FINAL FANTASY - RISE OF THE RED MAGES
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Death's Head - First thing first, I do not own Final Fantasy, nor do I ever intend to, I don't have the money (If I did, I'd... nevermind.). Also, this is a original FF story, with original characters and locations. Job classes, Chocobos as well as other FF mascots will make appearances and I do NOT OWN THEM!. Finally, all characters are of MY creation. They're mine, mine, ALL MINE! (Add maniacal laughter.)
All italised text is a character's thoughts and text written between >> ... >> is the sign language that Aberdeen and his sister Ariel know.
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CHAPTER SEVEN
Elsewhere :
On the beach near the port of Arlebast, on the eastern continent of Beglam, three weary figures were washed up on the shore. One wearing White Robes, another Red Robes and the other was clothed in a combination of loose fitting and tight fitting clothing.
The White Robe climbed to his feet first and coughed a few times, before helping the Red Robe and their companion to their feet. The Red Robe looked at the other woman, then faced the White Robe, concern on her face.
"Kye…"
Kye spoke in a soft tone to the thief.
"Wyreema… What happened back on the Eldorado…"
Wyreema shook her head, and clasped her arms against her chest tightly. She turned and started to walk along the shore. Kye and Ariel looked at each other and followed their companion. Ariel shuddered, as she pulled her cloak tight around her body.
"What happened Kye? On the ship, those… 'things'."
Kye frowned.
"Black magic of the highest and powerful order. I've read in some of the ancient tomes, in the tower of Historium, that only those harnessing the power of the eight Crystals of Harmony, even if they only have one, can create powerful servants made of the element the Crystal is a part of." He paused, a thoughtful look on his face "Or in the case of that warrior, the crystal is bonded with a human or other entity, enhancing them to almost infinite power. Power which is imbued in the crystal they're bonded with."
Ariel frowned.
"So, that 'Nibilungi' character, would you say she was harnessing one of them? The Crystal of Water?"
Kye wore a thoughtful look on his face.
"It would explain her power. The eight crystals represent both the light and dark in this world. Meaning, there's a light crystal of water and a dark crystal of water."
Ariel nodded, absorbing the information.
"So, following that train of thought, there'd be light crystals of wind, fire and earth, as well as their dark counterparts, right?"
Kye shrugged.
"Maybe, I don't really know that much about the theory of it all. From what I read, these 'crystals' are heavily steeped in myth and legend. I'd guess you'd probably have to speak with either the Sage, Eonist or the historian, Agelass, if you wanted to find out more about the crystals."
Ariel sighed.
"Actually, I just want to know where Aberdeen and Maya are at the moment."
Kye shook his head.
"That's something I'd like to know as well. Still, at the moment I'm more worried about Wyreema. She did see her brother murdered right before her."
Ariel followed his gaze and watched Wyreema walk in front of them. The thief was unusually silent and walked with her head bowed, the wind whipping her hair about her face.
Before Kye could respond, Wyreema spoke softly.
"We need to find out where we are… then find Aberdeen and Maya."
Kye and Ariel glanced at each other, then the White Mage spoke.
"And then we…?"
Wyreema faced the two, and Ariel recognised the anger filled look on Wyreema's face. When Wyreema next spoke, her tone was dangerous.
"I find that she bitch, who killed my brother, and kill her!"
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Elsewhere :
Three weeks ago, two Mages appeared in the middle of the Plains of Thor. Both Mages fought against all sorts of thunder elemental creatures, as well as other sorts of creatures, as they battled their way towards the edge of the plains, the forest known as the Mystclania Woods.
As soon as they entered the dark, foreboding and yet peaceful woods, both Mages rested near a lagoon. Aberdeen Edwardes and Maya Viruca, spent two weeks trekking through out the twisting and winding paths of the woods, until they finally exited the darkness and stepped into the light. Having spent so much time walking, the two weary figures trode along a beaten, windswept path. The wind blew their cloaks about their forms, as they held their hats tightly. The taller figure, robed in red, helped his companion, garbed in the attire of a black mage, along the path.
They had been walking down the path from the Mystclania Woods, and the trek was taking it's toll on them. Aberdeen had heard tales of the Plains of Thor and the Mystclania Woods, but the tales didn't do the truth justice. He only just managed to catch Maya, as she tripped over a rock in the road, his arm wrapping around her waist.
"Aberdeen… I… I can't keep… walking…"
Aberdeen tightened his grasp around Maya, his free hand was holding her oak staff.
"Don't worry Maya, we'll be alright."
Maya looked at Aberdeen, her light brown hair cascading onto her shoulders under her hat.
"We don't even know where we are Aberdeen… We don't even know where Kye, Ariel and the others are."
Aberdeen smiled at her.
"Don't worry about them. Knowing my sister, she's keeping a level head. Kye on the otherhand… well, he'll be behaving himself."
Maya sighed and leaned closer to Aberdeen as they walked.
"I hope so Aberdeen…" she cleared her throat "That 'thing' which attacked us…"
Aberdeen frowned as he spoke.
"The 'Lady Nibilungi'."
Maya nodded.
"What was she? Her powers… I've only heard legends about beings with power like that, power they derived from the mythical Crystals of Harmony. But they don't exist, they're just myth."
Aberdeen faced her.
"Maya, in every myth, no matter how fantastic it may sound, there is always a kernel of truth."
Maya studied Aberdeen's face, and then nodded.
"I guess you're right Aberdeen, but still…"
Aberdeen was about to respond, when he heard the faint sound of Chocobo's. With his arm around Maya's waist, he pulled her close to him as he leaped off the path into the underbrush lining it. Both mages fell to the ground under a large bush, their bodies close to each other as the approaching Chocobo's could be heard even clearer. Maya was about to speak, when Aberdeen placed a finger on her lips silencing her.
The sound of the Chocobo's grew louder and as Aberdeen and Maya watched, they saw five Chocobo's stop not twenty feet from their hiding spot. Aberdeen's eyes narrowed as he saw the heavily armoured warriors, mounted on the Chocobo's. Maya gasped slightly as she recognised the design of the armour, her eyes wide. Her hand gripped Aberdeen's tightly, causing Aberdeen to tighten his grasp around her shoulders.
"Maya?"
Maya scrunched herself tighter against Aberdeen and moved back into the shadows of the bush.
"Trouble. The armour those men are wearing. They're knights of Elgar."
Aberdeen glanced at her.
"You know them?"
Maya remained silent, as she kept her body close to Aberdeen. The Red Mage frowned and turned his gaze back onto the armoured men. He closed his eyes slightly and concentrated on hearing what the men were saying. The leader of the group pulled on the reins of his chocobo tightly.
"Hmmm, now where did they go?"
One of the others dismounted and knelt next to the tracks Aberdeen and Maya had left on the path.
"Judging from these marks, one of them is female. The male is half carrying her."
Another rider snorted as he brought his chocobo closer.
"A male and female, eh? Tougeroa must be pretty desperate, if they're resorting to using scum as spies."
The leader of the group frowned.
"I doubt King Hweoif of Tougeroa is desperate enough to have mercenaries aiding him. Ever since his daughter disappeared, he's been relying on his own troops, far too much."
The dismounted rider stood and faced his commander.
"What of this truce between Tougeroa and our kingdom of Elgar? That will not hold, will it?"
The leader snorted.
"With the marriage of Tougeroa's princess to our prince, the truce was supposed to join our two lands in peace. The Tougeroa princess gone, there will be no truce!"
Aberdeen and Maya looked at each other, and faced the five riders. Aberdeen had already prepared a wide attack burst of Thundaga, mentally targeting the leader and two others. Maya had prepared a Fira and Blizzara spell, and both Mages were waiting for the opportunity to attack, when more chocobo's could be heard.
The Elgar troops drew their weapons in time, as a battle group from Tougeroa charged down the path, weapons drawn. Before Aberdeen and Maya could get their bearings, the Tougeroan militia had wiped out the small Elgar troop. Both Mages watched as the leader of the Tougeroan force dismounted his chocobo and approached the fallen leader of the Elgar force.
"Well, it would seem we've caught these Elgar dogs on our side of the demilitarised zone. Cut their throats and sling their bodies from the tree branches, as a message to their comrades."
One of the Tougeroans saw the tracks the Elgar soldiers had been tracking.
"My Lord! The Elgar were tracking two people. Judging from the looks of the tracks, they came from…"
The group looked down the path, where in the far distance the volatile and dangerous elements of the land found refuge in the Plains of Thor, surrounded by the eerie and dangerous Mystclania Woods.
The Tougeroan leader faced his subordinate.
"Are you sure?"
The scout nodded.
"Yes sir, and it would seem the tracks of the two in question, end around here. My guess is, they're still around here somewhere."
Aberdeen hissed.
"Damn. Maya, get ready…"
Maya put her hand on Aberdeen's shoulder.
"There's another way out of this Aberdeen."
The Red Mage stared at her, and saw the emotion etched in Maya's eyes. He sighed and nodded.
"Fine, I'll follow your lead."
Maya smiled softly at him.
"Aberdeen, trust me. We'll be safe…" she added softly "… I hope."
Before Aberdeen could answer her, Maya kissed him passionately on the lips, before standing. Aberdeen, eyes wide for a short moment, got to his feet, standing next to her. The Tougeroan force whirled and faced them, weapons drawn. The leader spoke in a harsh tone.
"It would seem we've found the people the Elgar scum were tracking. Who are you? Tell us quickly or die!"
Aberdeen glanced at Maya, who her hand on his elbow. She faced the armoured warrior.
"This is my companion, a Red Mage called Aberdeen Edwardes. He is not to be harmed."
One of the other soldiers snorted as he drew back the drawstring of his bow, the arrow aimed directly between Aberdeen's eyes.
"Who are you to be giving us orders, lowly Mage!"
The leader glanced at the soldier who spoke, before facing Aberdeen and Maya.
"And who are you then? His woman?"
Maya swallowed, before removing her hat. The sunlight rained onto her face, as the wind swept her light brown hair away from her face. She drew forth the pendent around her neck and spoke in a regal tone.
"As the guardian and protector of the sacred stone of Tougeroa, I am your Princess."
The group of Tougeroan warriors looked at each other, as their leader dismounted and approached Maya. As soon as he was within striking distance of Maya, he stared at the pendent.
"By the gods…" the warrior fell to one knee, head bowed before Maya "Your highness, I am Captain Agaras Talon. Commander of the Red Talons."
As the other soldiers dismounted and knelt in front of Maya, she cast a worried glance at Aberdeen. His face was that of an emotionless mask, his arms folded across his chest. His one brown eye gleamed with anger, as his silver eye remained cold. She sighed as she bade the captain to rise to his feet.
"Captain, you will escort me and my… 'bodyguard' back to the palace immediately."
Agaras looked at Aberdeen from the corner of his eyes, and bowed.
"As you wish my Princess."
Agaras turned and barked orders to his men, two of whom gathered two chocobo's of the Elgar troop, for Aberdeen and Maya to ride. As the troop mounted their chocobos, Maya faced Aberdeen.
"Aberdeen…"
Aberdeen looked at her, and this time, his silver eye seemed to glow. Maya couldn't help but shudder as he spoke.
"I'll do what I do best, your highness-ness."
Maya sighed as Aberdeen brought his chocobo just behind hers, as Agaras brought his men around them in a protective circle. As they rode off towards the kingdom of Tougeroa, Maya felt herself loosing the calm she had before.
I'm so sorry Aberdeen. I wanted to tell you… but I…
Agaras spoke to Maya, as he brought his chocobo next to hers, but off to one side.
"My princess, your parents have been worried about you. Where have you been for the past seven years?"
Maya swallowed and regained some of her composure.
"I've been studying black magick."
Agaras nodded.
"Very well my princess. It's wise of the young to attain as much knowledge in the Art they've chosen to pursue. However, the past seven years have been terrible. The Elgar dogs, have been raiding our lands constantly, and only the hope of your return has kept our people going."
Aberdeen spoke in a soft, yet commanding tone to Agaras.
"And why, pray tell, have you been waiting for Maya to return?"
Maya silently wished Agaras not to say anything, yet her wish went unfulfilled as he addressed Aberdeen.
"I doubt a commoner such as you would understand the politics of royalty and the matters of such."
Aberdeen kept his eyes narrowed as he spoke in a dangerous tone.
"Why don't you tell this 'commoner' about it then? You may be surprised by what he knows."
Agaras glanced at Aberdeen, and shuddered. The rest of his men, he noted, had their hands on their weapons, should the need arise. He cleared his throat and answered Aberdeen.
"Very well. Our kingdom of Tougeroa has been in conflict with the neighbouring kingdom of Elgar for nearly fifty years. However, a truce was drawn up, which would bring about the end of hostilities between our two countries with the marriage of Elgar's Prince Valige, and Touergoa's Princess Maya. The two countries would be no more, and the land united under Valige and Maya." He smirked "Understand?"
Maya didn't face Aberdeen, as she could feel him staring at her. She was struggling not to say anything as Aberdeen spoke.
"A marriage of convenience eh? I can understand that. But to force two who don't love each other to marry, seems… rather stupid and pointless."
Agaras sighed.
"Just as I thought. A commoner would not know anything of royalty."
Aberdeen glanced at Agaras, his voice cold as the grave.
"A commoner I may be, but at least I have my own freedom. The chains of royalty and duty do not shackle me. Besides," he jerked on the reins of his chocobo, bringing himself level with Maya "marriages of convenience have a way of working out for the detriment of others. You may get this peace you so desperately desire, but at what cost your soul?"
Maya swallowed as she fought back the tears, which were threatening to appear.
"Aberdeen…"
The Red Mage snorted and fell back in line behind Maya and Agaras. He remained silent for the rest of the journey to the Tougeroan capital. As they approached the castle gates, Maya noticed how Agaras's men seemed to separate her from Aberdeen, but the Red Mage kept them in sight at all times.
As the troop stopped in front of the drawbridge, Maya saw how word must of spread back to the castle, as people had gathered around to cheer the return of their princess. The troop stopped directly in the courtyard of the castle, and the group dismounted. Maya glanced around and saw Aberdeen behind Agaras's men, as she was being led down a familiar hall, towards the throne room. She swallowed and mentally prepared herself for the confrontation that was about to occur.
The doors of the throne room swung open, and as the group entered, Maya saw her younger siblings, two brothers and three sisters, seated on small thrones. The looks of relief and joy on their faces made Maya's heart go out to them. When she saw the look of her parents, all the bottled emotion within her, threatened to erupt from her. Her father stood from his throne and approached his eldest daughter, embracing her tightly.
"My dearest daughter! You have returned to us! This is a glorious occasion."
The Queen hurried to her husband's side, joy on her face. Maya just smiled weakly, as her parents, then her siblings all expressed joy and happiness at her return. She spied Agaras talking with Aberdeen, the Red Mage speaking harshly and dramatically to the veteran soldier in hushed tones. Agaras sighed and was about to respond, with the King ordered Agaras forward.
"Captain Talon, for returning my daughter to us…."
Maya interrupted.
"Pardon me for interrupting you father, but Captain Talon escorted myself and my bodyguard here."
The King looked at Maya, then faced Agaras.
"Is that true?"
Agaras, head bowed, spoke.
"Yes my liege. My troop had attacked a reasonably sized Elgar troop, when the princess appeared."
At the mention of 'a reasonably sized Elgar troop', Aberdeen gave a short laugh, which echoed throughout the room. Agaras glared at Aberdeen, who was leaning against the wall, arms folded across his chest. The King straightened his form.
"And who may you be?"
Aberdeen tilted his head slightly, keeping the silver side hidden.
"Who am I? I'm just a simple bodyguard, your worshipfulness."
The King frowned, then after the Queen prodded him, he spoke.
"We owe you a great deal. Allow me to grant you a reward."
Maya looked at Aberdeen, as he turned and walked towards where Agaras was standing. As he approached, he removed his hat, allowing everyone to see his face. To Maya, the scar on the right side of Aberdeen's face seemed to be smiling.
"I noticed many things on my way here your majesty. Many things…"
The King nodded as he sat upon his throne.
"Name thy reward, and it shall be yours."
Aberdeen thought it over. What he really wanted, he knew would never be granted, so he asked for something else.
"I noticed in your stables, many fine and impressive steeds."
The King smiled.
"All are of fine and noble upbringing. Do you desire one of them? If so, take anyone of them as your steed. A small price to pay for returning my beloved daughter."
Aberdeen nodded as he replaced his hat on his head.
"My thanks your majesty. I have just the one in mind." He faced Maya "I'm glad to of returned you to your home and family."
Maya noticed how her parents as well as the other ministers took note of Aberdeen's words, however Maya recognised the hand motions he gave her. During their trek through the plains and woods, he had taught her the sign language he and his sister were masters of, and as such, read his true words.
>>Maya, I will get you out of here. Play the part of grateful daughter, and go along with their plans. I have a plan of my own to get us out of here safely, but I'll need some time. Please, buy me that time! >>
Maya tipped her head as she spoke.
"I thank you for thy aid Aberdeen. Rest assured, I shall be forever in thy debt."
Her hands answered Aberdeen's unsaid message.
>>I'll do what I can, but hurry! I have a feeling my father will try and marry me off as soon as he can. I'll be waiting for you… my love. >>
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Death's Head - Sorry about the lateness of an update. Been busy, very busy. Anywayz, the next update will be soon, so please R&R. Thank you.
