Start Date: March 1, 2022
Windwillow
Final Fantasy IV
Chapter Seven
The insurrection against the King of Baron has ended up being as much a fraud as its King. King Baron had already been killed and replaced by one of Golbez's foul minions, Cagnazzo, and it was he who orchestrated all the havoc that began this mess.
More poignantly, the twin mages Palom and Porom have sacrificed themselves to save the others. No magic can heal them, because they themselves willed the spell. Now, the party boards Cid's masterpiece airship - the Enterprise - and depart for parts unknown.
Only one crystal remains: Troia's Earth Crystal. The task at hand, to find it and protect it. But is it even in Troia's hands?
Scene One
Having boarded the Enterprise, the party took to the skies. Cid's masterpiece was a fine ship, indeed, and within minutes they'd reached cruising altitude.
"Where d'we look?" asked Cid as he manned the helm.
Cecil shook his head.
"If Golbez's base isn't in Baron, I haven't a clue..."
Tellah adjusted his glasses.
"I'd wager tbat fellow has an answer."
He pointed to a large Red Wing airship, approaching from the west. Cecil drew his sword.
"Prepare the cannons!"
Cid shook his head.
"If you can learn how to load and fire it in about twenty seconds, be my guest."
Given that the answer to that was no, the party had to wait for the ship to meet them. To Cecil's surprise, Kain stood waiting at the airship, lance shouldered. Yang took up a stance.
"Rotten cur!" yelled Yang. "Come here, and I'll restructure your face!"
Kain shook his head.
"I'll pass. Cecil and I have business to discuss."
Cecil lowered his sword.
"Where is Rosa? Tell me, you bastard!"
Kain laughed.
"Like you're in a position to take her back! Listen, I've got a proposal for you."
Cecil tightened his grip. He lowered his head and glared.
"Retrieve the Earth Crystal," Kain said. "If you bring it to us, we'll return Rosa to you."
Tellah clenched his fist.
"If you folks are so capable, why not do it yourselves?"
Kain shook his head.
"Why work for it if we can make you do it?"
Yang narrowed his eyes.
"What nerve you have!"
Cecil paused.
"How do I know you're not lying?"
Kain's face changed, a pang of emotion passing through it. He lowered his head.
"Nothing could make me harm her. If Golbez tries, I'll kill him. You know how I feel."
Kain's love for Rosa was an open secret. He'd long been jealous of Cecil's love for her, a sentiment that often bubbled to the surface. Friendship and love made strained partners.
"... I trust you," said Cecil. "The crystal resides in Troia, to the northwest if I recall."
Kain nodded.
"The ruling Epopts will need a talking to. Remember, I might just keep her myself..."
Cecil angrily pointed his sword at Kain, light shimmering from its tip. The dragoon laughed.
"I jest. Return here and our deal will be done."
The Red Wings departed. Cecil lowered his head.
"CId... Chart a course for Troia."
Scene Two
Troia was a paradise of a nation, with rolling hills, verdant forests, and beautiful lakes and rivers. It was governed by eight sisters called Epopts, masterful white mages who ruled the woman-run country. Females held all positions of power, and the study of medicine and magic was among the greatest in the world.
Cecil and the others were granted an audience with the Epopts, who were receptive to their plight. They were given the right to borrow the Earth Crystal, by virtue of Tellah's long history with Troia. But there was a problem...
"Stolen?!" exclaimed Tellah. "When? By whom?!"
The Epopts bowed their heads.
"The Dark Elf stole it," said one. "Just a week ago, the foul creature spirited away the crystal in the dead of night. We haven't seen it since."
Yang sighed.
"Just great..."
One of the Epopts stepped forward.
"There are rumors that it was taken to the Lodestone Cavern to the north."
Cecil nodded.
"Then we take it back!"
The Epopts bowed their heads.
"The Lodestone Cavern has a remarkably strong magnetic field. Swinging your sword would be next to impossible. The same applies to your armor..."
Cecil groaned.
"Oh, hell... Rosa..."
One of the Epopts raised her hand.
"We can provide you with non-metallic weapons and armor."
Cecil gasped.
"You would do that for us?!"
The sister nodded.
"Yes."
Cecil kneeled.
"You have my eternal gratitude..."
An attendant entered.
"Your Graces, the prince of Damcyan has awakened!"
Cecil paused, stunned. Edward?!
Scene Three
At the infirmary, Edward lay wounded in bed. He was heavily bandaged, and his lute was propped up against a nearby chair. Cecil and the others rushed in. Edward saw them and rose, or tried to, falling back in pain.
"Edward!"
Edward smiled weakly.
"Thank God you survived. And Yang? Great! But what of Rydia?"
Cecil lowered his head. Edward closed his eyes and murmured a prayer.
"I'm sorry, Edward," said Cecil. "But we must make haste to the Lodestone Cavern. The Earth Crystal has been taken there, and we mean to retake it."
Edward sighed.
"Without your sword and armor?"
Yang stepped forward.
"The Epopts have gratefully agreed to outfit him with new equipment."
Tellah adjusted his glasses.
"A quarterstaff and leather armor, I hear."
Edward shook his head.
"Without your sword, you don't have a prayer. Here."
He weakly handed Cecil a small twig.
"This is Whisperweed. Keep it with you and I'll be able to hear you."
Cecil cocked his head.
"Uh..."
Edward smiled.
"Trust me."
After pausing, Cecil nodded and placed the Whisperweed in his tunic. He nodded.
"You have my thanks."
An attendant entered.
"Lord Cecil? Your equipment is ready."
Cecil smiled and nodded. He turned to Edward and held his hand.
"When I get back, we can talk more. I swear we shall return."
As Cecil and the others left, Edward eyed his lute. He had an ace up his sleeve...
Scene Four
Cecil was given new equipment, a blessed wood quarterstaff and studded leather armor. Because it was the WIELDING of the sword would be the problem, he also took the Mythgraven Blade as a precaution. After preparing, they took a Black Chocobo across the northern river towards the Lodestone Cavern. There they dismounted and walked towards the cavern.
"Are you sure you can fight, Cecil?" asked Tellah.
Cecil nodded.
"I've trained with spears and staves, so I ought to manage."
Cid reached behind him and drew a wooden hammer from his belt. Yang put himself in a fighting stance. They did so because a series of monsters had arrived. There were several stingrats - mammals with studded needled from their back - and two cait sith, who were magical panther-like beasts.
Twirling his staff, Cecil readied as the stingrats charged. As they approached he charged and slammed his staff into one, and then another, managing to take down two in short order. Yang and Cid struck and bashed at the others, until one of them began to shake its needles.
"Watch out!" shouted Tellah. "They'll fire the needles soon!"
"No, they won't!" Cecil said.
He took his staff in both hands and slammed it to the ground, a shockwave of holy energy repelling the needles and knocking out the stingrats. As they fell, the cait sith charged. Yang beat back one and Cid battered the other, until they both disengaged and their tendrils began to quiver.
Cid charged, but the cait sith zapped a blast of energy from the tendrils that wrapped around him and tightly bound him. As they lunged, Tellah placed his hand on Cid, his magic releasing the binding. Cid, Cecil, and Yang swiftly knocked out the monsters.
Cecil wiped his brow.
"Now we head to the cavern itself."
Scene Five
The cavern, proper, was a wondrous place. Studded crystals jutted from every direction, a beautiful sight to behold. The edges seemed to fall to nothing, endless bottomed fissures that rimmed the cavern.
Cid wiped his brow. He shivered.
"I can feel the magnetism..."
Cecil nodded.
"My sword feels heavy. Swinging it is out of the question. I'm glad I have this staff."
Yang stepped forward.
"Yes, it... eh?"
He slammed his fist into the face of a huge bat. A swarm more approached, led by an alluring witch-bat hybrid. The party readied, and Tellah incinerated the bats with a wave of fire. As the witch-bat lunged Cid slammed his hammer in her face and downed her.
"So quick," muttered Cecil. "Thank heavens you're here with me..."
They continued on. As they turned the corner, they came upon a huge, hulking ogre. Cecil twirled his staff and swung, bashing at the ogre over and over. The ogre beat back, repelling the paladin. As they clashed, a strange creature appeared from behind. It was a bizarre humanoid with the head of an octopus. It carried a ruby-tipped staff.
"A Mind Flayer!" exclaimed Tellah. "It can paralyze us like the cait sith from before!"
Yang swung his leg, but the Mind Flayer blocked with its staff. The flayer's eyes glowed bright, and Yang was frozen in place. Once paralyzed, the monster extended its tentacles towards Yang's head. If it connected, it would suck out his brain.
From behind it Cid bashed its head open with his hammer. As it fell Tellah charged a spell and released a massive wave of cold air that froze the ogre solid. Now frostbitten, Cecil twirled his staff and deftly snashed it to pieces.
Cecil staggered.
"I... ugh."
Tellah caught him.
"Cecil?"
With notable effort Cecil righted himself. The damage he'd taken and the effect of the magnetism had thrown off his balance, bringing him to a dangerous state of delerium. But, he pressed on.
They entered the final gate and found themselves in a crystalline room, much like where the other crystals were kept. Cecil stepped forward to grab at the floating crystal, but was slammed back by the hand of an ugly imp. It was dressed in robes and jewelry, but that couldn't mask its ugliness.
Cecil swung, but the dark elf repelled him. Yang tried and Cid followed, but the Elf blew them back with a shockwave. Before Tellah could react it bound him, dragged him into the air, and slammed him down to the ground in a crater.
His hand instinctively moving to his sword, Cecil realized he couldn't move his hand - the magnetism pinned his body down as soon as he touched it. As he fell, he cursed. The Whisperweed Edward had given him fell from his grasp and skidded towards the crystal.
Was this really the end...?
Scene Six
Back at the castle, Edward heard his friends' screams through the Whisperweed. He staggered from his bed, falling to the ground.
"Sir Edward, you must return to bed!" yelled an attendant. As she reached for him he glared at her.
"I can still play my part," he murmured. "Please, let me."
The attendant relented, and Edward staggered towards his lute. He dropped to his rear as he grabbed it, wincing from the pain. THIS was his contribution.
He placed a finger to the strings and pulled it. A soft hum reverberated, beautiful if brief. Through his pain he began to play an elegant song, one that carried from the lute to the rest of the room. The attendant paused, amazed at its beauty.
More importantly, the song transferred through the Whisperweed...
Scene Seven
Through his despair, Cecil heard the soft plucking of strings. As it played he felt a strange sensation...
The Dark Elf loomed.
"Heh. You humans can't do a thing without your precious steel!"
Cecil forced a grin.
"Are you sure about that...?"
He swung the Mythgraven Blade, severing the Dark Elf's left arm. As it howled, he staggered to his feet.
"How?!" gasped the Elf. "You shouldn't be able to..."
It paused.
"Th-that song, it...!"
Cecil staggered to his feet with a grin.
"That's what Edward meant... The song has dispelled the magnetic field!"
He swung, but the Elf evaded.
"Not enough!" it shrieked.
From behind, Yang and Cid knocked it to the side, having recovered. As it staggered to its feet to counter it froze, turning its gaze to Tellah. The sage had cast a binding spell to keep it in place. Cecil jumped and swung, severing its head.
As the Elf's head rolled, Cecil staggered.
"Is it over?"
To his surprise, it wasn't. The Elf's body burst open to reveal a huge, serpentine dragon.
"Damn!" cursed Tellah. "The thing won't die!"
The dragon swiveled, knocking the party back with its long body. They staggered to their feet, but the dragon opened its mouth and launched a blast of dark breath.
Cecil smirked. He slammed his hand to the ground, and a wave of light evaporated the darkness. As the dragon reeled, he jumped, gripped his sword with both hands, and swiftly cut the creature in two.
The dragon's carcass fell in two pieces, and Cecil landed, albeit not gracefully. He turned, and looked at the floating crystal before him. Reaching out he seized it, briefly falling to one knee before staggering to his feet. It was warm, like the heat from a fireplace on a cool day.
Now, all that remained was to return to the castle.
Scene Eight
Back at the castle, the party met with Edward. He'd dragged himself back to bed, but despite his pain he was smiling.
"I take it you did it?" he laughed.
Cecil held up the crystal, and smiled warmly. He fell to one knee.
"I cannot thank you enough, my friend..."
Edward waved his hand.
"Enough. Though, you never told me why you wanted it so badly..."
Cecil rose, but lowered his head.
"Golbez and Kain are holding Rosa hostage... In exchange for the crystal-"
"-you get Rosa?" Edward finished. "You realize they're lying, right?"
Cecil sighed.
"It's actually more than that. Without knowing where Rosa is being kept, I can't rescue her. But if I get to his base of operations..."
Tellah adjusted his glasses.
"We take the fight to him, take Rosa back, and put Golbez in the dirt where he belongs."
Cecil nodded. Edward smiled weakly.
"I'm only sorry I can't help you more..."
Cecil extended his hand.
"You've done more than enough."
Edward grasped his hand back, and they tightened their fists.
Tellah clenched his fist.
"Yes, yes, you're very cool. Let's move!"
Scene Nine
Back aboard the Enterprise, the party started up the airship. They lifted up and met Kain's ship, where the dragoon held out his hand. Cecil shook his head.
"Not until I lay eyes on Rosa."
Kain growled.
"Fine. Bring us up!"
The brainwashed Red Wings pilot nodded, and pressed a button that attached a chain to the Enterprise.
"Hey!" shouted Cid.
The airships lifted up further, high in the sky to a massive fortress called the Tower of Zot. Its origin was not of Earthen build, and as the airships attached themselves to a hangar, the dragoon jumped from the ship to a higher ladder.
"Follow me," said Kain. "I'll be waiting in Rosa's holding place."
He leapt higher and entered an entryway. Cecil sighed. There wasn't much to do but move on and keep up.
What Kain didn't say is that Cecil would have to fight his way to Rosa.