Wild Rose
Firion and Lightning arrived at Crystal Tower rather eagerly. Though still not entirely convinced, Firion kept a hopeful expression just to keep Lightning from questioning him again.
Lightning looked around for any sign of Cecil, but all that could be seen was the high tower itself as it pierced the sky – and beyond.
She turned to Firion.
"Firion." she said.
He looked at her in question. What did she possibly expect him to say? It wasn't like he knew where Cecil might be hiding – or even why he would be. He was the one whom hadn't been so sure it would end just like that. He had only come this far because of her.
They looked at each other for a moment and Firion tried to think of something to say – anything, whether it was what she wanted to hear or not. He just wished he knew what that was.
He sighed as he lifted his head to speak, really preferring not to say a thing, when he noticed someone walking toward them a few yards away. His mouth dropped a bit in shock at sight. He couldn't believe it could actually be. It seemed too real; to good to be true.
"Look!" he said, staring ahead.
Lightning quickly turned around to see Cecil walking towards them – her reaction being the same as Firion's as she stared ahead at him speechlessly.
Before she knew it, Firion hurried past her as he made his way to Cecil – Lightning following right behind seconds later.
"This is it! Lightning was right!" Firion thought, happy to think something positive for the first time in a while.
They approached Cecil and both tried to hide their excitement.
"Cecil." Firion said.
"Firion. Lightning." he replied.
He'd sounded a bit surprised to see them, but they paid that no mind. Just the thought that in seconds the rose would be back in their hands, was enough for them. Firion was actually so overcome with joy he nearly reached out for it as Lightning spoke.
"Cecil. You have something of…great importance to us."
Her voice was so soft as she spoke and Cecil looked at her in question – glancing from her to Firion and back as he appeared to contemplate what they could mean.
"Why is he looking at us like that? Doesn't he know what we're talking about?" Firion wondered.
His face almost dropped as he looked at Cecil, but for once he didn't want to give up just yet. This had been the moment they'd been waiting for all along and now that it was within reach – he couldn't bring himself to sink back into despair already.
Finally, Cecil spoke again - his words bringing a smile to Firion's face – a real smile. For the first time in a while, he didn't have to feign one just to please somebody. All he could think about now was getting the rose back and everything being as it had been – as it should be.
"…Oh! So, it was yours." Cecil said.
He sounded happy when he said it, but his face was straight – a fact that came oddly to them, but nonetheless, still had them smiling. All he needed to do now, was hand it over.
"Yes! Please tell me you still have it." Firion said.
They looked at him in question as he stood straight – his face; his eyes, revealing a hint of regret and apology.
Firion felt his stomach drop and his heart sink as he glanced at Lightning – her reaction none the better in the least.
"Cecil…?" she asked, softly, stepping forward a little.
Cecil saw their faces and it only bothered him more that he apparently didn't have the news they desired. He could only imagine how much they must have been looking forward to it judging by their excitement upon seeing him.
He relaxed a bit before speaking again, taking a deep breath as he looked at his friends closely. This wasn't easy for him, but he had to tell them something…even if it wasn't what they wanted to hear.
"…I'm sorry." he said, regrettably, as he lowered his head.
He looked at his hands for a moment as he remembered the moment he'd let the rose out his grasp. He wished he could take that moment back. If only he'd held onto it a little longer…this moment would be different. It was a terrible irony – one he could barely stand to deal with as he saw the faces of his two friends drop in an instant at those two words – their hope, again, shattered in a second.
Still, however, he realized there might still be a way to give them hope again. He did have one small bit of news that might change things – unaware of how often they'd already played this game by now.
"It must still be with Vaan." he said, hoping they'd cheer up even a little.
Unfortunately, his words hadn't done anything of the sort whatsoever. Lightning and Firion could only stare at the ground, unable to believe that this could possibly be happening yet again. It wasn't funny at all. They'd come all this way, following the words of their trust allies, seeking the one friend they'd been told had it…only for him to not even be the one they needed to find in the end after all.
Lightning hid her face, knowing the situation wasn't Cecil's fault. He obviously had once acquired the rose – it just happened to end up in the hands of another somewhere along the way. Still though…the thought of how close they had been and yet still had to keep going was a major slap in the face to Lightning. She had been so sure this would be it – so much in fact, that she had even convinced Firion of the same thing. Now…she just felt embarrassed for having ever filled both of them with such a false sense of hope.
"What is this? Is it some kind of sick game everyone came up with?" she yelled in her head.
She tried to hide her anger – her grief. She had been positive up until this point, but now…she just felt foolish. Maybe Firion had been right after all. Maybe it couldn't be that simple. She had no problem believing it now.
Cecil saw the condition his friends were in and decided it'd be best if he left them alone.
"I apologize. I wish you both the best of luck, my dear comrades."
He quietly walked away, leaving the two of them alone once again as they tried to cope with the situation. They had been so close. It had been within reach and they could both feel it at the time. To come all this way on such high hopes just to be sent off once again…even Lightning couldn't keep a straight face this time.
She sighed at the turn of events and Firion looked at her. He wished he could say something to cheer her up. He owed so much to her for keeping him going all this time – especially when he was more than ready to give up on everything. Now…she needed his help more than before – he just didn't have the words.
"…Light…" he said, sorrowfully.
He stepped toward her slowly – his hand reaching out toward her shoulder. He wanted to tell her everything was going to be okay, despite what had just happened – but, then he realized what he was doing. How could he say that? Only moments before their meeting with Cecil, he had been anything but optimistic. To suddenly turn to such a positive take…he wasn't stupid enough to believe Lightning could buy that. No one could possibly be that naïve – especially him.
He withdrew his hand back at his side and looked at her shamefully. She didn't cry or make a single sound to indicate any emotion of the sort…but she might as well have. He could sense that she wanted to. He almost had, too, at one point. Still, he knew Lightning better than that. She would never cry. He was embarrassed to recall the moment he almost had.
"I…" he mumbled.
He wanted to say something – anything to make her feel better…but, nothing came out. Nothing came to mind no matter how hard he tried to think of something.
His eyes shifted toward the ground and they both stood in silence for a moment – unsure of what to think. Where did they go from here? It seemed so pointless - so futile to move again. What was continuing their search worth if it would clearly only lead to another dead end – another disappointment. It wasn't too hard to believe such a thing would happen after this. This truly was the end of the road – and it had brought them everything but what they'd hoped to find.