This installment is a really short one. It's basically a segway into the next section.
Celes, Locke, Sabin, and Edgar slowly drug themselves up over the edge of the first crater Bahamut and Wyvern had made. By this point, most of their clothing was in tatters, and they were covered with dust. One by one, theyemerged and helped the others get up once they did. Locke slowly rose to his feet, and shook himself wildly, tossing out all of the dust that covered him and his body. Celes panted and looked to him, before placing her hand on his shoulder. Locke turned around, and the two hugged shortly after, grateful to be alive. Edgar himself dragged his body a bit on the ground, for he was still weighed down with his multitude of tools. As for Sabin, he alone managed to stand up and give a good look to the area.
It was silent now. The wind whistled and whipped by, but other than that there was nothing. Not a single other living thing sounded for miles. They had fled in terror. Wyvern's great army that had previously filled the fortress, now fled in terror in the wake of the battle. They dispersed into the wild, leaving behind their army and thoughts for revenge. Now, they would live out the rest of their days scattered, divided, and leaderless…until they too passed with time as the greater espers had.
The mountain chain had nearly been obliterated. In the wake of the clash between Bahamut and Wyvern, almost everything had been put to waste. The mountains themselves were broken into fragments, and stone and slabs rained down from them and filled the numerous craters dotting the landscape. All seemed lifeless and barren as the winds howled.
And yet…somehow…a small head poked from one of the holes near one of the peaks. It was soon joined by another, much thinner. It was the head of a certain basilisk and a certain drake. Both of them looked around the area, marveling at the damage that had been done. Yes…at great personal risk, they had sat and watched the events unfold on this world…saw the terrible battle be waged. They saw the final moment where the flares collided, and how Wyvern, their lord and master, had finally perished.
Zola looked about and up to the sky. Somewhere, orbiting the world, Wyvern's body was floating in darkness and cold. Perhaps…just perhaps…he could use the old esper arts to draw his body back to the world. In time…he could maneuver to pilfer the Crystal Stone from Bahamut's safekeeping. He could preserve the body…wait the generations it took for the stone to regenerate…and then revive Wyvern again, just as he had revived him centuries ago.
However…Zola still remembered that last thing that Wyvern had said about him and Noonian…the ones to whom he would forever owe his rule and reign to…the faithful servants that had delivered him from death, nursed his body back to health, and set up to rule this world.
They served their purpose.
At that thought, Zola snorted at the blue sky overhead.
"Goodbye…my good master." He sardonically uttered, and then simply turned and went back into the hole. Noonian looked up after the sky for a moment, but then turned and descended as well. None living in the present generation ever saw them again.
One spot on the field remained. Bahamut kept his eyes closed, and struggled to breathe as he lie there, just a fragment of what he had been. His muscles had eased down again, but that didn't erase the broken bones or the horrible injuries to his limbs. He was out of energy now. He lacked what he needed to regenerate. His body was left in this horrible state. Even if he could heal…he couldn't regrow limbs like his arm and leg. They were gone.
A pink being slowly descended to the ground at his side. Once it touched down, the glow immediately faded, and the figure transformed. As her aura died, Terra was revealed on the other side of it. Human again, she now stared at Bahamut in horror. Her eyes filled with fear. Up there, brimming with power, she had not noticed how weak he was. But now, she saw his horrible state…and saw that, without the sun channeling energy into him…he was weak and horribly injured. Perhaps he was even more than injured. He was so still. She was dressed in her own rags…but also Bahamut's coat. Quickly, she rushed up to the side of the massive fallen creature, looking at it with as much fear and longing as she would his human form.
The woman was soon at the side of his neck. She dropped to her knees next to him, and reached over and seized his remaining claw. She held this firmly, and lifted it despite its great size and mass, holding it against her cheek. When Bahamut felt that…his toothless, bleeding mouth smiled. She still felt wonderful to the touch. And in this body…he could feel all of her details. It was a wonderful sensation to him. It made him feel warmer than the glorious sun itself. Slowly, he turned his crestless head over to Terra, looking at her.
"You…don't fear me…like this?" He slowly asked her, nearly whispering.
Terra managed a smile at that, as tears began to fall from her eyes. She shook her head at him. "You're the most beautiful creature alive."
Bahamut snorted quietly in reply to that. "Liar." He whispered back. "You know full well…you're the most beautiful. I'm glad…I saw you in action…in that form. You were poetry in motion…"
Terra's smile began to fade. She licked her lips nervously, and held Bahamut's claw over her mouth as another set of tears rolled from her eyes. "Not like you…nothing like you."
"Oh…but you are…" Bahamut softly answered, still smiling. "I told you…you're the most wonderful person I ever met. Inside…and outside… I love that about you… I love it more than anything…in the whole wide world…"
The half esper sniffled, and managed to smile again. Her hands clutched his claw tighter.
Bahamut softly blinked, and continued to stare at her with his gentle smile. He was silent for a few moments. He just wanted to drink her in. This sight…this woman…this was his prize. This was his victory…that she and the kids would live in peace for the rest of their lives.
"Terra…" He slowly whispered to her. "I'm afraid…I'm going to prove to Athena…to be a liar…"
Terra heard this…and remembered Bahamut's promise. On hearing that, her heart ran cold. Tears began to run from her eyes again, and she rubbed her face against his claw as she shook his head. "No…no…" She began to cry. "Please, no…"
Bahamut still smiled, and softly shook his head. "I'm done for, Terra…" He slowly answered, as if he was explaining something simple to a child. "That attack…it burned out anything I have left."
"No!" Terra suddenly exclaimed, her voice choked off with a sob. The woman threw herself across the creature's neck, burying her head into it. Tears began to splash out onto him, soaking into his neck wounds. Bahamut slowly exhaled, and closed his eyes. His heart began to tighten. His throat felt stiff. He couldn't bear to see her cry. But he had to. He had to do this. He forced himself to smile…as tears ran down his own cheeks. He was not sad he was dying. He had been there once. He was sad…that he had to see her be sad. He never wanted Terra to be sad again.
Though his muscles were shot and torn…somehow he willed himself to raise his great red claw and place it over Terra's body, extending his warm grasp over her in a comforting touch. Terra sobbed again, and held onto him tightly…as if she could press her own life into his and make him live. Bahamut opened his eyes again, and looked once more out to the sky…and that glorious sun.
"Please…" He whispered. "Please Terra…don't grieve. You…you and your family…you're safe now. They'll live in peace from now on… They won't have to live in a world of fear…"
"You're part of my family too!" Terra cried out in misery. "You're a part of my life! You're a part of me!"
Bahamut stopped again, letting Terra cry against him once more. He slowly breathed. That light…it was so beautiful…
"All I ever wanted…all I had in my new life… I will rest…knowing it is safe. I wanted to know you'd have a life…that you all would. I wanted to make sure you were safe. If you live…that is all I need…"
"But…I need you." Terra quivered from against him.
"No…no, you don't…" Bahamut slowly answered. "You…you are strong… You're so strong… You have so much…so much to give to the world…to everyone… Your family…they love you enough for me…for a hundred of me… You have such a wonderful life, Terra… I would have traded a hundred of my years in Terratopolis…to spend one day…one hour…with you and the children… You…I envy you…that you'll be going back…seeing them all growing up… They'll fill you with so much joy…you won't need me. I'm flattered…that I could have added anything…to your happiness…"
Terra continued to quiver and shake. She clutched Bahamut harder, burying her face against him. She knew the truth…but she couldn't believe it. She couldn't let him go. She loved him too much. Their life…their wonderful life together…it couldn't end so soon. Not like this…
"Promise me…Terra…" Bahamut slowly spoke up again.
Terra sniffled, but nodded against him. "Anything…anything in the world…"
"Three things… One…take the Crystal Stone…in my coat pocket… Place it somewhere in the light. One day…you may need it…"
Terra swallowed, and nodded again.
"Two…tell the kids to be good…and to obey your rules…even if they want to do something nice...for you…"
Terra smiled and managed a choked chuckle at that, before nodding.
Bahamut blinked again. The sun was so beautiful. The light…so warm and inviting…
"Finally…" He whispered, his voice growing fainter. "…Please…please…for me…be happy. I want you so desperately to be happy. Have a wonderful…wonderful life… You deserve it. You deserve every blessed moment of it… All I ever wanted, Terra…since I first starting building you a garden…was for you to be happy… Please be happy now…"
Terra cried again against Bahamut's chest, clutching him tighter. Somehow…Bahamut raised his claw and stroked her hair. Terra continued to sniffle against him…but Bahamut managed to smile as he felt her wonderful touch once again. There was nothing else like it on Gaia, or anywhere else. At last…she managed to raise her head. Her tear-filled eyes looked up to Bahamut…and she managed, very weakly, to smile.
Bahamut looked back, still smiling. "Atta girl…" He gently answered.
The two were silent, staring at each other. Terra managed a laugh, and sniffed again and struggled to wipe the tears from her eyes. Bahamut looked at her again…and cried once more. He would have done it. He would have forsaken all immortality…just to live with her. He would have spent the rest of his days poor, cold, and weak…just to wake every morning with a kiss from her lips, and her warm body rubbing next to his.
"Terra…you have to let me go…"
Terra's smile faded. She sniffled again, and breathed slowly…struggling not to sob again. "Bahamut…"
"Please…" Bahamut whispered back. "Let me go…into the light."
Terra's eyes began to tear again. She quivered and shook, and looked over him. But he just smiled and stared back…his soft eyes giving her one last imploring look. At last…Terra swallowed. Slowly, she managed to give him a nod. She reached up to her eyes and wiped the tears away. She slowly released his neck…but then held again.
Slowly, she leaned herself forward to his bloody face, and leaned over and kissed his giant maw.
"…I love you."
At last…Terra leaned off of him.
When she did, Bahamut, weak as he was…managed to open his mouth wide, and inhale one last great breath. After he did, he leaned up and off the ground, and rose to a sitting position. It was horribly painful…but he couldn't feel the pain anymore. He felt only light…and he saw only light…waiting for him in the sky. He turned to Terra one last time, and stared at her. She sat up as well, and looked to him. She forced herself not to cry…to be happy and smile at him as he stare at her. Bahamut smiled as well, and gave her a wink.
Sometimes…the best way to say what you felt is without words.
He turned his head to the sky, and unfurled his airfoils. He gave them one thought…and they complied. Even when strength was gone…they could act without energy as their master commanded. Slowly, the foils carried him off of the ground and into the sky, and bore him away up into the heavens above. The esper looked up above him, and smiled as he saw the light. The sun…the glorious, eternal sun…reaching out to touch him. The light up ahead…so pleasant and soft… He was glad now…that his body could bear him up into it…that he would get there in the end of all things. Seeing this…seeing that he would be there eventually…he closed his eyes again…and let his body rest as he descended into a deep, dark sleep…for even there, he could dream about the light that he drew ever nearer too.
Terra didn't cry. She forced herself not to, as she saw him go up. He became a black dot in the sky, as his brother had. But he kept going as well. He was going to be with his brother…but more importantly, with the light. The wings continued to bear him up and up…for even in death, he knew his body could not stay. One day…it would be a threat to the future. And so he left for the light…leaving everything else behind. He continued to shrink, growing fainter and fainter…before he finally sank into the blue and the light of the sun. Terra stared up at him until the very last.
Then…as he friends came up to her, to see if she was alright…she pitched her body forward and wept.
She returned in spring. And on the first day back, she planted the seed. The children heard the news… Though some were still too young to understand. Sadly, Bahamut would never know that Athena's sight recovered somewhat. But it no longer mattered to him, not where he was.
By the next spring, when the next harvest was made, the town was well. Duane and Katarin were on their second child…and Marcus, excelling in writing, had collected the lore together, all the stories he had heard from their friend Tumahab. While Terra took Katarin across the growing canal that was now forming between their peninsula and the mainland, as Bahamut had warned, he was showing off his book to the people in their village. Contained was all he remembered of Bahamut's stories, transcribed into one passage.
Here, in this volume, the chronicles of Great Bahamut, Lord of All Dragons, Lord Leviathan, Master of the Seas, and the great four Da-Chao, Shiva, Ifrit, Ramuh, and Titan, were contained…and would be reprinted again and again as the world around them changed throughout history.
Here…on this year…did a sign be erected by Duane, covered with crude paint lettering, announcing the new name of this city as the cherry tree broke forth from the earth…
Wutai.
To be continued...
Some of you are probably upset at me for killing Bahamut again. To this I say...I never actually wrote him dying, did I:)
You may also be wondering why Bahamut left Gaia. His body could have at least stayed behind, after all. However, the reason I had him leave, which might not have been clear in the text, was because he has realized at this point that humans and espers can never coexist. He knew that one day his body might be used by humanity to start what they did with the rest of his race again. He didn't want humanity to even have a piece of him behind to do that.
ADVENT CHILDREN SPOILER ALERT:
Well, I finally sat down and watched FFVII: Advent Children. And as feared, it does throw a bit of a wrench into my current plans for The Servant. I personally had thought Rufus was dead at the end of FFVII, and even if he lived I wouldn't have thought he would have changed his stripes. Furthermore, I don't think anyone in the country thought that Tseng had survived FFVII either. Lastly, I'll probably have to write in larger parts for Marlene and add Densel. (Cloud doesn't strike me as the adopting type, though...)
I've heard some concerns about Sin. I'm not worried. First of all, materia itself is supposed to be collected spiritual energy. Therefore, in this story, when someone summons a monster using materia, I treat it more as creating a temporary "after-image" of their spiritual signature rather than actually bringing them out. That will explain how both Bahamut and Neo Bahamut can be summoned, and also why summons disappear right after doing their thing. As for Sin, well...Kadaj and his boys weren't actually using materia so much as absorbing it into themselves and then sort of twisting it, in my opinion. So I consider Sin to be a warped version of trying to summon one of Bahamut's other forms.
See you later.
