From this point on, each chapter will just be about a certain character, or group of characters. The previous chapter was just a recap on what everybody was doing, and introduced the current situations of the characters one year later.
I don't own the rights or anything like that to Nintendo, Squaresoft, Sony, or Final Fantasy 3/6.
Chapter 2 – The Void
I have been trapped here for too long. There must be a way out, but I have yet to find a way. There must be some way to escape. I just know it. I was sentenced to an eternity here. This is the focal point of where the Esper world and Human world collide. Somehow, they opened the doorway to this hellhole, and I am determined to find a way out. I can't stand to see a colorless world such as this, so I've decided to make a few changes…
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I silently made my way through my castle to my room. The musty halls needed to be aired out from today's events and the large amount of people that were packed in. Still, the castle was in its prime, and wasn't going to be moving very much these days.
After the Proclamation of Peace signing, the castle dove underground for the last time. It now stood where Narshe used to be (it was destroyed in a revolt after Kefka was sealed in the Void). The castle donned a new name, Narshe Castle. Of course I was a little reluctant to rename the castle, but global peace is more important than my personal feelings.
The noise from the inside of the castle died down as I continued further. The construction crews were remodeling the throne room, in order to accommodate The Council. Soon everybody that was going to be on The Council (myself included) was going to be living here in a week.
I continued my way through the corridors, and heard footsteps behind me. I chose to ignore them, and kept walking towards my room. The footsteps quickened their pace, and so did I. I turned down a hall to my left, and slowed down a bit. But, the steps continued. Annoyed, I turned around. The steps abruptly stopped. I stared into the eyes of none other than Terra.
"Jeez Terra, you nearly gave me a heart attack. Why didn't you say anything?"
"Oh Edgar," she giggled. "I'm only keeping you on your toes. I'm sorry if I scared you."
I felt my face turn a slight shade of red. "It's alright. I'm fine. Are you coming to bed?"
"Bed? It's only 8:30."
"Yeah, I'm exhausted, so I'm off to bed. Goodnight." I kissed her goodnight, and headed to bed.
With Edgar going to bed, that left me all alone. I turned and walked away. He must be really tired. He's usually up until midnight. However, with him going to bed early, I could do something that I've wanted to do for sometime.
I quietly strolled down the castle's halls until I was outside. I found my way to the Chocobo stable, and called out to Raven, my Chocobo. I put a saddle on her, with some resistance from her end, and climbed on.
The road was empty, and the sounds of the wildlife could be heard about. It had been so long since I've heard wildlife in the world. I guess the world, as well as the cities, is rebuilding it-self. I thought to my-self. I continued to ride towards my destination, even as the sunlight dimmed, and the sky turned a brilliant orange-pink color.
Upon reaching our destination, I tied Raven to a tree next to a river, so she could rest up after the journey. I hiked into the dark, secluded forest which I found one day after Kefka destroyed much of the world. I liked this forest very much, because no one knew about it. It was here that I lived for several weeks, before I decided to leave in search for some sign of civilization.
But this forest is different. I thought to my-self. This forest is unique, like me. It hides many secrets, and someday, I hope to know them all. Few knew of this forest, but I'm the only one who knows of its location. This is the Lost Forest, or rather, that's what I like to call it. Even Edgar doesn't know of it.
I stepped into the darkness, and Raven warked in worry.
"Raven, I'll be fine. You just rest up, and I'll be back before you know it!" I called back to her.
She seemed to calm down a little after that, and I continued my trek. The trees were of course very dark, because only twilight lit them. Soon, there was no light at all, but that didn't stop me. I grabbed a thick, short branch from the ground. I focused all of my thoughts on one thing, lighting the branch ablaze. At first I was worried, because nothing seemed to be happening, which led me to believe that my powers were diminishing. That stopped when the end of the branch burst into flames. Apparently, even magic fire can't catch on wet wood, so it had to dry it first.
The flames danced on the end of my make-shift torch, thus causing their light to bounce up and down along the trees. My path was overgrown, and I had to continue by memory, rather than the visual clues. On and on I trekked, until I arrived.
The old cabin had been abandoned long before I set foot in the forest nearly a year ago, but it still stood. Vines were creeping up the walls, and were growing into the roof. The little stream still ran next to it, and the windows had yet to break. Even in the dark of night, the little place smelled of honeysuckle.
Off in the distance, a wolf howled, and I began to think of Raven. I heard a distant wark, and started to become scared for Raven. I turned back the way I came, but I could not remember which way that was. Another scared wark came, and I tried to follow its direction, but in this forest, sounds echoed about the trees.
A cold wind gusted from nowhere, and my torch went out. I, once again, focused my mind on lighting the branch, but nothing happened! I tried to tap into my other half, so I could use the power of my Esper half to light my way, but even that didn't work!
I started to run wildly through the forest. Vines and branches clawed at my bare arms and legs, but that did nothing to slow me down. If I run in one direction, I'm bound to get out at some point. I thought to reassure my-self. So I ran for several minutes, with no luck. I turned back, and was horror stricken to find that the cottage was no more than a hundred feet behind me, its dark windows gazing at me, as though it were alive.
I seemed to be trapped in this dark hell hole, and nothing I could do was going to let me out. I stopped for a moment to cool down after all that running. I breathed hard and loudly. After I had caught my breath, I could still hear breathing. No, not just breathing, but rhythmic breathing. Something else was in this forest with me! I listened closer, and realized that someone was chanting a mute spell throughout the forest! That's why I could no longer use magic! I thought to my self. But who's doing it, and why can't I run out of this forest?
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Yes, run around all you want. But you're mine again. And what makes you think that you're still in a forest…?