DISCLAIMER: Final Fantasy VI and its characters are wholly the properties of Square Enix. This story is written purely for entertainment and not profit.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Thank you to those who read and enjoyed the first chapter. I do want to caution you that this chapter is not going to be as happy as the others, but in a world still recovering from the apocalypse, it cannot all be sunshine and rainbows.

Resolutions

Written by daBOSSz

Chapter 2: Strago

In his younger years, the dawn of a new day was something he took for granted. After all, days just came and went, and each day usually passed like any other. Now that he was in his twilight though, seventy-six-year-old Strago Magus took great joy in watching the first rays of light shine through his window every day, counting his blessings to have made it through another night and onto a fresh sunrise.

This day would be especially joyous with Celes and Locke finally getting married. Strago smiled from his bed, already picturing the delightful looks that the guests would have on their faces when the two would declare their vows of eternal commitment to one another. He felt so fortunate to have met and known the two as well as their little family of heroes, and he was gladder than ever that he would share in their bliss on their big day. It was just disappointing that he would not be able to attend.

The past five years had not been kind to Strago. Kefka's defeat had saved the world, but with his demise came the disappearance of magic everywhere. Strago returned to Thamasa, but adjusting to life without magic had not been easy for the residents of his village. They had lived their entire lives with magic coursing through their veins, and the physical toll that magic's absence created was enough to drive many of them into despair. While a good portion of the village eventually adapted, a small number were tragically unable to fight through the pain and wound up taking their own lives. Adding to the misery, Thamasa's isolation, once viewed as a blessing to hide itself from sinister forces, now seemed like a curse as the rest of the planet abandoned it to focus on its own rebuilding needs.

Then, just as it appeared that Thamasa would reemerge from the darkness, disaster struck again when the town's magi residents suddenly began falling ill. Strago, being no different from the others in his village, was not spared. It was soon discovered that the removal of magic from their bodies had led to cancerous cells growing in place of such powers. Children, thankfully, were the most fortunate; none had bodies that were developed enough with magic to become ill. Terra and Celes, not being magi and with their magic coming from different origins, also avoided the disease. Some of Thamasa's residents, mostly the young and middle-aged ones, found a way to beat or at least control the illness due to their bodies continuing to familiarize themselves with the ailment and fighting back. Elderly residents though, who had spent their entire lives with magic being an integral part of their anatomy, were simply neither strong nor adaptable enough to combat such an illness and started dying one by one.

Somehow, Strago had survived for three more years living with a disease that should have killed him within months. All of his elderly compatriots had long passed on, and yet here he was, still fighting tooth and nail even as the cancerous cells continued to consume him.

When the others found out, they had all made sure to check in on him whenever possible. They would keep him updated on the statuses of their lives, and it relieved him to know that they were all putting forth their best efforts in helping the world recover.

One visit in particular would always stand out to Strago: Terra's first. She had traveled over from Mobliz for a day and hoped to offer him some comfort. Instead, it was Terra who wound up needing the comforting as she was riddled with the guilt of being spared while Strago and all of Thamasa struggled. The young woman was still learning to understand love at the time, and when she had left, Strago had inadvertently taught her another aspect of that feeling: the depth of care one has for those close to the heart.

In an ironic twist of fate—at least ironic in his own eyes—the group he had saved the world with all claimed that they were now drawing inspiration from Strago to continue fighting their own battles. Strago found it strange because he viewed himself as the first to give up so easily when the world was destroyed, throwing himself into the Cult of Kefka until Relm's presence snapped him out of his stupor. Yet for some reason, the others now saw him as their strongest fighter. It was not as though he had chosen to contract an illness and outlive its projected death day by three years, but his fate had apparently been enough to motivate others to continue pushing forward.

"Whatever struggles we're going through, we have no excuses now," he remembered Celes telling him once while she was battling her own guilt from serving under Emperor Gestahl. "If you're fighting this hard against such impossible odds, who are we to give up on ourselves and our loved ones so easily?"

Strago had held out hope even up until this very morning that he would be able to somehow make his way out of bed and travel to Figaro for the wedding, but his body's physical toll was simply too much to bear. Still, he dared not to pass on news of his absence to everyone, worried that they might shift focus to his terminal condition rather than enjoying their jubilant occasion; only a few knew that he stood no chance of being present at the ceremony today.

Regardless of his condition, he was at peace with his fate. Considering how many deaths he had witnessed occur suddenly with no time for loved ones to prepare and accept, Strago was at least thankful that he knew approximately when he would board the Phantom Train. He had lived a long and worthwhile life, even achieving the goal of saving the world from a madman alongside a team of heroes who were forever bonded to each other; certainly, not too many individuals could claim pride over such a feat on their deathbeds.

A small barking sound diverted Strago's attention, although he remained motionless. Lifting his head was now a chore in and of itself, so he simply let Interceptor climb onto the bed and lie beside him with the dog fully used to this morning routine. Strago's stubborn side would never admit it, but he had developed a very soft spot for the dog and could no longer imagine going through any day without seeing him.

"Grandpa," Relm's voice came from the doorway. "How are you this morning?"

"Uhhhh…" a long, drawn-out sigh was all Strago managed to exhale.

As much as he appreciated Relm's care, Strago always felt guilty that he was the reason she was forced to put her artistic dreams on hold. Prior to his illness, Relm's art was getting noticed across more and more towns, and the young girl was being commissioned to paint portraits for several wealthy individuals. However, as soon as news of his illness leaked, she immediately abandoned her pursuits and stayed with him around the clock, even as he insisted on her letting him be. Strago was uncertain just how long Relm had gone without honing her skills, but Relm swore—in every definition of the word—that he never needed to worry about her artistic prowess when he had a much bigger battle at hand.

Relm lifted his head and grabbed the pillow he had been resting on, tossing it aside and switching it with another one that she had fluffed up prior to entering his room. Interceptor nuzzled up to him when his head landed softly on the new pillow, making a slight mewling noise in the process.

"I'm fine," Strago finally managed to whisper. "You should…get ready. Setzer…will be here…to pick you up…soon…"

"Grandpa, I can't go to the wedding with you like this," Relm declared.

"Go…" Strago ordered softly. "I've made…arrangements…"

"What arrangements?" Relm asked, slightly suspicious.

Before Strago had a chance to answer, a knock at the door redirected Relm's attention. Temporarily leaving her grandfather's side, the sixteen-year-old approached the door and opened it to reveal three familiar faces.

"Hey, Relm," Setzer greeted. "How is your grandfather?"

"Stubborn as ever," Relm answered. "The old bag of bones still insists that I go to the wedding and that he's made arrangements."

"Your grandfather does not lie," Cyan joined in. "My daughter shall watch him."

"Yes, it would be my pleasure," Lola followed up. "You go with Setzer and Dad, Relm. I'll keep an eye on your grandpa."

"Told…you…" Strago made sure he got a word in.

"Ugh, just like you to rub it in, you hag," Relm responded as only she could. "Fine, but don't you dare do anything stupid while I'm away! I won't stand for it if you give Lola a panic attack."

Strago could not help but smirk at Relm's choice of words. As his life wound down, he took much greater pleasure in every moment that he was able to witness Relm's fiery personality. She left the room and quickly returned with her bag, bid him farewell, and walked out the door with Setzer.

"Thank…you…Lola," Strago said after Relm was out of earshot, to which the girl responded with a smile and a nod. "Cyan…"

"Yes, Sir Strago?" the Doman warrior replied. "Does thou have ready the document in question?"

"Top…drawer…" Strago instructed.

Cyan opened it to find a scroll. He untied the knot, unraveled it, read it, and rolled it back up before retying the ribbon around it again.

"Very good," Cyan said. "I shall make sure to care for this, just as my daughter shall care for thee."

The warrior said his farewells to both the magus and his adoptive daughter before heading out the door to catch up with Setzer and Relm. Strago smiled as Cyan departed, once again mentally picturing the smiling faces of everyone at the ceremony that would soon commence.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: If you're wondering how Lola became Cyan's daughter, that's a story I will cover when the focus shifts to Cyan. I wanted this chapter to be about Strago alone; even Relm will be getting more attention in a different chapter.

What do you think? Please let me know if you have any feedback. I always love hearing from you!