Part Three: Reclaiming

Chapter Eleven: Happy Endings, Troublesome Beginnings





And thus the five great warriors defeated Zeromus, and everyone lived happily ever after.

Almost.

We all returned to Baron Castle, where we found - not unexpectedly - a royal welcome. Literally. The people had decided in our absence that their hero Cecil was the most fitting to take the now-empty Baronian throne, and they had eagerly awaited our victorious return from the moon with something that looked suspiciously like hysteria. It was somewhat reassuring that they had such confidence in our return. I know I hadn't.

I eventually returned to the Land of the Summoned Monsters. The aftereffects of Meteo were taking their toll on me, and I knew the fastest way for me to recover was to turn myself over to Asura's mighty healing powers. And since her powers were the most potent at home, deep within the earth, it made sense for her to bring me there. Just summoning Asura to my side made me wretchedly nauseous. She took one look at me and gathered me into her arms (she had six at the time), glaring at me. It took all my strength not to vomit as she moved gently.

Cecil made me promise to return in a month - "A month my time, not yours," he said jokingly - for the wedding ceremony, reception, and banquet. I groaned in response. Asura nodded tartly.

"She will be back in a month our time," Asura said, "so she can help you prepare." I moaned again.

True to her word, however, Asura had me up again in less than a month. Her centuries of healing experience made her the most powerful and efficient healer I knew; even Rosa's strength could not compete with Asura's knowledge. She chided me, however, about my destructive tendencies: "That was not very smart," she commented one day, after I had successfully sat up in bed by myself. "I'm not sure what you were thinking."

"I was saving the world, silly," I said roughly, my mouth full of soup.

"Meteo is a horrid spell," Asura said wisely. "Some cannot even cast it: it killed your friend Tellah. And you cast it twice in a row."

"I know, I know," I said passionately. "Believe me, I won't be casting that ever again."

But in a week or two - Summoned Monster time - I was back to walking, carefully, around the deserted land I once knew as home. I healed quickly once the exhaustion had passed, but it was weeks before I could cast high-level magic without being queasy.

Asura and Leviathan had then packed me up and sent me back to Baron for the ceremonies. "Ugh," I said, when they told me that I was going as a representative of the Summoners and the Summoned Monsters. "Can't I just go as myself?"

But back to Baron I went, where I delighted in causing all sorts of minor mischief within the castle and the town. Cecil and Rosa were beside themselves with stress and happiness, and I made myself useful when I could and made them laugh when I couldn't.

Finally came the day of the banquet. Representatives from all the major city-nations of the world came to present themselves to the new King and Queen of Baron. Cecil and Rosa were married before the two new thrones in Baron's Great Hall; Cid was there to give Rosa away, but Kain was surprisingly absent. The wedding was a beautiful, angelic success; Cecil was shining with pride in his glowing white robes, and Rosa was ethereal and radiant in her pristine crystalline gown.

After the ceremony, representatives from all the nations came to present themselves to Cecil and Rosa. Leading the line was Edward, newly reinstated as the Prince of Damcyan; he came with a group of fellow advisors, musicians, and poets. Edward embraced Cecil and Rosa and in his tender, soft-spoken way pronounced Damcyan's eternal loyalty to peace under Baron's lead.

Next came Yang, almost fully recovered from his experience in the Tower of Bab-Il, wearing the royal robes he had inherited as the Ruler of Fabul. His wife beside him was lively and spirited and looked very much unlike a typical queen. With them was a small regiment of Fabul's famous monks.

I slowly walked along the long carpet as Yang and his wife spoke with Cecil. I was dressed in the official garb of a High Summoner that Asura had given me: a long, dark green sheath beneath a white mage's robe with a long hood. The robe was trimmed in shining green and gold and a sash tied it around my waist. From my arms fell the long, graceful sleeves I had loved to see my mother wear: mine were dark, hunter green, embroidered with gold, tied to my upper arm with beaded ribbon. Across my brow was a thin crown of filigree; from the center of my forehead came a small, spiraling horn, the symbol of a full-fledged summoner. I carried in one hand the Rod of Summons, a long, graceful staff emblazoned with powerful symbols. I musts have been quite a sight to these people, some of which had never seen magic before, walking - alone - up the long carpet, with my green hair and strange robes. It didn't matter. I was proud to wear this; I was perhaps the last summoner in history who could.

I was halfway up to the dais, lost in thought, when I heard a giggle. I turned, suddenly, because I was pretty sure it was directed at me. But as I turned I saw a familiar face - Edge! He was dressed all in black, the garb of a royal ninja, and wore a long violet cape and a thin silver crown. I took a couple steps closer to him and bowed; but he would not meet my eyes.

I went closer, smiling; finally he must have seen me, for he gave me a stiff bow in return. I heard the giggle again and looked behind him; behind the ranks of Eblanian ninja and royal chancellors stood a handful of elegant ladies. I gave them a haughty glare - they weren't expecting that, at least - and continued on my way. Hmmm. Maybe Edge is just very big on formalities?

Yang and the party from Fabul had left, and now I approached. I bowed low before the throne and said in a low voice, "Greetings and much love to the new Lord and Lady of Baron."

The herald behind them was looking at me snootily - for I had not yet been announced before the throne - and said in a commanding voice, "I give thee Rydia of Mist, Lady of the Kingdom of the Summon Monsters and emissary of the Callers." I had the poise to blush furiously at the titles the herald had been able to drum up for me. Lady? Rosa stifled a giggle. "And what, m'lady," he said with a pointed glance at me, "do you have to pledge to your new king and queen?"

Cecil laughed and stood from his throne; he walked down the steps - the herald gaped - and embraced me. "Rydia, dear, you don't have to pledge anything to us," he said. "This sort of thing is for, er, people who rule kingdoms. Though, I mean, you're welcome to ..." He returned to his seat and finally saw the sly smile on my face. "Rydia ...you are dressed very, er, nicely ...what?" Rosa nudged him and he finally stopped talking.

The grin turned into a beaming smile. "You're right," I said, "I don't rule countries. But I bring the wishes of two of your friends who do happen to rule a small land deep in the Underworld, and I would ask if I could present them."

"Present the wishes?" Cecil asked. "Or, er, the friends?"

I merely grinned, and lifted the Rod of Summons high above my head. I twirled it around in a sort of dance; it trailed twinkling magic behind its ornamented head. The air around me began to glow, and finally Leviathan and Asura stepped out. They were fully regaled in all of the glory of the Underworld; Asura wore a gown of rose and gold, while Leviathan was dressed in a deep blue cloak.

"We would come to you, King of Baron, and pledge a peace with our people, the monster-kind." Leviathan's voice was deep and rich, and I saw that he had emerged in his human form; a relief, probably, to the nervous Cecil, though I secretly thought it would be amusing to see the reaction of those giggling Eblan girls if I summoned up a three-headed war goddess and an enormous sea serpent.

Cecil bowed. "I would pledge such a peace to you as well," he said formally. "And as long as Rydia is here I will care for her as if she were my own sister."

Asura bowed. "Rule with a good heart, King of Baron, bearer of the light. And if ever you need the aid of the Monsters, we will come to your side."

Cecil bowed and I once again entered the dance with the magical staff, sending Asura and Leviathan back home. Cecil looked at me.

"I should have known you had something spectacular up your sleeve," he said under his breath.

"I am ever at your service, King of Baron," I said wittily, and removed myself from the dais beneath the stares of a hundred nobles.

The rest of the known world presented itself to Cecil, and then there was a huge banquet and - much to my dismay - dancing. Cecil and Rosa led the first dance as the newlyweds; I managed to hide myself by the tables of food. I had removed my robe of office and now wore only the deep green sheath of silk, the long sleeves, and simple jewels in my hair and around my neck - not very conspicuous. But Edward managed to find me and claim me for a dance or two; "Edward, I don't dance," I said as he dragged me, to which he replied with only a charming smile.

But Edward, bard and prince, was very graceful, and I found myself learning quickly. After that one there was no rest; next I danced with Yang, and then Cecil, and then some nameless Duke from Agart who stepped on my toes. I was back at the refreshment table resting when someone vigorously grabbed me from behind and threw me into a rather wild dance.

It was Edge, of course, grinning at me as if he had never brushed me off in the Main Hall. He spun me around the floor to some upbeat music; he was a very skilled dancer, probably due more to his exceptional balance and ninja expertise than actual skill at dancing. I found myself relaxing at his smile.

"I had to come dance with the loveliest lady here," he said with a wink.

I groaned. "Edge, you came with an entire regiment of lovely ladies," I said. "Don't tease me."

But the sparkle in his eyes remained. "No one here compares to you, dear Rydia." I wrote his words off as a jest and concentrated on my feet. They were inclined to argue with the speed with which Edge was twirling me about the floor; I told them to stuff it and enjoyed myself.

After that song the musicians decided to slow things down, but Edge would not let me go. "You have danced with everyone else," he said, whining. "I won't be able to stand it if you leave."

I rolled my eyes. "You are - ok, Edge, one more."

"Thank you, my lady," he said; his words were teasing, but his eyes shone. He was looking at me - like - like he had before. I was suddenly warmly aware of his hand on the bare skin of my back, of how our fingers intertwined as he gently led me through this dance. I couldn't hold his eyes, and dropped them to his fine linen shirt. He squeezed my hand gently and I looked back up; he grinned at me. She looks so lovely tonight...

I flushed and dropped my gaze again. Over his shoulder I suddenly caught a glance from a tall lady with long, curling red locks; she was glaring at me vehemently. But before I could get a better glimpse, Edge had turned me again. I looked up and gave him a silly smile, which he returned. The dance ended and he bowed to me and left, with a wink over his shoulder.

My curiosity piqued, I went in search of the red-head. After a little bit I saw her at the end of the beverage table, talking passionately with her friends; I headed over inconspicuously, reaching for a goblet of deep red wine -

"-see him dancing with that green-haired witch?"

I almost choked on my wine.

"Was that her?" another voice asked.

"Yes," replied the first vehemently. "That's the girl that Prince Edge is all hung up on!"

I stifled a giggle. Right.

"She's the one with all the magic, right? She did that thing at the ceremony this morning? Caylista, you were there."

"I hear," said the first voice matter-of-factly, "that everyone's afraid of her. That they all want to get rid of her - send her back home with the monsters, where she belongs!"

They all giggled, but I had stopped laughing. They all - who? What?

Then there was a swish and the red-head came around the corner. She saw me; our eyes met for a brief second, and hers were as angry as before. I felt a hot surge of anger, and then suddenly heard: but it doesn't matter anyway. Prince Edge is going to have to marry me - my father's offer will make that happen. Eblan needs his money. And then I can be a queen!

I glared back at her and turned away, thinking about everything I had just heard. When the dancing broke, I grabbed Cecil and pulled him away to a nearby table.

"Rydia?" His face was flushed; he was obviously having a good time. "What's wrong?"

"Cecil, is there ..." I took a breath. "Are there rumors going around about me - my magic - that I'm not even human?"

Cecil looked at me. I couldn't read the look in his eyes. "Rydia," he said slowly, "I'm sure that there's nothing happening. People are merely tense about tomorrow's council," he said.

I had forgotten about the council. There was to be a great meeting, including all the heads of the nations, at which the decisions for repairing our wounded world could be made. It guaranteed to be a difficult time - Baron, the nation responsible for most of the damage, was also the meeting's host - but Cecil had asked me to be there anyway. I had thought it was merely a gesture of kindness, or perhaps the desire to have another ally on the battlefield, so to speak. But now I thought differently.

"I'm sure that whatever you heard was just the result of some jealous baron mouthing off to his son, or daughter, or servant," Cecil continued. "This kingdom holds you in very high regard, dear."

"Thanks, Cecil." I sighed. "Now go back to your new wife." He was all too eager to go, for Rosa was waving to him, looking radiantly ravishing.

"Enjoy yourself, Rydia. Have a good time." And the King of Baron was gone.

Enjoy myself? The party had been ruined for me. I was much too worried; I wasn't really concerned with what people thought of me, but I was worried about being a hassle to Cecil and Rosa, or even being disruptive to their new plan of peace. I didn't understand why I mattered - I didn't even, really, have a place to call home.

I spent the remainder of the night sipping wine in a corner. I saw Edge dancing with the beautiful red-haired girl; I watched Cecil and Rosa laugh in their own world; I saw Yang and his wife trip merrily over each other. I wondered what else people were thinking about the green-haired witch in the corner of the ballroom. Who could be afraid of me?