Rebirth of a Holy Dragoon
Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy. OCs belong to various friends. I think you know the drill by now.
Notes:
Warnings: You don't remember the list of warnings I gave before? Fine. Here. Cursing, potential OOC, OC x Canon, stupid fluffy romance, sex, angst, self-insert author avatar, shitty storytelling.
FIC START!
Chapter Fifty-six
When Balthier came back up to the base of operations, which was mostly rubble, many of the mercenaries were searching outside beneath rocks and other parts of crumbled buildings. Some of them were going out of their way to try to question the citizens of Fisherman's Horizon, even though they knew that no matter how hard they yelled, how loud they threatened, there would be no way for them to answer. None of them had the ability to form words or even understand language when it was spoken to them, which Balthier expected to be on purpose, since all of the people who were here now tried to access secrets of the Administration.
"Still no sign of our little runaway?" he asked, stopping a pair of particularly cruel men from uplifting the dirty skirt on a dark skinned woman that had been wandering by. "Not that you lot are looking very hard."
"Nope," one of the mercenaries said, "though the boss did say something about you knowing more about her."
"Yeah. Ya'll's friends, 'parrently," the other said, his words slurring like he was drunk. He didn't stink of alcohol, but the man was bigger than most and carried a large ax strapped to his back. This man was nothing more than a brute.
"Me? Friends with the dear princess who slipped your perfect little brainwashing camp?" he asked. "I'm not the type to befriend one who belongs to a rival family. Especially the Highwinds. Now, if you would please allow me to pass back into the base."
"You asked to search outside. So, the boss has decided you will search outside until she's found," the first mercenary said, pointing out to the rubble.
"Get to lookin', purdy boy," the second grunted, pushing Balthier in the shoulder.
"I'm going inside," Balthier said. "I have a report for Mateus' ears only in regards to his missing love."
"If that's the case, you can tell me here and now," Mateus walked out of the building with a few more mercenaries. "What have you found out?"
"I cannot tell you here. Allow me to tell you alone."
"Then walk with me."
He didn't want to stay out in this heat any longer, but it appeared as if he wasn't going to have a choice. "All right, then."
Mateus and Balthier walked off alone for a while without saying anything. They both watched the situation around them and looked back at each other in different intervals.
"Tell me what you know. Stop leading me around, Ffamran."
"I'm not going to lie to you, because what I've done helps you," Balthier said.
"What you've done?" Mateus asked. Hearing that could have only meant one thing. "You… helped her escape."
"I did."
"She was-"
"Yes. I found her staring at the display you made of her uncle's corpse, took her to my room, allowed her to send a letter about her still being alive, and I escorted her right out of the base under the guise of her being one of these poor souls," Balthier explained. "The letter was addressed to her father."
"You have allowed her a momentary freedom and set up a trap," Mateus said, impressed by this turn of events. "I didn't think you could come up with such delicious plans."
"The truth is, there are many reasons I've done this, and not all of them have to do with you and the Palamecian family's ideals," Balthier said, looking up at the cloudless sky. "Part of me hopes that she succeeds, and part of me knows how futile it is to run away from the cruelty of reality."
"I am terribly vexed over the fact that you did this without consulting me."
"I don't care how angry you are at me over this. I'll tell you where I told her to go, and you should have your efforts remain covert until it is the exact time to counterattack."
"You've sent her to the beach, haven't you?"
"Why would you think that?"
"The final outpost of Leviathan's men in Fisherman's Horizon remains at the beach, beyond the port."
"That is exactly where I told her to go." Balthier nodded. "There's more to my plan, if you wish to hear of it."
"Please, I wish to hear all about your plan."
"...allow me to stage an escape for Kain as well."
"He is the one thing I have to bring her back to me. I do not believe-"
"Mateus, please. I can buy favor with both the Highwind cousins to turn against them later," Balthier said smoothly. "If I can bring Kain and Canti together after what they've been through, their trust in me will be to a fault. Allowing those two to be together will give them a false sense of security."
"Mmm. I like the idea of giving her Kain, but I do not wish to release him." Mateus took a few paces back and forth. "Perhaps I can do both."
"Unless you're able to use a powerful magic spell, I do not believe that is possible…"
Mateus thought to all of the dreams he had. He once was able to take the form of Minwu to bring Canti to him, and she had fallen for it. She had clung to him so tightly, in ways only those connected through the most deepest of love, even if he wore the appearance of someone else. He hadn't learned that spell here in this world, but he knew the magic was within him. "I will take his appearance, and you will take me to her," he said confidently. "The three of us can meet with Leviathan's men, and be taken to Cid, where I put an end to this rebellion myself."
"Y-you know that sort of magic?"
"I do."
Balthier was not expecting to hear that. "Well… all right. Go ahead. Cast it. She can't have made it too far from where I left her. She did ask me to help Kain in the same way I helped her."
Mateus unleashed all of the magical power within his body. A circle formed beneath his feet, letting off energy that soon swirled about him. His physique changed slowly from being tall and lanky, to being just a little shorter but with a tad more muscle on the legs. His spiky hair at the top of his head smoothed out and grew longer so it could be tucked behind his ears or pulled into a ponytail. His purple eyes now radiated a lovely blue instead. "Let me test out the voice," he said, surprised to hear Kain's voice coming from his lips. "I am the son of the Grand Dragoon, Lord Richard Highwind, Kain Highwind."
"Sounds like him…" Balthier said, amazed by the transformation.
"Am I authentic enough to prove who I am to Canti?"
"Hmmmm… when you see her, what will you say to her?"
Mateus replied, "My beloved… how I have missed you."
"Too romantic."
"But they're in love!"
"Even so. Kain's not a romantic type. He loves her, but he's subdued about it. Try again."
"Canti…" Mateus said with Kain's voice, "…please tell me you haven't suffered too much due to my incompetence."
"Better," Balthier nodded. "Much better."
"Then lead the way, Ffamran."
This wasn't what he expected, but perhaps there was a way to turn this in his favor somehow. He knew that Canti would never forgive him for tricking her like this. Balthier sighed as he waved his hand for Mateus to follow him.
