~x~

Final Fantasy VI: The Sands of Time

Book 1: The Begininng

Chapter 8 - Dream's End

Magic... Its power has shaped our world from the beginning, and even now, its after-effects still ripple across time to unknown ends. The Espers, creatures of magic themselves, knew many secrets of this mercurial force that they kept from humans, and with good cause. Magic is the stuff of dreams, bringing the deepest desires of its wielder to life. But it is also the stuff of nightmares, capable of taking the fear, hatred, and weakness inherent in all people and twisting it into the most grotesque of forms. Out of these dreams and nightmares the Espers awoke - beings forged of raw will, imbued with the very essence of reality. Some were beacons of hope, shining across generations. Others were devils, bent only on their own wicked hearts. And still others maintained no alignment, wanting nothing but solitude to reflect on their unique existences. All of them, however, were once held in thrall by the divine masters who forged them, slaves to powers far beyond them, and even farther beyond us humans.

My travels have led me far and wide, and only now do I appreciate the scope of our shared destiny. I feel the years weighing ever more heavily upon me, and I feel that soon the final answers that I have sought will be granted to me by these powers that be. Before then, I must complete my history, and make sure the world never forgets the mistakes and tragedies of the past. Perhaps it is all for naught...perhaps the world is destined to endlessly destroy and revive itself. But perhaps there is an end to the story, and I must not give up hope that humanity can shape that ending, heal the wounds of the past, and create something that will last for all time. And for that, I would gladly spend a lifetime.

-From Beyond the Veil, by Cid del Norte Marguez, 34 AF

Part 8.1 - Ruide Awakening

How many eons had it been? Throughout the ages, through wars, floods, fires, and famine, the Pearl had shone. It had witnessed atrocities unspeakable and acts of valor that were now legend. It had seen the greatness of mankind, both in good as well as evil. And through it all, it had slumbered peacefully, for good and evil were both necessary to maintain the Balance. The troubles and achievements of mankind had never threatened to disturb the Pearl's deep, timeless sleep. But now, it trembled. For the first time in its unfathomable lifespan, it felt fear.

Yes, it was alive, in a distant sort of way. It was an artifact of Altimus, the Holy Master, and as with all things of his making, it held the spark of life. It's mind was no more than the simple pulses of reflex, reading and responding to the ebb and flow of the lines of Balance that flowed throughout the world, but it knew fear, the most primal of all emotions.

The very fabric of reality had been struck a mighty blow somewhere, and the rippling effect of such an assault was just now reaching the Pearl's instinctive mind through the lines of force that kept the world's energy moving according to the laws set down by the Masters at the beginning of time. Something new had happened. Something had been unleashed into the mortal world that should never have been. Magic, raw and uncontrolled.

The Pearl of Order shook violently on its pedestal, deep under the troubled city of Narsille. There was no one in the great hallway to see this strange reaction, for only Sade himself was permitted into this hallowed area. Only a shattered statue and an all-pervading silence filled the room. If the Pearl could speak, it would have groaned in pain. As it was, it did the only thing its primal intelligence knew in this situation. It ceased its glow for the first time in millennia, and faded to a pale, opaque white. Then it grew grey as a swirl of darkness suffused its surface and spread. The grey turned darker and darker, and in a moment the entire structure of the Pearl had changed. It had turned a deep, all-absorbing black. Order had been lost, the Balance thrown to chaos.

Above the Order's sanctuary, a new wave of terror was rushing across the city of Narsille. The relentless storm that had covered the city for weeks was now reaching catastrophic levels of ferocity. The rain had become a torrential downpour, threatening floods in a location that had never known such disasters. Hurricane force wind beat against the mythril towers and lightning and thunder flashed and roared with unceasing rage.

In one of these towers, a lone woman looked out over this maelstrom from high above the city streets. Something was happening outside that she had never seen before, and somewhere out there her husband must be fighting for his life. Or was he already dead? She did not know anything, anything at all. This wave of dread and fear, real fear, had washed away her petty quibbles that had so consumed her only a few days ago.

This tired, confused woman was Mae Karn, wife of Dune Karn. She now stood in their apartment, surveying the aftermath of what must have been a life or death struggle. The entire apartment looked like it had been exposed to the angry forces howling outside her window. When she had left the apartment it had not looked like this. How long ago had it been? A few weeks? A month, maybe more? She didn't even know anymore.

When she had left this apartment last, she had left Dune in a rage, convinced their marriage was falling apart, all because of his stupid job. He was going on yet another "mission" for who knew how long, and she was supposed to just accept it, like always. Except this time, she hadn't accepted it. She had had too little time with him since the previous mission, and he had acted coldly to her the entire time, never once considering how his constant absence tortured her. The stranger that had returned from the desert in bandages was not her husband anymore.

She had stayed away for a few days, collecting her thoughts, never once thinking it would be so long before she returned. She had left the city to return to her parent's rural home to the south, intending to only stay a few days. But a few days had turned into a week, and then a month, and only when she had heard the news leaking out of Narsille about the unheard of storm had she tried to return.

When she had reached the magnificent mythril gates of the city, though, she found that she was not allowed to return! The city had been put under a state of emergency, and no one was allowed to enter or leave the city while the storm raged on. She could not reach anyone inside while she stayed at her parents' home, since Narsille's wondrous electrical network only extended as far as the city walls, like much of its technological wizardry. The city was truly an island of dreams, cut off from the outside world.

No matter how hard Mae tried to get in contact with anyone inside, she was instantly rebuffed. No guards would take her messages, and since no one was allowed into the city, she could not pass along any letters. Narsille was on its own, and so was Mae. She could see the black clouds churning behind the great gate, and knew she had to get back to her home inside.

That had been two weeks ago. Since then the storms had suddenly worsened, and the quiet dread that had been growing inside the hearts of the people had turned to real fear. Someone must have realized how close to total panic the citizens of Narsille were, for they had opened the gates wide and kept them open. People were free to leave the city, and great crowds now filled the staging area around the gate, night and day. Hundreds of vehicles plied the mountainous roads that led away from the city as the desperate and frightened masses woke up from their long dream of undisturbed peace.

So Mae had walked back into her homeland without trouble, working against the surge of bodies all heading in the opposite direction, but there was nothing reassuring about walking the familiar streets of Narsille. The sky was black, even though it was the middle of the day, and on every face she saw was the same haggard look of dull fear. Escape, escape, escape. This was the overwhelming thought she saw on every face she passed as she made her way back to her apartment tower.

And now here she stood, back in her apartment, looking out at the storm outside, and trying to salvage the aftermath of the storm that had passed inside. But Dune was not here, still. Was he still on his mission? Surely not. That had been nearly two months ago. But who knew what that Committee was thinking anymore? She cursed herself for not waking up and returning sooner. Her mother had told her she was being petty, and that she had to stick by her husband now more than ever. But she had not listened, and had brooded.

She had expected Dune to come rushing down and rescue her, like a knight out of a story. But he had never given any sign he even knew she was gone. How could he when she hadn't even told him where she was going? For all he knew, she was still on some extended shopping spree. Maybe now he could see what it was like to not know the fate of someone you loved, she had thought while she sat in her parent's house.

But now that she stood alone in their apartment while an unbelievable storm raged outside, she felt like a fool. This was real danger now, not some lover's spat. Her husband was out there somewhere, and she didn't know what to do. When she tried to call someone at the Committee headquarters, there was no response. The news said nothing except the same tired reports of widespread panic and storm damage. There were even rumors of creatures sighted high above the city, flying among the clouds and calling down lightning. Ridiculous how the city had fallen apart over a storm! And yet, she felt the same fear as everyone else, and wondered what she was supposed to do now. Above all else, she would not panic.

So she did the only thing left for a loyal wife in times like this. She waited. She waited for husband to return home now, to atone for her lack of patience and understanding before. As long as this tower kept standing, she would stay and keep vigil for her missing husband.

A brilliant flash illuminated the sky outside her window, and for a brief moment she saw it. There had definitely been something soaring through the skies, right at eye level and only a few dozen meters from where she stood. It had only been an instant, but that had been enough. Some giant flying creature had glided past her tower at an amazing speed, calling the storm to it like a lightning rod as it passed. When the next flash of lightning lit the skies again a moment later, it was gone. Her heart had leapt into her throat at the sight of it, and it now beat furiously, an icy cold fear she could not name stealing into her veins.

Was this the mystery monster the television had been referring to? It was immense, and did not look like any bird she had ever seen. It was long and slender, like a snake, and seemed to simply swim through the air. But so fast! She could feel the vibrating of the glass and a great roar like a train as it had passed. And that eye! She may have passed it off as some new missile Narsille had developed if it wasn't for that grotesque fish-eye that glowered at her from the dark. Had it seen her? The eye had seemed to stare into her soul, and froze her in place with terror. But then it was all black again, and the thing had vanished back into the storm.

That terrifying sighting of the unknown convinced Mae beyond all doubt. She would stay inside and wait for Dune to return. There were horrors waiting for her outside, and nothing would force her back outside now. She prayed for Dune to be safe, feeling more powerless now than she ever had in her life.

Far below Mae's apartment, in another part of the besieged city, Dr. Atma and Maria Chere were about to face their own horrors in the storm.

Maria had stayed in Atma's office/apartment after her initial visit, having nowhere else to go. Atma had received her graciously, even happily. He had not known what it was to have company that he actually enjoyed for many long years. Maria had entered the city while the gates were still open, and then had found herself stuck inside once the gates had been shut against all comings and goings.

Outside, the storm may have draped the city in darkness, but inside Atma's humble home, Maria shone as brightly as the morning star. She had brought with her the hopeful imaginings of a mother-to-be, and her optimism for her future was infectious. As she talked about her children, her husband and her homeland, Atma listened eagerly. He knew very little of the lives of the people beyond the walls of Narsille, except what horrors he gathered as a war doctor. Maria's sweet voice livened up his days now, and the more time he spent with her, the more he wanted to leave this city and see the places and people she talked about. He had seen enough of war and of Narsille. All he wanted now was peace.

He might have already left the city with Maria if the gates hadn't been locked tight. What were those fools up there thinking? Was there anyone in control of the city now? It didn't seem like it, but Atma had never had a positive opinion of the people in charge of the city. This recent disaster and the handling of it only reinforced his views that this city was a city of mindless drones.

When word had reached them that the gates had been opened for anyone desiring to leave or enter, Atma and Maria were thrilled. As soon as they had stepped foot outside, though, their joy turned to fear. The storm had risen to a frightful pitch, and it was almost impossible to navigate in its inky blackness. Deep streams of water now flowed down either side of the roads, and the wind flung debris of all shapes and sizes through the air, making any attempt to leave the city dangerous. But they could still see many people braving the elements, desperate to flee the city before things got worse. Perhaps these people weren't such lazy sheep, after all, Atma thought.

Even worse than the wind and rain, a strange black mist that looked like smoke was slowly rising out from the grates along the city's streets. Atma and Maria stood outside his office home for a few minutes and watched the smoke rise like a ghost, crawling along the ground as it spread from underground. Soon it had reached the sidewalk where they stood, and all it took was one grasping tendril at their ankles to send them back inside. Whatever was creeping through the city now, it was too dangerous to simply walk out. They would need to find a vehicle to get them safely to the city's gates.

Atma turned on the television to see if the news had anything to say about this new danger outside. Sure enough, reports were coming in from all over the city about smoke rising from under the streets and blanketing the ground. Already people had been hospitalized after inhaling even a small amount of the strange smoke. There were also reports of strange creatures in the sky as well. There were no explanations for any of these strange tidings from the Narsillian scientists, however. No words of encouragement from the people who were supposed to be in control, either. Had the city already been abandoned by its leaders? Atma wondered if perhaps they had missed their chance at escape. It really seemed like the city was falling apart around them, faster and faster.

Maria looked at Atma with a face full of worry, wondering what they were going to do next. She knew her life was in her doctor's hands now. How lucky she had been to find him when she did! She couldn't even imagine wandering the streets outside now. The storm had been nightmarish enough before, but with these new horrors, she would surely have died by now.

"Don't worry, Maria," Atma said in a kindly tone few people had ever heard him use. "Things aren't as bad as they seem. I'm sure the reports are exaggerations, and flying monsters in the sky? Nothing but delusions from panicked fools. We'll be safe as long as we stay inside. I'll make sure nothing happens to us, trust me." He smiled, and Maria smiled weakly in return.

Their brief feeling of safety was shattered with a ear-splitting boom from beneath them. The ground shook violently, sending them both to the floor. The tiny people on the television screen shook and fell as well, and after a chaotic swing of the camera view, the station went out. The floor swept upwards, held for a terrifying second, then crashed back down. The floor shook sideways, then back up, down, left right. Atma and Maria were tossed mindlessly around their room, struggling for balance. Atma held Maria tight, trying to keep her pregnant body from being jostled as best he could.

The earth shook for several minutes, threatening to bring the entire mountain of mythril and steel above them crashing down. But the sturdy tower held, and after a breathless silence, the floor of the room shuddered one more time and then fell several feet, stopping suddenly. The building had held, but the ground was torn to pieces all around them.

As Atma helped Maria to her feet, the power went out, cloaking them in total darkness and silence. Was it his imagination, or could he hear screams from outside?

Atma knew this was the moment where the panic that had been building in the city would now explode. First a loss of command, then a loss of communication, and now loss of power. Soon people would begin pouring into the smoke-filled streets, heedless of any danger. The primal instinct to flee, flee, flee would certainly be triggered now, and the wondrous city of dreams would bleed itself to death in a few blazing hours.

But where would Atma and Maria find themselves in this exodus? A fear like nothing he had ever felt crept into Atma's mind and heart. He felt true hopelessness descend upon him, and wondered very seriously if this would be the last day of his life. His heart ached for Maria, so full of hopes and dreams, and the children he was becoming increasingly sure she would never see.

Maria must have seen some of the fear in Atma's face, for she tried to smile, but only managed to break out in tears, holding onto Atma's coat tightly like a lost child. Atma held onto her just as tightly, hoping beyond his usual pessimism that somehow they would find a way out of this city of nightmares.

Outside, the smoke continued to pour out onto the lightless streets, and a dull red glow was now pulsing out from the grates in the road. Aftershocks continued to pummel the city, like giants beating on the surface of the earth from below. Something was definitely waking up beneath the city of Narsille.