THE unofficial adaptation of the FF6 video game!=)  Sabin & Celes travel to the town of Mobliz, where they find more devastation. Though they find something there that is more shocking…

Forever & Always

Author: Furysetzer

Disclaimer: Steps to disclaim a copyrighted story: 1) "I don't own the Final Fantasy characters." 2) "I am making no money off this.  It's just for fun." 3) Make stupid joke.

Note: I don't like how fanfiction.net loads their pages, especially stories with many chapters. So what I'm going to do is post the newest chapters FIRST in the list, that way, all's you need is 1 click & then you're there! I hope you enjoy my story.

Ch. 6—"Other Obligations"

The 17-year-old girl was alone by the sink filled with cold water.  She stood in the charred building, trying to clean the old, nearly broken plates.  Outside the window, it was dreary & overcast.  Again.  The horrible wind whooshed through everything.

It made her so frustrated.  She hated this.  The predicament.  Everything.  She accidentally smashes a dish into the countertop.

Immediately, another teenager comes up the stairs.  He demands, "You okay?  What happened Katarin?"

She leans back into him, drying her hands on the dirty towel.  "I just broke a dish," she says shakily.  "Oh, Dwaine, when is this ever going to end?  I can't take this.  The boredom, the deadness, the fear…  It's just too depressing."

He holds her tightly, & deeply breathes in her ash-blonde hair.  It still smelled wonderful.  "Don't worry," Dwaine soothes.  "It'll get better."

Katarin starts to say, "Alright, but—"  Then she saw them.  Outside, 2 individuals stood near the boundary of town.  The woman gawked toward the houses with shock.  The large man's gaze was hard.  His teeth were clenched in anger; his fists held tight.  Katarin points.  "Look."

Dwaine's mouth held open.  He mumbles, "Crazy."

She was suddenly scared.  "They're gonna hurt us," she irrationalizes.  "Let's get out of here."

He almost recognizes the man.  But he couldn't place the person.  He backs up.  "You're right.  Let's get Ms. Branford.  She'll help."

Together, they run down the stairs.

____________           

Sabin & Celes had been traveling for about 3 weeks.  Sabin's sources were right.  The Serpent Trench had risen above the waves.  The land bridge stretched over 1,000 miles northwest/southeast across the globe.  Here, the coast was surrounded by water on 3 sides.  Most of the Veldt had fallen into the sea.

When they saw the hint of the town, they hiked toward it.  Finally seeing it in full view, it still looked unbelievable.

Mobliz could hardly be called a town anymore.  Half of the land was flooded by water.  There were only 3 buildings left standing.  The rest had either been burned down or had been sunken by the unnatural Cliffside running through the center of the town.

"This is insane," growls Sabin.

Celes incredulously wonders, "Kefka has this kind of power?!"

In 1 of the burned buildings, she sees a couple of kids looking at them through the dirty broken window.  Then they were gone.

"Did you see that?" asks Celes.

Sabin asks, "What?  I don't see anything."

She points to 1 of them.  "Survivors."

They enter the building & walk through it.  There was no one.  They see the stairs & follow them down.  No signs of anybody.  The small basement didn't provide many hiding places.

Sabin is about ready to leave.  "There's nobody here.  I can't believe it.  When I was here before, the streets were crowded with people.  But now there's nothing."  Face burning, he yells, "It's all dead!!"

Grunting, Celes moves 1 of the boxes in the corner.  "Stop that & help me, Sabin."

He goes over to her.  "What are you trying to do?"

"I think—I see—a door—between the cracks!"

Together, they moved the stack of crates off to the side.  They looked, but there was nothing on the wall but peeling plaster.

"I told you.  You must've been seeing things," sighs Sabin.

Celes feels a long the wall.  "I don't understand."  She stomps the floor with her foot.  "I did not just—"

The trap door pops open from her weight, & she falls down out of sight.  Sabin rushes over, & sees a ladder going down.  He couldn't tell where it leads,  or how far down it went; it was too dark.

He shouts, "Hang on, I'm coming down!"  Taking the ladder, he virtually slid down the vertical surface.

A couple meters down, he saw her.  She was sitting down, clutching her foot.  "What happened?" he asks, going over to her.

"My ankle," she gasps.  "It hurts."

From behind, a bright light blinds them.  "Don't move," commands a soft, feminine voice.  For emphasis, they could hear a dog barking fiercely at them.

Despite that, Sabin turns around & says, "I don't know who you are, but—"

Suddenly, the light fizzles off.  The woman lowers her outstretched hand.  "I don't believe it," she says.  "It's Sabin!"

They still can't see.  "Who is it?" asks Celes.

"It's me, Terra," she states.

Blinking rapidly, she comes into their view.  It was her, alright.  Her 5' 7" petite frame still wore her clothes about her loosely.  It was only subtle changes that made her look slightly different.  Physically, she looked nearly unchanged.  Her eyes were no longer clear green, rather hazel-green.  She also wore her hair shorter.  It hung just above her shoulders.  Its color was now a lighter shade of green, not emerald, like it was before.

Terra hands the leash over to Dwaine.  She walks over.  Misty-eyed, she says, "I still can't believe this…"  Suddenly, she was in his arms.  "I didn't think anybody else survived—"

Sabin was still too shocked.  "I-It's good to see you—"

Terra lets go of him, noticing Celes.  She kneels & hugs her too.  "You're just as I remembered—" she emotionally says.

Dwaine says, "Ms. Branford, you know these people?"

Ignoring him, Terra says to Celes, "What happened, are you hurt?"

Sabin asks, "You're Dwaine, aren't you?"

He backs up, despite being protected by the dog.  "Maybe."

"Hey—you don't remember me?  It's me, Sabin."

"Look, I don't think…"

Trying to jog his memory, he says, "Cyan & I came to the Veldt by Baren Falls.  That's probably gone now, but you guys helped us get to Narshe."

Anguished, he asks Terra, "Ms. Branford?"

She sighs.  Looking back, Terra says, "It's not going to work.  His memory has been stolen from him."  Sabin looked confused, but she doesn't add anything.

Right then, Terra puts her hand over Celes' ankle.  A flash of light & an instant hot sensation bursts forth.  The appendage was completely healed.

"You can work the magic?!" asks Celes.

Terra blushes.  "Of course, you know that."

"But—it's different now."  She then tells Terra about the experience that had killed her chocobo.

Sabin adds in, "Magic looks to have disappeared again.  I guess Kefka seems to have gained control of it."

At the mention of him, Terra is stunned.  "He's alive?"  They start to explain, but Terra stops them.  "Wait.  I've got to sit down."  Rubbing her temple, she walks past them farther into the cavern.  Everyone follows her, Dwaine & the dog trotting last.

A couple turns later, & they all enter what looks to be another cave.  Torches burned on the walls.  There were several beds situated against the walls.  In the center of the room was a beautifully designed square rug.

The place was occupied.  About a dozen or so children were here.  Sabin & Celes stand there, taken back.  When they see them, the kids run to Terra.  She kneels, & is mauled by hugs & smooches.

"Who's your friends mama?"

"We were really scared—"

Katarin is in Dwaine's arms.  He unleashes the dog, & it walks off on its own, not the least bit interested in what's happening.  Sabin goes over to them.

Terra turns back to them, holding the littlest in her arms.  "These are the children of Mobliz," she explains.

Sabin asks Katarin, "You remember me, right?"

She was mildly surprised.  "Yes, I… I think I do.  Didn't you come here with a man named Cyan?"

"Exactly!" he exclaims.  "You, Dwaine, & Rob helped us get to Narshe."

"Oh, right…" she says inaudibly.

Sabin looks around.  "Hey, is he around?  I want to say hi."

Katarin puts a hand on his arm.  She implores, "He's gone…"

He looks at her strangely, "What're you talking about?"

Terra recollects, "When I came here, the town was as you saw it.  I found these kids huddled in the basement."  Tears stream down her face now.  "They told me that everyone had perished in the Light of Judgment, trying to protect them.  I… had to stay.  I tunneled in the caves.  I gave them a place to live.  I look out for them—"

The girl in Terra's arms hugs her tightly.  "Please don't cry, mommy.  Be strong like you always are!"

"These kids call me mom, you know?" she says, wiping away the tears.  "That's why… I can't go with you."

Celes was hesitant, surprised Terra had guessed her intentions so visibly.  "But Terra—" she protests.

Silent no more, Dwaine marches up to her.  With hand gestures, he angrily says, "Look, you 2 might be friends, & Katarin might remember you, but that doesn't mean that you can march in here & order Ms. Branford to leave!  She's staying with us.  We're her family--!"

Katarin stops him with a touch on his arm.  "My love, it's her decision…"

Dwaine snatches his arm away, & storms out.  "I don't care who you are!"

"Please forgive him," Katarin says.  "It's just that… Terra has… been such an inspiration.  You've gotta understand.  We need her."

Terra wearily says, "I can't talk anymore now.  I have to rest.  Gently setting the child down, she walks with her shoulders slumped to a side room.

Celes, Katarin & Sabin look toward each other, then to the children.  Why did everything have to be so difficult?

____________           

Sabin & Celes spent the night there, mostly talking, and some soul bearing.  They & Terra tried to talk about everything: things they couldn't before about the past, where their lives were, what had to be done…  Still, Terra held back a little.  There was something she wasn't telling that made her somewhat ambiguous.  Terra implored that she couldn't fight any longer.  Though on a deeper level, that answer didn't satisfy.

Celes & Sabin were gathering their things the next day.  They were loath to leave her, but it wouldn't help by staying.  Terra was adamant about her decision.  Besides, they had to keep moving if they wanted to gather clues of the others.

Terra stood alone outside the house, & wished them well.  The girls could barely part, having found a close friendship for each other.  Something about a Generation Link they refused to talk to Sabin about.  They hugged tight before departing.

"I have something to give you," Celes warmly says.

Terra is puzzled.  "What?"

Celes digs in her pouch & pulls out a necklace.  Handing it to her, she says, "I never got a chance to give it back to you."

Terra was gratefully pleased.  She takes her pendant.  "That's so great of you…"

She smiles. "I know how much it means,"  Celes starts hiking away with Sabin.

Sabin calls back, "Don't forget, Terra!  We're going to be with you in spirit if you need us!  We'll be back!"

Terra watched them disappear in the distance.  Holding the artifact tightly, she was elated.  Finally, the events before the Cataclysm were closing… like a book, for her at least.  Though a few things still nagged at her.  She guiltily pushed them to the back of her mind.  Terra couldn't deal with them now.  She would put her faith in them.

Terra goes back in to join her family.