..."
Angrily, the soldier raised his fist.
"Martial law it is, then!"
He swung but Cecil caught his arm, twisted it, and tossed him away. The other soldier drew his sword, and Cecil drew his.
"You'd terrify your own people?" he hissed. "Has the King lost his mind AND his decency?!"
"Cur. You'd best watch your tongue.
All eyes turned to another figure, dressed in Baronian robes. It was Yang.
"YANG?!" yelled Cecil. "You survived...?"
Yang crossed his arms.
"Whoever you are, you've slandered His Majesty. You must be punished."
Cecil cocked his head.
"What? Do you have amnesia...?"
Yang clenched his fist and charged.
"Enough talk!"
Tellah yelled, and slammed his hand into Yang's face. A bright light shone, and he fell back. The remaining soldier retreated. Yang slowly rose and shook his head.
"The devil...?"
"Yang!" gasped Cecil. "You've got your memory back?!"
Tellah nodded, and held his wrist.
"Esuna can cure mind control. Muscle-head hurt my wrist, though..."
Yang held his head.
"Cecil? I... I was attacked by Leviathan, right?"
Cecil nodded. Yang sighed, and discarded his robes.
"All I remember is someone leering over me. Can't for the life of me remember who..."
He paused.
"The castle gates are closed. You'll need to go through the underground waterways to reach the King. But, it's surely locked..."
Palom raised his hand.
"Is the big golden key on your belt it?"
Yang took hold of the key. He nodded.
"I suppose being brainwashed and made a soldier had some benefits."
Cecil sighed. He turned to the barmaid and helped her up, and as she smiled he bowed.
"We must hurry, then. To the waterways!"
Scene Four
After unlocking the waterway, the party entered. It was more of a cavern than an established waterway, with steep cliffs and large bodies of water. In short order they exited into the castle's western tower. They continued on, until reaching Great Hall. There they saw a new figure, the general Baigan.
Cecil placed his hand on his sword, but upon seeing who it was he stopped.
"Baigan?"
The general nodded.
"So you've come... Finally, someone with half a mind."
Tellah adjusted his glasses.
"You know this fellow?"
Cecil nodded.
"He's the head of Baron's armed forces. It's good to know we have another ally."
Baigan smiled.
"Now, we can handle the King. Come, let's go."
As they turned to leave, Palom hurled a fireball at Baigan. The general dodged and flailed with his cape flaming.
"What is the meaning of this?!" yelled Cecil.
Palom grinned.
"This guy stinks."
Porom nodded.
"I can smell it from here... He's a monster."
Yang held his head, and staggered.
"Wait... the one who brainwashed me...!"
Baigan tore off his cape. He smiled deviously.
"Was me."
Cecil drew his sword.
"Bastard!" he shouted. "How long have you deceived us?!"
Baigan flexed his arm.
"Who says I deceived you? I am loyal to the King..."
Yang slammed his fist into Baigan's face, to no effect. He stepped back as Baigan's armor burst open to reveal a twisted, gnarled body that contorted in a vaguely human mass. The "general" slid a forked tongue from his mouth.
"Maybe not the King you think."
Tellah angrily charged a spell.
"What nonsense! I'll fry you!"
Baigan slid out of the spell's path, slithered and moved up to Tellah. Before he could strike, though, Cecil severed his arm. He fell back with a howl, and Cecil stepped between him and his friends.
"You'll not lay a finger on them, Baigan. Address me!"
Cecil rushed forward and swung, and in a flurry of slashes carved Baigan to pieces. Then he slammed his hand to the remains and blasted them to dust. As the pieces smoldered, he sheathed his sword.
Yang narrowed his eyes. He could sense some emotion from Cecil, but couldn't place it.
Scene Five
The King sat on his throne silently. All that had happened troubled him deeply. Cecil's betrayal most of all...
Exploding open, the doorway fell to rubble as Yang destroyed it with a kick. The party rushed in, and Cecil ran to the King and kneeled.
"Your Majesty! I desire an explanation for all this... The pillaging, the genocide, all of it! Tell me now. This isn't the man that raised me as a son!"
The King nodded.
"Correct. That fellow's six feet under."
Cecil jumped back. The King rose.
"I suppose you've all outlived your usefulness. Besides, Lord Golbez doesn't need help to gather the crystals."
Tellah clenched his fist.
"What do you mean, 'lord'?!"
King Baron's face twisted.
"I am the Drowned King, Cagnazzo, archfiend of water and servant of Lord Golbez. This flesh is no longer needed."
The King's body exploded into a bloody mess, leaving a huge figure of a beast to remain. It was a monstrous human-turtle abomination, all blue and muscular. It crashed down to the floor, cracking the ground.
"Damn!" cursed Yang. "Cecil, we must..."
He paused.
"... Cecil...?"
Cecil lowered his head. He trembled, with both rage and shock. When he had been abandoned as a child, the King of Baron adopted him, raised him as if he were his own son. When the King asked him to take up the dark sword he had hesitated, but felt duty-bound to obey.
Cagnazzo swung its arm towards Cecil. The giant appendage loomed high above the paladin.
"DAMMIT, CECIL!" yelled Tellah. "Get a hold of yourself!"
The arm fell, but was met by the Mythgraven Blade in a strike that stunned the archfiend, repelling it. Cecil held his sword high, a massive white aura surrounding him, tinged with flecks of lightning. Tears fell from his face.
He said nothing, but swung his blade, sending a wave of light that scratched Cagnazzo's shoulder and ripped it off at the joint. Cecil angrily pulsed his aura and held the weapon in both hands.
"Damn you!" snarled Cagnazzo.
A huge wave of water surrounded Cagnazzo, and swept forward, blasting Cecil back into the wall. He fell, righted himself, and staggered to one knee. The wave had broken his right leg. Cagnazzo charged again and created a larger circle of water around itself.
"DIE!"
Before the wave could launch, Palom and Tellah leapt forward, meeting it with their hands. They grinned, sparked, and released a titanic lightning storm that electrocuted Cagnazzo, cooking him from the inside out. The beast fell, and Porom rushed up to Cecil.
"I'll heal you!" she said.
Holding out her hands, soothing energy flew from her fingers. The power stitched and set Cecil's injuries, healing the leg in a matter of seconds. Yang stepped forward and placed his hand on Cecil's shoulder, but he shrugged it off.
Ignoring his pain, Cecil rose and stared at Cagnazzo's corpse. He lifted the Mythgraven Blade and deftly split the archfiend's head in half, then half again, before angrily driving his sword between its eyes.
There wasn't much they could say to him. Instead they stood silent, until they heard a commotion from behind. A figure emerged, Cid, stepping forward and skidding to meet Cecil. He sighed.
"I heard it all," he said softly. "I'm sorry, Cecil."
Cecil lowered his head.
"I... can bear it. Why are you here?"
Cid growled.
"That fraud of a King threw me in jail after I wouldn't give him my masterpiece. Wasn't about to lend him the Enterprise for the sake of more murder! Well, I busted out, bashed a few guards, and came here. There isn't a moment to waste."
Cecil cocked his head.
"I... Pardon?"
Cid thumped his chest.
"Somethin' happened to Rosa, right? We gotta find her and kick Golbez's sorry ass!"
Tellah adjusted his glasses.
"That right soon."
Cecil nodded.
"We have to get out of here."
Cid thumped his chest.
"I'll take you to the Enterprise."
Everyone exited the throne room, but before they could leave the hallway the doors slammed shut. Though they tried to forced them open, nothing could budge them.
"I'll still kill you all!" shouted the spectral voice of Cagnazzo. The walls cracked, and they began to cave in towards the party. Slowly the walls began to move to crush them all.
Palom shook his head.
"Can't let it end here."
Porom nodded.
"Cecil, everyone... thank you for everything!"
Before they could react, the twins rushed up and pushed against the walls. While it seemed useless, a white light surrounded them.
"BREAK!" they yelled together. With a violent crash the walls stopped. They stopped because Palom and Porom had petrified themselves to stop them.
"No, no, no!" yelled Tellah. "Esuna. Esuna!"
Though he waved his hands over and over, nothing happened. He slumped to his knees.
"Th-they cast Break of their own will... I-I can't..."
He slammed his fist to the ground, where it began to bleed.
"... I can't... bring them back..."
Everyone was quiet, every word they knew meaning nothing in a matter of seconds. Palom and Porom had sacrificed themselves, stopping the walls by petrifying their bodies forever... They were gone.