Hi, I know I was a little slow, but heck I thought I can take my time since I don't have a deadline for this fic. Anyway, here's the next chapter, oh, and please remember that I did not have anything to do with the creation of FFIV: The After Years.
Chapter 4: Mist
Ceodore and the Hooded Man began to make their way through the Mist Cave. As they came upon a bridge, The Hooded Man went across, but the bridge collapsed from a groundquake as Ceodore began to follow. The Hooded Man quickly jumped in after the prince.
Below the upper levels of the cave, The Hooded Man asked Ceodore if he was all right. Ceodore replied" yeah, I'm all right, sorry about that".
The Hooded Man spoke" good. But it looks like we're going to have to find another route".
The lower levels of the Mist Cave were unexplored and packed with monsters. But the two heroes were undaunted.
Upon reaching the floor before returning to the cave's upper levels, Ceodore felt another quake" what's causing it?" "we're right above it" replied the Hooded Man.
As they spoke, a huge worm-like monster called the Tunneler emerged. Ceodore and the Hooded Man drew their blades and charged at the monster.
The Tunneler was a tough foe, as it cast Quake at the two. After being hit by another quake, Ceodore suddenly remembered a spell his mother taught him and cast "Float" on himself and the Hooded Man. The Hooded Man acknowledged the prince's White Magic Capabilities" good one, Ceodore, now lets finish this thing off!".
Ceodore and the Hooded Man assumed a special battle stance, charged at the monster and executed a powerful Cross Slash. The fiend crumpled to the ground and vanished into thin air. The Hooded Man shrugged ' that thing definately wasn't here last time' he thought.
The two reached the upper level again and were nearing the exit when they saw Baron soldiers coming after them. Ceodore gasped" we're surrounded" " just be quiet for a bit" said the Hooded Man.
As they spoke, the mist brightened and hid them from view. When it cleared, the soldiers were gone. Ceodore breathed" the mist, it saved us" "they'll be back, we should hurry" replied the Hooded Man.
After exiting the cave and headed towards the Village of Mist, Ceodore asked" why were you helping me, by the way?".
The Hooded Man hesitated, then replied" I'm not entirely doing this for you, I'm hunting down a man who I have to defeat, even if it costs me my life". Ceodore spoke up" Who?".
The Hooded Man responded" A Ex-Baronian Dragoon, Kain Highwind".
Flashback (sometime before the main story)
The Dragon Knight Kain Highwind was training on Mount Ordeals, when he heard a mysterious voice. He followed it to a stone monument, where he was transported into a mirror-like chamber. There, a mirror version of himself emerged.
Kain, though taken by surprise, fought his clone as best he could, but lost.
A little later, Kain, or rather his dark side, heard a cry from the other side of the bridge on the summit and raced to help whoever it was.
There, he rescued a white mage, who turned out to be Porom from a group of undead. Porom asked "Kain" for help, as mysterious events were occuring.
Porom and "Kain" entered Mysidia, only to find that it was in danger. The two of them rescued the elder, and "Kain" had soon made a bargan with the Mysterious Girl.
(If anyone who reads this sees that name in this chapter, there was actually more then one of her, but I won't say why that was, here)
Kain's darkside had promised to hand over the Water Crystal, in exchange for an audiance with the King of Baron. Once in Baron, Kain's darkside planned to take Cecil's life.
The dark side of Kain eventually made his way to Baron, along with the mysterious girl. There, "Kain" further bargained with the mysterious girl and was requested to gather the remaining two crystals on the overworld. Dark Kain was provided an airship and some soldiers, and he took of for Fabul.
End of Flashback
Meanwhile, The Hooded Man and Ceodore were passing through Mist Village. The Hooded Man explained" we'll proceed east of here to Damcyan, no one would expect a pair of refugees to go that way".
Ceodore asked" but wasn't that way closed off?" " we'll just have to blaze a path there" said the Hooded Man.
After resting up, Ceodore and the Hooded Man left Mist and took off for Damcyan.
Another chapter done. There's not much left to say about the Main Story, the next two or three chapters should cover the remainder of it, and the chapter after that will begin covering Rydia's Tale, though you never know.
I kind of rushed through the flashback that began Kain's portion of the Main Story. Storyline-wise, it was kind of redundant.
Anyway, feel free to review.