This next chapter covers Titan and Mist, with maybe a tiny portion of Ceodore, Kain, Rosa, Cid and Edward confronting Cecil and the Mysterious Girl, which will continue into next chapter since this may be short, otherwise. We'll see.
Disclaimer: Final Fantasy IV: The After Years and the rest of the final fantasy franchise was created and copyrighted by Square.
Unbreakable Bonds
After making sure the fires were completely extinguished, Edge had gone to let the people who evacuated the castle know that things are safe. Luca and Rydia went to the item shop to replenish their supplies.
The Man in Black stood on the Falcon's deck, waiting for his companions. An hour was passing, but the man refrained from hijacking the Falcon again just to go rush after the next two Eidolons, only Rydia could reach out to them. Tsukinowa, Palom, Porom and Izayoi had gone back below the deck.
'Agart and Mythril are the only places we haven't checked, yet. But I do not think there would be any Eidolons in Mythril' he thought.
Edge, Rydia and Luca eventually met back up with him. The summoner spoke"Where are we headed, next?"
"You know where we last saw Titan, I took him for a mere monster when I saved you" admitted the Man in Black.
Rydia nodded"Then Agart it is."
Luca piloted the Falcon away from Eblan, wondering what state Agart is in, now. The village looked roughly the same as they got near the small island it was located on. Edge addressed Rydia"Where do you reckon Odin and Bahamut are? Haven't seen the Eidolon king and queen either."
"Leviathan was last seen in the middle of the ocean, according to Yang. I haven't seen him yet, but I know where we can find Titan. Bahamut and Odin might be elsewhere along with Ashura and Leviathan if they aren't on the overworld" said the summoner, thoughts filled with dread at the possible fate of the last four Eidolons whose locations were now unknown.
The streets of Agart were empty when the group arrived. Luca looked around"The townspeople seem to be missing. Unless they're just hiding in their houses, like how Baron's people are unable to safely leave their homes."
Rydia kept silent as she led the way through town, eventually coming across a familiar-looking teal-haired girl. The mystery girl stood motionless.
"Huh? What is she doing here?" frowned Luca.
The Mysterious Girl regarded them coldly"I have no more use for this planet."
"Huh?" Edge frowned.
The Mysterious Girl raised her arm and magically summoned the earth Eidolon. The ground shook as Titan emerged, Rydia readied herself to fight. Edge and Luca took point and attacked the eidolon.
Titan through a punch, prompting Edge to dodge. Luca barely managed to get out of the way before getting smashed by Titan's foot. Rydia cast Bio while the Man in Black used Blizzaga.
"Can't you just knock him out like you did before?" Luca asked the Man in Black.
"No, he was already weakened at the time" replied the man.
"Titan!" Rydia cried"Please stop."
"He can't hear you" said Luca.
Rydia shook her head"Titan's been with me since childhood. I know he'll listen..."
Edge attacked Titan with Blitz, dodging another punch as Luca hurled her tomahawk at the eidolon with the Man in Black providing backup with his own spells. Rydia added to the pressure by summoning Shiva.
As though having enough, Titan began to charge up magical energy for his strongest attack. Rydia, Luca and Edge attacked as swiftly as possible. Almost out of breath, Rydia pleaded"Titan, please..."
The Eidolon jumped and landed on the ground, causing the ground to crack beneath the foursome's feat. Gaia's Rage was proving too much as Rydia and her group were about to fall through the crack.
"Float!" someone mysteriously cast a spell on Rydia and her group, making them float in midair, out of range of Titan's strongest attack. Rydia and Edge looked around and saw Porom standing not too far away. Tsukinowa and Palom were supporting her, as she was still a bit tired from her ordeals in Mysidia and the incident at Eblan.
"Porom... Thank you" whispered Rydia.
The White Mage nodded, right before she collapsed from the strain"Now you shouldn't have any trouble..."
Rydia smiled, then turn her attention back to the battle, casting Sylph to replenish her allies' stamina. Edge and Luca attacked Titan, dodging his counterattacks. The Man in Black cast Blizzaga and Bio at the Eidolon.
Nearby, Tsukinowa watched over Porom's unconscious body while Palom hurled a Firaga at the Eidolon. Rydia welcomed the help, but feared that Titan might die before coming to his senses, again.
Titan turned his attention to Palom, only to get intercepted by Edge and Luca. Rydia cast a weak Bio with the man in black providing aid with Blizzaga and Thundaga. Rydia took note that the Man in Black was running low on magic power and used an Ether before addressing Titan"Please... You've got to wake up."
Titan's assaults slowed and stopped as something began to click in the Eidolons's mind. Titan blinked and spoke"Rydia...?"
"Oh, Titan" Rydia smiled.
"Urgh. I don't know what I have been doing the entire time. But I have you and your friends to thank, Rydia. I will remain with you until the end of your days" Titan dissolved and poured his essence back into Rydia, enabling her to summon him once again.
Luca smiled"Yay, guess you can summon Titan again."
"Right" Rydia went over to where Tsukinowa and Palom were tending to Porom with a phoenix down and ether.
"Is Porom okay?" Luca asked.
Palom nodded"Yeah, let's get back to the ship if you guys are done."
The group returned to the Falcon and helped Porom back into bed so she could get some rest. Rydia thanked the white mage and turned to Edge"We still don't know where Leviathan, Bahamut and Ashura could be."
"I guess. And we still don't know where Ceodore and Rosa are" said Edge.
The man in black raised an eyebrow in curiosity for a moment, but didn't say anything. Luca addressed the Summoner"Should we go back to Mist?"
"Yes, I should at least let my mother's spirit know we found as many Eidolons as we can" said Rydia, going back to the helm to fly northwest towards Mist Village.
The village was still covered in mist when the group got back. Rydia looked around"Mother...?"
There was no response, but the mist faded. The civilians came out of the houses to greet the group. Rydia was relieved"Everyone"
"Rydia, it looks like you've done it. Most of the warped Eidolons are free" smiled the village elder.
"Yeah, though it was a relief that my mother's dragon was spared" said Rydia.
The elder gestured towards two children"That would be the doing of these young ones."
Rydia turned to the little, beaming kids"Thank you."
"We may not have the power you possess, Rydia. But everyone in the village pooled together what they had to protect your mother's dragon" said the small boy.
A soft, female voice spoke as mist appeared once again"Rydia. I shall always be with you, as I shall always watch over this village."
Rydia smiled, hearing her mother's voice"Thank you, mother."
The mist swirled around Rydia's body as the Mist Dragon reconnected with Rydia so that the Dragon can once again be summoned whenever Rydia needed her.
"Now what?" asked Luca.
Rydia smiled"We rescued most of the Eidolons, on to Cecil's castle."
"Guess that's about it" said Edge.
The group got back onboard the Falcon and flew towards Baron Castle. While they had been regaining Eidolons and helping Yang, Palom, Porom, Leonora, Ursula and Harley, they had no idea of the shocking events that were going to unfold at Baron Castle before they arrived.
At the throne room in Baron Castle, not that long ago, Cecil seemed to smile when he saw Ceodore and his group"Welcome back. Hello, Ceodore, Rosa, Edward, Cid, and most of all, Kain."
"Cecil" the queen greeted him.
"Father!" cried Ceodore.
"Good to see you all again" said the Paladin.
Ceodore was tempted to hug his father, relieved to see he is alive. However, something seemed to be a little off. Kain stepped forward"Long time no see, Cecil."
The Mysterious Girl, who stood next to Cecil, addressed Kain"We had a deal." With that, she magically summoned the Water, Wind and Fire crystals from the Dragoon.
Cecil smiled as he spoke, another voice vaguely speaking with him"At last, all the crystals are back in our hands."
"Back, you say?" Kain asked, though he suspected that Cecil was not quite acting himself.
"Cecil!" Rosa cried.
"Stand back" Kain readied his lance.
The Paladin stood off his throne, reaching for his own sword"Kain, do you seriously intend to challenge me?"
Kain nodded"If necessary."
Cecil walked forward a little bit, drawing his Kingsword and still talking in a strange dual voice"At your ready."
Kain darted forward and aimed a thrust at Cecil's shoulder. Cecil blocked and swung horizontally, prompting Kain to jump back and leap high into the air, about to land on the Paladin's chest and knock him out. Cecil saw it coming and stepped to the side, pushing Kain back when he landed and swung his sword vertically.
Rosa, Cid, Edward and Ceodore watched the duel, thoughts dwelling on the possible outcomes and mildly disturbed by the mysterious male voice speaking with Cecil's. The Paladin had clearly become a victim of some sort of mind control.
Kain dodged the slash and jabbed once more with his lance before jumping again, catching the Paladin off guard. Cecil was knocked backwards, almost onto the throne, but he regained his balance and smiled"Is that your best shot, Kain?"
The Dragoon readied another attack, only for his lance to get knocked out of his hands by Cecil, who followed up with a stab to the chest. Kain flew back from the impact, landing on his back.
Rosa hurried to heal the Dragoon while Ceodore cried out"Kain!"
The Dragoon grunted and began to try and stand up again after Rosa cast a quick Cura spell on him.
"This is the man you place your trust in, instead of me, Ceodore?" Cecil spoke, sword still at the ready.
Ceodore drew his blade, pointing It at the Paladin. The prince had no idea what to do, but he could at least try and reason with the older man"L-lower your sword, father!"
"Ceodore" Rosa and Kain were surprised at the level of courage that the blue-haired prince displayed.
Cecil was silent for a moment. He then spoke, calmly, but incredulously"Ceodore... You dare point your sword at your own father?"
Rosa and Kain were still surprised, but felt prideful at the level of courage Ceodore was displaying, though still worried what would become of their relationship. Cecil is not himself, and they were unsure how to help their friend. Rosa mentally kicked herself for not learning about the spell Fusoya had used to free Cecil's brother from Zemus. Is Baron going to lose its king, only seventeen years after the death of its previous ruler, not counting Cagnazzo?
"Answer me, my son!" Cecil demanded in the same dual voice as earlier. Ceodore was slightly unnerved, but held his ground.
Well, I tried to lengthen this chapter with a part of the scenario between Ceodore's party and Cecil. I also couldn't help throwing in spoilers from the original Final Fantasy IV. I know I already spilt the Man in Black's identity in an author note in the novelized chapter involving Rydia, but still, the party will know who the man in black is next chapter. I will try to flesh out the Cecil/Odin and Mysterious Girl fights, along with some other possible scenes between the party defeating the Mysterious Girl and boarding the Lunar Whale.
I hope you still enjoyed this chapter. Please feel free to review if you want. As for how I will go about interpreting the party moving through the lunar subterranean of the Maenad's moon, I think I have an idea for that. I admit that I had a hard time deciding on a chapter title for this one, come to think of it.