AN: A strangely inspired musing... *** encloses memories
Disclaimers: I don't own any ff8 characters, they are © Squaresoft, and I am making no money for this fic :( so don't bother suing me cause you ain't gonna get much...
Rated PG for suggestion
Caged
I wake, the brief flicker of a life nearby disturbing my dreamless slumber. Is it time at last? How long have I lain here, undisturbed? A long time, so the earth around my body tells me. The restraints have not rusted, I feel them still, pressed tightly to my skin.
Surely enough time has passed that even the legends of me have passed into the shrouded mists of time? It feels strange, hollow almost, not to be aware of hatred strong enough to taste in the air. I can still remember when I was newly captured...
***
I stare at them, my tormentors, my captors, as I am paraded through the streets. The crowd scream and cheer for the lone figures who ride ahead of my cart - that was my final act, to embed into those who would dare attack me, a sense of loneliness that would cause them all to kill themselves - but those cheers fade to silence as I pass. Even caged they are afraid. I do not need to lunge towards them to provoke the crowd to draw back, my gaze alone does that.
I wonder how each individual sees me, for I can no longer see myself reflected in their fear. I have known people to see me as a great, dark dragon or unicorn, but most see me as I wish, and that is as a mighty sorceress whom they have provoked. My red eyes rove the crowds, picking out a sprinkling of still-loyal followers. They are the few who believe I have allowed myself to be captured, and that I plan something. What, they do not know, cannot know, for, shameful as it is to admit it, I did not plan to be captured.
***
...And then they had to decide what to do with me. No one wished to keep my presence in their domain for longer than necessity demanded, but they would not kill me. Instead they made me into a warning, an attraction, a freak in a freak show of other 'mythical' and freak creatures. Wendigos and dragons, bearded women and snakes with two heads. Even a 'phoenix pinion' - a childish trick with mirrors that I could easily see through. But already I was planning my escape. They said escape would be impossible, but I did not believe them. So I waited patiently, through the generations, watching the world change completely, and watching the people stay the same. Always afraid of the nameless dark, always afraid of the noise in the night, the silent killer that takes the lives of any and all. But my form grew dim in memory, and I began to shape my change...
***
Long fingers wrap around the two bars that I am chained to. My sharp talons are sheathed now, part of an image of fear that I am slowly changing. They think they have conquered me. Fools! They are weak and stupid - my inferiors in every way except numbers. They stare at me in mindless fear, then at the gilded bars that bound me on every side. I sneer at them in contempt.
Those bars are mere mortal construction - it would take only a thought for them to crumble - were it not for these two solid struts, and chains and cuffs which bind me hand and foot. These and these alone hold me here - forever, or so they think. There was one amongst those who died to create these chains who was mine.
My touch is limited, but I touch the world still. My patience is endless - each passing generation will see me change until someone is fool enough to free me - out of misguided pity. For pity, and pity alone, will open my restraints - and pity is all that I lack.
***
...Later, many generations later, I was ready to try my bid for freedom. It seemed that I was right. The age was complacent. They had had no near brushes with such as I, they only vaguely remembered the tales their greatfathers told them to scare them into bed at night. And my situation had changed...
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AN: a nice little intro, just to whet your appetite... *cackles* :)