Chapter 1

Longing for the past

"Do I really have to?" Cecil asked half pleadingly.

"Oh come on, darling!" Rosa leant her head playfully to one side.

"What is so unusual about her wanting to sit next to you? After all she is your mother-in-law. It is only natural that she wants to talk with you to get to know you better..."

"It is only natural that she wants to tease me - Rosa dear, you know that she does not like me! She blames me for bringing you in danger one year ago. Why must she come anyway? We are celebrating the victory against Zeromus - all our friends will come. This is not an usual party ..."

He looked hopefully at his wife, but to his dismay she got a stern look to her face although normally, Rosa was a soft hearted woman and tended not to be headstrong. They had been married for one year now and were as happy as ever and quarrels were seldom - not because Rosa would always give in, but because the two of them agreed in most terms very willingly to the other. As said, they agreed in most terms but "Rosa's mother is coming to dinner " was the number one subject which always caused trouble.

As it was now: as Cecil studied the harsh and a bit angry expression which seemed so unusual to see in the normally lovely features of his wife, it reminded him of the flight to the moon one year ago. Back then he, Kain and Edge had sent the girls away for safety reasons, but both had hid in the ship. As they had tried once again to send the girls away, Rosa had looked at him in the same way as she did now -- a look which signaled him that nothing would change her point of view.

"Cecil, sometimes you are impossible!" she started to scold him, "Mother wants to meet our friends, too and what does this "It is not a usual party" stuff mean? It sure is not, but my mother is not some ambassador of a foreign country but... but family! You could at least try and be nice to her ... " She glanced at him angrily.

"Alright," Cecil sighed, "I will not argue about this, but please do not be upset ... One can at least try, right?"

With a boyish grin he took Rosa in his arms. Her face softened as she returned the warm embrace and she started to giggle quietly. "You are some Paladin and King, Mr. Cecil Harvey -- you make treaties with diplomats from all over the world, but are not able to have a civilized talk with your mother-in-law. You should be more sensitive - after all you stand for law, goodness and light as a Paladin ..." She continued giggling and looked at him, trying to look as accusingly as possible.

Cecil had to smile -- Rosa was never long angry with him. On the other hand if they had different opinions she mostly got what she wanted -- he loved her too much to deny her anything. "Alright sweetheart, maybe you are right," he said softly," Maybe it is my fault that I and your mother do not get along well and she really is a nice person - after all she is the mother of the most wonderful woman in the world..."

Rosa beamed at him, and giggled even more, cheeks slightly red - she knew that the compliments Cecil made were always really meant by him and not just courtesy. She laid her arms around his neck and gave him an affectionate kiss. Some castle servants hurried through the hallways, but did take no interest in the tightly embraced couple: This sight was very normal to them, as their rulers never made the attempt to hide their deep affection for the other. Finally Rosa loosened herself out of Cecil's embrace.

"Alright - I will just tell mother that she is invited. Will you do the last checks, dear? Everything has to be perfect when they arrive!"

She gave him another smile, then turned away and hurried elegantly down the hallway.

Cecil looked after her for a moment, admiring her graceful movements. He was about to turn around himself, as someone gave him a slap on his back, which nearly sent him flying to the floor.

"Cid - ugh - I have told you not do this!"

"Oh sorry, Your Majesty!" said the bulky man in dirty work clothes with a big smile." I did mean you no harm. Just wanted to check if everything was alright with Your Highness!"

Cecil grinned. "It was - until now... And stop calling me Majesty and Highness - we are friends..." He rubbed his shoulder.

"Oh sure - sorry I forgot, My Lord," answered Cid and smiled even more broadly.

The big man was not only the chief mechanic in Baron and a genius inventor, but also one of Cecil's and Rosa's best and oldest friends - there was hardly a thing they did not know of each other

"Well - I saw Rosa leaving in a hurry... Is she visiting the old Dragon in town?" Cid asked, smiling.

Cecil had to laugh. "Yeah, she is - though I'd liked a real dragon better... My dear wife is going to invite her mother to the dinner this evening ..."

"You have lost again to her – haven't you? Well the others will be there, too - maybe you are lucky and Edge will take a liking in her, eh?" He uttered a loud laugh.

"Thanks for the comfort, Cid," Cecil smiled. "But even if Edge is still as impetuously as he was before, he still has some grips left! See you later - I have work to do. And change these clothes... "He gave his friend a reproachful look, which was not meant seriously, though."Rosa will kill you if you welcome our friends in this outfit!"

"But it is comfortable and reminds me of my dear airships!" Cid muttered as he watched Cecil striding down the hallway, looking very noble and impressive in his white paladin garb with its high boots, a dark red cloak draped around his shoulders and his long, beautiful white hair, which was held in place by the golden tiara of the paladin. Cid looked down at his grayish shirt, which was stained with dirt and oil.

"I wonder why his clothes always look clean and white ..."

~*~

Cecil had finished his inspect route by now, having given last orders in his clear and calm way, and now was on his way to the royal quarters. He still had some time left until the first of their old friends would arrive, and he wanted to get some rest. It would be the last rest he would get for a very long time, as the festivities would last for several days. The whole nation would celebrate - not only the victory over the Dark One year ago, but also the current state of things as the country prospered like never before. As the other Kingdoms like Damcyan and Eblan had been damaged badly in the fights one year ago and took - even though everyone was helping - longer in returning things to "normal", Cecil and Rosa had decided to invite everyone to Baron. Even though Cecil had seen some of his old friends now and then during the past months, he really was looking forward to meeting them all again as a whole. Especially Rydia he had not seen now for some months, as the journey to the land of the Summoned Monsters was always a difficult one. But this time everyone would come - Rydia, Yang , Edge, Edward and even Palom and Porom accompanied by the Elder of Mysidia. For Cecil the visit of the elder was a great honor as the relationship between Baron and Mysidia had not been the best in the past.

However, as the young king walked across the castle courtyard, which was empty as everyone was busy in the castle, he suddenly felt very depressed.

"I wonder if the people of Mysidia will ever forgive me?" he thought to himself and suddenly felt very alone and not at all in the mood for a celebration. These changes of mood as he had one now, were very familiar to him, though he could not do anything against them. His new life as a paladin and King was a very strenuous but also a very rewarding one. He had everything he needed - the love between him and Rosa seemed to grow every day, he had friends and under his rule the population witnessed a time of prosperity and freedom. Still, as he sometimes watched the sky in a moment of peace and tranquillity, or surveyed the landscape out from the airship on one of his official voyages -- or just out of the blue -- he suddenly felt very empty and a dark weight seemed to press on his shoulders. He wondered why, as although he had trouble to get over his past deeds as a Black Knight , becoming a paladin and now King of Baron had given him reassurance and a purpose to live on, and not to dwell on the past. Or so he thought...

Feeling very sad in this moment again, he stopped and sat down on one of the benches in the courtyard. The castle had changed greatly in their one year of rule - the once dark and empty courtyard now was filled with a strange light and the stony ground had yielded to some trees and flowers Rosa had ordered to be planted. In the warm seasons of the year everything bloomed in warm, friendly colours and usually lightened Cecil's spirits when he looked at them. Unfortunately, it was currently autumn and the naked twigs of the plants and brown crumpled leaves on the floor made him even more depressive:

"I wonder how Kain is doing..." he thought as he watched a leaf fall to the ground. He had not seen his former best friend for a long time now - he had not even attended his and Rosa's wedding.

"Well, who can blame him for that - seeing his once best friend marrying the woman he loves..." Cecil frowned.

Thinking of Kain made him feel bitter, as he was not sure of his feelings towards the young Dragoon. He kept this to himself - even Rosa, whom he told everything, did not know of his worries.

"I wonder if he has changed? If he still hates me?" Doubts were rising in Cecil's mind.

He himself had often noticed that, when thinking of Kain, he felt anger rising within himself, paired with a sense of loss and a deep sadness. In fact he often missed his friend - being such a long time best friends as they had been, made it hard to forget the other.

"If he would ever return - I am sure we could get along, again. Not like it was in the old days but in a new way - a friendship grounded on trust..." he thought, but asked himself if Kain would want that - and if he would ever come back at all ... "Surely he will not be able to face us until he has sorted out his feelings for Rosa," Cecil continued to ponder, as he stood up and made his way slowly to the stairs.

"I wonder  ..." he muttered to himself, but stopped in mid-sentence as he heard the guards at the front gate shouting:

"The Castle is closed to the public today - His Highness and the Queen are awaiting important guests. Please leave!"

Suddenly there was a metallic sound, as if a weapon was drawn. One guard suddenly screamed for help, another one started to pound at the door.

"You! Stop! Intruder - how do you dare to threaten a royal guard - you will get arrested - UGH!" The wooden front gate of Baron shook slightly as if someone had been thrown with full force against it .

"Guards! We have an armed intruder here - he has hurt John!"

At once five men marched out of the castle in direction of the gate. Cecil followed them.

"Your Highness!" one guard bowed before him. "We have everything under control - please leave everything to us!"

"I am sure of that commander," Cecil smiled. "But I am interested in which man would be able to upset several of Baron's glorious Guards." He could not help but to chuckle slightly.

"Oh - err, as you wish Your Highness - certainly!"

The guard eyed his King with nervous eyes, then pulled on the big wooden door which made a long squeaking noise as it was opened. Cecil motioned the guards to stand aside and make room for him to see - an order which was promptly followed.

It suddenly was very silent -- the guards outside had stopped shouting.

"So let's see what the matter is!" Cecil said with confidence and stepped fearlessly through the door, his hand gripping firmly the handle of his sword Legend. He nearly fell over a guard which lay crumpled to his feet - as the young King looked to his left he saw another guard lying on the castle wall with a bleeding nose. The third guard was nowhere to be seen until Cecil heard a soft whimpering from somewhere near his feet - the soldier had fallen in the castle moat...

The young king looked around but could not spot an attacker...

Suddenly one of the beaten guards coughed: "Your Highness!" and motioned with his hand towards a small group of trees not far away. Upon closer inspection Cecil thought he had spotted something moving behind a tree.

"Now that is getting interesting..." he thought, gripped his sword even more firmly and motioned the guards to stay behind, which they did only under protest. However, they knew that once their King had decided something, it was impossible to hinder him. Cecil slowly made his way to the trees, cautiously looking to the left and right for more enemies. Suddenly he saw something moving behind one of the trees again!

"Who are you?" he asked loudly. "As the King of Baron I want you to come out and state your business here!"

"As fearless as ever, I see old friend - or should I say Your Highness?" a voice said and a man stepped out from the shadows. Cecil gasped and nearly dropped his sword as he heard the once so familiar voice. Before him stood a young man about his age and only slightly taller, with long, blond hair bound together on his back. Under his old travelers cloak he was wearing simple clothing - a white shirt, black trousers and black, high boots. Though he looked thin and his face showed lines unusual for one so young, one look into the sharp green eyes was sufficient for Cecil:

"Kain!" he stammered " You, you did come back! I...!"

The paladin stared at his old friend, not really knowing what to say, not really knowing what to do. Finally, he brought forth: "Where - where is your armor?!"

He hated himself at once for such a dumb question.

"What a luck that Rosa is not here..."

Luckily, Kain did not seem to mind his question: "I threw it away - on Mt . Ordeals ..." he replied calmly, then looked to the ground. "I am no longer a Dragoon - I ..." he too, started to stutter, "I wanted to see you all again, to ... to apologize; to be your friend again and ... and....!"

Kain suddenly started to laugh - the high-pitched laugh that was so familiar to Cecil who was still staring at his friend in wonder.

"And the first thing I do," Kain laughed louder and louder, "is to beat up the Baron Castle guards..."

As fast at is had come, Kain's laughing stopped and he fixed Cecil's eyes with an expression of sorrow. "I guess I did everything wrong again, right Cecil?!" he said monotonously.  "I mean how could I even think of coming back here after this long time, pretending that nothing has happened. Because that is not true - too much has happened."

He tore his gaze away from the clear, steel blue eyes of his former friend, who watched him silently.

"You must really hate me Cecil - and I deserve it. I just wanted you to know that I have changed."  He turned away. " Still I should not have come - It was a mistake. I am sorry...!" With bowed head he started to walk away. "Please tell Rosa that I--"

"Stop it!" Cecil's voice held him back. "Kain! Please look at me!"

Kain obeyed and looked directly into the face of his friend. It was lit with warmth and joy, though one could easily see that the young King was unsure how to behave. Cecil made a step toward his friends, arms slowly opening.

"It was not a mistake to have come, Kain. How ...how can you say this? It is just ..." He desperately was searching for words: "It is just all so sudden - so ...!"

"Cecil ..." Kain had become very pale and became even paler as Cecil stepped up to him and gave him a hug.

"Welcome home, Kain!"

Despite the previous thoughts; seeing Kain again had made feel Cecil as happy as he had not been for a long time. He gave his friend, who stared at him wide- eyed, a reassuring smile: "What is the matter Kain? Do I look that bad as a King?" he laughed. "Come on - let's go inside: Rosa sure wants to see you!"

He took his friend by the shoulder and led him towards the castle.

"Everyone is coming today: Rydia and Yang and all the others. They sure will be very happy to see you again. And don't worry about the guards. They obviously were not the best! There sure is so much to talk about... It..!"

Cecil began to chatter happily, now and then laughing or tightening his grip around Kain's shoulders just as if to see if the other was still there. It was an unusual behaviour for the King, but the only one he could think of in order to hide his embarrassment and to show the joy about his friend's return.

Kain looked like a ghost and nearly a bit afraid as he looked now and then in Cecil's warm face and then again at the castle...