A/N: Hey, guys! In the previous chapter, Celes and Sabin found Edgar, who had pretended to be the leader of a gang of thieves. Following him, they discovered that his purpose was to search for Figaro Castle, and together. they defeated the tentacles that were blocking the engine. Now their search continues in Kohlingen. Who will they meet? Let's find out! I apologize for taking two months to finish the chapter, but between line issues that lasted a week, the size of the project and the fact that I started making videos on Youtube a month and a half ago delayed the release of this chapter. I hope you don't mind the wait. Anyway, let's get started!
WARNING: This chapter features scenes with usage of alcohol.
Chapter 29: The Falcon
(Objective: Go to Kohlingen to look for more of your missing friends.)
Characters:
Celes
Edgar
Sabin
(''The Dalmascan Estersand- Final Fantasy XII OST'')
Edgar's motorcycle sped along the desert sand as he, Celes and Sabin headed west. Every now and then, some monsters attacked them from afar with magic, but Edgar shot them with his rifle, using one hand to control the motorcycle.
''Edgar, what are you doing?! If you drive like this, you will crash!'' yelled Sabin, alarmed.
''Come on, relax, Sabin! I could ride this bike with my eyes closed.'' said Edgar in response.
''There's no need for you to be cool, you'll end up killing yourself.'' Celes added, unimpressed.
''You know what, Edgar? You remind me of a guy doing something like this on a motorcycle while holding a rifle.'' said Sabin.(1)
''Anyway, we're almost there.'' said Edgar.
''Well, good thing! There is barely room for three people!'' exclaimed his brother.
As they approached the village, they were attacked by a monster, but Edgar defeated him by turning around him and throwing a javelin at him.
''We hope to find the others as soon as possible.'' said Celes.
"They should be somewhere. Someone must also be there in Kohlingen.'' said Sabin.
(''The Dalmascan Estersand- Final Fantasy XII OST-s'')
(''Event Sad- Sonic Colours DS OST'')
When they arrived in Kohlingen, the three found a place to park the motorbike and looked around. They noticed that the village was in much better condition than Tzen or Albrook, but there was a feeling of degradation. An old woman remembered with nostalgia the good times of the past, and her voice was full of sadness. ''At least here there are no consequences of the Light of Judgment. You know, Edgar, when I arrived at Albrook and Tzen, both cities were badly damaged by the Light of Judgment, which also attacked the moment I arrived.'' said Celes.
"It's horrible. South Figaro also suffered serious damage due to the Light of Judgment, but it was rebuilt. I also saw an abandoned Magitek Armor here, and it looks like what remains of the Gestahlian Empire, there are no Imperial soldiers around.'' said Edgar.
They went around the village to look for information about their friends, and the inhabitants seemed a little shaken by the conditions of the world. A young woman said of a man with a thick mustache who spoke in an antiquated way, stating that some time ago he had passed through these parts and that he had headed towards Maranda.
''Maranda? Wait. But Maranda is not on this island.'' said Sabin.
Celes took the map. ''You're right. Maranda is located on the island south of here. This means that he must have reached the city by swimming.'' she said.
''But why should he go to Maranda?'' asked Edgar.
''I don't know, but I have a feeling it's about someone. You see, last year, when we were in Maranda trying to avoid the Imperial soldiers, Cyan and I hid in a house where we met Lola, a girl who was worried about her boyfriend. Lola's boyfriend was an Imperial soldier that had defected when the Empire besieged Doma, and we had met him in badly wounded in Mobliz. I don't know if that former soldier is still alive, but I doubt it.'' Sabin replied.
Another person, a rather shaken former Narshe guard, said that his town was now abandoned. ''Everyone fled shortly after the Cataclysm.'' he said.
''And Arvis? What happened to him?'' asked Celes, wanting to know how he was doing.
The guard sighed. ''He's dead.''
All three survivors of the Returners gasped in shock. ''No, it can't be!'' exclaimed Edgar, unable to hide his shock.
''I can't believe it... how did it happen?'' asked Sabin.
"Arvis hasn't left home since Banon's funeral. He was too angry that Kefka always opposed our countermeasures, and even though he had become the new leader of the Returners, he had run out of ideas. The day after the Cataclysm, his house collapsed on him because of the Light of Judgment and he was crushed to death. Apparently, Kefka saw him as a threat.'' said the survivor, with his head down.
''This isn't happening...'' murmured Celes. There was a sudden silence, which she interrupted after forty seconds of thinking. ''No. We cannot give up. Not now.'' Although she did not know Banon well, she remembered that he was kind to her.
While exploring Kohlingen, Celes suddenly remembered something and did not open her mouth because of it. It was Locke's native village. She had the feeling that Rachel... she couldn't explain, but she knew that maybe Locke hadn't been able to let her go yet.
''Everything OK, Celes?'' asked Edgar.
''Yes, I'm fine. I was just thinking about Locke, there's something about Rachel that makes me think he hasn't overcome the grief yet. Let's stop by the pub and take a break.'' replied Celes.
''Alright. But no alcohol!'' said Sabin.
''Why? What's wrong with it?'' asked Celes.
"Drinking alcohol is not good, and it contradicts Master Duncan's teaching. Not only that, but when I drink beer I feel strange and alcohol causes me to have bouts of diarrhea.'' replied Sabin.
''You should lighten up, little bro.'' said Edgar.
''Well, I wouldn't be surprised if your brother is so serious about all this, since he's been training under a martial arts master for years.'' replied Celes, and the three came in.
(''Event Sad- Sonic Colours DS OST-s'')
(''Conker's Drunk- Conker's Bad Fur Day OST'')
The pub was chock-full of people, and Sabin plugged his nose as soon as he sensed the smell of wine, cider, rum, beer, tequila, vodka, and other alcoholic beverages. Groups of men were sitting at the tables playing cards.
''It's not a good show, is it?'' asked Edgar, and his tone indicated that he wasn't joking like he often did.
''No. Not at all. Watch these fools here drown their sorrows.'' commented Sabin.
Celes looked around and saw a man with long silver hair sitting in front of the counter, lost in his thoughts while playing solitaire and drinking alcohol with a sulky look. She recognized him because of the scars on his face. ''Wait. I would recognize that guy among a thousand, it's Setzer!'' she exclaimed.
''You're right, it's him! Let's go talk to him!'' said Edgar.
"I remind you that the last time I drank alcohol I had terrible diarrhea. And the first time I drank beer I swelled like a balloon and bubbles of foam came out of my mouth. I was nine years old then. That beer was also rubbish, it looked more like burnt effervescent tea than anything else.'' said Sabin.
''Yeah, I remember it because you vomited foam all over the table.'' commented Edgar.
Setzer felt his arms were heavy as lead, but he took the cup of alcohol that was on the table. ''More cider.'' he said, in a trembling voice. It seemed as if he was about to fall from his chair.
The bartender snorted, but gave him the cider. ''Listen, just stop it, OK? It's been a year that I have all these people to think about, but you're the worst case I've ever faced.'' he said, clearly annoyed.
''Setzer?'' asked Edgar.
''Go away...'' the man murmured, his face covered by his arms.
(''Conker's Drunk- Conker's Bad Fur Day OST-s'')
Celes suddenly ran to the table. ''WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!'' she screamed, with the glare of a furious tiger.
Setzer raised his head, revealing his true face. It was him, but something about him seemed unrecognizable. His coat was unbuttoned, his clothes were crumpled, his eyes were bloodshot, his silver hair was messy and sloppy, and he had a messy goatee. He looked at those who were in front of him, and recognizing them, he immediately got up from his chair, holding them in a strong embrace with a happiness that seemed not to have felt for centuries. ''You are alive!'' he cried. He began to ask so many questions that he immediately found himself breathless.
''It's a long story. I woke up on an island, and when I found Locke's bandana, I knew you and the others were still alive.'' said Celes.
''I spent months looking for my castle. It was stuck underground due to some tentacles, but the problem is solved. We came from the nearby desert. Come with us, we want to defeat Kefka once and for all.'' said Edgar.
(''Daily Agony- Shenmue OST'')
''Thank you for coming, but you're just wasting time. I have already lost all hope. I have lost everything since Kefka destroyed the world. My airship has been destroyed, my business has gone bankrupt and I no longer have a purpose. I don't even have the money to eat two days in a row anymore, the prices for basic necessities have increased drastically because of what Kefka did...'' murmured Setzer. He took the cup of alcohol again, but Sabin snatched it from his hand.
''Don't.'' said Celes flatly.
''Setzer!'' shouted Sabin suddenly, noticing the bettor's decidedly scruffy appearance. He had noticed that in addition to his dirty, crumpled clothes, disheveled silver hair, and bloodshot eyes, he had lost a considerable amount of weight, to the point that his coat looked two sizes wider. ''Look at you, you're a mess! And you reek too!''
''There's nothing I can do. My house has been destroyed, so I don't even have accommodation anymore. Who am I kidding? I'm just a scarred fool, and killing Kefka is impossible.'' murmured Setzer, and the three noticed that he had tears in his eyes.
Edgar was about to say something in response when Sabin, so irritated to hear Setzer beat himself up, squeezed the cup so hard that it broke. Celes also reacted quickly, grabbing Setzer by the coat and pulling him towards her. ''Pull yourself together! I wake up after a year of coma, I come to look for you and others and I find that you are here to get drunk! Damn it, Setzer, open your eyes and listen!'' she yelled, ignoring the fact that everyone was watching them.
''I don't feel like doing these things anymore, I don't have the drive to do it anymore.'' said Setzer.
''What do you mean by it?!'' exclaimed Celes.
"You all know I'm a gambler. Normally, I like risk, but my world had always been one in which a man's spirit can fly free from all worriers. As of now, this is impossible. It's as if the weight of this world is crushing us, and I've lost the urge to fight and fly. I've lost my wings now.'' replied Setzer, discouraged.
''For your information, you're not the only one who gave up!'' shouted Sabin in response. "Among us members of the Returners, I was the first that Celes found, and she confided in me. The year of coma, the dying life forms, the World of Ruin, the death of the man that was like a father to her, she too had lost all hope, even if it lasted only a moment, and the reason why she did not give up is because she found Locke's bandana! Strago gave up completely! He believed Relm was dead and succumbed to his despair, joining the Cult of Kefka!''
''He's right! Come on, Setzer, you fought with all your heart before the Cataclysm happened! Of course, it wasn't easy either, but you never hesitated!'' added Celes.
''That was then. My dream was to own the fastest airship in the world, but I don't have the Blackjack. As of now, I've stopped chasing my dreams.'' said Setzer, turning his back.
''Thenwhy don't you find yourself a new dream? Like taking back our world and killing Kefka?'' asked Celes.
(''Daily Agony- Shenmue OST-s'')
''You know what? You're right. Let's go to Darill's grave.'' said Setzer, with new confidence.
''But first, you should change, you are unwsightly. And take a shower, you're all dirty.'' said Sabin.
''Okay, I'll do it. Wait here.'' said Setzer, leaving the tavern.
Celes remained silent for a while, confused. Who was Darill?
''Well, there are four of us with this.'' said Edgar.
The three stayed in the pub to eat something, and after about half an hour, Setzer returned, when the pub had emptied a little. He was definitely more presentable than before, no longer looking like some sort of homeless man or looking like he was starvin. ''That's better, isn't it?'' asked Setzer.
''Now that's better.'' Sabin said.
''Setzer, who is Darill?'' asked Celes.
''Celes, you weren't there. Setzer told us something about her when we crashed in Maranda.'' replied Edgar.
''Darill was a dear friend of mine and my partner. She was the owner of the fastest airshipin the world, the Falcon. She almost reminds me of you, Celes, you physically look like her. A few years ago, something unexpected happened that had consequences for our dreams.'' said Setzer.
(''Epitaph- Final Fantasy VI Pixel Remaster OST'')
(A few years earlier...)
The work on the engine of the airship was finished. Taking care of the engine was a young woman with long blonde hair and dark green, almost purple eyes. She wore a green top and miniskirt covered with a long red coat and purple leather gloves. Her eyes were full of self-confidence. ''I've finished perfecting the engine. The next test flight could be risky.'' she said.
Setzer, who was with her, was surprised. ''You're kidding? Darill, why do you try to push the airship beyond its limits? What are you trying to prove?'' he asked, with a smile.
Darill returned Setzer's gaze. ''I want to fly to the stars. Setzer, if something happens to me and things get bad, you should take care of the Falcon.'' he told him.
Setzer burst out laughing. ''Nonsense! I could only take possession of the Falcon if I won a race against you! And I won't lose sight of you until then!'' he declared.
''Be it as you like, but it won't be easy!'' replied Darill, with laughter.
(''Darill was a brave and ambitious woman, but she was also stubborn. We both dreamed of having the fastest airship in the world, but she was more radical in her ambition. When she puts a goal in her head, she doesn't let anything or anyone stop her. Even if the world turned upside down, she would never hesitate. I challenged her in a race to get possession of the Falcon, and she won.''
The Falcon and the Blackjack whizzed along the sky, and the owners of their respective aircraft had a good time during the race. However, the Falcon was faster, and was at some distance from Blackjack. ''Ah, flyinh! Nothing beats this good feeling!'' declared Setzer.
Darill realized the distance between the two airships and joked with Setzer. ''Come on, Setzer! How much longer will you be left behind? Shouldn't you try to pass me me? Or you'd rather look at my to my backside?'' she asked jokingly, and the man laughed. He knew he couldn't win the race, and when he finished, the two airships were close to each other.
''What do you plan to do now, Darill?'' asked Setzer.
''Now I'm getting serious! I will try to improve my records! I will fly over the clouds and get closer to the stars like no one has ever done before!'' Darill replied out loud.
''I will be waiting for you on the hill! Come back before sunset!'' said Setzer.
But when sunset came, Darill hadn't returned yet. The Falcon was like missing, and Setzer began to worry. A year later, he went to look for his friend, but instead came across a piece of iron, to his shock. A fragment of propeller. He walked forward and saw other pieces. It was this moment that he realized. Darill was dead. She had had an accident, and the Falcon had been destroyed.
(''But Darill didn't return. A year later, I found the wreck of the Falcon in a distant valley. Considering myself unworthy of such an airship, I repaired it and left it in Darill's grave. It is since then that I began to gamble and bet carelessly of my life. I guess that she influenced me.'')
(End flashback)
(''Epitaph- Final Fantasy VI Pixel Remaster OST-s'')
Although Setzer wasn't crying, there was sadness in his voice, and he seemed on the verge of collapsing. ''I'm sorry for you.'' said Celes.
"So if we can find Darill's tomb, we'll also find the Falcon, right?'' asked Sabin.
''Yes. The tomb is southwest of here.'' replied Setzer.
''OK. Wait, I'm going to get my motorbike.'' said Edgar, going to retrieve his motorbike. When he returned, he had a device in his hand. ''There is no room for four people, but this device is able to make things bigger and smaller.'' he said, and enlarged the bike with the tool.
''Cool!'' exclaimed Setzer, amazed.
Unlike the others, Sabin did not get on the bike, but instead continued on foot because he could keep up with only his agility.
(The gambler Setzer joined the party!)
The four stopped in front of a mound similar to Leo's tomb at Thamasa, but there was an open passage. ''So, is this your friend's grave?'' asked Celes.
''Yes. He didn't let anything or anyone stop him when it came to achieving his goal, but perhaps this is also his biggest flaw. His inability to recognize his limitations was the cause of his death.'' replied Setzer. "To access the place where I left the Falcon, we have to go underwater, the inside of the tomb would have to be changed a bit because of the Cataclysm, so there may be a cave. Keep your eyes open.''
(Objective: Venture into Darill's tomb to retrieve the Falcon.)
Characters:
Celes
Edgar
Sabin
Setzer
Edgar shrunk the bike with the tool from before, making it small enough to put in his pocket. The four dived, and when they reached the other side, they found themselves in a kind of cave, but on the ground there was what appeared to be a red carpet. ''I sense the presence of the undead here.'' said Celes.
''Speaking of the undead, last year, I faced some of them when Cyan and I crossed a haunted forest south of Doma, and we also had to deal with the Phantom Train, which takes the souls of the dead to the afterlife." said Sabin.
''I don't believe it. We have met undead before, but this? The Ghost Train?'' commented Edgar, not convinced.
''No, really. Shadow was with us then. Cyan will explain everything to you, and maybe you will understand. We also had to fight the Ghost Train itself, and BAM! I slammed it to the ground with a Meteorstrike!'' Sabin explained.
Everyone was left with their mouths wide open. ''What?!'' exclaimed Celes.
''You gotta kidding!'' said Setzer, shocked.
''Really, Sabin, I know you've become very strong with training, but this is far-fetched!'' added Edgar, still incredulous.
The four heard moans and sounds of monsters. ''Boys, prepare your weapons.'' said Celes, and Setzer pulled out a knife.
(''Aquarius- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate OST'')
Several monsters appeared, especially the undead. Among them were mutated skeletons and revenants, particularly powerful zombies with a poisonous bite that sucks the energy of the victims. One of the revenants grabbed Setzer and tried to bite him in the neck, but he took an orichalcum knife and stabbed it, freeing himself from its grip. The groups of undead were difficult to manage, but Celes kept them at bay with magical attacks at a distance and Sabin struck a skeleton with a kick, decapitating it. He kicked his head at a group of zombies and jumped on the ghouls, crushing them. Edgar took his assault rifle and opened fire on the zombies, shooting down some of them.
Sabin fired some chi at the monsters, and it did some damage, but not enough. He then used Aura Cannon, and the beam did its job, but this left him exposed to several revenants nearby. ''Look out, Sabin!'' warned Edgar. The younger twin reacted in time, lifting the revenant who was trying to bite him and dropping on one knee, destroying it with a backbreaker. By casting the Diara spelled, Celes blinded the zombies, which allows Edgar to open fire, clearing them along with Sabin, who destroyed an entire group with the Gaia Hammer.
When the quartet continued down a staircase, Setzer was almost bitten by a shrub-like green plant creature with a mass of tentacles and huge jaws filled with sharp teeth. ''What is that?!'' he exclaimed.
Sabin recognized the monster. ''Oh, no! That's a malboro! Malboros are plant-like monsters that are found in places like caves, and the most common ones are green ones, but there are also great molboros, brown in color. They are weak to fire, but they are difficult to kill because of their powerful bites, which can poison or paralyze(2), and their drool, which is poisonous. However, the worst of them is their bad breath: with their smelly breath, molboros can expel a vomit that can cause several side effects, such as temporary blindness, paralysis and severe poisoning.'' he explained.
The malboro stretched a tentacle and grabbed Setzer, who managed to free himself by cutting the tentacle with the knife, but not before the monster drooled at him, poisoning him, all while the others were busy dodging the other tentacles and attacking from afar. He managed to strike with Fira, but was bitten in the leg, which worsened his poisoning. Edgar threw grenades around the malboro to hide in the smoke and struck it from behind along with Celes before destroying it by throwing a grenade in it mouth before he could poison him with its breath. Using the Chakra Blitz, Sabin cured Setzer's poinson.
The survivors of the Returners went on to an area filled with water to go deeper into the tomb and were attacked by amphibious-like humanoid creatures, the fish men, whom Edgar killed by throwing harpoons. The plants weren't safe either, as the yellow flowers inside the underground cave released a strange zombifying pollen, and they had to deal with even more undead, including four-armed warriors, legless skeletons with gas coalescences coming out of their mouths, and skeletal abominations that looked like hybrids between human skeletons and parts of a dinosaur, with the tail attached to what would be the private parts, wings on the back with two red tentacles coming out of them, a tentacle instead of the right arm and a dinosaur head coming out of the chest. This creature was identified by Celes as an Osteosaurus and was quite tough. It hits Edgar with a black powder and his bony tail, turning him into a zombie. His skin became a horrible greenish color, and his eyes turned white and with an empty look. ''Oh, no, you won't use my brother, you abomination!'' Sabin yelled furiously, throwing a bottle of holy water at his brother and striking the abomination with Firaga. Flames sprang from the bottle that surrounded the king of Figaro, canceling the zombification, while Celes threw Diara, annihilating the monster.
of the Return econtinued to an area filled with water to go deeper into the tomb and were attacked by amphibious-like humanoid creatures, the fish men, whom Edgar killed by throwing harpoons. The plants weren't safe either, as the yellow flowers inside the underground cave released a strange zombifying pollen, and they had to deal with even more undead, including four-armed warriors, legless skeletons with gas coalescences coming out of their mouths, and skeletal abominations that looked like hybrids between human skeletons and parts of a dinosaur, with the tail attached to what would be the private parts, wings on the back with two red tentacles coming out of them, a tentacle instead of the right arm and a dinosaur head coming out of the chest. This creature was identified by Celes as an Osteosaurus and was quite tough. It hits Edgar with a black powder and his bony tail, turning him into a zombie. His skin became a horrible greenish color, and his eyes turned white and with an empty look. ''Oh, no, you won't use my brother, you abomination!'' Sabin yefuriously, throwing a bottle of holy water at his brother and striking the abomination with Firaga. Flames sprang from the bottle that surrounded the king of Figaro, canceling the zombification, while Celes threw Diara, annihilating the monster.
(''Aquarius- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate OST-s'')
''Oh, damn... What happened to me? Why do I have this headache?'' asked Edgar, groggy.
"That mutated skeleton turned you into a zombie. Luckily Sabin used holy water to get you back to normal before you could do anything about it.'' explained Celes.
''Thank you, brother. You're always there by my side.'' said Edgar.
''Hey, you would have done the same for me.'' Sabin replied modestly.
''You're right about this.'' Edgar replies.
''Thank goodness we're almost there...'' murmured Setzer, looking at a deck of cards.
(''Area 6, Sector 2- Metroid: Samus Returns OST'')
Suddenly, silence fell. A sinister silence. ''I have a bad feeling.'' murmured Celes, preparing a magic of light between his fingers. As the four continued, the smell of blood began to grow stronger, and they found the source.
On the ground of the cave there was a yellow dragon lying in a pool of green blood. His scaly skin had a few burns here and there, and it looked like some parts of his body had been cut off by something: one leg, one arm, half of his left wing, and the tip of his tail.
''What happened here?'' asked Setzer, nervous to see the dragon in those conditions.
''Edgar, what happened to that dragon? What is the point of all this?'' asked Celes. He felt that something was wrong.
Edgar took a gadget to check the dragon's condition, and the information from it was ''Identity: male wyvern'', ''Vital symptoms: absent'' and ''Wounds and causes of death: blood from the cut of part of the left wing and tail, of an arm and a leg, tears and burns from electrocution''. There was no doubt about it. He was dead. ''He is a wyvern male. Judging by all the tears and how some parts of the body were cut, it must have been torn to pieces by something. It also has several signs of burns, and seem to be caused by powerful electric shocks. I believe that nearby there is the nest of a wyvern, and this male must have died to protect the little wyvernlings.''
''How do you know about it?'' asked Setzer.
"We are the descendants of a certain dragoon knight, Richard Highwind. We found out not so long ago, but we'll explain to you later.'' said Sabin.
In the cave we began to hear what seemed to be the cry of a dragon with a tone... Sad? That it is the female, who has lost her mate?
''I don't like it at all. Let us be on our guard.'' said Celes.
(''Area 6, Sector 2- Metroid: Samus Returns OST-s'')
(''Gamma Metroid Boss Theme- Metroid: Samus Returns OST'')
Soon after, other sounds were heard. A roar of pain that seemed to come from the dragon itself and other sounds that seemed to come from monsters.
''Hurry up!'' exclaimed Edgar. They ran quickly and saw monsters attacking another dragon, including a monster that Sabin recognized to be very similar to the Ymir, the monster Terra had defeated, since she herself had told him about it. The dragon was a wyvern, but it was blue with yellow gold horns, wings and spikes and was a female. She was fighting to protect the eggs that had not yet hatched, but she was being overwhelmed.
''Now what do we do?'' asked Setzer.
''That is a female viverna! She is trying to protect her eggs! We have to protect her!'' replied Edgar.
''Are you crazy, Edgar?! What if the viverna killed us?'' objected Celes, thinking he was joking.
"We are descendants of the dragoon knight Richard Highwind. We have to do it, as crazy as it may be for me.'' replied Sabin.
(Objective: Protect the wyvern from monsters!)
The undead monsters were a big problem, as they were in large groups, and with them there were also a couple of giant mutant spiders and the electricity-eating snail. Celes got rid of the zombies and skeletons with spells of light that damaged the remaining undead, but began to struggle against the groups despite his skill with the sword. Setzer rolled the dice, and with his luck, he got a ten, resulting in high damage that knocked out one of the spiders. The Ymir-like monster was weak to fire, so Edgar took a gun with fiery bullets and kept his distance as he began to shoot. However, it closed in its shell every ten seconds and came out another ten, so when he messed up the timing, he got hit by a powerful electric discharge as strong as a Thundaga spell.
''Edgar! Terra told me how the monster that looks like this absorbs the power of electricity in its shell and releases it if it's threatened! In other words, we mustn't attack it if it closes in it shell or it will use Megavolt on us!'' said Sabin.
''Thank you for the warning!'' exclaimed Edgar, after barely dodging lightning.
Celes used Spellblade and infused her sword with the power of the Firaga spell and managed to hit the monster just in time before it retreated into its shell, but still before it did so, it released a big wave that hit our heroes dead-on, leaving them exposed to the attacks of the undead. Sabin quickly jumped backwards and fired chi balls and Edgar blocked the attacks with his shield, but during his attempts to counterattack with his spear, he began to have difficulty confronting them in large numbers. Magic was of help, but he had to put away his shield to do so, and when he appeared in front of the viverna to protect it, a molboro grabbed him with his tentacles, drooled at him and threw him against the wall. He had to rely more on jumping attacks and his new techniques, and Setzer had to use darts and cards more often, as well as rely on luck with the dice.
''These here will just waste our time, I swear.'' commented Setzer, after a bit of bad luck with the dice, as he had obtained a four and a two in the last two attempts in which he had tried to use them.
Celes prepared to use magic, her hands shining with light. ''Diaga!'' Some magical runes appeared in front of the Magitek swordwoman, and intense rays of light struck the enemies, making all the spiders and the undead disappear. Hitting the ground with a fist, Sabin made a rock pillar appear, causing the remaining monster to end up against the ceiling and overturning it, giving Edgar the opportunity to finish it with the plasma cannon.
(''Gamma Metroid Boss Theme- Metroid: Samus Returns OST-s'')
''Well, that's it. Let's check if the wyvern is wounded.'' said Edgar, and Sabin nodded. Celes and Setzer followed them.
(''Deep in the Caves- Rayman OST'')
The wyvernemitted roars of pain. Edgar approached and saw why. He had some cuts from which blood and burns came out, and in addition, he had tears in his eyes. ''She's hurt! We must heal these wounds!'' exclaimed Sabin.
Edgar took bandages, an ointment and some ointment for burns and approached the wyvern. ''Here, it will pinch you a little, but it is for your wounds...'' he murmured to her, but to hear the ointment on her skin, the dragon roared, not trusting those humans who had approached her eggs. She even almost ended up biting Sabin in the head.
''Ah! She tried to bite my head off!'' cried Sabin.
"I think she's agitated. She still doesn't trust us. Maybe if we can calm her down, she will trust us.'' said Edgar.
''I don't think it's a good idea.'' replied Celes in a realist way.
The wyvern began to squirm from the agitation. ''We will not hurt you. I know it's not easy to trust us, but you have to allow us to heal your wounds, otherwise you won't survive.'' said Edgar in a calm tone.
''Yes, and your mate is dead. He tried to protect you and the eggs, and if you don't allow us to cure you, the wyvernlings that will be born will never know their mother, I know because my brother and I lived it.'' added Sabin.
Edgar reached out a hand and touched the wyvern's chin. The dragon seemed to calm down. ''There, good girl.'' whispered Edgar.
''You managed to calm that wyvern...!'' commented Setzer, amazed.
Sabin took some herbs from his pockets. ''Here are some medical herbs. Master Duncan had also taught me about herbs like this, and he had told me that it is a good idea to stock up on them. I had been holding them for a while, they could serve us.'' he said.
Thus, the four began to take care of the wyvern and heal her wounds. She felt particularly comfortable with Edgar, but she didn't mind Sabin. After a few minutes, the dragon emitted a loud roar, a sign that she was again in strength. They looked at the nest, in which there were at least twenty viverna eggs. Suddenly, they began to move, and two of them began to crack.
''Look at the eggs!'' exclaimed Celes.
''They're about to hatch!'' said Edgar.
In the cave, sounds of broken eggshells were heard, and the babies began to come out of them. The first two dragons were blue, like the mother, and red, respectively. Another one was yellow like his father, still others green, purple, or pink, in various different colors and patterns, and the last wyvernling to be born, purple and yellow, jumped out of the egg, showing his playful personality. The living mother was finally able to interact with her babies, and as a sign of gratitude, she nuzzled her head on Edgar's cheek and grabbed Sabin's head with her teeth, nibbling him non-violently. The disciple noticed that perhaps it was her way of showing affection.
''I have so many questions that I don't know where to start.'' commented Setzer. ''How did you tame that wyvern?'' he then asked.
''We are descendants of the dragoon knight Richard Highwind. I discovered it recently when I found a secret room in Figaro Castle, and showed it to Edgar and Celes. The dragoon knights fought with spears and had a deep bond with the wyverns, with whom they lived on the island of Deist. A thousand years ago, when the War of the Magi was underway, the Magi feared the power of the wyverns and killed some of them. As a result, the dragoon knights were furious and sided against them.'' Sabin began.
''And then what happened?'' asked Setzer.
"During the war, the dragoon knights and their lives were exterminated when the island's river was poisoned, and the last surviving wyvern, who had laid an egg, was dying. The situation was so bad that the last of the ancient dragon knights, Richard Highwind, had to ask for help from a group of three heroes who came from afar to help him save the egg, which hatched, but the wyvern mother died. Richard also died, but his son Kain followed in his footsteps, and two hundred years ago, his descendants founded the kingdom of Figaro. There are no more living on the island of Deist, but there are wild lives in other parts of the world.'' explained Edgar.
''A certain empire?''
''I guess. But the Magi were involved in all this. I don't know how to explain it to Cyan though. Not only would it scare him to see us with a dragon, but telling him this story would cause him to freak out because he's toxiphobic.'' replied Sabin.
(''Deep in the Caves- Rayman OST-s'')
Suddenly, an evil laugh was heard, and appeared a rider that carried his head in his hand and a mace from the other, and standing on a carriage pulled by a skeletal, headless black horse. ''That's Dullahan, the headless undead knight! Use a whip made with the human spine as a weapon and aim at the eyes, causing damage to their vision or gouging them out. He also uses dark spells or ice spells, but he is weak to fire.'' said Celes.
The wyvern suddenly came forward and roared. ''Do you want to fight with us?'' asked Edgar, and the wyvern nodded.
"You're hurt, I don't think it's a good idea. What's more, Dullahan uses ice magic, and dragons like you can't tolerate the cold.'' said Sabin.
''I don't think she cares.''
''Alright But be careful and protect the little ones.'' said Edgar.
''Get ready!'' warned Sabin.
(Objective: Defeat Dullahan and protect the wyvern and her babies! If one of them dies, you lose!)
(''Beginning- Castlevania Judgment OST'')
Dullahan's carriage moved quickly to try to disorient our heroes, but Sabin was faster and created clones to hinder his movements before hitting him with a Rising Phoenix Blitz, creating a firestorm. Edgar took his machine gun and began firing, but Dullahan dodged the shot and hit him in the back. Celes managed to hit him by throwing Energiga and then Fira at him, but he had difficulty finding the right moment to attack closely with his sword due to the speed of the opponent.
Dullahan directed his attack on the wyvernlings, but the mother wyvern reacted with her powerful fiery breath and Edgar climbed on the dragon's back, throwing javelins and attacking with his spear when it was close enough, with mixed results. Setzer did not have much luck on the offensive, since his knife was too short and unreliable against this enemy, his darts did not always hit and his dice were inconstant, sometimes doing considerable damage because he had obtained the same number in both dice, in that case two fours, with the result of an eight, and sometimes numbers too low to make a difference.
''We need a plan here,'' Sabin said.
''Edgar, do you know what to do?'' asked Setzer.
"We have to try to get Dullahan out of the carriage, so we can take control of him and use it against him. Celes, if possible, tries to disarm him.'' replied Edgar.
''I will do what I can.'' said Celes.
They focused their efforts on limiting Dullahan's space of movement, and after a couple of failed attempts in which she was hit in the face by his whip, she managed to snatch it from her hand. Sabin jumped on the carriage and directed it towards the rocks and walls as he fired fireballs at the undead rider before forcing the horse to stand up on its hind legs, get out of the carriage and throw it in Dullahan's face. In response, it began to cast dark spells around the area, sometimes striking and sometimes not.
A Blizzaga struck the mother wyvern in the head, causing considerable damage due to the dragons's weakness to cold. Dullahan again used the same spell as before by aiming for wings, but both Edgar and Sabin intercepted the attack and were hit, protecting her from a possibly fatal blow. Sabin closed his eyes and prepared to use a Blitz. ''Explosive Fist!'' Before Dullahan could even react, Sabin hit him with a lightning-fast burst of punches similar to his Raging Fist, with the exception that these punches were fiery and more powerful, and ended with a last, devastating punch.(3)
This, however, infuriated the headless knight, who shot Blizzaga on the wyvern, but the babies, who had seen everything, jumped in front of their mother and fired fireballs from their mouth. They were still too small for a real fiery breath, but they could still charge at the enemy to hit him with their horns.
''What?! The babies... they shouldn't fight, they haven't even been born for an hour!'' exclaimed Sabin.
The wyvern, furious that her young had been put in danger again, attacked Dullahan with her sharp claws and her long and sturdy tail, and Celes destroyed him using a Spellblade attack that was enpowered by the Fira spell.
(''Beginning- Castlevania Judgment OST-s'')
(''Lower Brinstar- Metroid: Samus Returns OST'')
Sabin began to breathe heavily. ''Phew... it's over.'' he said out of breath.
The wyverlings emitted cried of excitement and nuzzled their concerned mother. ''Well, they're all safe.'' said Setzer, relieved that there were no more monsters around.
''I didn't expect those little ones to fight to defend their mother not even an hour after birth, let alone that you and Sabin could tame that wyvern.'' said Celes, amazed.
''Well, we have dragoon knight blood in our veins, what did you expect?'' replied Sabin.
''That seems right to me.'' commented Celes. ''But now we have to see what to do with the wyvern and its little ones.''
Edgar, who had called the mother wyvern Hiryu(4), made a decision. "At the moment we have to take them with us. If we leave the little ones behind, they will not survive. I will go crazy, I know, but I will send a letter to the castle so that they can take care of them, seeing them gave me an idea for the army: I could establish a new squadron of high-ranking soldiers, the dracoknights.(5)'' he declared.
''Hold it, Edgar. The wyvernlings are too young. They will die if they stay away from their mother.'' Sabin noted.
''And that's why I turn to the castle staff. Dragons feed on meat, so to feed the babies, it will be a good idea to go hunting for monsters, their meat should feed them. However, since they are still too young, we will take care of it, and when all this is over, we will take them to the castle. The staff will be able to take care of themm and the more experienced soldiers will be able to ride them when they are old enough, thus becoming dracoknights.'' explained Edgar.
''OK, but I'm not a fan of dragons.'' commented Setzer.
''Hiryu, you remind me so much of the colors of the coat of arms of my kingdom. Would you like to come with me, my brother and my friends?'' asked Edgar. Hiryu agreed, and the king of Figaro climbed on his back. Suddenly, both were enveloped in a mysterious light. ''What's going on?''
(''Lower Brinstar- Metroid: Samus Returns OST-s'')
''Is it the Warring Triad? Even if that was the case, they lost a lot of power because of Kefka.'' meditated Celes, amazed. Edgar heard a voice telling him that the time had come for him to awaken his hidden potential. It seemed familiar to him, almost like the voice he had heard the year before, when the heroes had found the crystals.
''It looks like a divine light.'' Sabin noted.
''What does all this mean? Is Edgar getting power?'' asked Setzer.
(''To a Higher Place- Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones OST'')
Enveloped in the intense light, Edgar perceived the power he was receiving, as well as the wyvern. A heavy armor of a blue color with red tints was formed above his royal garment, Hiryu now had reins attached to her muzzle, Figaro's insignia were attached to her back and moved because of the thread of wind, and on her forehead there was a helmet of sorts that covered part of her neck. The light disappeared, and Hiryu uttered a mighty roar.
(Edgar has changed class! He has promoted from Machinist to Dragoon King!)(6)
''I don't believe it... I think you have received power from something...'' murmured Celes, amazed.
''Come on, we've already lost enough time, let's go get the Falcon.'' Setzer cut short.
''Right.'' said Edgar.
''Little ones, your mother will come with us. Follow us.'' said Sabin to the wyvernlings, who followed them one step behind their mother.
(''To a Higher Place- Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones OST-s'')
(''Epitaph- Final Fantasy VI Pixel Remaster OST'')
Finally, the group reached the depths of the cave and found Darill's grave. A short distance from the grave, there was a large airship, even larger than the Falcon, but it looked lighter, and the top looked like the exterior of a missile or a rocket. ''Have we arrived?'' asked Celes, a little exhausted.
''Yes. Here it is. The Falcon.'' replied Setzer.
''So this is your friend's airship. With this we will be able to find our friends more easily.'' said Sabin.
''Why did you leave the airship here?'' asked Edgar. ''Darill said that if something happens to her, the Falcon is yours.''
''After finding Darill's lifeless body a year after the accident that cost her life, I couldn't look at the Falcon. I left it here in front of her grave because I felt I didn't deserve it.'' replied Setzer, thinking sadly about that event.
''But you have no other choice. If we want to continue, you have to use the Falcon. That's what Darill would have wanted.'' said Celes.
''You're right. Now the Falcon is part of me. I have to use it, in memory of Darill.'' the gambler said.
The four boarded the airship, followed by the wyvern and her babies. But Sabin wasn't sure if leaving the cave was possible. ''How do we get out?'' he asked.
''The exit is in front of us, and it is very wide. We should be able to get out with the airship.'' replied Celes.
''But we are underwater. We can't go out like this or we'll drown.'' Sabin pointed out.
''Don't worry. I looked at the Falcon, and it's made of a water-repellent material, so we won't drown and water won't get into the engines.'' replied Edgar.
''Darill built the Falcon with the best materials, which is why it performs better than Blackjack." said Setzer. ''You seem to be an expert in these things, Edgar.''
''Just now you're surprised? Edgar is very tech-savvy. With all the gadgets he has made over the years, I believe he would be able to recognize these things. I'm proud that he's my brother.'' replied Sabin. ''Right, Edgar?''
''Thank you for your trust, Sabin.'' said Edgar. ''Now we have to start this engine.''
(''Epitaph- Final Fantasy VI Pixel Remaster OST-s'')
(''Searching for Friends- Final Fantasy VI Pixel Remaster OST'')
Setzer started the engine, and the Falcon rose from the ground. ''Here we go!'' he yelled.
''Hold on tight!'' added Edgar.
The moment the Falcon flew out of the cave and came out of the water, there was a triumphant atmosphere. The light of the sun, although soft, covered the airship as if all hope depended on it and on those who were on it. The divine light that had previously enveloped Edgar also had an effect on Setzer, and when it disappeared, an aviator uniform was present under his coat.
(Setzer has changed class! He has promoted from Gambler to Sky Pirate!)(7)
Although Setzer was amazed at the power he had received as Edgar had, no one was focused on it. Instead, he directed the Falcon high, above the clouds, and then swooped. That flight gave the four a strong feeling of adrenaline like never before. During the flight, they saw a large building from afar.
''Look over there! Kefka's Tower! Now that we have the airship, we can go up there!'' shouted Celes.
''With this, we can defeat Kefka once and for all!'' said Sabin.
''But we have to find all our lost friends first.'' Edgar noted.
''Right. For once, I feel hopeful for the future.'' said Setzer.
A little white bird flew near the airship, then rushed forward. To see it, Celes had a feeling and thought it was something important. ''Setzer! Follow that bird!'' she ordered.
''Follow the bird? Why?'' asked Setzer.
"I'm not sure, but I have a feeling it's important. Let's follow it!'' replied Celes.
"According to the map, it looks like it's going south, towards the island on the western side of the world. Let's start by going there.'' said Edgar.
''OK! Let's go!'' declared Setzer.
"After finding Edgar, Celes and Sabin arrived in Kohlingen via the Figaro Castle, discovering that Arvis had died a day after the Apocalypse when the Light of Judgment hit his house and caused it to collapse on him. In the town's tavern, they reunited with Setzer, who had given up and was spending his days getting drunk from the loss of his airship. After they managed to convince him to come with them, they went to the place where Darill, Setzer's friend, had been buried to retrieve her airship, the Falcon. The journey was not easy, since the interior of the cave where Darill's tomb was located was infested with undead monsters who had also attacked a wyvern and killed her mate, who sacrificed himself to protect their unborn babies, but it was worth it, since not only did they manage to recover the Falcon, giving them new hope, but they also saved the wyvern, her little ones hatched, earning her gratitude, and the Figaro brothers, thanks to their dragoon knight blood, managed to tame her. Now that they could go all over the world, the journey could continue, and Celes and the others took their hopes with them...'' Mog recounted.
(''Searching for Friends- Final Fantasy VI Pixel Remaster OST-s'')
A/N: Phew, finally, this chapter is over! Surprised how I decided to implement a wyvern? Well, Setzer is back, and the Returners also have a new airship! But a bird is flying south. What does it mean? Is it a message? Find out in the next chapter! Until next time!
(1): It is a reference to the movie Terminator 2: Judgment Day, specifically regarding the poster promoting the film and the motorcycle scenes. This also inspired the European cover of Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped, which has a reference to motorcycle levels, and the Bad as Hog, a vehicle that appeared in Jetpack Joyride.
(2): In the Pixel Remaster version of Final Fantasy II, the Malboro0s attacks always cause paralysis to those who are hit. This was not there in the other versions of the game.
(3): In Final Fantasy Record Keeper, Sabin's Ultra Soul Break is essentially an elemental and more powerful version of Raging Fist.
(4): In the Japanese version of Final Fantasy V, wind drakes are called wyverns In this game, the wind drakes form the logo of the game and two of appear with a fairly important role, belonging to Lenna, Princess of Tycoon, and Krile, Princess of Bal. Hiryu is the name of Lenna's wind drake and is male.
(5): In Fire Emblem, Dracoknights are a flying class opposed to the Pegasus Knight, with more strength and defense but less skill and speed (although still good) and much less resistance, capable of using spears and swords, but starting from Path of Radiance, they no longer use swords, using axes instead. Like the Pegasus Knights, they are weak to bows and wind magic, but they are also weak against weapons that are effective against dragons such as the Wyrmslayer sword, while in Path of Radiance and its sequel Radiant Dawn they lose the weakness against arrows and wind magic typical of pegasus knights, but instead become weak against thunder magic. They promote in Wyvernlords, also called Dragonmasters in Japanese and in Radiant Dawn, where they have access to a second promotion in Dragonlord.
(6): In the Fire Emblem series, units can change classes. Some characters, including the protagonists, i.e. the Lords, have promotions that happen at specific points in the story, while others can promote through special items, usually after reaching level 10, or, in some games, when they level up when they are at level 20.
(7): Sky Pirates are typical of the games in the series set in Ivalice starting with Final Fantasy XII, and have airships named after summonable creatures. Balthier and Fran are Sky Pirates, and in the sequel for DS, Revenant Wings, Vaan and his childhood friend Penelo also become so.