A/N: This story takes place nestled inside of another, Into the Darkness, but can absolutely be read on its own. Consider it a dark AU in which Cecil's choices are more dubious than the canon interprets them. Edward was killed in the Lodestone Cavern, after Cecil convinced him to rejoin their quest. Rosa never fully recovered from the Sand Fever, and died after Teleporting everyone to safety from the Tower of Zot. Golbez has been recruited by Cecil to join the team after the Giant of Babil.
This takes place immediately after Chapter 18: The Choice, in which Cecil, in need of a white mage, recruits Porom for their journey to confront Zemus. Edge fights with Cecil then leaves the party in protest.
Edge watched the Lunar Whale become smaller against the night sky. With a terrific whir, the engines roared to life and in the next moment, the Lunar Whale blinked out of existence, away from Baron, away from Edge, and away from sanity. With a heavy sigh, Edge turned and started down the road toward Baron Village.
He had chosen to leave Cecil's quest, Edge reminded himself, as he tried not to feel like a sulking child. Edge had held his tongue at first, but Cecil's recruitment of a child had proven too much for Edge to stomach. For one hopeful moment, Edge thought that he could convince Porom, Rydia, and Kain to leave with him. After so many had been killed in Cecil's crusade, Edge didn't believe Cecil would even briefly hesitate a second to sacrifice another in pursuit of more power. But they'd been blinded by their faith in the mission and in Cecil himself, and refused to leave when Edge asked.
And so he'd left, alone, but not before getting into a physical fight with Cecil. There was something in Cecil's eyes, some gratitude for the opportunity and violent excitement at finally getting to use his hands to hurt someone; it sent a chilling shiver down Edge's spine. It was Golbez's timely paralysis spell that had saved Edge's face from Cecil's incoming fists.
Now, Edge stalked through Baron Village, drowning in his own frustrated helplessness. He passed by a few citizens who stood gawking at the sky, still in awe at watching the Lunar Whale's departure. That observation only fanned the flames of Edge's simmering anger and spurred him to walk faster.
Edge didn't know where his feet were taking him until he crossed into Baron castle proper and was easily admitted by the guards standing at the door. He passed by a group of engineers, still in clothing marked up with grease and oil from the day's labor, who were on their way out of the castle. A germ of an idea began to form, prompting a sudden grin from Edge.
With more enthusiasm in his pace, he made his way to the engineering bay. He passed by a row of ships with red hulls, frowning at each in turn, until he finally reached the last ship in the line, which sported a shining metal hull instead of the Red Wings' trademark color.
"Hello, my lady," Edge said as he approached the Falcon from the dock beside it, placing a familiar hand on the side railing. "Miss me?" He leapt easily over the railing, landing soundlessly on the ship's deck. He could see the care taken by the Baron engineers, evident in the ship's shining wooden planks and newly greased mechanical parts.
The wheel, too, had been upgraded, featuring several new buttons and switches; Edge wasn't sure what any of them did. No matter, he thought, placing a comfortable grip on the wheel.
"What are you doing?" A voice asked. Edge looked up to see Cid standing there, his arms crossed, gazing sternly at Edge.
"Cecil's on a warpath," Edge answered, gripping the wheel harder. "Whatever he finds on the Moon will only make it worse."
Cid considered Edge for a long moment, his brow furrowed in concentration during the assessment. Then, with a small sigh, Cid released some tension, and his shoulders sank as he uncrossed his arms. "What do you plan on doing about it?" he asked, his expression now neutral as he waited for a reply.
Edge started to answer, then hesitated as he thought about the question. "Go back to Eblan," he finally replied, trying to feel confident. "And prepare for eventual war because that is what Cecil will bring back to our skies."
"Do you really think so?" Cid asked earnestly.
"There is a darkness in Cecil," Edge said, surprised by Cid's sincerity. All others had dismissed Edge's concerns about Cecil, citing the paladin's goodness as a reason to follow him, despite all of the death and bloodshed. "I worry about what's gonna happen when that darkness meets Zemus."
Cid said nothing, only continued to watch Edge. Then, he nodded, once to himself, then more certainly to Edge. "I worry too," he said quietly.
"So let me take the Falcon and go," Edge said, shifting his weight back and forth in an anxious dance. He wanted to be far from Baron before Cecil made his triumphant return, bringing whatever festering sickness back from the Moon to infect the rest of the Blue Planet.
"What if I told you that others also share your worry?" Cid asked instead, ignoring Edge's impatience. "Not just here in Baron but across the Blue Planet, in Mysidia and Fabul. Perhaps in other places."
"Really?" Edge let go of the ship's wheel and took a few intrigued steps toward the ship's railing where Cid stood. "Who?" he asked, the question packed with skepticism.
"Let's talk," Cid gestured for Edge to follow, then turned to walk back down the dock. "There are some people who will want to see you."
Edge hesitated and looked back at the Falcon's wheel. He could just take the airship and go, worrying only about Eblan and the survival of his people. Then, with a frustrated grunt, Edge turned back and leapt easily over the railing and onto the dock. "Wait!" he called out, breaking into a run to catch up with Cid.
Edge had never traveled through the Devil's Road before, and after one nauseating and draining experience, he never wanted to again. On the other side, Cid had left Edge behind to recover, to find the Mysidian Elder at the Tower of Prayers.
Now, as Edge ascended the staircase to the open tower top, he could hear the prayers of the Mysidian mages. They murmured, low and soft, a mesmerizing mix of arcane words and genuine pleas to the powers above. Some mages prayed with their hands raised to the sky; others dropped to their knees with foreheads pressed on the floor. They all prayed with a fervency that unnerved Edge, the depth of their belief and faith something he couldn't fully comprehend; he was afraid to admit that it frightened him.
Feeling awkward, Edge avoided them by circling the outer edge of the tower to reach the opposite end. Cid stood there in quiet conversation with the Mysidian Elder and and a Fabulian monk who Edge did not recognize, although he guessed it might be Yang, based on Cecil and Rydia's stories. The conversation stopped when Edge approached.
"What are they praying for?" Edge asked with a backward glance to the mages.
"For Cecil," the Elder answered with a distant smile. "He is the hero foretold in the Mysidian legend. We pray for his triumph against the darkness."
Edge scoffed, which earned him a glare from Cid. "What?" Edge asked, annoyed. "We wouldn't all be talking here if you didn't also have your doubts."
The Elder frowned, then gave a gradual nod. "You speak the truth, even if it is hard to admit."
"What makes you suspicious?" Edge prompted, curious what behaviors might seem odd to those who knew Cecil personally. He had only ever known the current version of Cecil: erratic, angry and demanding. It was hard to believe Cecil had ever been otherwise, but others spoke of the paladin fondly and with genuine affection, so Edge could only assume that the strange behavior was recent.
"When we summoned the Lunar Whale," the Elder answered, "I thought I heard two voices. One was the Light, reaching out to Cecil and beckoning him to the Moon." His frown deepened with the memory of that moment. "I thought I might have..." he hesitated, then shook his head clear. "I heard another. Something dark, also reaching out to Cecil, also calling him to the Moon. I fear that Cecil may have heard it, too. He may already be listening to it."
"He has become very fixated on vengeance under the guise of justice," it was the monk who spoke next; Cid and the Elder nodded their agreement. "He is quick to anger and slow to cool. I worry about his ability to keep a calm head in the heat of battle." He turned a glance to Edge, recognition lighting his face. "You are the Eblan prince? I am Yang of Fabul, and I traveled with Cecil before you. Has he changed?"
"Worse," Edge replied with a frown. "He's going to get them all killed." He turned an accusatory glare toward the Elder. "How could you let him take Porom on such a dangerous mission?"
"I did not," the Elder said quickly. "He asked for her and I said no. She snuck out that night and left with him on the Lunar Whale. I did not know where she was until Cid told me." Worry creased the Elder's brow. "Did you see her? Is she well? Did you at least try and convince Cecil to return her to Mysidia before he left for the Moon?"
"Yes!" Edge nearly shouted in reply, so much that a few praying mages lifted their heads to see the commotion. One short black mage paused in their prayer, head tipping toward the group. Edge winced and continued more quietly, "Of course I tried, it's why I left. And you don't get to take the high road here." He pointed an accusatory finger at the Elder. "Aren't you the one who sent the twins with Cecil in the first place? When he climbed Mt. Ordeals?" Edge dropped the finger and shook his head. "How old are they? Like five or six?"
"He's got a point there," Cid said with an appreciative nod to Edge; the Elder's face went red underneath his bushy beard. Before the Elder could protest, Cid continued, "But we've all made mistakes and given Cecil tools and resources he's using to an end that we're not sure about now." He looked at each in turn, ending on Edge. "The question remains, what do we plan on doing about it? And how much time do we have?"
"They're not going straight to Zemus," Edge offered. "They plan to pursue Bahamut first; they found a cave on the Moon's surface that Golbez and Rydia believe to be his lair. It will take days, perhaps even weeks, for them to venture in, confront Bahamut, venture out, then resupply at the Lunar Palace before descending to the Lunar Core." He fondly touched one of the katana handles over his shoulder. He'd been so ready to confront Zemus, to finally sate the part of himself that demanded vengeance for what had happened to his parents and his people. Originally that had been Rubicante, then Golbez, but now it he had followed the line of command all the way back to Zemus. He felt a sudden inexplicable anger that Cecil had robbed him of that opportunity.
"So we have a little time," Cid said, interrupting Edge's runaway thoughts. "Either Cecil is victorious, and all our worry has been for nothing. Or he is not; Zemus defeats him, and..." he paused, looking beyond at the mages still engrossed in their prayer. The silence between them stretched on uncomfortably, made somehow worse by the low murmur of prayer that filled the tower top.
"And he falls to darkness," the Elder finished for him, the words heavy with the weight of prophecy. "He will bring it back to us." The Elder's eyes went skyward, distant on the horizon. "I will not stand idle while the Crystals are used for greed."
"What do we do?" Edge asked, feeling suddenly nervous with inaction, as if a doomed ticking clock lurked over his head.
"You and I will go to Troia," Yang answered him. "I think the Sages may share our concern, given how Cecil talked them out of their Crystal. Fabul and Damcyan will also want their Crystals back."
"Why me?" Edge retorted. "I should be back in Eblan, shoring up our defenses."
"Because," Yang said slowly, keeping his voice even, "Eblan cannot stand alone. You will need allies when Cecil returns."
"We are only talking," Cid said with emphasis on the last word. "Cecil may surprise us, defeat Zemus and return the Crystals to their rightful owners. I only mean for us to be prepared if he fails or refuses."
"Talk," Edge said with a huff. "What will you two do, then?"
"I will go back to Baron," Cid replied first. "Cecil is King Odin's heir. If we mean to oppose him, we'll need support from the inside."
"I will pray," the Elder said next, still watching the sky. "I will watch the Moon and pray that all this concern proves unnecessary." His eyes slowly came back into focus, and he looked around at them all. "Go and speak to whom you must but return quickly. When Cecil reaches the Lunar Core, he will need us, united in faith, praying for his victory in the Light."
All four men exchanged an uncertain look, heavy with their mutual doubts. Unnoticed by any of them, a short black mage in an oversized robes watched them from the corner of their eye; the mage ears strained to hear the quiet conversation above the low hum of prayer. As Edge and Yang departed the Tower of Prayer together, the mage slipped away, following behind them.
When they reached the building that housed the Devil's Road when Edge touched a hand to Yang's shoulder, pausing him in place, and said, "We have company."
Yang glanced over his shoulder and saw the short mage. Yang's eyes closed, almost wincing, then released a small sigh. "I know who it is," he said, turning to fully to face the black mage.
"Where's my sister?!" the mage demanded; his voice betraying his youth.
"Palom," Yang named the young mage and took a step toward him. "She is with Cecil on his quest to defeat Zemus."
Palom's shoulders deflated with a sigh, visible even through the bulk of his oversized and ill-fitting robes. "Me and Porom have never been apart for this long. Why did they leave me behind?" The question was small and hurt, unlike Palom's usual bravado.
"Because it's too dangerous," Yang said as he approached the Palom, with Edge following. "It was reckless of Cecil to take Porom; he knows this but did it anyway."
Palom looked beyond them, to the door of the Devil's Road. An idea lit up his face, enthusiasm seizing him. "You guys are up to something to stop him, aren't you?" he asked, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "Take me with you. You both look like you need more firepower on your side, anyway."
Edge barked a laugh in surprise, while Yang immediately shook his head. "No way, kiddo," Edge said as Palom scowled in response. "This isn't a game or a joke. This is serious business."
"You don't think I know that?" Palom challenged, coming up on his tiptoes to his full height.
"I think you do," Yang broke in, his even and calm voice immediately settling Palom's ruffled emotions. "You, who have seen more in this war than most. But we cannot involve more children, no matter how capable they are or how dire our situation has become."
Palom still frowned, though it gradually softened as he considered Yang's words. "Is there nothing I can do?" he finally asked.
"Keep your eyes and ears open." It was Edge who answered him, kneeling in front of Palom so they were now eye to eye. "We'll need you to have our backs here in Mysidia, with or without the Elder's approval."
"Edge..." Yang started, in a tone heavy with warning.
"What?" Edge asked, flippant and dismissive. "He might be a kid but he's not an idiot." He offered Palom his most dashing smile. "Isn't that right?"
"It wouldn't be my first spy mission," Palom grinned at Yang, unable to help himself. "It wouldn't even be my first spy mission against Cecil."
Yang looked between the two, his face still fixed with a serious frown. "Do not get caught," he said with an air of defeat. "Only listen for useful information but do nothing."
"Got it," Palom agreed quickly enough, giving Yang an exaggerated bow. "Palom the spy, at your service."
While Yang continued to frown, Edge allowed himself a small smile.
Baron's graveyard was a quiet place, situated between the castle and the town's northeast side, tucked behind the waterways. There had been a flurry of activity in the graveyard over the past few weeks, in the aftermath of the attack by the Giant of Babil, and while casualties had been kept low, there were always dead to bury after battle.
Now, as the sun dipped low behind the horizon and the world darkened, the graveyard stood silent and still, empty except for the dead and one other, who stood before a new grave. The grave still lacked a headstone, and the figure stood by in wordless vigil without flowers or offerings.
This was how Cid found Joanna Farrell at her daughter's grave. After crossing the Devil's Road back to Baron, he had found her house empty, and rightly guessed where she might be.
At the sound of his approach, Joanna hurriedly wiped her face, though the evidence of her tears still streaked across her cheeks.
"Cid," she said, his name tight in her throat.
"Joanna," he replied in acknowledgment, his voice gentle as he walked up beside her. They looked at Rosa's grave together, as if gazing upon the grave might undo the unfairness of her death once the world realized how wrong the Blue Planet was without Rosa and her light in it. But the world gave no such response, and neither did Rosa's grave, which as silent and irreproachable as ever.
"This will never be right," Joanna finally broke the terrible silence.
"Never," Cid agreed easily. "There's nothing that could ever make her death make sense."
"They're calling her a martyr. And saying that her sacrifice brought Cecil closer to saving the Crystals." Joanna's voice dropped to a nervous whisper on her next words, as if she feared someone were eavesdropping. "They speak of him as a divine savior." She turned to look at Cid; her eyes were so much like Rosa's and that realization only deepened Cid's grief. "Are you not frightened by this?" she asked.
Cid wondered what answer she truly wanted: to be told that there was nothing to fear, that Cecil would return as a hero, and that everyone's faith in Cecil was divinely inspired; or to be told yes, that Cid was frightened too. Ultimately, he decided that she needed the truth. "I am terrified of what alien thing Cecil might bring back from the Moon," he admitted, also whispering now. "Their technology is so far beyond our understanding. It would be catastrophic in the wrong hands." He looked down at his own hands as he spoke, turning them over as he considered them; they seemed so small and inept without his gloves. "I fear what he may ask me to do with it... of what weapon he'll want me to design."
"Truly?" Joanna prompted, surprised by the gravity of his answer.
"Cecil is not the child he once was," Cid said with a sigh. "I thought that becoming a paladin would ease the darkness of his soul, but it seems to have made his darkness worse."
"Rosa's death broke him," Joanna said with a shaky breath, fighting to keep the tears out of her words. "She brought out his goodness. Without her, he is lost." Her breathing hitched unevenly as she swallowed a sob. "We all are." She began to cry, unable to contain her fresh grief any longer. She held her face in her hands, shoulders rocking.
Cid rubbed her back as she cried on. It had become a familiar gesture over the last few weeks since Rosa's death, the only comfort Cid could think to offer, all words feeling so inadequate in the face of Joanna's loss. He felt a shameful relief every time that he returned home to his daughter and found her smiling and whole.
Eventually, Joanna's tears slowed and then stopped. The pain was still there, squeezing her heart tight, but she was too empty and numb to feel it further. She scrubbed the heels of her hands roughly against her face, suddenly embarrassed by her naked grief.
"Joanna," Cid said her name like a summons; it was not unkind but commanded her attention. She met his gaze with still wet eyes, glimmering in the dim twilight of the evening. "If someone needed to stand up to Cecil, would you aid them?"
"He is the King's heir," Joanna said quickly, looking around them in a circle to ensure no one lurked nearby. "You speak of treason," she whispered, almost too low for Cid to hear.
"I speak of not allowing another tyrant to use Baron as a war machine," Cid was surprised to find so much anger suddenly within him. "I won't help another king's conquest. Will you do nothing if that's what Cecil has planned?" When she was silent in reply, Cid continued, the words bursting out before he could stop himself, "Will you let him continue to use your daughter's death as an excuse for his bloodbath?"
Joanna reached up and slapped Cid, quick and sharp across the cheek. "Don't you dare," she hissed. "Don't use her against me. Cry patriotism or my oath as a white mage, but don't you dare invoke Rosa's name to me."
Cid held the side of his face gingerly. "Of course," he murmured. "My apologies, Joanna." He turned, with slumped shoulders, and began to walk away.
"Cid," Joanna's call caught him when he was only a few paces away. He turned to face her and saw fresh tears on her cheeks again. "If you ever needed me, I would always help you."
Cid had known Joanna a long time; they raised their children under similar circumstances, each left alone to figure things out after having lost their spouse too young. They were always friendly but unassuming toward each other. Cid saw too much of himself in Joanna, in her need for independence and solitude. He suspected that she felt the same. There were certainly other widows and widowers in their social circles, but none had remained unmarried as they did. And so, Cid found himself surprised by the depth of her offer.
"Thank you," Cid said with genuine affection. "Now I can only hope that I don't ever need to call in that favor."
She gave him an uneasy smile. "I will pray for you."
Cid, who had never been particularly devout, smiled back. "I will pray for you too."
The entrance to the Lair of the Father yawned open before them, deep and endlessly black within.
"Are you ready?" asked Cecil. Beside him, Rydia and Porom nodded enthusiastically, while Kain touched his helm in gesture. Golbez lingered behind them, watching as Cecil and the others prepared for a possible battle. He found his eyes drawn to Cecil's hip, where Legend was sheathed; it winked under the starlight as Cecil withdrew it.
Only...
Blinking hard, Golbez took a step forward, squinting in the shadowy light to make out the blade's details. It looked almost as if... Golbez felt his thoughts hesitate, unsure if he dared to venture further.
It looks like it is cracked, offered Golbez's dark doubts.
No, Golbez closed off his thoughts, shaking his head clear. He could have no room in his heart for doubt, Golbez told himself, no room to doubt his father's choice to bestow Cecil with the Light or his own decision to follow Cecil now. This was only Zemus sowing discord amongst Golbez's thoughts, never letting him have a moment of peace and certainty.
"Golbez?" Cecil's voice drew Golbez back to the present moment. "Are you ready?" he asked with worried eyes. Golbez nodded in quick reply. With that, Cecil turned and began to walk into the cave. Behind him followed Porom, then Rydia and Kain, each disappearing into the shadows as they entered the Lair of the Father.
Golbez fell in step behind them, into the cave, and out of the light.
