Chapter 5: One Mission Ends, Another Begins...
Upon leaving the Cave of the Mist, Cecil and Kain were blinded by the light surrounding them. They had almost forgotten what the colour white even looked like. After spending over an hour in a dingy, damp, foggy cave, the hot midday sun was blinding. Cecil looked at the ground.
"Hey, Kain, can we stop and wait for our eyes to adjust?" Cecil asked, still staring at the ground. Even the wet grass was too bright for Cecils eyes.
"The sooner that we get there, the sooner the mission is finished, the sooner that we get back. I, myself, am looking forward to a home-cooked meal, a cold beer and a show at the Baron theatre." Kain said. He really wanted to get back. He had done his helping. Cecil wasn't depressed OR bitching about having to walk. They were ahead of schedule and Kain was still homesick.
"But, we can get the beer in Mist, I supposed" Cecil said.
"True, but it's a summoner villiage. I don't want Ogre piss, because their summoning 'backfired'." Cecil laughed, although the joke was a little on the low side.
"Look Kain, we'll be back before the week is up." Cecil assured Kain. "The mission is pretty much over. If I could see, I would be able to see our destination." Cecil added. Kain had a joyful look in his eyes.
"Then what the hell are we waiting for?" Said Kain, beginning to run towards the east, towards Mist. Cecil, unhappily followed his friend, although not quite at the same pace. Cecil learned on this trip, that Imp's can live anywhere. By mountians, in the open, in the forest even in thick fog, but the place the dwell the most is in your way. There were two of the sitting on a rock.
"I've had enough of those damn Imps." Cecil complained. "Oh, well. Once I'm captain again, I'll never have to see another Imp again." Cecil stated. He charged at the two Imps, sword in hand, and thrust his blade through both their heads in a single strike. Withdrawing the sword, he saw a pendant worn around one of the Imp's necks. It was made of gold. A coin. On it was a crudely carved Imp on it. Cecil took it. Not because it seemed to have alot of value, just because it was a trophy. No matter how small. Kain came back to Cecil.
"Hey, hurry up Cecil, we're almost at Mist!" Cecil looked east, and noticed how close it was. The small town was almost deserted, apart from a few odd looking people around. The buildings themselves were almost rubble, with a few normal looking ones. Cecil and Kain both ran up to the town, as fast as they could. They walked towards the centre of the town, and as soon as he reached the town, he remembered his objective.
Cecil reached inside of his pocket for the ring. The voice of the image sounded in his mind.
"Cecil! It's not too late to turn back! PLEASE CECIL! DON'T TOUCH THE RING!" Cecil ignored the warnings. Cecil grabbed the ring. As he took it out, it was abnormally hot. Not burning, but not far from it. He held it in his hand. Then, suddenly, it got scorching hot. Cecil recoiled his hand to survey the burn it had left on this hand, and when the gold band hit the ground of the villiage, that's when he knew that the vision was right. A flame engulfed the village, and a horrible, round red demon was unleashed from the ring. It flew around the villiage in an absolute fury, setting more fire onto the, already cinderous buildings. Cecil took a step back.....
"What is this?" Cecil asked in horror.
"Is this why you were sent here Cecil?" Kain asked in fury.
"WHY? King Baron.... NO!" Cecil wailed. "Kain! come on! we HAVE to help any survivors!" Cecil said, running around the villiage, desperately looking for survivors. Everyone he saw was being swallowed by flames. Then Cecil found a survivor. She was a little girl, maybe only ten or eleven. She had medium length, green hair, green eyes, and was only about 4'7". Her skin was lighly tanned, and she was crying by a dead woman. Although, the woman appeared to have no burns on her.
"Mom, no!" the girl cried. Cecil grabbed the girl be her arm roughly.
"Come on, we have to get out of here!" Cecil told the girl.
"Mom's dragon died..... So mom also...." The girl sniffed. Kain realised it before Cecil had.
"Shit... the Phantom Beast...." Kain said to himself. Cecil looked puzzled, then he finally realized it.
"Dear god... I... I killed her?...." Cecil said quietly, though, no matter how quietly he said it, the girl heard him she wrestled away from Cecils tight grip on her. She stepped back a couple of paces with a shocked and angered look on her face.
"You guys killed mom's dragon?" The girl yelled, Cecil tried to talk his way out of it.
"We didn't know..." However the girl didn't seem very forgiving. These two killed her mother, even if it was an accident. Kain spoke up.
"The King sent us here to kill the summoners," said Kain, looking at the girl. Cecil was shocked at what Kain had said, like he knew all along. "Unfortunately, our orders.... We have to wipe out this girl as well!" Kain yelled.
"Kain! What the fuck?" Cecil yelled at, who he thought was his friend, but what is a friend, if they keep you in the dark about another humans life? Kain pointed his spear at the girl, showing no feelings towards the things he had said, the mother he had killed, and the frightened child. He, after all was doing Baron a favour. The summoners must die. Every last one of them......
"Cecil," Kain reasoned, "If we disobey our orders, we'll be executed for treason." Kain approached the girl slowly.
"But she's just a child!" Cecil argued with Kain. He stepped in, pushing Kain back.
"Are you saying we should defy the King?" Kain smiled at Cecil evily. Cecil pushed Kain back afew paces. An explosion was heard in the distance and Cecil saw the bloated, ugly demon, still reaking havoc in the south of Mist. Cecil pointed at the destruction around him.
"If the King expects us to murder like this!" Cecil yelled, "I have NO intention of following him!" He drew his sword and pointed it towards Kains chest. "And if YOU follow him, then you are my enemy...." Kain showed no reaction to Cecil, apart from a sick joy, deep inside of him. "I renounce ALL loyalty to the King! to the Red Wings! and to Baron!!!" Cecil bellowed. He pushed Kain to the ground and leared over him.
"Cecil, I won't let you oppose the King alone...." Kain said remorsefully.
"Kain?" Cecil wondered what the hell was going on. Oh great he's gone fucking schitzofrenic on me.
"As much as I owe the King, as a dragoon I could never preform such a lowly deed." he said. Cecil was surprised. But you almost did.... "It would bring shame to my fathers spirit....." Kain said as he threw away his spear. The young summoner just sat there absorbing it all in.
"Then you really didn't intend to..." Cecil said. This was the worst possible time for one of Kains jokes.
"Baron is the strongest military power in the world." Kain begun. "Just the two of us opposing it would mean nothing against it's might. We must warn other countries of Barons treachery and call them to our aid! Only then will we have a chance to triumph!" Kain said. It's amazing how people can change in such a short span of time.
"Thank you Kain....." Cecil said. "I'll save you Rosa." Kain thought that last line was kinda corny, but what does it matter?
"I'm not doing this particularly for you though." Kain said. Again with the changes, Cecil thought. The demon flew above their heads. "Anyways, it's too dangerous for us to stay here, lets go!" Kain said. Cecil grabbed the summoners arm, almost snapping it in two.
"Hurry up!" Cecil pleaded.
"No!"
"It's too dangerous here!" Kain informed the girl. Maybe she didn't notice that she was the last summoner left. Maybe she didn't notice the demon burning the town to ash.
"Let go!" She yelled, breaking free of Cecil's grasp once again. She grabbed a large staff from her mothers side. It was too big for her but she could manage. she raised it above her head, her right hand behind her head, holding the weapon at it's base, and her left hand, holding the weapon mid-way down, more as a guide. "You deserve to die!" She yelled.She struck her staff on the ground of the dieying villiage of Mist.
A gap in the ground opened behing her. The ground shook and quaked beneath the two warriors. Kain fell down on the ground, but Cecil held his sword in both hands, in front of him. A giant hand held onto the ledge of the gap. It was red and dirty. A similar, manlike body heaved itself from the side of the cliff. It had purple hair, vacant yellow eyes, and was extremely muscular, standing at a good nine feet tall. Kain got up and threw his spear at the creature. On impact with the things torso, his spear broke down the centre. The monster beat it's chest and punched the ground. A shockwave tore the earth, right down the middle. Right down to where Cecil and Kain were standing. The mountains around the villiage crumbled away, smothering the eastern part of the villiage. Dust covered the air around them and all three of the people passed out. What happened to the huge monster is anyones guess.
He woke with a pounding headache. Cecil got up and brushed some of the dust off of him. He was in a clearing in a thick forest, with a narrow path leading to the east. There was one to the west as well, put it was blocked with large boulders. He looked around and the only living thing he could see around him was the girl. This both relieved him and startled him. Where was Kain? He ran to the blocked path yelling for his comrade.
"Kain!" He yelled "Kain!" He started to move away as many of the smaller rocks he could see, however, there was no answer. "Is he.... dead?" Cecil asked himself. All he could do was try and save the child, there was time for mourning later. He walked up to the child, she was unconcious at the moment, and he slung her over his left soulder. He looked in his items bag for a potion, and there were a couple of empty bottles, but all of the potion had been used for Kains wounds.
He walked a little further when he found a small stream. Taking his time, he forced all the water he could into the summoner. Cecil made sure that he was well hydrated when he refilled both his and Kain's water bags, and both potion bottles. After doing this, Cecil went back out into the big wide world.
Cecil stepped into the latter part of Mist valley, it was alot like the earlier parts. High mountains gazed down on Cecil from above and long grass marked his path from below. Cecil began to run. Anywhere he could find civilization was good. Anywhere he could find a place to let the girl rest was good. Anywhere he could get to Baron, and save Rosa was good as well. The world doesn't have very many good places in it. By night fall Cecil was out of Mist Valley, but he was entering a desert. The desert streched as far as Cecil could see, but still, he kept on walking. He didn't know what monsters dwelled in these parts, and the longer he could go on not knowing, the better. Without any set direction Cecil kept walking, his sword drawn at all times, just as a precaution. He was lucky he did. Still carrying the young summoner, he saw a huge Sand Cetipede. The thing was taller than Cecil was, and he was at least 6 foot, accompanyed by two Desert Sahagins. Cecil stabbed a Sahagin through it's red, dehydrated stomache, however, it still kept fighting. It latched itself onto Cecils arm and bit into it. He screamed in pain and slashed the currently impaled Sahagin through the middle, upwards. He spun around and decapitated the over Sahagin, when the Centipede wrapped itself around Cecils middle. He dropped the girl, and thrust his sword through the bugs skull.Cecil fell sharply to the ground, landing on his back, however he got up and picked up the summoner of Mist. The monsters in these regions were much more skilled than Cecil had expected, and Cecil now knew not to under-estimate their strength.
Cecil was on his third day through the desert. Most of the water was gone and he was ready to give up and die, but in the distance he could very faintly see a distant town. It was this small, blurred image that fuelled him further. He continue north-west when he fought his second battle in the desert. This time he was lucky though, he had fought these enemies in the Mist Cave. Two of the maggot-like creatures, and two of the Moths, similar to the one that Kain had taken down, except now Cecil could see them better. They were ugly, purple things. Freakishly huge, but not large enough to carry Cecil away. Maybe they could drag him though, if they tried. On their wings was a pattern depicting two, angry-looking eyes. Cecil knew he could take care of them easily, but fatigue was setting in. It was at the point where he couldn't feel hunger or thirst, only a general pain, specific to no part of Cecils body. Cecil clutched his sword the best he could, but he was still fighting to stop it dropping to the ground. He beheaded the maggots in one clean sweep, but after that, he couldn't focus for long enough on the Moths to be able to hit them. Wit hgreat luck, he took them out with a well aimed DarkWave, however, the force of the spell sent him onto his back. After fifteen minutes of rest, and some water, he set off again. The weight of the girl was beginning to pull Cecil, and slow him down. He lost track of time since then, and by some random act of god, he didn't come across any other fights. Then he reached it, the object of his dreams.... The Desert Oasis of Kaipo.
Kaipo was protected by a thick, yellow brick wall, and the town was made of a similar material. The ground however was made of a dark concrete, a similar colour of his armour, not black, but not blue either. He looked at the girl in his arms. She was only just breathing, as her heart rate had slowed right down She lay there, limp Cecils arms. She has lost alot of wieght, Cecil noticed. If she doesn't get some GOOD rest...... He looked around the town, and headed north to a nearby Inn. The Inn itself reminded Cecil of home. The thick stench of flowers stalked Cecil as he approached the Innkeeper. Before he had a chance to explain the situation to the Innkeeper, he took one quick look at the summoner.
"Go ahead sir, she looks ill. Don't worry about money." This really was Cecil's lucky day.
"Thank you." Cecil responded, hurrying the child into the room. He carefully placed her down in the closest bed to him. Almost immediately, she opened her eyes. Cecil smiled. He saved her life. "You've come to....." The girl looked away from him. He didn't blame her.He was responsible for the death of her mother, Cecil didn't expect her forgiveness, ever. "You haven't told me you're name yet," Cecil pointed out, trying to make some conversation. She still remained silent. "Look. I can't ask you to forgive me for killing your mother....." Cecil began. "But please. Let me protect you." Still no responce came from the girls lips. Cecil got between the sheets of the next bed. And bean to sleep. It was good to sleep in a proper bed. The clostest Cecil had had was a treetop, and the bed felt better after three days of non-stop walking, under the burning desert sun. The girl looked at him briefly before closing her eyes to go to sleep.
A noise woke the two in the middle of the night. The Inn door opened, and four Baron soldiers marched through. A general and four lower soldiers. The general pointed his blade at the girls chest when Cecil knocked the sword to the ground.
"We've found you, SIR Harvey...." The General said. Cecil read the badge. "Baron, The Red Wings" it said and it had a pisture of Baigan engraved into it. The girl was scared stiff.
"Wait, the King of Baron is..." Cecil was cut off. He wanted to tell them of King Barons genocide solution.
"After you? We know." The genral said. "If you turn over the life of the summoner, you will be forgiven for your treachery. It is deemed dangerous for the people of Mist to even exist."
"What?" Cecil asked in disbelief. "Has the King stooped so low as to kill children?"
"Spare me the lecture and give me the girl!" The general demanded.
"I refuse!" Cecil fought. He stabbed the generals right arm, and he dropped his sword, grasping his wound and recioling in pain. It took the bloodbath of his lesser War-Pigs to make him stop, and that was only because his death was iminent. The Red Wing bolted out the door and out, into the desert, where certain death awaited him. He turned back to the summoner Her life was, once again, saved. Thanks to the man who murdered her mother.
"I'm sorry, this is my fault..." The summoner said.
"I should be the one apologising. What I did cannot be forgotten.
"But... You.... Protected me...." The girl said, on the verge of tears. Cecil stayed silent. "I'm Rydia." She introduced.
"Thanks.... Rydia......" Cecil said, feeling slightly forgiven. "I will protect you. I will be your guardian."
The two woke around midday, they were both exhausted for the two previous days, but they were both refreshed now. Outside of a house there was a huge swarm of people.
"All these people form Baron. Another one collapsed outside of this villiage." Cecil overheard two poeple saying.
"Really? I heard about the baby-killer and the army, but what this one?"
"A young girl, maybe eightenn, though she may even be twenty."
"What she doing out here?"
"Well, she was dilerious, with a fever, and she kept calling out 'Cecil, Cecil'." Cecil pushed everyone out of the way. Particular force was used with the one who called him a baby killer. Cecil shoved through the people with Rydia calling after him. the house was owned by an elderly couple, and woman living in the house wasn't not exactly happy that Cecil was barging through her home. That didn't stop the ever-determined Cecil though. He ran to the back room where he saw an all-too familiar face.
"Rosa!" She was lying under the croche'd blanket tossing and turning, allthough she seemed to be unconcious. Cecil knelt beside her body. "Rosa....." Rosa remained silent, although she was moving. Cecil felt her head. She had a fever. When he touched her head, Cecil was sure he saw a brief smile on Rosa's troubled face. She suddnely cried out in pain. "Cecil! Don't leave me Cecil!" before going back to her slumber. The owner of the house walked to Cecils side.
"She has Desret Fever......" He informed Cecil.
"Will she be alright?" The Dark Knight asked. Although he didn't cry, not like in his room the night before leaving Baron on his hellish journey, this was the saddest time of his life to date.
"Well, that depends." The man began. "If we had the Light of the Desert, she would be good as gold in no time. Without it...... She could be dead in no more than two months." Cecil was struck by the man's words.
"How do I get the Light of the Desert?" Cecil demanded.
"Well, it's only ever found in the antlions cave, east of Damcyan." Cecil left the house. He had heard of the Light of the Desert, it was an elusive gem that cured Desert Fever.
"Rydia, you stay here in Kaipo." He asked. It was too dangerous for her to follow him.
"No!" Rydia yelled. I've really had enough of your fucking arrogance Rydia.
"It's too dangerous for you."
"But.... You're my guardian...... What do I have to worry about?" I wished I hadn't said that.
"Fine then!" Cecil gave up. "Rydia can you wield a bow?" The Dark Knight asked.
"Yeah, why?" Rydia could handle a bow. Better than she could a staff anyway. Cecil marched into the weapon shop. It was a small place, but it had a few weapons, but most of them were for beginners. The friendly merchant caught Cecils attention almost instantly.
"Hello there sir! and what can I do you for?" Rydia cracked up with an imature giggle.
"Ew!" The girl cackled. "That's just gross!" She continued to laugh. The merchant eyed her carefully. Cecil thought about how little she SHOULD know about that kind of thing.
"What do you want Rydia?" Cecil asked. Rydia suddenly bacame more serious.
"Can I PLEASE have a try of the bow?" She asked politely. The merchant warmed up and handed her a bow with an iron arrow to try it out with. She turned to the bullseye on the wall and took a pulled back the string. The weapon was almost as large as the girl was, and no matter back she pulled she string, she couldn't get enough tension out it. She let go of it, and the arrow hit the board before dropping slowly to the floor. She picked up the arrow and gave the weapon back.
"Anything else?" The merchant asked.
"Can I PLEASE try the mini-bow?" she asked again.
"Most certainly little miss." Cecil admired the man's patience. He handed Rydia a beautifully decorated mini-bow.
"Thank you!" Rydia expressed her gratitude. She held it. It was perfect for her size. He loaded the arrow into it and drew back the string. She aimed carefully and released..... Bullseye!
"Congratulations little miss!" said the merchant clapping. Rydia turned to Cecil.
"Can I have this one?" She pleaded.
"Sure. How many arrows will you need?" He asked, counting out his gil. Over two-thousand.
"How many can you get?" She asked. It's true, that she would need alot, two-hundred should do the trick. Cecil turned to the merchant.
"Two-hundred arrows." Cecil asked. The merchants eyes lit up when he saw the money.
"I'll tell you what. I'll give you three-hundred for being a great customer....." He said smiling, he turned to Rydia, "and a free quiver to the little girl for being such a great shot." He said, handing the equipment to Rydia. "You gonna go hunting with your dad here?" The merchant asked playfully." Rydia reaked a teency-weency amount of well, havoc right about..... now.
"ACTUALLY he's not my dad. He murdered my mother and burnt down my villiage before bringing me here!" Rydia said with a mischeivous grin on her face. Cecil was dumb-struck.
"Thank you for your service," he managed to get out before leaving the shop. "Rydia! What the hell was that?" Cecil asked her.
"Well, you said that what you did should not be forgotten.... The more people know, the less likely it will be for people to forget." Damn her logic.
"Alright. We still need to do some shopping before leaving here. Will you promise not to do that again?" Cecil pleaded. "Or you might have got carry all those arrows in your arms instead of in a bag.
"I'll be good!" Rydia said.
"Alright. Next we need to get some water. I can refill here, but with our limited storage, we probably won't get to Damcyan."
"I'll refill the ones we do have at the lake!" Rydia said.
"No... I think that you should come with me." Cecil said. Who else could she tell about Cecil's relationship to the girl.
"Fine then." Rydia pouted. Cecil walked into the armour shop. It was alot like the weapon shop, although larger with places to sit down. It was a combined Item shop as well, just while the Item shop was being built. In the corner of the room was a hairy ma..... a hairy thing eating Eblanese Shangta. He had funny clothes blue and yellow clothes with a large N on his hat. Cecil was wary of the creature.
"Two backpacks please?" Cecil asked. The merchant here looked alot like the one in the weapon shop, although this one had a thin beard. Were they brothers?
"Cert'nly sir!" The merchant said cheerfully. "Theres gonna be a bit of a wait, but I should have them ready by tommorrow mornin'. Is that okay?" Cecil didn't want to be held up anymore, but did he have a choice?"
"Sure, I guess."
"Great! and what material do you want it to be made out of?" Cecil looked around the room, and surveyd the materials there were. There was only Leather and Cloth.
"I'll take leather thanks."
"Great! amd how large do you want them to be.
"They should carry enough food and water to get us to Damcyan. Plus room for Potion, Antidote, an Echo Screen and maybe a Maidens Kiss, just incase. Also," Cecil pointed at Rydia. "A pouch for her to carry three-hundred arrows. Include the items, as well."
"Certainly. Can we have pay now? I'll include free dinner!" Cecil paid up. There was only 50 gil left. He hope that there would be enough for an Inn tonight. The two got ready to leave the shop, when the strange thing in the corner jumped in front of thier way singing.
"If you hate you're name
It's your parents you should blame
Namingway can make the change
Even if he do act strange"
He would make a good basker if he weren't so damn annoying. Rydia lapped it up however.
"Oh! Oh! Can you call him...... I know! How about......... Frioniel!" Rydia said, referring to Cecil.
"Call me that and I'll slice off your head." Cecil threatened the thing called Namingway.
"Don't be angry with poor Namingway!" The thing said.
"And call me...... Ooh! call me DAGGER!" Rydia asked enthusiastically. Cecil pulled her arm out the door. "Hey, what was that for?" she asked. Cecil didn't answer but instead, went to the lake to fill up his water containment. It's amazing how clear water can be, even if it is in the desert. The last thing that needed to be settled was the room.
"Back for another night?" The innskeeper asked.
"Well that depends." Cecil answered. "How much is a room?"
"50gil for the night." the innskeeper informed. "That's with a free drink from the bar upstairs." He added, pointing upstairs.
Cecil looked in his pocket. A fifty gil note was all that he had. Even still, he could afford it.
"Fine." Cecil said confirmatively. He placed the fifty gil note on the counter. "By the way, came you tell me what the thing in the armour shop was?" Cecil asked.
"Would it be armour?"
"No, that 'Namingway' thing."
"He is what he says. He can change the names of people and cast a spell so that everyone will call them by their desired name." I figured that.
"Thank you." Cecil looked up at the clock on the wall. It was dinner time. "Rydia, you wanna get some dinner yet?"
"Of course!" she said enthusiastically. I'm STARVING."
"At least you'll enjoy it." Cecil said. The two walked to the Armour shop.
"'Ullo sir!" the merchant said. "And what do you want for dinner?"
"I'll have a Swordrat burger please. With bacon, cheese, and something spicy..... maybe a Fabulian sauce on it."
"Absolutely. And what would the little girl want?"
"I'll have..... hmm.... a piece of Sahagin, a piece of Swordrat and some Cura-Cola.
"Sure." Almost immediately it was handed to them. It was the best thing Cecil had tasted, well, only due to his immence huger at the time. Rydia finished hers in two gulps, but it took Cecil over half an hour to finish his burger. Cecil wanted an early night. He had a beer from the bar and got ready for bed. While he getting ready, he found something in his pocket. The pendant from before. He set it down and Rydia picked it up.
"What's this?" She asked Cecil.
"I wouldn't have a clue." Rydia clutched into it tightly and the pendant began to glow brightly. The light blinded Cecil and he shielded his eyes. The glow faded out and the pendant dissapeared. "What did you just do Rydia?" Cecil asked, almost frightened. Rydia just smiled at him radiantly.
"You'll see." She said before going to sleep.
The morning sun shined through the Inn window that hot morning in Kiapo. Every morning here was a hot morning in Kiapo. Cecil and Rydia said their goodbyes to Kaipo and just in time. It was starting to look like thier good friend the weapon seller had forwarded the information that Rydia told him. The two collected their bags from the armour merchant, not his cherry self on this morning however. He silently handed over the bags not saying anything to him. The bags were surprisingly lightweight, and they still had everything Cecil needed. The two had outstayed their welcome, but they would still return. They would return to the desert oasis of Kiapo.
OK, so it didn't last until the cave before Tellah was introduced. It's still longer than all my other chapters, SO BE THANKFUL DAMMIT! Yes, I added references to other FF's in the Namingway scene (What? You could tell?) although, ONE of them had a meaning behind it: Let me explain.
It's no secret that FF4 Easytype Edition was released in the States as FF2, Frioniel was the main character from FF2, the real version. If you were playing FF2, that's what the main character would be called.
OK, so theres not as much meaning as I promised you, but don't deny it's existence!
It's taken a LONG time to update. Damn school. Hope you liked this chapter here people.