Another chapter up and running. It might turn to be shorter than the previous chapter, but we'll see. I might be deviating a bit from the game's events, because I know that during the first part of the Crystals chapter, you only have two set parties: Edge's and Ceodore's, the latter of which does nothing but talk until the fight with Odin and you can't switch them out.
In other words, since this is a novelization, I may not always also use the exact party size and members that the game allows. Edge and Rydia's tales being obvious exceptions.
Disclaimer: Final Fantasy IV: The After Years and all other games, characters, locations etc. from their respective series were created and developed by Squaresoft.
Eblan Ablaze
Palom and Leonora went below decks to get some rest while Rydia, Edge, Luca and the Man in Black set course for the kingdom of Eblan. Edge could only hope they weren't too late to save his kingdom, if it had been caught on fire.
"Once we get Ifrit back, we'll head back to Agart, assuming Titan's really still alive after what Luca, our um... black-clad companion and I did to him. No offense, but you really never gave us your name" Rydia directed that last bit at the man in black.
"I don't care what you call me" shrugged the Man in Black"We have more pressing matters, do we not?"
"Well, calling you black would be just too generic, but you're right" said Rydia, though she still didn't entirely trust the man.
The Kingdom of Eblan came into view, the group landed the airship not too far from the entrance. Edge, Rydia, the Man in Black and Luca walked up towards the castle gates to find that the exterior was okay, but when they walked into the castle courtyard, a terrible sight met them. The courtyard appeared to be partially in flames.
"What on earth?" Rydia gasped.
Edge looked around"The place is on fire!"
"Ifrit..." Rydia whispered.
The group walked over to the main doors into the castle exterior, only to find two sets of flaming pillars blocking the entrance. Edge tried to use his ninjitsu to blitz past it"Urgh!"
"Edge" Rydia gasped.
Edge groaned as he got burned. Stepping away, the ninja king administrated a potion onto himself.
Rydia inspected the fires"Hm. This fire, it doesn't seem to have been conjured by Ifrit's magic, not like the others."
"Let's check the outer towers, then. Luca, could you get Izayoi and Palom over to help put out the rest of the fires on this place?" said Edge.
"Sure" Luca raced back to the airship.
Edge, Rydia and the Man in Black raced to the eastern tower, running into a couple flame hounds on the way. The man in black doused the two monsters with Blizagga right before they entered the east tower.
"Sure is hotter than usual" grumbled Edge, leading the way up to the top. A flaming golem stood, looming above them.
"Right, then" Edge cast Flood, prompting retaliation from Firaga from the monster.
Rydia began to summon Shiva to blast the monster with Diamond Dust while the Man in Black used a Hi Potion on Edge. The Ninja dodged as the Melt Golem swung its fist at him and tried to use a Firaga again.
"Oh, no it doesn't" Edge slashed the monster, prompting retaliation with Firaga again. At that instant, Shiva answered Rydia's summon and blasted the Melt Golem with Ice Particles. The Golem faded and vanished into thin air, the room cooling a bit from its defeat.
Looking around, Rydia shrugged"Should we try the other tower?"
"Good idea" Edge led the way back outside the courtyard. Luca, Tsukinowa, Izayoi, Palom and Porom met them there, the latter four had decided to help out and do what they can about Eblan's predicament.
"What happened to Eblan? Its on fire" groaned Tsukinowa.
"Ifrit happened, I'm sure of that" muttered Edge.
Luca faced the main castle doors to find one set of pillars gone"It looks like a part of the flaming pillars have vanished."
Rydia looked at it as well"You're right, Luca. We just need to find another of the golem-like fire monsters and defeat it, that must have been what caused the pillars of fire. Once that's done, we'll be able to go in."
"Palom, Porom, sure you two should be up?" asked Edge.
Palom shrugged"I can't just lie down and rest."
"Neither will I, we have to do something about these awful flames" said Porom.
Just then, a growl was heard as Ifrit stalked towards them. Rydia tried to talk to him"Ifrit, please. We have to stop this."
But Rydia's plea fell on deaf ears. Edge shrugged"Some of us will have to hold him off while we put out the last fire pillar and get inside the castle."
"I'll do it" grinned Palom.
"Challenging an Eidolon alone would be suicide, I will help you, Palom" said the White Mage.
"Count me in" piped Tsukinowa.
Izayoi grimly spoke"I'm in too, guys."
Rydia smiled gratefully"Thank you, but please try not to kill Ifrit. He might relent if you can outlast him."
"We'll try" grinned Palom.
Luca, the Man in Black, Edge and Rydia ran to the west tower while their companions began to distract Ifrit with their magic and ninjitsu respectively. Several Flame Knights blocked the way, but Rydia's Shiva Summon and the Man in Black's Blizagga put them down.
Another Melt Golem waited for the four at the top, attacking with Firaga and flaming punches. Edge and Rydia healed their companions while Luca and the Man in Black went on the offensive.
Irritated, the Melt Golem launched two more Firagas before getting doused and destroyed by the Man in Black.
"That should take care of that other flame pillar set" grinned Edge.
The four rushed back to the courtyard to find Ifrit's and Palom's group gone. Rydia looked around"Palom must have lured him outside."
"Its a possibility, I suppose" grunted the Man in Black.
The four entered the main interior of the castle, having dealt with the last of the fire pillars. When they got to the throne room, a handful of guards and Eblan's Seneschal were just preparing to evacuate.
"Master Edge, you've returned" breathed the relieved Seneschal.
"What's the status report?" asked Edge.
"The women and children have evacuated underground, but the castle won't hold much longer against this intense heat" said the Seneschal, grimly.
Edge turned to the exit"I'll take care of this."
"Edge..." Rydia trailed off.
Edge addressed Rydia before rushing out"Get out of here while you can, I'm going to try to stop that fire hazard."
"Edge... Are you crazy?" Rydia exclaimed.
Ignoring the summoner's concerned question, Edge raced out to the courtyard and hopped onto the tower overlooking the gate, seeing Palom's group holding Ifrit off. The ninja king called"I'm ready for you, Ifrit!"
The Eidolon heard and warped up to the tower, razing it and severely burning Edge with Hell Fire. Edge fell from the tower to the courtyard, landing with a thump. A voice spoke from within his head"This is the man who withstood my flame?"
Edge opened his eyes to see an apparition of the Fire Elemental Archfiend"Rubicante...?"
The apparition healed Edge before momentarily solidifying, casting Fira. Edge jumped up and countered with Flood, followed by a slash of his Katana. The monster smiled"Yes, this is it. Awaken the true flame which sleeps within you!" With that, Rubicante cast Inferno, demonstrating a technique that could stun Ifrit before vanishing.
"Edge!" Rydia, who was temporarily held back by a small pile of fire, rushed to the ninja king's side"Are you okay?"
"Yeah" Edge trailed off before coming to a realization"Hm. So Hellfire can be hindered by an explosion..."
"Hey! Don't forget us!" Luca and the Man in Black caught up.
Ifrit stomped towards Edge's group, seemingly tired of toying with Palom's group, two of whom were still a bit tired from their ordeals. Edge smiled"We're ready for you, this time."
"Blizagga!" The man in black cast a spell. Ifrit retaliated with Fira before readying its Hellfire.
"I don't think so. Rydia, I'll cast Flame while you cast Firaga!" said Edge.
"Okay" nodded the Summoner. The pair cast their spells, creating an explosion that stunned Ifrit and stopped Hellfire. Luca took the chance to attack with her tomahawk, which was countered with a swipe of Ifrit's claw and a Fira. The Man in Black and Luca administrated potions while Rydia and Edge cast their spells on Ifrit.
The Fire Eidolon prepped Hellfire again, only to receive another combined fire attack. Annoyed, Ifrit cast Firaga on the whole group. Rydia countered with Shiva's Diamond Dust, while Luca and Edge attacked Ifrit with their weapons. The Eidolon used a quick Hellfire, prompting Rydia to heal her allies with Sylph.
Ifrit jumped back and readied one more Hellfire, which was again intercepted with Inferno. Battered, but alive, something in the Fire Eidolon's mind snapped back into place as it gazed at the green-haired Summoner"Rydia...?"
"Ifrit!" Rydia smiled, relieved to see him return to normal.
"Rydia, you and your friends are up against a mighty foe. I am once more at your disposal" said Ifrit, vanishing and pouring his essence once more into Rydia's body, granting her the power to summon him once again. As though it was never there, the remaining fires went out.
"Thank goodness for that" smiled Luca.
Rydia rounded on Edge"Are you suicidal, taking on an Eidolon all by yourself!?"
"Heh, I wasn't entirely alone" said Edge, sheepishly. The Ninja king looked up to the sky with a smile'Heh, I hate to admit it, but you saved my life, Rubicante.'
"You guys got guts, I'll say that" Palom remarked, he was watching.
"Edge, Rydia, thank you. We really underestimated Ifrit" said Porom, she had to tend to multiple burns on herself, Palom and Tsukinowa while they were keeping Ifrit busy.
"Let us let the citizens know Eblan is safe again" said Edge, grinning. Rydia just smiled, relieved everything turned out okay.
I hope this wasn't too rushed, but I had the characters much stronger than the monsters. I did try to stretch out the Ifrit and Melt Golem fights. Usually, I don't play the final chapter of Final Fantasy IV: The After Years without importing data, I never tried playing the whole chapter without doing that. I imagine it would be a pain, otherwise.
Feel Free to review. Thanks again to everyone who's reviewed and put this on their faves so far, though it was originally one of my very first fic.