Fang stretched in the dark of the large room she slept in. With a yawn she stood, navigated around dozens of other beds, and pushed open the door to the outside, bracing her eyes for blinding light.
Luckily, she had apparently slept enough that no such light waited on the other side of the door.
Always a pleasant surprise, that. The sun passed beyond the horizon, its last light fading quickly from the World of Ruin. People around her turned off lights and hushed conversations in preparation for another night of desperate predators.
She skirted the edges of the various chunks of people in the town on her way out the edge. No one stopped her – they knew better than to try.
Except for a certain girl with a penchant for music. "Fang."
"You joinin' me tonight too?" Fang took a measure breath. "Wonderful."
Deuce fell into step beside her as they exited town and waved to the previous patrol that made its way through the gates. "Sabin agreed to partner me with you for the foreseeable future."
"And you're sure that's a good idea?" Fang eyed the flute that Deuce gripped with both hands. She claimed it was a weapon, but Fang had never seen it in action. She supposed that if Relm managed to weaponize paintings then Deuce could weaponize an instrument. Then again, Relm's paintings lost their juice when the magic left their world. Maybe the girl just played it so terribly that the monsters found it easier to leave them alone than pursue.
Deuce side-eyed Fang before responding. "You may not believe me, but I've proven myself quite capable."
Fang shrugged. "No hard feelings, but I'd rather have Sabin."
The two of them took up a stride around the town, planning, of course, to circle it several times before the night was over. Fang tried another tactic. "You ever rip a heart out of a behemoth, kid?"
"I've had no reason to. I only recently learned that they're medicinal here."
"Yeah, about that…" Fang grimaced. "It's common knowledge that you need specific veins for medicine."
"Oh."
After that, neither of them bothered with conversation and hours passed in silence. No moon showed tonight and Fang relied on her memorized path about the village to avoid getting lost.
About halfway through, Fang and Deuce stopped beside the gate and actually had replacements take their turn like they were supposed to.
The stiff knight Cyan stood with Locke and General Celes, clearly waiting to catch them.
"No, they're going there tomorrow," Locke was saying. He stopped when Fang and Deuce got close. "Hey there, you two. Go on and take a break."
"Thine shift is over and ours now begins." Cyan marched forward.
"Sounds good to me." Fang rolled her head around her shoulders. "I'm gonna relieve the watchtowers. You guys have fun."
Deuce shot her a shocked look.
"If you have enough energy for such a thing," Celes said.
"The eyes up there could use some down time." Locke smiled. "It's been hours."
"I don't expect any trouble." Fang slipped her spear across her shoulders. "Not like I'll be performing strenuous exercise or anything."
Locke and Celes waved goodbye as they followed Cyan out and started their patrol.
"Dark nights in empty Pulse?"
Fang froze and the world shifted. A campfire burst to life in a fit of color in front of her and she saw the varying shoulders of her five friends, her only friends…
She snapped out of it and leveled her best glare on Deuce, who only peered back with intent eyes.
Fang shook her head and turned away. "You shouldn't have to join me on the tower, so don't. I'm far happier by myself."
"But it's dangerous out there and-"
"Yeah, shove it up yours."
Deuce cleared her throat. "I won't say anything."
"Because you did so well at that tonight."
"I-"
"Leave me alone, kid."
Deuce scowled and let Fang climb the watchtower and inform the people that they could take it off for the rest of the evening.
After the old watch was gone, Fang walked to the wooden rails of the tower and rested her arms on the top. There was no light here, not when they were trying to avoid drawing attention. Each patrol would be equipped with flares meant to signal for help if needed. That was one of two things the tower watched for. Other than that, they kept an eye out for attacks on the city itself.
Though, on nights like this one, an attack on the city couldn't be seen from the tower until too late.
What she could see was Deuce waiting at the bottom of the tower like a lovesick sheep.
Fang rolled her eyes to herself and focused on that darkness. She could make out only the barest outline of woodland, but that would have to do for now.
Time passed. Fang paced about the tower to keep herself awake whilst keeping an eye on the invisible horizon. She grew restless and bored too soon and found herself looking back down at Deuce, who hadn't budged an inch since Fang last looked.
"Oh, fine," she hissed to herself. "You're getting on my last nerve, girl!"
Deuce looked up. "Am I?"
"What have I been saying all this time?" Fang pinched the bridge of her nose. "If you want to come up, you can come up. But only for a bit! I'm going to kick you right back off!"
Deuce nodded and began her ascent up the ladder.
Fang shook her head to herself and looked out across the land again. The barest hint of light made its way into the sky and faint birdsong sounded in the distance.
Deuce made the last step on to the landing and glanced about them. Paused near the outermost edge.
"What's up?" Fang asked, leaning against a pole.
"I see something big. Will Celes and the others deal with it?"
Fang walked over to the rail and squinted down. It was still so dark – did Deuce make it up?
Then she caught movement in the corner of her eye.
A roar sounded. Fang released a breath. That was a behemoth's roar.
A flare rose and lit the area in a bluish hue. The trio that took their shift.
It would take too long to go back down the ladder. Fang twirled her spear and stepped up onto the rail of the tower.
"Wait!" Deuce cried.
Fang Jumped.
Air whistled through her ears and whipped her loose jacket about. Angled her spear and adjusted her feet.
Landed dead on her mark. The spear pierced straight through the back before she ripped it back out. The behemoth roared again and threw her off.
Fang rolled when she hit the ground. Ended in a crouch.
Light dazzled the area as Celes lit another flare and threw it at the monster. Locke stabbed a knife into its side that he didn't manage to rip back out before it turned out of his reach. Cyan vanished and flayed the beast.
A haunting melody sounded in the vicinity.
Fang jumped again.
The wind carried her back up and she used the momentum to land on the back of the behemoth, only this time, she didn't pull the spear out of its back after it dug its way into the shoulder blade of the monster. Instead, she pulled a knife out of her boot and stabbed that down into the thing's skull.
Probably wasn't long enough to penetrate the thing this behemoth had. All she seemed to do was make it angry.
It released a deep, bloodcurdling scream as it reared back, trying to throw her off. It shook in violent motions and she barely held on.
Fang retrieved her spear and bailed.
The thing kept shaking. It lifted a massive front paw and swiped at its ears. The music kept playing.
Celes rammed a sword into its eye. Cyan stabbed into a hind leg.
Locke dug a knife up into its jaw and screamed before getting thrown back, arm red and mangled.
The thing toppled and Fang's breath caught in her throat – was that it?
The behemoth shot to its feet and slammed into her, throwing her backwards. She hit something hard and pain erupted in her skull.
The world blurred and lights blinked in and out of view. Fang couldn't say whether they were real or not. Something warmed inside and her eyes hurt.
Then cleared.
The tune on the flute switched and a jarring noise echoed through the field. Fang pulled herself to her feet and took stumbling steps forward.
Stopped just before tripping over her separated spear. She picked it up with a growl.
The behemoth swiped at the others and raked the ground about it. Blades sang against claws.
Fang felt the wind push against her and slow to a gentle breeze.
Waited for the right moment before she threw the spear. It zipped through the air and embedded itself deep into the beast's surviving eye.
With a gasping rattle, the behemoth collapsed to the ground.
The music stopped.
Fang sucked in a breath and limped forward. "This thing got any friends that we saw?"
Celes knelt beside Locke, examining his arm. "Behemoths eat their fellows if necessary."
"Can't blame 'em – they taste good." Locke gasped out with a strained grin.
"That is hardly our concern at the moment." Cyan stood stiff and grimaced.
Deuce clutched her flute to her chest, eyes caught on Locke's arm. He needed to get to the medics quick as possible.
"Here." Celes took his good hand in hers. Helped him up.
"I can make it myself." Locke spoke through gritted teeth.
Fang coughed and it felt like something tore through her chest. Supposed she had to count her blessings that it wouldn't be as long term as the other guy.
Deuce shifted and said nothing.
Locke clutched his arm, waving Celes off. He headed back to town without another word.
"You arrived with haste," Cyan said. "How did you manage so?"
"I jumped and this fella broke my fall for me." She gestured to the monster. "What, you think I can't do my job as a dragoon?"
"I wouldn't have thought you had the boots for that." Celes tore her gaze off the point Locke had vanished and Fang refrained from correcting her.
Celes clasped her hands behind her back and turned toward the brightening hills. "We'll be out here for another hour or so. Cyan, would you care to take the tower watch? Fang or Deuce, could one of you get reinforcements for this haul? I'll continue the patrol on my own."
Cyan gave a formal node and strode toward the tower.
"Deuce, you watch the meat." Fang turned on her heel.
"Um-" Deuce touched her shoulder.
Fang shoved away from her. "Don't."
Deuce took the hint and didn't follow. Fang limped against a wound in her leg and didn't look back.
The town murmured with the first waking habitants for the day and Fang stopped the first able-bodied man she found. "Hey, there's a dead behemoth out there. You willing to help cart it inside?"
"Sure." He rubbed at a wrinkled scar on his arm. "Where?"
"Just outside. Can't miss it." She moved on and collected another handful before calling it good.
By the time she finished, the sun peeked over the hills and she passed faces she knew and some she didn't. One man wore a thick, green coat and that sparked a memory of hers. A pilot that took her to strange places.
She kept walking. What was his name? He looked just like he did back… back when?
With a groan, she worked up the motivation to stop him. Took the first steps toward him and drew up short.
The world warped around her. The quiet din muted. Chirping and distant roars filled the air, a sweet lullaby from her childhood. The man in green appeared wrapped in conversation with a girl in pink pigtails. She giggled at something and in her open palms sat a tiny chocobo chick.
Her heart twisted.
"Fang?" Sazh turned to look at her, surprise on his face.
The vision vanished, leaving Sazh in its wake. He gave her a hesitant, gaunt smile, though it didn't touch his eyes. "Fang! Didn't expect to see you here! How're you doing? You with us?"
Fang shook the last dark spots out of her vision. A dull throb in her head and she groaned. "Geez, I'd kill for some gysahl wine right about now."
He paused. "You okay?"
"Yeah, I just… not remembering too quick, you know?" She dropped her hand and opened her eyes, blinking spots out of her vision with a grimace. "Ugh, did it hurt for you, too?"
He held a hand out towards her. "You're still working on it? Thought you'd get there faster than any of us."
"I wish." The pain dulled and Fang straightened to look Sazh in the eyes. "You know where Vanille is?"
"Wish I did." Sazh rested his hands on his hips. "But Snow does and he… well. It's Snow."
Overconfident and driven to a fault. Nothing fazed the man, she wanted to say. "Why aren't they here, then? Is there another place we could all take a trip to?"
"No, we're talking different planets. Lots of space between us, you know?"
"Then what are you doing here, old man? Not exactly a prime vacation spot."
Sazh chewed on his lip and look away. "Looking for Dajh again. He didn't want to stick around on our old world and now I have to play tag like old times."
Dajh. That wasn't the blond monstrosity, or the icy pink woman, or the silver kid…
Kid, right, Sazh had a kid.
"Ain't that just a bitch." She shrugged. "Ever considered that you might be cursed?"
"I have, but…it's not relevant right now."
Fang slapped him on the shoulder. "We'll find him. Though, I'll say that I hope he's not here. You people are sucking up valuable resources."
"And you're doing what you can to help? Heard about that attack this morning."
"Yeah, it's dead now. Behemoths are a pain to kill but it's gonna do a little more for the food reserves."
"Taking notes from Vanille, then." What little smile he had disappeared. "Helping out where you can."
Vivid memories struck her, of the pigtailed girl placing herself in constant danger for a ridiculous number of reasons. "Yeah. Just doing my duty here. I'm gonna go take a nap for now – wake me later, alright?"
"Right." Sazh looked about them. "I had a few more people I was going to talk to."
"You do that." She hissed under her breath and walked away. Time to return to sleep and process way too much for one day. It was a long night ahead of her.
Sabin wiped sweat from his forehead as he stood and admired what little work he put into the fields. Strago was right about the dragongrass. The ingredient was one of the main ones for potions and they were going to run out sooner rather than later.
He'd been reminded once or twice that this was not supposed to be his job. Of course, no one was dumb enough to try to stop him.
The main issue was that a lot of the soil was dead or dying and they didn't have what they needed to re-fertilize it all. Not enough, at least. Not for all the people they had. Not to mention that most of the time the soil didn't take to the fertilizer they gave it.
The midmorning sun burned his skin, but at least that was a rare problem with all the clouds that blocked it most days. Their sun paste should last a while longer.
Sabin picked up a basket of dead grass and strolled back to town. Some scientists would break down the dead and add the remains to whatever new fertilizer they were trying now.
None of it would be good enough. Sabin stopped in his tracks at the thought. Their race was dying and all they did was prolong the inevitable. Their world would live on without them.
He grit his teeth and moved on. They didn't have to accept it. They had to find a way out of it.
On his way to the hall he passed the recovery tent. Paused just outside and hoped that Leonora made good progress in her recovery.
Wasn't like there was much else he could do there.
He pushed open the door to the hall and dropped the basket on a small wooden table near the entrance before walking through the crowded main room again.
Edgar was where he always was, sitting at that accursed desk, curtains closed over the windows to block the bright, early light. Sabin strode straight up to him.
Edgar looked up with bleary eyes. "I don't see what-"
Sabin took his brother's arm and the voices behind them silenced. "You're going outside, brother."
Sabin ignored Edgar's protests as he promptly dragged the man outside. Various mages, scientists, and leaders watched with gaping mouths as he did so. He wasn't the only one who tried to get Edgar outside, but he was the first do what was needed.
When they stepped outside, Edgar squinted against the sun and fought going any further. Sabin rolled his eyes and tugged at his arm. "You're right, you know." Sabin kept his voice down, not wanting to alarm the villagers. "We're not going to last much longer."
Edgar finally pulled his arm free of Sabin's grip a few feet out of the hall and looked around, eyes still squinting. "What does that have to do with you dragging me outside?"
"Nothing. I just don't want to talk to you in a cave again." Sabin kept walking and felt a smug satisfaction when Edgar trailed behind.
"We've discussed our options." Edgar sighed. "They aren't exactly plentiful."
"Then we need to take the unfeasible seriously." Sabin stopped by the airship, which didn't sit far from the hall. "We need to fix it. We need to bring magic back, or we need to leave this world behind, or something. This is me being honest, Edgar. I know that we're not getting any better, just like you do."
"You want to commit to the impossible?" Edgar groaned. "Look, Sabin, you do what you want, but I'm more worried about what I can do. I know that I can extend our-"
"That's not good enough!" Sabin rounded on Edgar. "We need to survive! I'm sick of all this talk of runways and stalling! You're smarter than me, so you should think of something that fixes the problem instead of covering it up!"
Edgar let out a slow breath. "Strago knows better than I do. He's quicker to seek alternatives." Edgar looked at Sabin, brow knit together. "Most of my advisors look at rational possibilities instead of throwing caution to the wind and wasting precious time and manpower on spontaneous heroism."
"What about Terra? Maybe we can find the Esper World, maybe there's a way back in." Maybe they could save her.
"Even if the Esper World still exists somewhere, I think we've done enough to them."
"You mean Kefka did enough! They're Terra's people, they should help her at least!"
Edgar heaved a sigh and placed a hand on Sabin's shoulder. "It's not that simple, but I'm glad you care."
"Glad I-" Sabin pushed Edgar away. "How can you be so dismissive? These are our people! The last of humanity! Don't just-!" Sabin threw up his hands. "You know what? Never mind! I shouldn't have expected you to listen, anyway!"
Edgar didn't say anything and Sabin grit his teeth.
Sabin turned away. "I'll go do it on my own if I have to."
"You push yourself too hard," Edgar whispered behind him.
Started walking away and Edgar didn't follow.
Sabin kept going.
Stopped by the ships and looked up at the impressive feat of engineering and closed his eyes. "We need help," he whispered, shaking. "If anyone is listening, please send us something. Or show us a way."
A gentle breeze drifted past, warming his bare arms. He opened his eyes.
That was about all he could ask for.