FINAL FANTASY: INQUISITION
By Thomas Knapp
Act Three- Scene Six
The Drunken Chocobo, Orland's Point; two days later…
"They've been gone too long. I'm going after them." Midas said simply, and started to rise out of his chair.
For the fifth time in as many hours, Tamara grabbed the Red Mage by the shoulder, and guided him down to his seat. "Midas… they had a lot to do… one should expect that they would be occupied much longer than us."
"Besides… it's only been a day since we heard news that the Titan factory was destroyed. We have no idea which objective they did first." Borz added, "No news is good news after all."
"Midas…" Tamara finished, "We all know that you are worried, but you have to trust them to finish what they planned to do."
Midas didn't seem terribly convinced by that statement. "Normally, I wouldn't be terribly concerned… but think about the four that went to Artica. Fredros, I can trust to get the job done, but the other three worry me a little bit unsupervised."
Tamara and Borz, even Trigger, who was leaning against the wall, looked at Midas with a bit of shock. The Red Mage was not one to show so little confidence in his allies. Midas sighed, then explained, "Come on… you all HONESTLY have total faith in a group consisting of Creed… Harmon…" He looked at Tamara as he uttered, "and Yura?"
Tamara went totally rigid, then nearly leaped out of her chair. "I'm going after them. Knowing that summoner, she's probably gotten them killed already." It took the combined effort of Borz and Trigger to sit her down again.
"All right… you two are driving me NUTS!" Borz hissed, taking a role of leadership that he normally would have felt uncomfortable taking. "We will wait ONE more day. If we have still not heard anything from them, we will travel to Artica."
Five minutes later, the door to the tavern nearly flew off its hinges as a thick, burly arm pushed it inward, sending Trigger into a roll to avoid the crashing slab of wood as it slammed against the wall.
As if nothing was amiss, Creed stomped up to the bar, and quickly ordered the most potent drink that the barkeep had ever heard of. Somewhat dazed, Midas, Tamara, and Borz merely followed with their eyes as Fredros and Harmon walked into the tavern, taking seats at the table the other adventurers were seated at. Finally, Yura nearly bounced into the tavern, throwing her arms around Midas's neck; one hand stretched inches in front of his nose, the Crystal of Wind resting in her palm.
"See what I got?" Yura stated. Midas nodded dumbly, and Yura then skipped to the bar next to Creed. It was unclear from his position if she ordered anything or not, and he hoped that she hadn't. The last thing they needed was for her to get drunk again.
"Let me tell you, Midas… that is NOT something I ever want to do again. Blowing up buildings, running from an angry army after attaining the crystal… I'm surprised I haven't starting losing my hair from all the stress and excitement." Harmon explained, then patted the top of his head as if to make sure he HADN'T been losing hair.
Fredros, on the other hand, seemed unnaturally preoccupied. His eyes seemed dimmed, his head hanging ever so slightly, as if there was an invisible weight pressing down on his neck.
"You okay in there, Fredros?" Borz asked, somewhat concerned for his friend.
"I… shall discuss it with you later, Borz. Right now… I think I need a drink…" The White Mage then stood, and joined Yura and Creed at the bar.
Harmon's expression blanked, and he asked in a confounded tone, "A drink? Where are you gonna get a drink, Fredros?" When the White Mage didn't answer, Harmon looked to the others at the table to supply an answer.
Midas didn't seem like he was much in the mood to respond to ANYTHING, Tamara was too flabbergasted to reply, and thus Borz took it upon himself to clue in the forgetful Blue Mage. "We're in a bar, Harmon." The half-sized mage reminded.
Harmon looked around as if he had been magically transported inside the establishment. With a startled yelp, he said, "Oh yes… Indeed we are! Well then, I suppose I should make do of my good fortune." As he stood, he called out to Yura, Creed, and Fredros, "Save a stool for me!"
Once Harmon had started to approach the bar, Midas's attention was drawn to Yura calling out cheers, and he watched as she clinked mugs with Creed, then promptly downed half the amber liquid in the oversized glass. Midas turned his attention back to the center of the table, then let his head drop into his left hand, fingers massaging his temples. His eyes drifted up in Borz's direction, and he asked hypothetically, "And you wondered why I was worried, huh, Borz?"
The Black Mage watched the jovial scene, and merely replied, "Not anymore."
The next day, sailing along the coast of North Landing…
The bunks on the low riding sailing ship would have been quite small for an average sized person, but Borz was not average sized. Where the others of the group avoided those poor excuses for beds as much as possible, Borz found them quite comfortable.
Thus, he was a bit surprised when Fredros entered the bunks, considerably earlier than anyone normally would. "What, calling it a night already?" Borz asked. Fredros had been acting strangely since returning for Artica, and Borz's concern was multiplying with each day.
"No… I needed to speak with you privately, and this seemed like the best place to do it." Fredros explained. He sat down on the bottom bunk across from Borz, making sure his head did not smack the beam running along the bottom of the top bunk.
Borz sat as well, and asked, "Okay, what's up?" Hopefully, Fredros would explain what has been bothering him.
Fredros didn't disappoint. "I met HIM in Artica."
For a moment, Borz was confused, "Who's him?"
"The man who killed your family… the man who caused all your pain."
All of a sudden, Borz got the hint. His yellow eyes seethed, and he hissed, "Oh… you mean, HIM…"
"His name is Tarsis… and he is serving as Gregorian's top aide." Fredros explained, "And no doubt he will be following us to Wodensland, that is, if he isn't already there."
Borz was rather torn. On one hand, he HOPED Tarsis traveled to Wodensland. With Borz's newfound control of his magic power… the result of this meeting would be quite different indeed. On the other hand, Borz wasn't sure he wanted to face that man again, now or ever. He had started to cope with the loss all those years ago… now the knowledge that the one responsible for all that agony was alive, and probably heading their way, flared that dormant wound once again, as if it had been freshly struck.
Fredros muttered in way of apology, "I'm sorry if I have possibly caused you to lose any sleep… but I figured that it was best if you knew."
"Thanks, Fredros." Borz asked, "But what about you? Tarsis didn't exactly let you escape without harm."
"I'm not sure what I will do, or if I even have the ability to do anything about it. My faith tells me to let go my anger, and accept that which I cannot change. But that is so hard to do… ESPECIALLY now."
That following night…
Yura wasn't sure how she knew, since the faintly crescent moon night didn't cast enough light to indicate it, but she instantly felt that they had finally broken from the mountainous coast, and had taken to the open sea, heading for their final target; the island kingdom of Wodensland.
She sighed, as the waves, barely visible below, slapped against the darkened hull of the ship. There wasn't a soul awake for thousands of kilometers. "I'm alone… once again…"
Cairos Castle…
"Mommy?" Yura asked cautiously, as she pushed the door to her parent's chambers open ever so slightly.
Yura's mother, a rather plump middle aged woman, turned in the stool she had been sitting in, and motioned for Yura to approach. When the toddler had settled into her mother's lap, the older woman asked, "What is troubling you, little one?"
Yura took a deep breath, and said softly, "I had a bad dream last night… that you and Daddy were gone, and I was all alone…"
Her mother smiled in pity, and gave the young girl a big hug. "Yura, nothing is going to happen to your father or me anytime soon. But I understand how you feel. I remember when I was about your age I was worried that MY mother would go away. She taught me a little song to remind me that she would always be there. I think it's time that I passed it on. Would you like to learn?"
Yura nodded excitedly. If the song helped to make her bad dreams go away, she was all for it…
You may learn, you may grow,
But through it all, you'll still be home.
I may not be there through all your days,
But in your heart, I'll always stay.
When you're hurt, when you're sad.
May my memories make you glad.
And no matter where your life may go,
In your heart, you'll never be alone.
Great Central Sea…
The final notes died from her lips, and Yura couldn't help but smirk. That little tune had kept her spirits high for many years after her parents had been killed. However, she realized that no simple song was going to solve this problem. This time, there was no one left… no one she could turn to.
As she began to feel the tears welling, and her chest beginning to lurch in desolate sobbing, a slight creak on the deck drew her attention. She saw one shadow, slightly darker than all the rest, move to the railing a few meters to the aft of her position. Closer examination revealed the shadow to actually be Trigger.
Yura approached the silent ninja. If anyone could empathize with her pain, it would be him. She looked up into Trigger's eyes, and he gazed back silently. Barely able to keep from crying, she pleaded, "I know that you vowed never to say anything, but can you PLEASE talk to me? PLEASE?"
The ninja looked off into the darkness of the ship, and after a moment's pause, he replied, "I don't know what to say."
Yura smiled, and she wiped away the tears that were forming on her cheeks. "That's all you needed to say… just something to remind me that there are other people, that I'm not all alone."
Trigger seemed confused, and he answered, "But you aren't alone. You never have been."
Yura nearly laughed in spite of herself, and she said, "Midas gave me that speech when we were traveling to North Landing, but he was wrong. Even he's left me. He's made his choice, and it isn't me."
"What are you referring to? As far as I can recall, he hasn't suggested to ANYONE that he had chosen either you or Tamara. Did he recently?" At this point, Trigger sighed, "I can only imagine that in his eternal ignorance for other people's feelings, he probably broke the news to you in the most unpleasant way."
This time, Yura did laugh, "Oh no… he didn't have to say a thing. His actions were enough."
"If you are referring to his stupid heroics in Hamil… I wouldn't put too much weight in that. I can say with absolute certainty that he would have done the same thing for you had it been you trapped in Hamil."
"Oh, I don't doubt it… but I saw the way that they looked at each other afterwards. Just their eyes shared something that he had never given me. Maybe Midas doesn't realize it yet… but he's made his choice."
She then joined Trigger in staring out into the inky blackness. "I am an island, severed from the rest of the world."
Trigger chuckled, and he said, "You know… you reminded me of something I once heard a friend of mine say."
"Really?" Yura asked, more to keep in talking than any interest in the content, "What did your friend say?"
Trigger thought about it for a second, then stated, "Every man, woman, and child is an island upon the vast sea of humanity. And much like mighty bridges that cross great waters, so are the relationships we have to other people. And those bridges of relation may fall into disrepair with neglect, or they may strengthen with vigilance. Like trade shapes great cities, so also does the trade of emotions, words, even touch, mold and form who we are, and informing us that we are not in the least bit alone."
The ninja touched Yura's shoulder, and he said, "I think what my friend meant was that the only way to be alone is by your own making. As long as there are those in this world that you care for, and they care for you in turn, then you will always have someone. It doesn't necessarily have to be someone you love in a passionate way. I can assure you, that if you ever need me, Midas, or any of us here… even CREED I think, we will always be willing to support you. Although…" He finished with a slight chuckle, "Some of us may not talk back…"
With that, the ninja started to slip around to the aft of the ship, appearing that he had chosen to sleep under the stars. But before he could settle, Yura asked, "Who was it that said that?"
The ninja didn't reply right away, then said, "Oddly enough… Gregor did, in a speech to the new five kingdoms after the revolution. Nonetheless, I discovered that it possessed just as potent of a meaning to the individual as well as to the nations. Good night, Yura. You do need your sleep."
"Yes… perhaps I do." Yura commented, "Thank you, Trigger."
The ninja didn't reply, and so Yura took the opportunity to slip back down the stairway to the lower decks. Maybe she WOULD be able to sleep tonight. She hoped so, for she needed to be alert for when they finally reached Wodensland.
End Act Three