Start Date: March 4, 2022
Windwillow
Final Fantasy IV
Chapter Eight
Having triumphed against the Dark Elf and reclaimed the Earth Crystal, Cecil and his party have entered the Tower of Zot, Golbez's base of operations. There, Rosa is held. Next, the task is to brave its halls and rescue her.
Tellah's task is vengeance.
Scene One
Before entering the elevator, Cid rustled around in a crate on the airship. He returned carrying a large battleaxe with heavy metal steel. He grinned.
"Bashin' stuff with hammers don't beat cuttin' 'em with axes!"
Upon exiting the elevator leading from the hangar to the fortress itself, the party arrived in a new atmosphere. Its architecture was clearly different from the norm, with shining panels and sparkling lights lining the walls. The ceilings had air ventilation, and they could feel artificial heat all around.
"I've never seen this kind of place," said Cecil. "It's like we're in another world..."
Cid nodded.
"When we shove Golbez's face up his rectum, I wanna study this place. I'd kill to examine all this stuff. Well, I guess I will..."
Tellah adjusted his glasses.
"Enough prattle."
Yang sighed.
"Agreed."
The party continued through the mechanized halls, entering and exiting automatic doors like they'd never experience. The idea of doors opening and closing with no doorknob was alien to them.
Upon turning the corner, they came upon a fleet of enemies. They had the torso of a human on top of cybernetic horse legs, and carried spears made of strange metal.
Cecil drew his sword, and Tellah charged a spell. The centaurs rushed forward with amazing speed, being met by Yang's fist and Cid's axe. As he charged, Cecil threw out his hand and released a bright wave of light that blinded the centaurs.
As Yang and Cid parried the enemies' spears, Tellah finished charging his spell.
"Move, gentlemen!"
Both of them nodded and ran back the way they came, and the centaurs turned to charge. Tellah held out his hands with both wrists touching each other, and released a giant blast of thunder that shortcircuited and destroyed the centaurs. He wiped his brow.
"Ooh, that tingles..." he murmured. "I do believe my hair's standing on end."
They continued further, and reached a large circular area.
"This looks suspicious," said Yang.
Cecil drew his sword.
"I sense danger. At arms!"
From around the corners came two giant wild tigers with armor of ice. Following were three mechanical cockatrices, artificially made to resemble them with their natural petrification abilities.
The tigers charged, and Cid and Yang met them with a violent clash. They struggled, countered, and shoved them back. The cockatrices flew forward with their eyes opening wide.
"Don't look!" shouted Tellah. "You'll turn to stone!"
As the cockatrices' eyes broke open, a bright light shone. The party closed their eyes and escaped the petrifiying stares. They quickly opened them and charged, and Cecil swung his sword in a wide arc, a bright wave of light expanding through the air. The wave sliced through the air and cut through the cockatrices.
Yang slammed his foot into the head of an ice beast, twisting it and swinging his leg to break its head to shards. Cid took his axe in both hands, reared back, and cut the other in two.
Having finished they continued on, finally reaching a large open area with three figures standing in front of an elevator. One was tall and slim, another rotund and heavy, and the third was a lithe young girl. They all carried lances.
"Lord Golbez has ordered your deaths!" yelled Sandy. She was the tallest, and the oldest. Her spear was barbed.
Cindy twirled her spear. She was large and rotund, was the middle sister, and also carried a large shield. She nodded.
"So... uh, yeah." Mindy, the third sister said. Her weapon was double-sided. "Die."
Tellah charged a spell and hurled it at Mindy, but Cindy intercepted and blocked it with her huge shield. She leapt back and Mindy jumped forward, swinging her double edged spear. Cid met her with all his strength, blocking the weapon with one hand and punching her back with the other.
Mindy snarled, and whirled her weapon around to disarm Cid. As the axe fell, she leapt forward to skewer the engineer. Yang skidded to a stop, and put his hands together on his left side. He clenched his fists.
"Ha-do-ken!"
As he threw his hands forward a massive wave of pressure flew and disarmed Mindy. He followed up with a leaping kick, but Cindy blocked it with her shield and shoved him back. They both reared back and, grabbing hold of his axe, Cid swung and clashed with Cindy's spear.
Cecil and Sandy traded blows, clashing sword and spear in a stalemate. Seeing an opening, Cecil swept one leg down and knocked the sister off-balance. As he slid back to attack Cindy rushed up and slammed him back with her shield.
Tellah thrust one hand out, sending a wave of pressure that bound Cindy. As she twisted and dropped her shield Cid struck and beheaded her. Mindy grabbed hold of her weapon and lunged, but another Ha-do-ken from Yang knocked her back long enough for Cid to slice off her head.
"How DARE you!" snarled Sandy. She drew back her hand and thrust it forward, a wild wave of pressure blowing back Cid and Yang. Cecil leapt forward and met her spear, deflected it, and thrust his sword through her heart. As she fell he staggered, but caught himself. Rosa was just ahead.
Scene Two
"CECIL!" Rosa shouted, as the party entered. She was bound to a chair with her hands behind her back.
Golbez and Kain stood in front of her, Kain with his lance shouldered and Golbez's arms crossed. Cecil drew his sword.
"Golbez!" yelled the paladin. He brandished the Mythgraven Blade. "This ends here!"
Kain shook his head.
"Hand over the crystal as agreed."
Cecil gripped the crystal, but paused. He looked at Rosa.
"They're lying!" she screamed. "Don't do it!"
He had no better idea. He handed the crystal to Golbez.
"Excellent!" the warlock murmured. "Four out of four!"
Cecil pointed his sword at Golbez.
"Release her. Now!"
Golbez nodded.
"Right. I release her..."
With a sharp click a huge guillotine appeared above Rosa. Cecil froze, knowing he couldn't make it to her in time.
"Rosa, no!"
Kain deftly severed Rosa's bonds and dragged her away just as the guillotine fell, chopping her chair in half. He skidded around at Golbez and leveled his spear at his face.
"Cur! You said..."
Golbez shook his head.
"I said I'd release her. Whether to you or the reaper, I didn't say."
Cecil charged, but was blown back as Tellah shoved him out of the way. The elder sage stood firm and charged a spell.
"Golbez, you bastard! Today you die!"
Golbez paused.
"Try it."
Tellah screamed and hurled a massive fireball, which Golbez dissipated with a swing of his arm. The sage threw huge spears of ice, which were sliced apart by invisible blades. He slammed his hands to the ground, but Golbez simply evaded the thunderbolt he tried to strike him with.
"You're a few decades too old to match me."
Clenching his fist, Tellah staggered to his feet.
"May the heavens be your end, villain!"
A large black portal began to form behind Tellah.
"No!" screamed Cecil. "It'll kill you!"
Tellah clamped his hands together.
"I don't care! Meteor, kill him!"
From behind him the portal opened, and a huge meteorite emerged. The star flared and doubled in size, aimed directly at Golbez. The warlock froze.
"TELLAH!" Cecil shouted.
Meteor hit and blew Golbez into the far wall. Everyone stumbled and fell, as the meteor continued on and plowed through the fortress with a vortex of flame. The spell ripped open a massive gash in the Tower of Zot and blasted through it, destroying much of the structure.
As the chaos dimmed, Golbez dragged himself out of the rubble. He was severely injured, large craters formed in his armor and his faceplate partially ripped open to reveal a handsome young face.
"Damn!" he cursed. "Warp!"
He disappeared in a column of light, and as the smoke cleared Cecil saw Tellah fall to the ground.
"Tellah, no!"
Cecil rushed forward and grabbed the old man, turning him on his back and softly tapping his face.
"Tellah! Tellah!"
Tellah caught his hand and smiled. He shook his head.
"Tellah..." Cecil moaned.
The sage adjusted his glasses.
"I did what I wanted. Don't look at me like that."
"But," protested Cecil, "you didn't kill him!"
Tellah smiled, a warm grin devoid of hate.
"I showed him mine and Anna's rage. That's enough. Besides, he'll surely die soon."
Rosa dashed forward and held out her hands.
"Cure!"
Bright light flew from her fingers, but it had no effect on Tellah. His wounds were mortal.
Tellah's face tightened.
"But if that cur survives, promise you'll kill him."
Cecil closed his eyes, tears flowing. He nodded.
"Ah, Anna..." whispered Tellah. "You look so radiant..."
Tellah fell limp. Yang muttered a prayer, as Cid mumbled an obscenity. As his body went cold Cecil caressed his cheek, quietly murmuring his name.
"My sins are many..."
Cecil grabbed his sword and put it at Kain's throat. He stopped just as he saw the sanity return to his friend's eyes. The spell had broken his brainwashing.
"You're damn right," he growled.
Kain crouched by Cecil. He looked at him with a grim face.
"I'm sorry."
Rosa slapped Kain hard.
"You damned fool!"
Cecil shook his head.
"It wasn't all his fault," he protested. Inwardly he realized that Kain never succumbed to Golbez's brainwashing when Rosa was in danger. Those times he broke the spell and protected her. He didn't forsake himself completely.
Scene Three
The battle had left the Tower of Zot reeling. Tellah's Meteor destroyed nearly a third of the complex, blasted apart most of his soldiers, and left him severely damaged as he retreated. He landed at his own home in Baron, a simple yet well-built house.
He landed roughly on the floor. Slowly he dragged himself to his bed and flopped backwards. Grabbing his helmet, he threw it to the ground.
"Damn!" he cursed. "I never thought Meteor could be so powerful..."
Golbez gasped for air. He put his hand to his chest, pulsing it with power. It had little effect.
"Dammit... I still can't cast Cure...!"
He slammed his hand down, breaking an end table. This hadn't been the first time he'd failed to use white magic. Being unable to do so now, in his own home, filled him with rage. But he would recover. He would persevere.
And now, he knew how to cast Meteor.
Scene Four
The party stared at Tellah's body in grief. Cecil swept his hand and closed the sage's eyes, as Rosa kneeled in prayer. Yang bowed his head, and Cid fought back tears. He hadn't been much different in age from Tellah; obstinate as they both were, there was a mutual respect.
"Golbez isn't dead," said Kain. "We still have to find him."
Cid nodded.
"I'll give him a nice shiner when I see him, too!"
Rosa sighed.
"Something troubles me... What will he do with all four crystals...?"
Kain shook his head.
"He'll go after the other four. I'm sure of it."
Yang cocked his head.
"Other four? He has all of them, doesn't he?"
Kain grabbed his lance and swung, blocking the arm of a new figure, and driving her back. She was colored in bright colors of gold and vermillion, dressed in a halter top and skirt. Her skin was a soft bronze.
"Barbariccia, Empress of the Winds and the elemental archfiend of wind!" exclaimed Kain. He readied his lance. "Be careful, she's mighty!"
The archfiend sighed.
"Pity you're a traitor. You and I had gotten along so well..."
Kain thrust, but the archfiend deftly evaded. She hopped, placed her hand on his face, and blew him away with a violent gust of wind. He was blown back to the wall, but before he hit it he swiveled and pushed off against it, clashing with Barbariccia's forearm with his lance. As they struggled, neither could best the other.
"You realize you're dead, right?" asked Barbariccia.
Kain's eyes widened. The archfiend's forearm burst open to reveal a whirlwind, sending him flying. She turned, holding the tornado like a buzzsaw.
"My wind pressure can be quite potent," she noted. "I can dig your intestines out and scatter them to the winds. Which is noteworthy because I'm about to."
She lunged, hurling her whirling forearm at Cecil. Cid intercepted with his axe, but it was blown away and Barbariccia simply kicked him to the side, where he landed roughly. Yang was next, and threw a flurry of punches and kicks.
Yang's attacks never connected, and she threw him off balance with a small gust. She reared back and charged her tornado, violent sparks of static electricity whirling like a powerful drill. As she swung Cecil kicked her backwards, dissipating the tornado. He brandished his sword.
Cecil tightened his grip. Barbariccia dug her hand into the floor, stopping her from flying back further. She pivoted and lunged, swinging her tornado arm at Cecil. He coated his sword in light and clashed, a brief struggle ending in both being unbalanced.
Rosa thrust her hand forward, and bound Barbariccia with ropes of light. The archfiend snarled, but was powerless as Kain skewered her through the gut. She grabbed his lance, blood spurting onto the weapon from her gaping wound.
"Lord Golbez will slaughter you!" she hissed.
Kain dug his lance from her body. He twirled it and decapitated the archfiend. As her body fell, he staggered and dropped to one knee.
"Kain!" yelled Rosa. "Hang on!"
Before she could reach him the ground tilted. The party all dropped to the ground, managing to crawl back up with great effort. The fortress seemed to be collapsing.
"Rosa, beam us to the Enterprise!" shouted Cid. "Let's get the hell outta here!"
Rosa nodded and charged her spell. Just as it began to activate, Tellah's body began to fall into a crevice, much to their horror.
"TELLAH!"
As they began to warp, Cecil stretched out his hand and managed to drag Tellah's body back with him. They materialized on the Enterprise, as the hangar began to collapse.
"Cut the chain!" yelled Cid. "I can get us to safety, but not with a big spike in our gut!"
Cecil nodded, and severed the chain. The Enterprise roared to life, detaching from the tower. It managed to escape just in time for the Tower of Zot to collapse and explode, debris falling to the forest below.
On the Enterprise, Cecil embraced Tellah's body. He turned to Kain, and narrowed his eyes.
"You said 'other' crystals. What do you mean?"
Kain sighed.
"He's got the four crystals of the overworld. Now he'll get the four from the underworld..."