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Final Fantasy VI: The Sands of Time

Book 1: The Beginning

Chapter 4 - Demons Within

As I sit here alone, I wonder if I should have done things differently. Could I have done things differently, even? The desire to seek power and knowledge seem to be a fundamental part of human nature. Were these instincts, which have ever led us to our own destruction, given to us by the gods? Or are the gods, too, subject to this driving force? Perhaps we are all victims of the universe we live in, man and gods alike. If so, what hope is there for salvation? I grow weary waiting for an answer, here on this dying rock.

-From Apologia, by Cid del Norte Marguez, Year 1 AF

Part 4.1 - Unwelcome Guests

It had been almost a month since Dune had returned from his harrowing journey into the Thanas Desert, and his life was beginning to settle back into something resembling normal. He had received no calls from the Committee, and no more frightening dreams from the entity Dune had come to know as Doom. Dune was trying hard to forget Doom's words and live his life as normally as possible for what little time he had until the Committee called again. The crystal was making this difficult, and despite his best efforts he felt it pulling at his mind every day. Dune's relationship with Mae was suffering more than the rest of Dune's life, the crystal causing a stark change in his dealings with her. It seemed any time pressure was put on Dune to give up the path that was leading him to his destiny, the crystal's influence took over and made him say things that he would never have even thought before.

The same tired routine of convincing Mae that he had to leave on another dig was playing out once again, but this time things weren't going to end peacefully. Mae had received a call from an anonymous stranger claiming that Dune's next dig would be his last, and that if she cared about him at all she would stop him from going at all costs. When Mae confronted him, she received a cold uncaring response unlike the man she married.

"Dune! It's like I don't even know who you are anymore! What have you gotten involved in?"

"Oh please, Mae. Nothing has changed between us. You knew I'd have to be leaving again eventually. You should be used to these calls by now."

"No! No, it's not just the damn digs anymore. For the past month you've been acting strangely anytime I try to get close to you. And you still haven't explained everything that happened on that dig. You say that nothing of importance happened, but I can tell you're lying. What happened Dune? What happened to you?"

"Mae, you have to accept that there's more going on here than what I am able to tell you, or that I even understand myself. Don't worry about that call, it was obviously just meant to stir up trouble. Nothing is going to stop me from going on the next dig. Not you and especially not some random caller."

Now tears were starting to stream down Mae's face. These weren't the warm tears of sadness and worry that nearly stopped Dune from leaving in the past. These were the bitter tears of confusion and despair, and Dune's mood sharply turned at the sight of them, as if each tear was a dagger in his side. He wanted this conversation over, and he didn't care what he had to say to end it.

"Don't start that on me, Mae. We still have a couple months until I leave again, and you are not going to be pulling this every time my job comes up between now and then. Just accept the fact that I am leaving, and give me some peace."

Now Mae was getting angry at Dune's indifference. He had never spoken to her with such harsh, unfeeling tones before.

"I am not your pet, Dune! I have feelings and needs just like you do. You can't just run off and expect me to always be happy about it, especially when people are calling saying you're going die!"

Dune laughed at the idea of him dying on a dig, which only made the situation worse.

"I told you there's nothing to worry about. That was obviously some prank caller. My job is not a dangerous one. The last dig was a fluke, nothing more. Mae, just let me be, please. I'm tired of all this pointless arguing. We love each other, right? That's all that matters. You'll be here when I come back, and I will come back."

Once again, Dune had successfully silenced Mae, but without any of the hopeful warmth he usually ended with. Mae was done arguing, but she wasn't done being mad at Dune or their situation. She looked at him for a moment, trying to think of something more to say. There was nothing to be said anymore, so she sadly walked over and sat on the couch, not looking at Dune. This was the first time where she wasn't sure of either of Dune's promises.

It was a sad truth that "love is all that matters" was a common phrase in that apartment. Dune and Mae did love each other very much, this there was no doubt of. Circumstance and differing lifestyles had been a strain on that love from the very beginning, though. Over the years the strain had only grown as Dune left Mae periodically for his job. Now the strain was finally beginning to tear at the foundations of the relationship, and soon everything they had accomplished would come crashing down. Neither of them wanted that just yet, though, and a mute disquiet seemed to be the only thing keeping the inevitable breakdown from coming.

Once the heat of their argument had died down, Mae quietly muttered something about going shopping for a while. With a quick swish of her long black hair she got up and walked out of the apartment, leaving Dune the one alone. Dune slowly made his way back to the bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed, his head in his hands.

"Mae...what is happening to us? Is this the crystal, or is there really something wrong with our marriage?"

Dune carefully took the crystal out of his pocket and looked at it. It was still as cold and empty as it always appeared, but Dune knew the dark secret waiting within it. It haunted him everytime he went to sleep, and taunted him every time he argued with Mae. He could hear the harsh, deathly voice of Doom echoing in his mind whenever he argued with Mae, teasing him with threats of death and servitude. The constant voice inside him put him on edge and made it impossible to concentrate. It forced him to speak out of frustration and anger, and sometimes he couldn't tell where Doom's voice ended and his own began.

Despite these thoughts, Dune still kept the crystal on his person at all times, and nothing was going to change that. Doom was simply a wretched soul with no power over Dune as long as he could maintain control over himself. Mae was his wife, and Dune knew she would be on his side regardless of what happened to him. The conflict inside Dune was immense, however - he knew the crystal had no power over Mae, and at the same time he knew Mae had no power over the crystal and Doom, and yet they both seemed to have power over him. The only thing keeping him sane was his own unwavering sense of duty to order and logic. As long as he could force things to make sense, he was in control. He knew where he stood with Doom, and he knew where he stood with Mae. He was in control.

Dune's thoughts were interrupted by a rapid knocking at his apartment door. It was not often Dune and Mae had visitors, and the few they had dealt with Dune's job. This made Dune apprehensive, since at the moment any news related to his job would not be good. The knocking persisted, growing in intensity as Dune made his way unhappily to the door. He was strongly inclined to tell whoever it was to just go away and never come back.

Dune quickly opened the door and answered rudely without even looking to see who it was.

"What is it? What do you want from me?"

To his surprise, a woman cloaked in a black robe that looked strangely familiar to him rushed past him into the main room and started dashing from one spot to another, looking up and down in every direction.

"Excuse me! Who are you and what are you doing here? This is a private residence, you can't just..."

"You are Dune Karn, am I right? Then I have every right to be here, and you know it!"

Dune's temper was quickly rising at the unfathomable rudeness coming from this little girl before him.

"No I certainly don't know what gives you the right to rummage through my things. Now I suggest you leave immediately before I call the authorities."

The woman snorted before responding to Dune.

"Ha! Authorities, huh? You don't have a clue do you? Just give it to me, and I'll leave."

"Give what to you? Who are you?"

None of this made any sense to Dune, and he was very close to yelling at this strange woman, if not physically pushing her out of his apartment.

"My name's Cassandra. I'm here to save the world. So if you don't mind, give me the crystal!"

This struck a nerve in Dune, and he immediately felt the pull of the crystal on his thoughts. Stop her. The crystal is ours. Stop her any way you can. He had to keep control, or risk letting Doom have his way. Cassandra's spastic unpredictable attitude wasn't making things easy for Dune, though.

"What are you waiting for? Give it to me! I know you have it."

Dune couldn't help clutching at his chest at Cassandra's words. Cassandra noticed Dune's behavior, and soon suspected he had the crystal on him. She turned to Dune and rushed up to him, her eyes on the exact spot where the crystal was. There was an unmistakable look of dread and fear in Dune's eyes now. He stumbled back from her, almost tripping over the couch. Kill her. Do it! She wants the crystal...

"Stay back! I'm warning you! Just leave me alone...get away from me!"

Cassandra wasn't listening to him anymore. She knew where the crystal was and was intent on getting it. She kept walking towards Dune, not giving him any time to think. Soon his back was to the wall, and Cassanda was inches away from him. The coldness from the crystal was overwhelming now, and Dune was visibly shaking.

"Geez, what's the matter with you? Just give me the crystal. Don't you know how dangerous that thing is? For your own safety, give it to me!"

It was at that moment that Cassandra made a lethal mistake and reached for the pocket that Dune was clutching.

NO! It is mine!

As soon as her hand touched Dune's, a blast of cold air erupted from Dune and sent Cassandra sprawling backwards. She looked up at him with frightened eyes, seeing a totally different person than before. Dune's eyes were glowing blue behind his glasses, and his long white lock of hair was trailing behind him as the cold wind continued to pour from him. His face was contorted into tight grimace, with a distinct look of fear and sadness mixed with the insanity. His teeth were clenched and his fists balled, as if he was struggling with all his might to hold back the forces overtaking him. His entire body was noticeably vibrating now, and it seemed to Cassandra's eyes that he was floating on the cold air that was howling around him.

"What are you doing? Stop it! I'm just trying to help! AHH!"

Dune's eyes lit up and his glasses fogged over, his sight gone. The entire room filled with an intensely cold blue light, covering everything in its cold brilliance. Dune saw nothing and heard nothing, but he still felt the horrid coldness of the light fill every corner of his body. The cold was too much for Dune, and soon all his senses left him and he blacked out. The last thing reaching his mind before he was lost was a slight whisper of a scream far off in the distance.

No one will take the crystal from us. No one.

When Dune came to, he was again alone in the apartment. He looked around the room but could find no sign of Cassandra. He did find his carrying case lying on the ground next to him, and wondered how it had gotten there. Could that woman have brought it here? What was she trying to do? Where did she go? What happened to me? Dune's head ached as he tried to answer these questions, but one disturbing thought kept coming back to him, forcing its way to the surface no matter how hard he tried to bury it.

"What have I done...?"