The Legend of Talon
Chapter 10
Everyone was silent as the party walked down the tunnel leading to the Lost Castle of Power. Only Talon and Dorgan knew what lied within, for Dorgan had heard Leviathan's words too. Most crept down into the earth with caution, while Auron and Talon walked ahead, not in caution, but in wariness. They were prepared for any attack.
As Talon turned a corner, he stopped abruptly. The others hastened behind him, and saw that there was a solid wall with strange writing on it.
Talon cocked his head at it. "All this way to be stopped by a wall with scratches on it. I am afraid to break it down…some strange curse will befall us, or the tunnel will collapse." Suddenly he laughed. "Of course! Dorgan tells me they are runes. Can anyone read runes?"
Tifa shoved her way to the front. "No. Barret could, but he can't help us now, can he?"
Talon glanced at Auron, who smiled. "Why don't you ask the Loremaster?"
Talon laughed. His eyes flashed and became red, and his expression hardened instantly. He bent onto his knee and began examining the writings.
He uttered a grunt that caused everyone to jump. "Morgul. The language of Khazad-dum, which is a city long forgotten. Long ago there lived a Dark Lord in that land, nay, in THIS land, for we have passed its borders long ago. This Dark Lord's name I dare not speak. Should I speak it, this entire mountain would banish us in its anger…for the planet itself is trying to forget him. But there is doubt that he is even dead…he was struck down, if you will, by a warrior called – "
"That is quite enough lore for now, Dorgan." Auron muttered over him. "What does it say?"
Dorgan scowled at him. "I dare not speak the language! But it is a poem, which does not rhyme in the common-tongue. It tells of the enchantment on this wall…yes…it would seem that only the Chosen one can pass through this wall unscathed…only the Chosen one may face the trial within…but I wonder. Can Talon get through with me in his mind and heart?"
His eyes flashed back to green. "I don't know…back into the darkest corners of my mind and we shall see if it allows us." He waited, his eyes closed. Finally he opened them. "Right." And with that, he stepped through the wall, leaving behind a loud gasp from his company.
"Are you all right, Father?" Talon spoke softly; he hoped the pass through the wall had not destroyed his father. He was relieved when a weak voice in his mind told him his father was weakened and could not possess him during the fight.
His heart plunged. He would not be able to use his father's amazing skills. He would have to fight on his own. He drew his sword, seeing with some satisfaction that the Ice enchantment had not worn off. Using his sword as light, he glanced around the room. It was very large, and very bleak. The walls, floors, and ceiling were all made of stone. As he looked, his eyes came to rest upon the wall he had entered. There were more runes set in it.
As he approached, his eyes turned to red, and his face grew tired. His walk slackened. Dorgan took one glance at the wall and managed to utter the words "Turn around," before backing out of Talon's consciousness. Talon whipped around to face the room.
Even as he did so, unseen windows on both sides of the room opened, letting in sunlight. Talon scratched his head thoughtfully, wondering how sunlight could be getting underground. He decided it was an enchantment.
One last window opened directly above him, shooting a beam of light to the other side of the room. In the light, he could clearly see a mirror. Suddenly Leviathan's words rang through his mind.
"You will fight a demon version of yourself, which will appear from a cursed mirror." He cautiously approached it, holding his sword in front of him. As he got nearer to the mirror, he saw that instead of seeing the room, he simply saw darkness. The only thing that could be seen was himself.
And yet something seemed amiss…something wasn't right about the mirror. To Talon, it seemed that his reflection was farther ahead to the mirror than he. Talon slowed his walk, and the reflection did the same. When Talon quickened his walk again, his reflection followed suit. So what was wrong?
And suddenly Talon knew. As his feet hit the bottom of three stairs leading upward to the mirror, his reflection put its foot on the frame of the mirror. When his foot fell onto the second step, the reflection put its other foot down in front of the mirror. And when Talon reached the top, he found himself face to face with a version of himself that seemed to have a shadow fallen on him. Talon had a notion in his mind that the reflection would do whatever he did, so he leaped backwards in an attempt to get his enemy back in the mirror. But he stood strong.
The dark Talon slowly descended the steps. As he approached Talon, an evil grin stretched over his shadowed face. And then he spoke, in Talon's own voice.
"Yes…indeed, you are the Chosen one. I am known as Fusoya. I believe you understand that you are to fight me…." His voice trailed off as Talon nodded and thrust his sword inches from Fusoya's face.
"I will fight you, for Leviathan told me you might attempt to fool me." Talon set his mind into disbelief, and vowed that he would not fail it.
At this statement, Fusoya laughed. "No, that is your next trial, the Stone Giant. You were told to not give him the sword for any reason." Seeing Talon's surprise, he laughed. "Yes, I know Leviathan well…he was once one of my Espers, as well as Bahamut and Syldra…the three legendary Espers. And I was once the Chosen One."
Talon jumped at this. He began to consider believing the old man, and then mentally smacked himself for thinking such a thing. But in spite of himself, he lowered his sword.
Fusoya laughed again. "I didn't think you would believe me so readily."
Talon didn't either. "No, I just see that you are unarmed.
"Oh no, far from it." He pulled out a two swords. One, like Talon's, had a strange glow about it, and Talon knew right away it was enchanted. "Enchanted with Shadow Flare, the dark spell. It takes immense energy to cast, though." He flung it aside, followed by a blade that looked exactly like the holy blade at Talon's hip, but an incredible black. "There. Now I am unarmed. Do you trust me now? For I have much to tell you, and whoever it is I sense hiding in your mind."
Talon's disbelief quavered. For a moment, he believed him, but immediately snapped out of it.
Fusoya waved an impatient hand. "It does not matter. When I am through talking, you will be accepting me into your party far beyond willingly." He sat down on the steps and closed his eyes for a moment, and then began to speak his tale.
Talon held rapt attention to him as he spoke. He told Talon of the Demonic Revolution, which was taking place far below the earth, where demons were fighting each other over whether or not they should be living in the world above. Many demons were already living among the Upper World humans, but in disguise. It had raged on for years, ever since the Dark Lord of old had fallen. Fusoya, too, seemed afraid to speak the name.
He told of how he was supported living with the Upper World, but as a fallen Chosen One could not leave his position until the true Chosen one let him join on his quest to destroy the next Dark Lord. He said that though a new Dark Lord had risen, not all demons supported him, and he was one who did not. He told Talon of his skills, which included an entire archive of magic, excluding the Legendary Spells.
When he was finished speaking, Talon readily accepted his invitation. Fusoya gave a shout for joy that he had permission to leave the dark halls. "I have been here almost 2000 years, and its getting quite old!" he laughed. "And now I shall, for the first time in two millenniums, resume my true form!"
Talon expected some sort of amazing bang or flash and him standing there as some sort of monster. He was quite wrong. His form faded to black and reformed itself, and then and old man stood in front of him, with white hair trailing to his feet and strange white eyes. At the look of surprise Talon held, he laughed.
"But alas! I have not explained; I am not a demon. I was simply enslaved for my failure as the Chosen one. I am a descendent of a race known as the Lunarians…we lived on your moon far before you ever lived here. But come! We must advance toward our goal!" He flicked his wrist and there was a crashing sound on the other side of the room, and his allies came dashing in.
At once, Cid leaped at Fusoya, aiming his spear for the heart. Fusoya sighed regretfully and put up a hand. Cid froze in midair and was thrown across the room. Talon began to speak, but was cut off by a roar from Cloud, who leapt in the air, his sword held high. He soon met the same fate as Cid, and slumped down on the floor next to him.
Tifa leapt to attack. At this Talon grew not only fearful, but also annoyed. He could not take it anymore. He leapt in front of her, grabbing her by the ankle as she passed over him, and flung her toward the floor. "STOP! HE IS A FRIEND!" Cloud and Cid leapt forward and caught Tifa. Talon, out of anger, had flung her so hard she would have sank feet into the stone floor, and as it was, it brought Cid and Cloud to their knees.
Talon approached and pulled them to their feet. "I'm sorry," he mumbled. "But you would not listen. This is Fusoya. I was meant to fight him, but it seems he is friend rather than foe. Do not worry!"
His eyes quickly changed to red. "I, too, will vouch for this. I listened to it all…he is a supporter of a rebellion against Leif, and a former Chosen one. He will prove useful." He threw an evil gaze at Fusoya. "But should he betray us, I will personally kill him."
But Fusoya was not intimidated. Instead, he laughed. He leapt forward and embraced a surprised Dorgan. "Dorgan, Dorgan! Do you not know me?"
Dorgan looked at him oddly. "No, I cannot say I do. If you would be so kind as to release me, maybe I could get a better look."
Fusoya backed away, still laughing. Dorgan looked at him, a disgusted smirk on his face. "I cannot say I know you…though you do look extraordinarily like my old friend –"
"Galuf!" He laughed some more. "King Galuf of Baal! Do you remember? We sealed Exdeath in the Void some 3000 years ago!"
Dorgan looked at him oddly some more. "I don't think…" Then suddenly his face lit up in remembrance. "Galuf, Galuf! Of course I remember you! And Zeza, and Kelgar! Of course! The Four Warriors of Dawn, they called us…but I thought you died?"
Suddenly his eyes turned to green, as Talon emerged once again, looking thoroughly confused. "What do you speak of? My father was not alive 3000 years ago!"
In response, Fusoya smiled. "Correct…He was not alive. The 9 warriors that fought off Exdeath from this world 3000 years ago were gifted by an elder from a city long past, known as Mysidia. As his dying wish, he used the last of his power to grant all 9 of us life, and eternal life at that. Didn't you ever notice, Talon, that your father's appearance never changed?"
Now that Talon thought about it, it was true. His father had always kept his young and perky look.
Fusoya read the look on his face. "You see? He is an immortal…to age, at any rate. He could be slain just as easily as the next human." He sighed. "But Dorgan, I deceived you. Galuf was not my true name; indeed, I did not even know my true name. When I died, I returned to the moon, as all Lunarians do. My heritage was explained to me by my father, a man named Kluya, ruler of the moon. He then sent me back to save Burtz, Lenna, Cara, and Faris from the clutches of Exdeath's Void. And with the help of you, Zeza, Kelgar, and King Tycoon, we held it back enough for the Warriors of Light to fight him. And fight well, they did…skills whose power I had never known."
Dorgan, who had taken Talon's body minutes before, looked up at Fusoya gravely. "But, Galuf, is it true that they all disappeared?"
Fusoya shook his head gravely. "Yes. I know little of their whereabouts…I believe they sought to claim the weapons here…Burtz defeated me, and that was before I was rebellious, so I did not tell him who I was."
Dorgan shook his head. "It would have been nice to see my first son again."
His eyes turned green again. "First son! But I am your only son!"
Fusoya smiled. "No. Burtz was his first son, but that was 3000 years ago. His second and third were twins; they were named Sabin and Edward. Edward took the throne of an empire called Figaro, while Sabin went and trained with a powerful martial arts master. But both were killed after their fight with yet another Dark Lord, Kefka. A friend of theirs, named Setzer Gabbiani, was piloting them to a city called Narshe when their airship crashed. His fourth and final son was you, Talon."
Cid approached. He had been behind everyone else, listening uncaringly to the story. But at mention of an airship, he stepped forward. "Fusoya, this Airship you speak of…surely it was not the Falcon, the fastest of the two ships built in that age?"
Fusoya smiled. "All of you, please, address me as Galuf. If I am to return to the Upper World, I wish to travel by my own name. And yes, it was the Falcon. Its brother, a ship of no name, was destroyed when Kefka rearranged the continents of the world long ago."
Cid stepped back, muttering speedily. Talon caught only two words: "legends" and "father". He could draw neither head nor tail of this, but Galuf smiled at him. "Yes, Cid, your father was Setzer Gabbiani. But you were given your mother's name, Cid Highwind. Why, I could not tell you." Cid fell back, thoroughly awed, and feeling stupid.
Galuf extended a hand to them. "Come! We must advance!" He whipped around to face the mirror, then picked it up and flung it aside. It shattered against the wall. "I no longer care for that reminder of evil. Come!" He waved his hand at a door that had appeared from behind the mirror.
The party followed him warily, as he and Dorgan walked side by side at the front. Cid and Cloud, who both had their hands on their weapons, closely followed them. Tifa and Auron were strolling quietly and uncaringly behind them. After a great deal of walking downwards, they came to a stop at another rune-filled wall.
Galuf stopped Dorgan as he attempted to walk through the wall. "You must know something first. When you enter, the Giant will be in the form of whatever you most desire. It will fool you into believing that if you give it the sword, you can obtain that desire. You must summon all the willpower you can muster, and tell it you refuse. It will grow angry, and we should be let inside to fight with you."
Trying to keep this all in mind, Dorgan let loose to Talon, who passed through the barrier. Once inside, he once again found himself in total darkness. He unsheathed his sword as light, but he needn't have bothered. For at that second, a light came from the ceiling and shone down upon the floor. Windows on either side of him sprang up to admit the enchanted sunlight. As Talon's eyes darted around the room, his eyes came to rest upon a dark form leaning against a wall to his right. When the light spread and lit up the person's form and face, Talon gasped aloud.
Standing there in the beam of light was Leif. He was clad in a light green cloak, with shining mithril covering his entire body. His head was unprotected, except by a light hood. At the sound of Talon's gasp, his head turned. Jewelry on his ears clang together as he stared at Talon with his blank brown eyes.
Suddenly he spoke. Hearing his voice gave Talon's very soul a shiver. "Welcome, Talon."
Talon suddenly became inexplicably defiant. "Welcome to what? I see nothing about this place that is to welcome to!"
Leif laughed. "Yes, indeed. I should not be here. I should be ruling my planet." He smiled evilly. "But I am misunderstood, you see."
"How so? You're filthy and evil, it's not hard to understand." Talon growled.
"No. I do not want to rule this planet. All I seek…is the sword."
Talon's hand felt for the sword at his side. He drew it, wielding it menacingly at Leif. "You want it? What are my incentives?"
Lief smiled again. "If you give me the sword, I will leave this planet."
Talon's senses cracked. He could not see or hear or smell; he could not feel the coldness of the room. All he could do was think. Leif would be gone forever…if only he turned over the sword…
"That's right. Just give it to me, and I will never plague Plague again." He smiled at his cruel joke.
Talon was suddenly aware that he was walking forward. He attempted to stop, but desire drove him…he stretched out his arm…
Suddenly his eyes turned red and his hand snatched back. He sheathed the sword and stepped back. "Never, Leif! Never!"
Leif's eyes flashed menacingly. "FOOL!" he flashed again – but not his eyes. He himself flashed, and the light spread until Dorgan was blinded. There was a crash from behind him, and the allies came speeding in as the light died and a gigantic stone man stood before them.
It swung a huge fist at Dorgan, who leapt backwards just in time. Cloud leapt forward, bringing his sword down forcefully on the fist that was resting on the ground. It had absolutely no effect, and Cloud was slammed across the room by the fist he had struck.
Dorgan stood rooted to the spot. He dared not attack; he would meet Cloud's fate. He backed away from the gigantic beast, thinking quickly. A shout came from his subconscious, and he let through to Talon. Talon leaped backwards to avoid an attack, thinking about Leviathan's words. He could not remember what he had said…
He leapt aside as Cid came sailing towards him into the wall. Auron was then tossed into the air in a high arch. As Talon followed his progress, his eyes caught a bright light in midair. And then it hit him. "Should you need help with this task, look to the sky!" he repeated. His eyes darted off the light to avoid yet another attack, but instead of leaping aside, he grabbed onto the fist.
The Giant gave a grunt of anger and attempted to fling him off. Talon instead leapt off, grabbing the light from midair. When he hit the floor, he took a closer look at the object in his hand. It was a tablet…a stone tablet! Talon knew it contained a spell that only a great mage could unleash. He rushed to Cid, who was sitting in a corner, breathing heavily, and tossed him the tablet.
Cid's eyes widened. "Holy! HAHA!" He sprang to his feet and held the tablet in midair. It disintegrated in his hand. But as he lowered his arm, Talon could see a light in his eyes that had not been there before. He walked directly to the beast and spat on its fist. "Hey! You!"
The Giant looked at him angrily. It swung a fist at him, which he easily dodged. He grinned as his hand began to glow white. "Eat this!" He pointed a finger at the beast and let go of his restraint.
Chapter 10
Everyone was silent as the party walked down the tunnel leading to the Lost Castle of Power. Only Talon and Dorgan knew what lied within, for Dorgan had heard Leviathan's words too. Most crept down into the earth with caution, while Auron and Talon walked ahead, not in caution, but in wariness. They were prepared for any attack.
As Talon turned a corner, he stopped abruptly. The others hastened behind him, and saw that there was a solid wall with strange writing on it.
Talon cocked his head at it. "All this way to be stopped by a wall with scratches on it. I am afraid to break it down…some strange curse will befall us, or the tunnel will collapse." Suddenly he laughed. "Of course! Dorgan tells me they are runes. Can anyone read runes?"
Tifa shoved her way to the front. "No. Barret could, but he can't help us now, can he?"
Talon glanced at Auron, who smiled. "Why don't you ask the Loremaster?"
Talon laughed. His eyes flashed and became red, and his expression hardened instantly. He bent onto his knee and began examining the writings.
He uttered a grunt that caused everyone to jump. "Morgul. The language of Khazad-dum, which is a city long forgotten. Long ago there lived a Dark Lord in that land, nay, in THIS land, for we have passed its borders long ago. This Dark Lord's name I dare not speak. Should I speak it, this entire mountain would banish us in its anger…for the planet itself is trying to forget him. But there is doubt that he is even dead…he was struck down, if you will, by a warrior called – "
"That is quite enough lore for now, Dorgan." Auron muttered over him. "What does it say?"
Dorgan scowled at him. "I dare not speak the language! But it is a poem, which does not rhyme in the common-tongue. It tells of the enchantment on this wall…yes…it would seem that only the Chosen one can pass through this wall unscathed…only the Chosen one may face the trial within…but I wonder. Can Talon get through with me in his mind and heart?"
His eyes flashed back to green. "I don't know…back into the darkest corners of my mind and we shall see if it allows us." He waited, his eyes closed. Finally he opened them. "Right." And with that, he stepped through the wall, leaving behind a loud gasp from his company.
"Are you all right, Father?" Talon spoke softly; he hoped the pass through the wall had not destroyed his father. He was relieved when a weak voice in his mind told him his father was weakened and could not possess him during the fight.
His heart plunged. He would not be able to use his father's amazing skills. He would have to fight on his own. He drew his sword, seeing with some satisfaction that the Ice enchantment had not worn off. Using his sword as light, he glanced around the room. It was very large, and very bleak. The walls, floors, and ceiling were all made of stone. As he looked, his eyes came to rest upon the wall he had entered. There were more runes set in it.
As he approached, his eyes turned to red, and his face grew tired. His walk slackened. Dorgan took one glance at the wall and managed to utter the words "Turn around," before backing out of Talon's consciousness. Talon whipped around to face the room.
Even as he did so, unseen windows on both sides of the room opened, letting in sunlight. Talon scratched his head thoughtfully, wondering how sunlight could be getting underground. He decided it was an enchantment.
One last window opened directly above him, shooting a beam of light to the other side of the room. In the light, he could clearly see a mirror. Suddenly Leviathan's words rang through his mind.
"You will fight a demon version of yourself, which will appear from a cursed mirror." He cautiously approached it, holding his sword in front of him. As he got nearer to the mirror, he saw that instead of seeing the room, he simply saw darkness. The only thing that could be seen was himself.
And yet something seemed amiss…something wasn't right about the mirror. To Talon, it seemed that his reflection was farther ahead to the mirror than he. Talon slowed his walk, and the reflection did the same. When Talon quickened his walk again, his reflection followed suit. So what was wrong?
And suddenly Talon knew. As his feet hit the bottom of three stairs leading upward to the mirror, his reflection put its foot on the frame of the mirror. When his foot fell onto the second step, the reflection put its other foot down in front of the mirror. And when Talon reached the top, he found himself face to face with a version of himself that seemed to have a shadow fallen on him. Talon had a notion in his mind that the reflection would do whatever he did, so he leaped backwards in an attempt to get his enemy back in the mirror. But he stood strong.
The dark Talon slowly descended the steps. As he approached Talon, an evil grin stretched over his shadowed face. And then he spoke, in Talon's own voice.
"Yes…indeed, you are the Chosen one. I am known as Fusoya. I believe you understand that you are to fight me…." His voice trailed off as Talon nodded and thrust his sword inches from Fusoya's face.
"I will fight you, for Leviathan told me you might attempt to fool me." Talon set his mind into disbelief, and vowed that he would not fail it.
At this statement, Fusoya laughed. "No, that is your next trial, the Stone Giant. You were told to not give him the sword for any reason." Seeing Talon's surprise, he laughed. "Yes, I know Leviathan well…he was once one of my Espers, as well as Bahamut and Syldra…the three legendary Espers. And I was once the Chosen One."
Talon jumped at this. He began to consider believing the old man, and then mentally smacked himself for thinking such a thing. But in spite of himself, he lowered his sword.
Fusoya laughed again. "I didn't think you would believe me so readily."
Talon didn't either. "No, I just see that you are unarmed.
"Oh no, far from it." He pulled out a two swords. One, like Talon's, had a strange glow about it, and Talon knew right away it was enchanted. "Enchanted with Shadow Flare, the dark spell. It takes immense energy to cast, though." He flung it aside, followed by a blade that looked exactly like the holy blade at Talon's hip, but an incredible black. "There. Now I am unarmed. Do you trust me now? For I have much to tell you, and whoever it is I sense hiding in your mind."
Talon's disbelief quavered. For a moment, he believed him, but immediately snapped out of it.
Fusoya waved an impatient hand. "It does not matter. When I am through talking, you will be accepting me into your party far beyond willingly." He sat down on the steps and closed his eyes for a moment, and then began to speak his tale.
Talon held rapt attention to him as he spoke. He told Talon of the Demonic Revolution, which was taking place far below the earth, where demons were fighting each other over whether or not they should be living in the world above. Many demons were already living among the Upper World humans, but in disguise. It had raged on for years, ever since the Dark Lord of old had fallen. Fusoya, too, seemed afraid to speak the name.
He told of how he was supported living with the Upper World, but as a fallen Chosen One could not leave his position until the true Chosen one let him join on his quest to destroy the next Dark Lord. He said that though a new Dark Lord had risen, not all demons supported him, and he was one who did not. He told Talon of his skills, which included an entire archive of magic, excluding the Legendary Spells.
When he was finished speaking, Talon readily accepted his invitation. Fusoya gave a shout for joy that he had permission to leave the dark halls. "I have been here almost 2000 years, and its getting quite old!" he laughed. "And now I shall, for the first time in two millenniums, resume my true form!"
Talon expected some sort of amazing bang or flash and him standing there as some sort of monster. He was quite wrong. His form faded to black and reformed itself, and then and old man stood in front of him, with white hair trailing to his feet and strange white eyes. At the look of surprise Talon held, he laughed.
"But alas! I have not explained; I am not a demon. I was simply enslaved for my failure as the Chosen one. I am a descendent of a race known as the Lunarians…we lived on your moon far before you ever lived here. But come! We must advance toward our goal!" He flicked his wrist and there was a crashing sound on the other side of the room, and his allies came dashing in.
At once, Cid leaped at Fusoya, aiming his spear for the heart. Fusoya sighed regretfully and put up a hand. Cid froze in midair and was thrown across the room. Talon began to speak, but was cut off by a roar from Cloud, who leapt in the air, his sword held high. He soon met the same fate as Cid, and slumped down on the floor next to him.
Tifa leapt to attack. At this Talon grew not only fearful, but also annoyed. He could not take it anymore. He leapt in front of her, grabbing her by the ankle as she passed over him, and flung her toward the floor. "STOP! HE IS A FRIEND!" Cloud and Cid leapt forward and caught Tifa. Talon, out of anger, had flung her so hard she would have sank feet into the stone floor, and as it was, it brought Cid and Cloud to their knees.
Talon approached and pulled them to their feet. "I'm sorry," he mumbled. "But you would not listen. This is Fusoya. I was meant to fight him, but it seems he is friend rather than foe. Do not worry!"
His eyes quickly changed to red. "I, too, will vouch for this. I listened to it all…he is a supporter of a rebellion against Leif, and a former Chosen one. He will prove useful." He threw an evil gaze at Fusoya. "But should he betray us, I will personally kill him."
But Fusoya was not intimidated. Instead, he laughed. He leapt forward and embraced a surprised Dorgan. "Dorgan, Dorgan! Do you not know me?"
Dorgan looked at him oddly. "No, I cannot say I do. If you would be so kind as to release me, maybe I could get a better look."
Fusoya backed away, still laughing. Dorgan looked at him, a disgusted smirk on his face. "I cannot say I know you…though you do look extraordinarily like my old friend –"
"Galuf!" He laughed some more. "King Galuf of Baal! Do you remember? We sealed Exdeath in the Void some 3000 years ago!"
Dorgan looked at him oddly some more. "I don't think…" Then suddenly his face lit up in remembrance. "Galuf, Galuf! Of course I remember you! And Zeza, and Kelgar! Of course! The Four Warriors of Dawn, they called us…but I thought you died?"
Suddenly his eyes turned to green, as Talon emerged once again, looking thoroughly confused. "What do you speak of? My father was not alive 3000 years ago!"
In response, Fusoya smiled. "Correct…He was not alive. The 9 warriors that fought off Exdeath from this world 3000 years ago were gifted by an elder from a city long past, known as Mysidia. As his dying wish, he used the last of his power to grant all 9 of us life, and eternal life at that. Didn't you ever notice, Talon, that your father's appearance never changed?"
Now that Talon thought about it, it was true. His father had always kept his young and perky look.
Fusoya read the look on his face. "You see? He is an immortal…to age, at any rate. He could be slain just as easily as the next human." He sighed. "But Dorgan, I deceived you. Galuf was not my true name; indeed, I did not even know my true name. When I died, I returned to the moon, as all Lunarians do. My heritage was explained to me by my father, a man named Kluya, ruler of the moon. He then sent me back to save Burtz, Lenna, Cara, and Faris from the clutches of Exdeath's Void. And with the help of you, Zeza, Kelgar, and King Tycoon, we held it back enough for the Warriors of Light to fight him. And fight well, they did…skills whose power I had never known."
Dorgan, who had taken Talon's body minutes before, looked up at Fusoya gravely. "But, Galuf, is it true that they all disappeared?"
Fusoya shook his head gravely. "Yes. I know little of their whereabouts…I believe they sought to claim the weapons here…Burtz defeated me, and that was before I was rebellious, so I did not tell him who I was."
Dorgan shook his head. "It would have been nice to see my first son again."
His eyes turned green again. "First son! But I am your only son!"
Fusoya smiled. "No. Burtz was his first son, but that was 3000 years ago. His second and third were twins; they were named Sabin and Edward. Edward took the throne of an empire called Figaro, while Sabin went and trained with a powerful martial arts master. But both were killed after their fight with yet another Dark Lord, Kefka. A friend of theirs, named Setzer Gabbiani, was piloting them to a city called Narshe when their airship crashed. His fourth and final son was you, Talon."
Cid approached. He had been behind everyone else, listening uncaringly to the story. But at mention of an airship, he stepped forward. "Fusoya, this Airship you speak of…surely it was not the Falcon, the fastest of the two ships built in that age?"
Fusoya smiled. "All of you, please, address me as Galuf. If I am to return to the Upper World, I wish to travel by my own name. And yes, it was the Falcon. Its brother, a ship of no name, was destroyed when Kefka rearranged the continents of the world long ago."
Cid stepped back, muttering speedily. Talon caught only two words: "legends" and "father". He could draw neither head nor tail of this, but Galuf smiled at him. "Yes, Cid, your father was Setzer Gabbiani. But you were given your mother's name, Cid Highwind. Why, I could not tell you." Cid fell back, thoroughly awed, and feeling stupid.
Galuf extended a hand to them. "Come! We must advance!" He whipped around to face the mirror, then picked it up and flung it aside. It shattered against the wall. "I no longer care for that reminder of evil. Come!" He waved his hand at a door that had appeared from behind the mirror.
The party followed him warily, as he and Dorgan walked side by side at the front. Cid and Cloud, who both had their hands on their weapons, closely followed them. Tifa and Auron were strolling quietly and uncaringly behind them. After a great deal of walking downwards, they came to a stop at another rune-filled wall.
Galuf stopped Dorgan as he attempted to walk through the wall. "You must know something first. When you enter, the Giant will be in the form of whatever you most desire. It will fool you into believing that if you give it the sword, you can obtain that desire. You must summon all the willpower you can muster, and tell it you refuse. It will grow angry, and we should be let inside to fight with you."
Trying to keep this all in mind, Dorgan let loose to Talon, who passed through the barrier. Once inside, he once again found himself in total darkness. He unsheathed his sword as light, but he needn't have bothered. For at that second, a light came from the ceiling and shone down upon the floor. Windows on either side of him sprang up to admit the enchanted sunlight. As Talon's eyes darted around the room, his eyes came to rest upon a dark form leaning against a wall to his right. When the light spread and lit up the person's form and face, Talon gasped aloud.
Standing there in the beam of light was Leif. He was clad in a light green cloak, with shining mithril covering his entire body. His head was unprotected, except by a light hood. At the sound of Talon's gasp, his head turned. Jewelry on his ears clang together as he stared at Talon with his blank brown eyes.
Suddenly he spoke. Hearing his voice gave Talon's very soul a shiver. "Welcome, Talon."
Talon suddenly became inexplicably defiant. "Welcome to what? I see nothing about this place that is to welcome to!"
Leif laughed. "Yes, indeed. I should not be here. I should be ruling my planet." He smiled evilly. "But I am misunderstood, you see."
"How so? You're filthy and evil, it's not hard to understand." Talon growled.
"No. I do not want to rule this planet. All I seek…is the sword."
Talon's hand felt for the sword at his side. He drew it, wielding it menacingly at Leif. "You want it? What are my incentives?"
Lief smiled again. "If you give me the sword, I will leave this planet."
Talon's senses cracked. He could not see or hear or smell; he could not feel the coldness of the room. All he could do was think. Leif would be gone forever…if only he turned over the sword…
"That's right. Just give it to me, and I will never plague Plague again." He smiled at his cruel joke.
Talon was suddenly aware that he was walking forward. He attempted to stop, but desire drove him…he stretched out his arm…
Suddenly his eyes turned red and his hand snatched back. He sheathed the sword and stepped back. "Never, Leif! Never!"
Leif's eyes flashed menacingly. "FOOL!" he flashed again – but not his eyes. He himself flashed, and the light spread until Dorgan was blinded. There was a crash from behind him, and the allies came speeding in as the light died and a gigantic stone man stood before them.
It swung a huge fist at Dorgan, who leapt backwards just in time. Cloud leapt forward, bringing his sword down forcefully on the fist that was resting on the ground. It had absolutely no effect, and Cloud was slammed across the room by the fist he had struck.
Dorgan stood rooted to the spot. He dared not attack; he would meet Cloud's fate. He backed away from the gigantic beast, thinking quickly. A shout came from his subconscious, and he let through to Talon. Talon leaped backwards to avoid an attack, thinking about Leviathan's words. He could not remember what he had said…
He leapt aside as Cid came sailing towards him into the wall. Auron was then tossed into the air in a high arch. As Talon followed his progress, his eyes caught a bright light in midair. And then it hit him. "Should you need help with this task, look to the sky!" he repeated. His eyes darted off the light to avoid yet another attack, but instead of leaping aside, he grabbed onto the fist.
The Giant gave a grunt of anger and attempted to fling him off. Talon instead leapt off, grabbing the light from midair. When he hit the floor, he took a closer look at the object in his hand. It was a tablet…a stone tablet! Talon knew it contained a spell that only a great mage could unleash. He rushed to Cid, who was sitting in a corner, breathing heavily, and tossed him the tablet.
Cid's eyes widened. "Holy! HAHA!" He sprang to his feet and held the tablet in midair. It disintegrated in his hand. But as he lowered his arm, Talon could see a light in his eyes that had not been there before. He walked directly to the beast and spat on its fist. "Hey! You!"
The Giant looked at him angrily. It swung a fist at him, which he easily dodged. He grinned as his hand began to glow white. "Eat this!" He pointed a finger at the beast and let go of his restraint.