Sabin stood in the throne room, one hand on the armrest of the throne itself. Looking around, he could pin a hundred memories to every stone, rug, and tapestry. Running and playing with Edgar, interrupting important business run by their father, even creating stories of their own to explain the more mysterious parts of the castle.
Now, the room was filled with barrels and canvas bags full of preserved foodstuffs. He didn't know hunger or fear or uncertainty as a child – he would give anything for that blissful ignorance again.
Galuf said that they wouldn't be displaced for long. That they would find a way to travel forward into the future of their own world within a year.
Sabin's grip on the armrest tightened.
Behind him, the door creaked open. Sabin didn't need to look up to know who it would be coming in at such a late hour. Not with that slight pause in the step, then the newfound confidence in the stride, despite the weak of it.
"Our engineers determined submerging by first light." Edgar carried himself so much stronger in the past few hours. Kept a crutch just in case.
Sabin felt the nostalgia vanish. Edgar came to stand beside him and looked up at the tapestries behind the throne. If they stayed any longer, they would turn those into blankets. His brother was thinner than ever before, but he had that glint in his eye back.
They were going to live.
Sabin slapped a hand on Edgar's shoulder. Threw the other arm around to the other shoulder to make sure Edgar didn't fall.
He stabilized a moment later.
"I'm sure that was necessary," Edgar grumbled, yet he sported a wide smile as he shoved Sabin's arm away. His face had regained some of the color it had lost with his illness. "You should make yourself ready."
Ready to cross the world, to the remnants of the forest that once housed the phantom train. Sabin steadied himself at the thought.
"Listen." Edgar paused. "I want to apologize for not trying harder. Maybe we could have found something else."
"No worries, bro. I'll just be rubbing it in for the rest of our long lives."
"Assuming we make it across."
Sabin sobered. Placed an encouraging hand on Edgar's shoulder that made the man stumble.
They stood in silence for a while. Most thoughts went unsaid and Sabin took the time to simply enjoy being with his brother.
Who knew how much more time they would have.
"I'm gonna get out of here." Sabin clapped Edgar's shoulder again, carefully this time. Edgar nodded, but didn't look towards him.
Sabin left the room without another word. He didn't enjoy sleeping when this giant hunk of metal was moving, so he'd prefer to get that done first.
"Sir!" One of Edgar's men just about hit him in his haste. "Sir, we've got two, uh…"
Sabin tensed for more bad news like he wasn't used to it already. "Spit it out, man."
"A couple flew into the castle and demanded to see Leonora! They're threatening violence, but she's not up to visitors and-!"
Sabin waved him away. "I'll handle it."
He was directed toward the battlements, where he found what they were talking about. Garishly-dressed, a man and a woman argued with the guards that kept them out.
"Pardon me," said Sabin, "but I can speak for Leonora."
The man snapped his attention to Sabin and flew his way in a smooth motion before stumbling to a halt before him. Messy cuts and scabs littered his exposed skin and his odd clothes were ripped and dirtied at the edges. "You'll let me in there if you value your life," the man said in a husky voice. Probably severely dehydrated.
He also had one of those jewel things attached to his head, though this one was almost hidden by his matted hair.
"I value Leonora's life. She's a sweet woman and I don't want to see her hurt."
Something glinted in the man's eyes and his mouth quirked in a sneer. "I know what's best for her."
"Uh huh." Sabin looked up as the woman floated closer. She didn't look any better off than the man. "If you don't want the dungeons, then I recommend you speak with the king, first."
"Screw the king." The man shoved past him with surprising strength and, when Sabin moved to block him, summoned a barrier of ice that blasted the ground and separated them. "I'll find her on my own if I need to."
"Palom," groaned the girl. "This will just slow us down!"
Palom ignored her and moved on. Sabin looked to the woman. "What do you want with Leonora?"
"To heal her." The woman looked at him with weary eyes. "If she's hurt like they said, we're the only ones that can save her."
"You know she's bleeding from her skull?"
"Enhancements like what she has are touchy." The woman put a hand to the ice barrier and it shattered. "I realize we have nothing to offer that will earn us the trust we need, but I swear we'll leave you and your people alone if we can take our friend and go."
Sabin looked to the flabbergasted guards and gestured for them to follow.
It took a bit to catch up to the other mage, but once they did, Sabin showed them to the healing wing.
Palom took to the air once those cots came into view and Sabin had to run to keep up.
"Leonora!" The man barreled past the confused medics that stood to stop him from reaching the girl on the farthest cot.
She barely moved at her name outside of turning her head. "Palom…?"
Palom lighted to the ground beside her and ripped the bandaging from her forehead. Let loose a string of curses so colorful that Sabin cleared his throat and hoped there were no children around.
"I've got you." The other woman joined them and summoned white magic – where did they get that stuff? "I don't think we can fix it, but we should get you stabilized and ready to transport back for a re-installment."
"They must have disconnected it days ago." Palom took Leonora's wrist and put an iced hand to her forehead. "She's so pale… Porom, this is bad."
"Let me work."
"Do you have enough?"
"We'll just have to see, won't we?"
Sabin waved a medic over– a girl that looked too much like young Relm. "Watch them, alright?"
The two worked quietly and Palom wouldn't release Leonora's wrist even as he argued with his companion. The more he watched them, the more Sabin felt at ease. They may be cranky, but there didn't appear to be any ill will.
Until Palom blasted the ground about him with fire and Sabin jumped back. "No, she'll be fine!"
Porom pursed her lips. "It's hard to say-"
"Damn you, there's nothing hard about this! We have the magic, we just need to-"
Porom put up a hand and Palom silenced. "Let me work and try not to antagonize our hosts any further."
He hissed, "Don't do that!"
In a measured voice, she said, "Do what?"
"You know exactly what I'm talking about! Geez, let the sun get to you, much?"
"Your quips don't bother me when you're too hungry to think straight. Go find a snack and get back to me."
"Not until you replenish your mana."
"I will save her – it's just the attachment that's a problem."
"That's unacceptable." Palom shot to his feet and stalked Sabin's way. Fire burst to life in his hands. "I hope you know what you've-…" Wobbled on his feet. "… What you assholes have done."
Sabin raised an eyebrow. "You two should rest, as should Leonora."
"I don't…" Palom paused and his eyes fluttered. Flames blinked out and left orange glitter in the air. "You don't…"
He collapsed.
Sabin rushed to the man's side and Porom hissed out one too many insults under her breath. The girl medic didn't need an order to call over help and get to hauling the man to one of the cots. The air about him sparkled in various hues, like ice fell about the body.
"Oh, interesting," piped up one of the medics. "Wonder if that's connected to their casting without mana?"
Sabin looked at Porom, who didn't return the gaze. "You two are siblings?"
"Twins."
"I should have guessed." Sabin joined her by Palom's side. "I used to act the same with my own twin brother."
Porom shifted. "Used to?"
"Don't take your time together for granted." Sabin put a hand on her shoulder. "You never know what might happen."
"Slipping into a portal like we did was a touch unexpected."
Sabin sighed – that wasn't what he meant, but this was not his business. Moved to speak with one of the medics. "Find out all that you can. And make sure they both get water and rest."
"Yes, sir."
Porom cast him a quizzical look before Sabin left to return to his duties.
Fang stood on a parapet during one of too many stops to air out the castle, make it livable for a little longer. The sheer amount of people they had inside made it hard to breathe at times. Beyond that, they made stops to pick up more and more on the way. It was going to take a lot of trips to and from the train to get everyone and they planned to pack the castle to the brim each time.
A light rain drizzled down from above. Each drop felt more like dust than water, but she supposed it had to still be good for the planet.
The breeze played with her hair and the weight of the spear on her back tempted her, given the few dozen feet between her and the ground. She could taste those winds again.
Fang gave in and Jumped.
Air whipped around her for one thrilling moment and all too quickly she landed again. The ground trapped her with gravity.
Fang wandered around the castle and earned odd looks from the guards she passed. She wasn't supposed to be on patrol now, but damn it, she didn't exactly have anything else to do.
"Fang."
She turned around to face Yeul. She didn't like that she only knew Yeul through crystal dreams.
The girl bit her lip. "Do you trust Deuce and Nine?"
Fang heard so many stories, legends, and myths about the Seeress, yet here she stood and did not look at all like Fang had imagined her. The stories painted her as a mysterious girl, but she looked so fragile in her uncertainty. "I don't trust people."
"They don't know where Sazh's son is." Yeul shivered. People milled around them in the drizzling rain and children ran for the muddy puddles. "And Hope is worse. Deuce and Nine told me that one of their friends is with Noel now, but… does that mean anything?"
"Sazh said Dajh ran off and got himself into his own trouble, and it sounds like little Hope is special to Bhunivelze." There would be hell to pay for all that, but even Vanille made it out safe and she wasn't exactly a small catch. "No reason to think that Noel's gonna turn out worse."
Yeul hesitated. "Thank you."
"Besides-"
"FANG!"
She looked up at the shout. Maybe she should have stayed atop the tower after all. "What in the-"
Drew up short.
Snow barreled into her and Fang lost her footing. His too-big arms caught her up in a bear hug and crushed her against his chest. "Long time no freaking see!"
She choked back, "What's up?"
"So much!" Snow released her and Fang gasped down precious breaths. "You heard about the whole becoming-gods thing? Crazy, right?"
"Insane," Fang said and turned to see Lightning saunter their way. "You traveling together, now?"
Lightning quirked that small smile of hers. "Only because Serah won't get off her butt."
"With that out of the way…" Snow clapped his hands together. "We got some bad news-"
"I heard about the kids," Fang cut him off.
Lightning scowled. "Screw that. We're getting them back."
"You should tell Sazh that."
"Wait, Sazh is here?" Snow asked. "Where?"
"In the castle," Yeul said.
"That's another three accounted for." Lightning didn't exactly sound overjoyed. "Just about doubles what we have so far."
"Aw, you guys looking out for us?" Fang asked with a sly smile. "Careful, might get the impression that you care."
Lightning gave her a cold look. "You're not safe until you're in Valhalla. Let's not test that again."
"After I make sure this planet is salvaged, alright?" Fang gestured. "'Bout to get these sorry souls somewhere safe because Bahamut's taking too long."
"So tired of playing the damn hero."
"You're not the only one."
"Hey, hey!" Snow slapped a hand on each of their shoulders. "Look at us! We're getting so close!"
Lightning cast Fang a look. "They brought him back, first."
"That explains it," Fang put a hand over Snow's. "Poor man's gone mad from waiting."
Snow just about knocked her over when he pushed away. "This makes seven of us! Only three to go, right?"
Lightning looked away. "The rest aren't exactly close."
"Noel is!"
Fang said, "We'll get them all, you two. Just hold your horses."
"That's the spirit!" Snow offered his fist and she bumped it. "We'll be together in no time!"
Fang grinned back, but she didn't miss Lightning's scowl and the way her hand gripped the sword at her side like she would whip it right out.
Just like she did during their cold watches on Pulse.
Sabin stepped outside and sucked in air.
"I know I've said it before." Galuf phased into existence beside him. "But I promise that we will do everything in our power to safeguard this exodus."
"Another chance is all we can ask for."
The castle began to unload behind him as directed by Locke. Sabin could barely hear the man from here.
"How long will it take to get to the other side?" Sabin strolled a few feet forward. They weren't far from the forest that Galuf called the train to.
"Estimates are around a week or two-" Galuf cut off and narrowed his eyes to the distance. "Something's wrong."
Huh? Sabin followed his gaze out to the forest but couldn't see what caught Galuf's attention. "What is it?"
"Take a search party out to the train," Galuf said, not looking Sabin's way. "Do not board until I return. I will be back as soon as I can."
Sabin opened his mouth to object, but Galuf left before he could.
Celes let Cyan lead the party. It was just a reconnaissance mission, after all.
They paused inside the woods and Cyan crouched to the ground, examining the dirt and the underbrush.
"Is this familiar, Cyan?" Celes asked.
"Quite." Cyan's voice was quieter than usual. Celes knew what the train meant to him and didn't push it.
He stood to his full height and hurried through the branches and leaves ahead. "Existing here are recognizable signs of otherness that this train doth bring!"
Celes shook her head and followed. Locke trailed behind. Just a reconnaissance mission meant that he could still help.
"We doth grow closer!" Cyan shouted. Celes raised an eyebrow and they continued their trek onwards, into the woods. Cyan disappeared behind a thick corner of foliage a few feet ahead. It would be no small task to escort thousands this way.
"Wait!"
A figure formed in front of her, causing her to come to a sudden halt. It was short, taking the form of a young child and on its head sat the tallest and pointiest hat she ever saw.
The child bounced. "Something's wrong! Galuf said so!"
"Who are you?" Locke asked and drew a knife with his good arm from one of his hidden sheaths.
The kid locked his eyes on the knife. "There's something wrong with the ghosts!"
Cyan.
Celes ran straight through the child and chased after her friend.
Sabin paced in the fields. They set up encampments while waiting, given it would take days to get everyone in this load through.
The search party had been gone for too long and he was beyond ready for them to get back. Galuf hadn't returned in ages and Sabin was prepared to lead what remained of civilization to the train without him. But he held back because Celes' party delayed and that was a bad sign.
So he made his way up to the battlements to get a good view of the border between them and the forest.
"Hey, Sabin." Terra approached and rubbed at her arms, eyes caught on the forest. "You'll miss it, right?"
Sabin paused. "I've done a lot of exploring."
"Same." Terra took a deep breath. "I'm excited. To see new places, you know."
He didn't say anything at first. Didn't want to dampen her mood with the reminder that it wouldn't be enough to save her.
"That's great." Sabin grinned and hoped it would warm him. "The more excited we are, the better."
Terra smiled back before Galuf's presence descended and Sabin grimaced at the disorienting feeling.
"You need to get these people back into the castle." Galuf gestured to the thousands on the grounds below. "The vengeful will come the moment they sense the living."
"The what?"
Terra froze and snapped her eyes to the forest.
Galuf raised his tone, "Now, prince! NOW!"
"Cyan!" Celes yelled. Beside her, the child floated along and Locke ran.
Finally caught sight of their friend, who turned to see her with a stern look.
"Oh no…" whispered the little ghost.
Behind Cyan the phantom train laid on its side across broken tracks.
Fang ran to those who readied weapons meant to dispel the undead. But weapons were unreliable.
"Where do you want me?" Fang asked upon getting close enough to Sabin. Without a word, he gestured along the line, where they gathered buckets. Most made their way into the castle, others stayed on defense. A gathering of covered barrels clustered near the front and Fang Jumped down to find a dark powder inside.
Fang shook her head, swallowed her growing panic, and took her place. Steadied her breath and let the wind calm her racing heart.
"Fang!" Sazh ran to join her. Snow and Lightning followed close behind.
Lightning strode right past the line and earned several cries of panic. She ignored them.
"Guess it's a good thing we're here." Snow punched his fist.
Sazh brandished his pistols – Fang missed those. He looked to the barrels of powder. "Those supposed to keep the dead back?"
She nodded and the breeze picked up. "When it's lit."
"I guess this is it, then." He chuckled and Fang warmed at the sound. "Where's those spirits?"
"I'm more surprised that our babysitters haven't shown up." Fang glanced behind them. No sign of Nine or Deuce.
Lightning stayed ahead of the line and twirled a sword out of her holster.
"They say there's an army of the dead coming our way, Queen."
There was Deuce. She stood behind the battlements with Nine.
"Care to share with the class?" Sazh called their way.
Deuce kept talking, but Fang couldn't make out the words past a gust of wind.
"She's been talking with the other side for a while now," Yeul appeared behind Sazh and he jumped a good foot in the air.
Lightning twitched. "Deuce, tell Queen to shut the hell up and focus on the other worlds! We don't need her eyes here right now!"
Deuce gave Lightning a frown and kept talking. Summoned her flute and the wind died enough for Fang to catch, "Understood and accepted. Deuce out."
Nine took out a spear and Fang raised hers for him to see. He grinned from ear to ear and struck his in the air.
"Our orders are to hold this world!" Deuce called. "Bhunivelze's pawns will gain no victory from us!"
Lightning bit out a colorful metaphor and turned back to the forest.
The wind picked up. Sabin thought it appropriately ominous as they stood and watched the woods.
Terra still stood beside him but hardly said a word since Galuf returned.
"There is still a chance that Vivi got there in time," Galuf said. "But the train is unusable regardless."
Sabin straightened and puffed out his chest. They would fight to the last. Every person that made it into the castle before it submerged was a victory.
Gau bounced up beside him. "Ready!"
Terra looked over the edge. "Looks like Edgar found Strago, Relm and Setzer. They're getting in line."
Sabin joined her and found his brother approach that pink-haired woman ahead of the line. How could he lead an army in his condition?
Sabin blinked. The line was sparsely populated. How were there so few to defend them?
For a moment, he found himself wishing Mog and Umaro were around. The yeti would be a big help, but the two of them were off living wherever it was the rest of the moogles were. Not to mention Gogo, whom he hadn't seen since Kefka's tower.
Other than those who had been at the tower, there were soldiers from Castle Figaro, and a few dozen able-bodied men and women from around the world.
"It's coming," Galuf whispered.
Terra stifled a cough – the burst from Leonora would only last so long.
"Terra sleep." Gau pointed to the castle. She shook her head, eyes watering, and stood closer to Sabin.
His stomach twisted. A haze flowed from the woods.
Deep breaths. Remember your training.
Sabin raised a hand and the line readied.
The haze fluctuated.
Celes watched the wave rip away from them and towards the castle.
Cyan couldn't take his eyes off Vivi, as he had introduced himself. "Lady Celes, if this child is like unto Sir Galuf, then why hath we all the capability of beholding him?"
The child huffed. "Proximity to the dead roads!" He waved a hand in the air. "All those ghosts got lost on the way up and now they're angry! The veil between life and death is really thin now!"
"Why are they ignoring us?" Locke asked slowly, dazed.
Vivi gripped that huge hat of his. "Because they're not going to take the time to fight you when they know there are more out there, but we don't have time for this! We have to get this train back on track!"
"We need to defend the castle." Celes couldn't take her eyes off the path back. Could they return in time?
The child ran in front of Celes. "No! If the train isn't put up straight then the dead will have nowhere to go! Fighting usually helps them move on, but without the train they can't do that!"
"What do you want us to do, kid?" Locke asked. "The three of us can't lift a train by ourselves. Especially not… we can't."
Vivi grasped the rims of his hat. "The phantom train isn't normal – I can help."
Celes felt frozen to the spot. The train or the castle?
"C'mon, please! At least try!" Vivi reached out for Celes' hand. Warmth where he touched her. "Just try!"
Celes remembered to breathe.
And followed Vivi to the train.
Sabin ran toward the line as the haze ripped out towards them. They'd only managed a handful of those barrels. They had to be a last resort.
Galuf disappeared, but Sabin could feel the ghost's discomfort. This was wrong.
"Vivi and the others will stabilize the train," Galuf whispered.
He left Gau and Terra at top of the castle. Caught sight of Strago and Relm. The line was longer than the width of the castle, but not by much.
And drew up short when two mages flew in and stopped him. Leonora's friends.
"Please," said Porom, "let us help."
Sabin hesitated. "Even if you were well enough for that, how can we trust you?"
"We wouldn't be asking," Palom said, "if we wanted to blow your castle up. Believe it or not, we're also invested in keeping an army of dead people from killing us."
Sabin looked to the approaching army. It didn't move as fast as it looked.
"You need firepower," Palom said. "Oh, come on, I didn't waste everything on you guys."
Porom placed a hand on Palom's shoulder and he shrugged away.
"Fine," Sabin said. "Let loose."
"Thank you." Porom leaped ahead, further than should be possible, and Palom went with her.
Sabin nodded his thanks to no one and moved on. As far as he could tell, every man and woman on the line had a weapon. The castle gates were ready to close. They would only submerge if the line failed.
People passed in a blur. Sabin didn't run, but he walked faster than he should – missed the times when he took a full stomach for granted. His body didn't respond like it used to.
Edgar stopped him near the forest side, having forgone his crutch for the morale of the troops. "Let's make this the last fight our lives depend upon, shall we?"
"You bet." Sabin took his place beside Edgar and entered a readied stance as the haze turned into humanoid forms. "To the last breath, brother?"
Edgar stood stronger and shared a content look with Sabin. "To the last breath."
The air chilled before the ghosts finally slammed into the defenders.
Fang shoved the barrel over a second before the battle began. The powder inside spilled to the ground and the wind spread it further.
Lit it with a flicker of flame she summoned and watched it catch before she moved her attention to the ghosts.
She ripped her spear through the barely-coherent forms of vengeful ghosts and ripped holes in their feathery forms. Around her, Sazh blasted lead and Lightning cut them to strips. Snow punched their faces.
Nine jumped and stabbed through them faster than she could see and Deuce played a slow, dreadful tune on her flute.
In the corner of her eye, Fang saw a ghost slip through the fragile line and prepared to jump after it.
Before two arrows pierced it straight through and the form vanished. Those came from the side of the castle.
Lightning's sister appeared around the corner and discarded the bow for a short sword. "Sorry we took so long!"
"Serah!" Lightning yelled. "What are you doing here?"
Serah rolled away from a ghost and twisted behind it, ran it through with a small knife. "I didn't come alone!"
Snow moved her way and destroyed every ghost that came between them. "Can't believe how long it's been since you and I fought together!"
And then they kissed because this was the time for that.
More arrows and a man with shaggy blonde hair appeared on the battlements with a woman that looked remarkably like Lightning, but with silver hair.
Not-Lightning jumped from the battlement and spun a whip through the ghosts that greeted her.
A few more after Deuce's kind joined in – a redheaded kid rolled and dashed between singular targets and another woman swung a scythe that caught a handful at a time.
Those guys all moved closer to the forest and their uniforms like Deuce's appeared damaged and burnt at the edges.
"How many of your friends are there?" Fang yelled.
Deuce didn't stop playing the flute to answer the question.
"Twelve!" called the scythe-lady. "But the other half are busy elsewhere!"
Nine leapt into the air and speared the ground just a few feet away. "Hey, Ace!" He ripped the spear out of the ground and spun it in his hand. Yelled at a kid that threw something small and sharp at the enemy lines. "How's that magic club you left behind, yo?"
Fang threw her spear through a handful of ghosts. They all vanished.
"I left on Queen and King's orders!" Ace spun more projectiles out and destroyed those closest to him. "He refused to come!" Ace jabbed a finger toward Sazh.
"I'm not gonna thank you for finally giving me personal space!" Sazh shouted back.
"Hey!" the girl with the scythe yelled. "No point in telling off Ace when Seven is the one who botched her mission!"
If Seven was one of those around, then she didn't respond.
"Blame serves no purpose in any regard," the man with the bow spoke up. "Our mental resources would be much better spent on another topic."
"Nah, Sice is right!" Nine rolled past another ghost and stabbed it through the back. "Seven, you suck, yo!"
"I don't think you did any better," said the girl with the whip. "I heard Yeul slipped out of your grasp inside the gate."
"At least that was 'cause of her, not me!"
"Okay, fine! Someone screwed up!" Lightning's voice. "You can decide who later!"
Serah picked her bow back up and shot down a clear path while Snow pummeled the ghosts who got too close to her.
They kept the numbers manageable, but that wouldn't last forever.
"Yeul!" Deuce yelled.
Fang saw it out of the corner of her eye. A dead person floated up to Yeul, the girl with no way of defending herself.
Yeul reached out and gripped its wrist. It vanished.
The wind picked up. Fang's hair whipped about her as she flung her spear to and fro. In the distance, she saw more coming. They couldn't touch the source, not with the search party in there.
Fang screamed. Mowed the monsters down but couldn't ignore the weight of the crystal in her pouch.
Thunder rumbled nearby, more wind pushed against her. The air grew thick and muggy.
"Come on," she whispered to herself. Pulled the eidolith out and threw it to the air. "Come on, Bahamut!"
A gust just about knocked her over. She ignored it and leapt into the air. Shattered the crystal.
And somewhere faraway, a power woke.
A circle of runes, of light and dark drawn to life in the sky about her. Dark clouds gathered.
Bahamut ripped through and blasted the space with a gale force wind that yanked Fang toward the ground again.
Fang slammed into… not grass. Bahamut's red claws curled protectively around her and Fang stumbled back to her feet. Spit blood from a break in her cheek. "Hey, old friend."
They exchanged no words, but she felt a reminder from him. That plan of his, the plan other Eidolons would come for they had no place they truly belonged anymore.
And they had something to give.
He bowed his head and let her down in the grass again before he flew off and took out hundreds of ghosts at once with one of those gusts of his.
Ghosts screamed and a pink girl jumped in with hands alight in white magic. She levitated into the air and spun to catch another wave before that man in the green stripes joined her and scorched the region with a blast of fire.
Another circle burst to life on the ground. The air smoked.
Brynhildr burst through and slammed a fist into the ground before the world around them lit with fire. The green-striped man exclaimed wonder at the sight and drifted closer to the Eidolon. They fell into a rhythm together with Sazh.
Wind whipped about and forced the weaker men to the ground. Some backed off from the rising flames.
Edgar forced his way through the assailants with one of those machine blades of his and took to Lightning's side. The two worked together better than Fang thought possible.
Brynhildr and Bahamut laid waste to the force of the dead and it didn't take long to send many of them retreating into the burning forest.
A shame, given how many deserved a smoother transition.
Celes knelt beside the train and pushed against it. It creaked and groaned but gave no sign of returning to its feet.
A distorted chant joined them and she looked behind to find Vivi's hands spread to the side. He spoke in a foreign language.
"Any chance we could make this go faster?" Locke asked, out of breath. He pushed with his good shoulder, the other one dangling at his side. Not lifeless, but not exerted.
Celes heaved again. Vivi clapped and it felt… lighter. She gritted her teeth. The sooner they managed this, the sooner they would move to help outside.
It regained its weight and fell back against the ground.
"There is no time for this!" Celes shot to her feet. "We play at a fool's errand while our people die!"
"Should we not to return this to its rightful state, then the dead will have not a way to move on!" Cyan said.
"The living are our concern." Celes gestured out towards the castle. "Not the dead."
"Aren't they one and the same in the end?" Locke spoke quietly. "This is where our people will go eventually."
Celes forced a breath.
"C'mon, one more try." Locke gave her a pleading look. "Please?"
"Put your mind to it," Vivi said, then started chanting again, hands held out to the side.
Without the train, their friends would die and remain on Ruin as tortured souls.
She heaved. Used all her strength and tried again.
The train groaned and budged.
Celes gave a cry and pushed harder. Her body protested, her muscles pained. Locke and Cyan grunted and the train inched further.
Vivi clapped again.
"For our world!" Celes cried. "For Ruin!"
The train lifted. Weight left her.
A deafening thud and the thing returned to its place on the tracks.
Locke choked and collapsed into a heap. Grunted with the weight on his arm.
"Uh oh." Vivi glanced towards the overgrowth. "You're gonna have to take another way out, because it's burning over there."
Celes dropped to her knees. The air felt thick. How much smoke did they breathe and how long did it last for?
"Do you know another way out of here?" Locke asked, voice hoarse.
"Verily, we must-" Cyan cut himself off as a dampness grew over them. Celes blinked at the sight. The dead gathered and boarded the train.
With so many, how long had the train been on its side? They'd been keeping their numbers up for quite a while, stagnating their losses. To get it this bad, the train would have fallen at least months before.
Most of these dead would have had to have come from other settlements, ones that Kohlingen rarely traded with.
Were there more out there?
"Look." Locke moved forward in a crouch. "They're all coming from that direction."
Celes took a deep breath and followed the flow backwards.
Then rain fell.
"This was by no means what we expected, but it should do well enough." Galuf chuckled, a sound that Sabin had trouble understanding.
The two towering monsters that stood near where the ghosts retreated looked as still as sentries in the night and he could only assume they were the ones mentioned by Deuce the other day.
Sabin shook his head in disbelief and walked through the pouring rain toward them.
"Sabin!" Blue moved ahead of him and he squinted his eyes, raised a hand to keep the rain out.
"Fang?"
She came to stand before him, expression intent. "I've got a ride to catch. See you later?"
Sabin blinked. "Where are you going?"
"Just to find some friends. Probably won't be back." She beamed and Sabin wondered at the excitement in her voice. "Good luck with… everything."
"What are they?" He gestured toward the new monsters.
"Just some Eidolons wanting to make this world livable again. I'd head back to Kohlingen soon, if I were you. Bet the fields are gonna need some management."
"Right, but-"
"You'll figure it out. And you're welcome!" She slapped him on the shoulder and jumped. He never saw a dragoon fly so high.
The Eidolons vanished shortly after.
Someone shouted behind him and he turned to see Terra jumping in place and waving to catch his attention.
Beside her stood Celes. Locke. Cyan.
Disbelief swelled inside and Sabin burst into a run. "You made it!"
Then slipped in the wet grass.
He slammed into the ground, rear first. Grunted at the pain.
"The train had fallen," Celes explained as he recovered his dignity. "We fixed it and now the dead can return to their typical paths."
"That should be my duty here done." Galuf nodded to himself. "But keep an eye out for that monster of a god."
"What now to which do we commit ourselves?" Cyan asked. Sabin laughed and clapped Cyan on the back.
"We go back to Kohlingen. We survive. We live."