-The Story So Far-
Ophilia, a Cleric hailing from Flamesgrace in the frosty reaches of the Snowlands, has decided herself to take up the torch of her foster sister Lianna when she cannot do the kindling, has Archbishop Josef falls ill. To embark on this holy quest, Ophilia goes into the cave where the sacred flame is kept, only to be quickly overwhelmed by the flames guardian. As if by some streak of hope and fortune, A group of warriors appears to protect her on her journey as her Guardians.
Now carrying the first flame, Ophilia and Spirit Force now arrive in the town of Saintsbridge in the Riverlands….
"Greetings, Your Excellency. I am Sister Ophilia. I have come to perform the Kindling." Ophilia said to the Bishop of Saintsbridge. "I apologize for the sudden change in hands, but something came up."
"It is alright child. We welcome you to our parish. I am Bartolo, the Bishop of Saintsbridge." Bartolo said before turning to Spirit Force. "And who is this group of young warriors?"
"They are my guardians...the Spirit Force." Ophilia said.
"It is an honor, Lord Bartolo, my name is Ace Neptune. Me and my comrades are protecting Sister Ophilia as she completes her pilgrimage." Ace said as he saluted with his arm in front of his chest.
"I thank you for protecting her. I have heard of Archbishop Josef's illness. You have my sympathies." Bartolo said.
"Thank you, Your Excellency." Ophilia said.
"I have not been so blessed as to perform the kindling myself, but I know the pilgrimage is a trying one. But I know you will be able to see it through with the support of your guardians, even you Sir Neptune." Bartolo said.
"Thank you, Milord." Ace said.
"The people of Saintsbridge have waited with eager hearts for the coming of the Flamebearer. The warm light of the Sacred Flame guides and shelters us all, to the depths of our hearts and souls. Allow me to show you all to our cathedral." Bartolo said as he led Ophilia and Spirit Force to the cathedral where they saw an orb of light shine on an alter similar to the one in Flamesgrace.
Without earnest, Ophilia began the kindling ritual. Raising the Landthorn near the pyre where the orb was kept, she prayed.
"O great Aelfric, Bringer of the Flame. To you I offer my soul and blood. With your First Flame, I kindle this fire. May it forever shelter the people of this land. Through the sacrament of the Kindling, grant us your mercy and your blessing. " Ophelia recited as energy began gathering into the orb before it grew and glowed brighter.
"That's amazing…" Cinnamon said.
"Now the Sacred Flame has been restored to the Riverlands." Ace said.
"Ah! See how brightly the Flame shines now! Thank you, Sister Ophilia." Bartolo said. "Please, feel free for you and your friends to rest and recover here before continuing your journey."
"Thank you, Your Excellency." Ophilia said as she and the group exited the Cathedral and decided to explore the town.
"Hmm…" Ace thought as he pondered on something.
"Something wrong, Ace?" Ophilia asked.
"It's nothing, It's just...the Sacred Flame, its light is unlike anything I have ever felt before." Ace said. "So Aelfric created the flame and brought it down onto this land to protect it correct, from Galdera?"
"That's correct. Though I don't know how it protects it from him." Ophilia said. "It's like the Sacred Flame keeps him from…."
Ophilia was distracted when her eyes trailed to an argument between two young boys.
"This is all your fault, Emil!" The blonde one said.
"I-I'm sorry!" The black haired one, named Emil said.
"Hey, hey, hey! What's going on here?!" Al said.
"Emil had the nerve to lose my family's brooch, and now he can't remember where he dropped it!" The blonde boy said.
"But ganging up on him isn't gonna solve anything." Ace said as he and Ophilia stood between the two.
"Well then, what is?!" The blond boy asked.
"Well, this is gonna get us nowhere…" Zero said.
"Hang on… I have an idea." Ophilia said. "You two, can't you see that fighting will get you nowhere?"
"Well then, what will?" the blonde boy asked.
"Derryl, I'm sure where I dropped your brooch is somewhere in the forest, just let me go look for it." Emil said running off.
"The forest? No, wait!" Ophilia said.
"Too late, he's gone." Derryl said. "But why is he going this far?"
"He wants to make it up to you by finding it, and possibly restore your friendship." Ace said. "We will bring Emil and the Brooch back. Let's hurry to the forest, Sister Ophilia." He said.
"Yes." Ophilia said as she and the group headed to the forest to search for Emil unaware a mysterious figure watched them.
Ophilia and the Group eventually made it to the forest and noticed how dark it looked.
"This forest is giving me the creeps." Al said.
"Join the club…" Palpene said.
"Aaaaaaaaah!" A voice screamed out.
"Emil!" Ophilia and Derryl called as they ran to the source of the screaming and saw a demonic looking wolf staring at Emil ready to pounce before Ophilia and Spirit Force stood in its way.
"Derryl, you and Emil go find someplace safe, we'll take care of this." Ace said. "Are you ready, Sister Ophilia?"
"Yes, I shall do my best to help in this fight." Ophilia said as she readied her staff.
(Cue- Saber's Edge- Final Fantasy XIII)
"Let's do this!" Kagura said brandishing her sword.
"Palpene, transform! See if you can match it wolf to wolf!" X said.
"You got it!" Papelne said as she held up her beastone and went into wolf form. "Cyclone Shot!" She called out as she did a spinning strike towards it.
"It's weak to ice attacks! X, Zero, Axl hit it with your Ice Weapons!" Anna said.
"Got it. Drift Diamond!" X called.
"Hyouryuushou!" Zero called.
"Ice Gatling!" Axl called as he fired an ice powered minigun. Whilst he was doing that, X launched another Ice attack.
"Frost Tower!" X called out as he summoned a pillar of Ice.
"Hyoretsuzan!" Zero called as he did an impale attack with his saber coated in ice.
The massive Hróðvitnir howled as he pounced on Papelne as the two wrestled.
"I'd summon Baal to finish this off, but I don't want her accidentally swallowing Papelne." Simon said.
"Don't worry Simon, just have her at the ready, I'll knock it off her." Ophilia said. "Holy Light!" She called out as a pillar of light rained down onto the monster, knocking it off of Papelne.
"Alright, everyone stay back! EX FA!" Simon called out as a portal appeared behind the monster and out came a giant purple and black toad with a tiara on its head, this was Baal, the Empress of Fathoms.
"Baal is…a giant toad?" Ophilia asked.
Baal lashed her tongue out onto the monster, knocking it flat on the ground before grabbing it with her tongue and pulling it into her mouth as Baal swallowed it before disappearing.
"We did it!" Papelne said as she reverted.
"You're pretty strong in beast form, Papelne. I wonder what else you can do with your Beaststone?" Ophilia said.
"I'm not really sure, all I can do is go into wolf form so far." Papelne said.
Ace then noticed something shining where the monster once stood and picked up.
"That's… my family's brooch! That mutt had it the whole time!" Derryl said.
"Whew… it's a good thing Baal didn't swallow that up too or we would have to go to Hell and Back to get it." Al said.
Ophilia and the group headed back to town as Ace turned to Darryl and Emil.
"Here you go." Ace said as he kneeled down and handed the brooch to Darryl and put Emil's hand on top of it. "You two may be young, but it took great lengths for Emil to find it and for Darryl to come here. Take this brooch as a sign that you two will be friends till the end." He said before ruffling their heads as they laughed.
"Right!" The two said before leaving.
"I do believe our work here is done." Ophilia said.
"So what next?" Litty asked.
"Next we head to Goldshore in the Coastlands, then after, we complete the Kindling back in Flamesgrace." Ophilia said.
"Then Goldshore is where we shall go." Ace said as they departed.
(Cue- The Promise- Final Fantasy XIII)
Ophilia and Spirit Force leave Saintsbridge behind, their journey far from over. With one last prayer to the Sacred Flame of this land...that it might bring happiness to the children living here... They embark for Goldshore, a town in the coastlands.
There, the second church awaits on their journey….
