The Rebirth of a Dragoon

Based on: Final Fantasy Record Keeper

Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy. The OCs featured in this fic belong to various friends. Note that while the characters belong to friends, I am the one writing the fic itself. Thank you to Tibby-san and MajoHikari for continued support of this little story.

Notes: You don't like this, don't read it. I'm not writing it for you. Also, name change!

Warnings: Eventually all this stuff on this list: Cursing, potential OOC, OC x Canon, incest, stupid fluffy romance, sex, angst, self-insert author avatar

FIC START!

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Crystal had never been in a house this big. It seemed too big for people to live in. Would have been more appropriate to house monsters or airships. As she stood on the floor, she looked straight up to see a grand glass chandelier that might have been as big as her closet, maybe bigger than her Grandpa's workshop. She wondered how much that cost, and instantly decided that she didn't want to know how much money was wasted on that. She noticed there was a lot of dragon decor around the place, too, and figured that was because the Highwinds were prolific in their passion for dragons. They were painted on the walls, on the floors. Statues of dragons were almost everywhere she cared to look. And not just normal statues, no, these were of a higher quality of stone than most statues. Not even the Cosmos Statue out in front of the Garden Gate was made of that quality of material.

"I wonder if I'll be able to make something that good, being a blacksmith in training and all," she thought aloud.

"Those weren't made by a man with a chisel, as most of those types of art tend to be made," Kain answered her. "Those were made with magic. Human tools couldn't make a dent in adamantine, let alone form it into a sculpture."

"What kind of stores do you buy those kinds of pieces of art from? Do you have monsters working under your castle to make that kind of thing for you?" Hikari asked.

"No. These are relics of a bygone age. No one makes those anymore. No one can," Kain continued as he led them to an even taller room filled with gigantic tables filled with extravagant food. "So. Eat as much as you like. If you ask my mother, she'll even let you take some with you after it's all over. She's giving like that."

"Which one is your mom?"

"Oh, y'know. She's the soft spoken lady with her hair in a braid standing next to my father, the Grand Dragoon. Be polite. I've got work to do, so enjoy the party," Kain said before jumping up and right out of sight.

"What a showoff," Minwu grunted. "He's always been haughty, but here in the manor, he's insufferable."

The event was nothing short of fancy. Elegant. It was such a high society event that Hikari recognized a few senators that she'd seen with the senator her father was a guardian for. Crystal felt extremely out of place. She was hungry, as she was told there would be food, but the place was so formal that she was afraid to reach out and take the food right in front of her. Minwu rolled his eyes as he took a plate and put some goodies on it, making his way to the same place he was told to sit last year. Tidus and Vivi ultimately decided it would have been rude to refuse the food and they followed Minwu to the guest seating, which left the two girls alone to stand there nervously.

"I don't know what to do," Crystal whispered to Hikari. "This whole thing feels… weird."

"Yeah. I would take from the food, but…"

"...I don't wanna be stared at by all these uppity types."

"Me, either."

"I can see why Cid wanted out."

"Totally."

"...are you gals having a good time?" Speak of the devil, it was Canti's father Cid who called out to them. "I don't know why you're just standing there, but you shouldn't feel on ceremony. You aren't being stared at."

"You heard us?"

"Mhm. Don't underestimate my hearing. I'm a mechanic. I listen for tiny noises that could signal malfunction at any time," Cid said, clearly doing all he could to speak formally, though both girls could tell he was forcing it. "Well, take as much food as you like and you have some reserved seats in the front. You don't have to worry. Guests are only here as a courtesy to the one being honored, just to make them feel supported. It's easy to feel alienated in this kind of ceremony."

"So… where is Canti, anyway?" Hikari asked.

"You wouldn't recognize her in what she's wearing now. They have her all prettied u- I mean, they dressed her elegantly for today's grand occasion…"

People had her pretty pegged when they called her a Princess of Anxiety, but never had she really agreed with the title until her Aunt started to dress her for the ceremony. She had no idea how long she'd be sitting there, having her hair and clothes be fussed over, but Canti knew that just the few moments she'd been there had been more than enough. Only her Papa understood how she liked her hair to be brushed, and how she liked to part it on the left, and how tangled her curls tended to get, so the brush had to be pulled along gently through her hair. She didn't like it parted in the middle, she didn't like how hair the brush was pulled through her hair, and she certainly didn't want her weird smelling Aunt Erina this close to her. She was family, sure, but Erina felt like a stranger to her. It sent off weird signals in her head to be this close to someone she barely knew. And it was clear how little Erina really knew about her when she was sitting there and doing everything that was only making matters that much worse!

But, even though she wanted to tremble, she held as still as possible, and even though she wanted to scream her complaints so loud that even the Goddess Cosmos could hear her loud and clear, Canti didn't say anything. She kept her eyes closed and tried to focus on something else. It wasn't easy. Of course it wasn't going to be. Canti refused to disappoint anyone for on today, because this day, more than any other day she'd been a part of this family, she had eyes on her. The whole family was going to be here, and it wasn't going to be her fault that this one thing that would finally make her be a part of this family even though she wasn't born into it just happened to fall apart. She wasn't going to let that happen. All she'd wanted was to be accepted, to be a part of the family, and all she'd felt since she was adopted was out of place. And with this, as painful as it was, promised her that she had a place of her own, to be a part of.

"I know you're nervous, but you are handling yourself extremely well," Erina said. She stopped running that scratchy brush through Canti's hair. "I for sure thought you were going to fight me the way you did the other morning… but you seemed to have matured a little. That's a good thing. Richard likes it when people are mature enough to take on their duty without complaint." Even though she didn't say it, Canti knew Erina was alluding to Papa Cid, and she hated the fact that even when no one was around to acknowledge her for being a dutiful wife to her husband and supporting his every belief, Erina just went along and did it anyway.

"...don't worry about me," Canti said. "I'm tough."

"You have to be, to uphold this family's legacy. You might not be of our blood, but you carry our name. The family's destiny is your destiny now whether you like it or not. You can follow through and inherit greatness, or fall far from grace."

"What does it mean to fall from grace?"

Erina sighed. "Canti, I can't tell you that. It's not my place."

"...I figure you know more about what I'm going through than anyone, Aunt Erina, because you're like me. You weren't born a Highwind."

"You're right. I wasn't born a Highwind. I married one, and I took up the name and the family's legacy."

"...are you happy, Aunt Erina?"

"Happy? Why would I not be happy? I was blessed to be chosen to wed the Grand Dragoon and the head of the Highwind family." Erina had this look on her face as if she was appalled that a child would dare to ask her that. Canti could have no idea of the pressure she'd endured since she fell in love with Richard in their days attending Garden. "I love Richard and he treats me well."

"I guess there's no reason to be unhappy when you live with a man with so much authority that you're practically treated like a queen," Canti said, taking a moment to straighten out her skirt.

Suddenly Erina stood up and threw the brush she'd been using across the room, storming out the door and slamming it behind her, leaving Canti alone there, sitting on the stool, wondering exactly what she'd done to piss her aunt off so badly. She got up off the stool and walked over to the mirror against the wall.

Canti wore a lovely gown and her hair had been styled a certain way so she could wear a tiara-ish headdress. If she was going to become a dragoon, she didn't understand the need for that. Every fully armored dragoon she'd ever seen wore draconic armor and helmets, covered from head to toe. She didn't look like she was becoming the newest member of a family of elite dragon warriors. She looked like a dainty girl in a gown wearing a tiara to be paraded around for some fancy nobility, and upon seeing her reflection here, that's all she felt like.

Soon she heard weird sounds from the wall. Canti turned to look over and see what it was. There were little tink-tink-tinks coming from near the window. No matter where she looked, she didn't see what it was. Could it have been a bird poking at the window? How odd.

But that's when the window came crashing in, glass flying everywhere. Canti put up her arms and bring up that barrier she'd managed to manifest on her first day of school.

"...oh, I've found a lovely little lady, have I?"

Canti let the power fade from her hands only to find the familiar face of Ffamran Bunansa standing there. She didn't know anyone else with hazel eyes. "…Ffamran?!" she whispered. "…why did you break in my uncle's window?!"

"I certainly didn't expect anyone to be here. According to the spies, no one uses this room," he said smoothly.

"...spies?!" Canti couldn't be more confused.

"I knew there would be one of the Highwind ceremonies today, but I didn't believe they were going to finally induct you into the cult… I thought that was why your father distanced himself from the Highwinds," he continued.

"H-how dare you!" Canti said. "You break into my uncle's house and call my family a cult?!" She felt her blood boil. "Maybe Kain was right about you!"

"I apologize, my dear. I'd love to stay and chat with you, princess, but I've a treasure to steal," Ffamran said, bowing before he turned to walk right out the door.

"Steal…" she repeated, reaching for the back of his collar. "…you think I'm going to let you steal something from the family that I've wanted so badly?" She gripped onto it tightly as he struggled to get free. "I thought you were my friend, and I wanted to repair the relationship between our families, Ffamran. Oh, wait. Your preferred name is Balthier, right?"

"I have no respect at all for the Highwinds when they steal the technology we Bunansas have developed… all to further their power with their Warriors of the Water nonsense!" Ffamran grunted at her. "And once you take up the name, you have to obey the lead of the family. If you don't, you end up pushed out, like your beloved Papa Cid. That's why he left! And now Richard finds out that you've decided to take up the spear, and you hold some sort of magical potential unlike any this family has ever had, so of course he wants to take advantage…"

"You lie! You would have me turn against my own!"

"Take a hint, princess!"

Canti pushed him up against the door, the skin of his face being scratched up by the door under all her physical pressure. "Kain always told me the Bunansa family had something against us, and here I was wanting to give you the benefit of the doubt. But no! You've hated me since day one!"

"I… I've never hated you! Not you! No. I can't hate you, princess."

"For the love of Cosmos, stop calling me that! I'm… a dragoon! I'm not a princess!"

Ffamran coughed loudly. "A-all… all right, Canti! I get it. I-I'm sorry."

"What were you going to steal?" Canti asked angrily.

"...the Wyvern Lance."

"Uncle Richard's spear?"

"The very same one."

"You liar! You were just talking about power stolen from your family! You want something else…" She tightened the pressure she put on him against the door, almost squeezing the air out of his body.

"The Wind Crystal, Canti. I want to steal the Wind Crystal. My family discovered it, gave it to Leviathan, who then gave it to the Highwinds for the dragoons… gave them the power of the wind itself… That's why there's a rivalry between the Bunansas and the Highwinds and there has been for centuries! We're you're timid little bitches and you walk all over us!" Ffamran pressed back against her, causing her to loose her grip. "That power should belong to us!"

Canti didn't understand what he was talking about. "I don't understand, Ffamran. I've never heard of the Wind Crystal. I don't know what that is."

"If today's your ceremony, then you will…" he straightened out his clothes and shook his head. "…so if you don't want to be in that dress anymore, then let me take it, and your ceremony will be canceled."

"You aren't taking this away from me!" she shouted.

The door opened up and there stood Kain, ready to take her out to the rest of the party. He only could watch as Canti pulled back her left hand and gave Ffamran the hardest punch she could manage, knocking him back.

"Cousin!" Kain shouted, rushing over to her side. "What… what happened?! What is he doing here?!"

"Kain!" she looked at him worriedly. "He… he wants to steal something from Uncle Richard. He broke in the window, an- and…"

"Not to worry. I'll take care of this," Kain said, reaching to pick Ffamran up by his collar. "Go now to your father, Canti. It's time to begin."

"What are you going to do with Ffamran?" she asked.

"Beat him within an inch of his life and dump him on his father's front porch?"

"I have an idea," she said. "I wish to invite him as a guest. Have him sit with Hikari, Crystal, and the rest of my friends."

"Anyone else I wouldn't question, but he could have hurt you. He wants something that belongs to our family. Why would you keep him here?" Kain asked, shaking his head in confusion.

"He'll see what he wants to steal, and he'll be so close…" she answered, staring down at Ffamran. "…but with all of our family and esteemed guests, there's no way he'll be able to make off with it."

"...as you wish. It is your ceremony." Kain said, nodding his head.