Final Fantasy V, A Novelization: War of the Crystals

by Windwillow

Westerners first experienced it on the PS1, way back before we had smartphones but long after it was first released on the SNES. Contains mild language, violence, and suggestive themes. I'm going to make this a bit more mild than FFVII, so if you're looking for another Cid and/or Yuffie this is the wrong place to do so.

2. Beginning of the Journey

Start Date: 7/26/23

Windwillow

The bold portion of the text is Bartz's flashback.

Final Fantasy V: War of the Crystals

Chapter Two: The Beginning of the Journey

The crystals were calling, and their call had to be heeded. The four Warriors of Light now stood atop the Wind Shrine over the carcass of their first kill: the winged boss Wing Raptor. They had been gifted the power of the elements and now were obliged to save the remaining three crystals. It didn't take long for them to be set upon by monsters - several Black Goblins. As they readied for battle, however, Bartz felt a sudden pressure on his left shoulder and shook off his assailant before it retreated. It was easily as large as they were. Long, white, decked out with nasty fangs that could easily rend open flesh.

"Dammit! I guess I got too sloppy..." cursed Bartz as he lifted his sword only to be forced to parry one of the Black Goblin's daggers. It took only a brief moment for him to overpower the goblin and cut it in two, but there were still nearly a dozen left. The White Serpent coiled around itself, clawing on the air itself to remain aloft. When it lunged again Bartz took his blade in both hands and slashed downwards, neatly bisecting the beast. Even so, the wound he'd taken had been fairly deep and so he dropped his sword and clutched the injury tightly. "I can still fight, though! I-" He suddenly felt a warm, soothing sensation flowing into the wound, stitching it back together and cooling the pain. Bartz turned to find Lenna with her hands both clapped onto the shoulder wound, and she smiled.

"My powers are palliative. I can heal wounds and return people to their original status!" beamed Lenna. By now Galuf and Faris had finished off the Black Goblins, so they'd sheathed their weapons and stood beside Lenna. What she didn't notice, however, was the Mani Wizard situated high above her. The Mani Wizard is a magical beast, humanoid in appearance but able to cast simple black magic spells at will. When the magical fiend dropped from the ceiling with a fist coated with fire Lenna screamed out loud, but when the decapitated head clunked to the ground she quietly opened her eyes to see Bartz with his sword outstretched. He'd cut the monster from a distance using a single slash of his free hand.

"Sword and shield!" boasted Bartz. "Every part of my body can cut just as sharp as any sword can!" he laughed. Galuf folded his arms over his chest and gave a nasty grin, one that Bartz didn't appreciate.

"Every part? Careful you don't accidentally cut your nuts off next time you take a leak!" cackled Galuf, shortly before Bartz whacked him over the head. Although Lenna quickly broke up the fight, Galuf's smile never wavered. All Bartz could do was stare the old man down and hope to God that he wouldn't make any more jokes about his private parts.

Scene One

By the time they'd exited the Wind Shrine the party found that the group from Tycoon had already left. Lenna suggested that they return to Tule and speak with Zok, who had built the Torna Canal. When Galuf questioned what business they had with Zok, Faris explained that he had built the canal and had the only key. Because it had been sealed due to monster activity, therefore, they had no choice but to seek out Zok. Upon returning to Tule, they hurried to Zok's house and found that he was finally home. When Lenna asked for the key to the canal Zok replied that he'd misplaced it, and that they should stay the night while he looked. Bartz, for his part, was restless and tossed and turned in his sleep.

"The crystals must be protected. You don't need to know why, son, but that's why I keep adventuring - to keep the crystals safe. By doing so, I'm actually protecting you and your mother... The two things in my life that are worth protecting."

Bartz slowly opened his eyes as the memory returned. He'd heard his father say as much several times before, but he'd never said any more than that the crystals had to be protected. What was his father's connection to the crystals? As he pondered his own troubles he turned his head to find Zok staring down at a sleeping Lenna, a troubled look in his eye. Bartz lifted his head and signaled to Zok, which startled him, and indicated that they should talk outside. Once they'd left earshot of the others, Bartz leaned against Zok's house and sighed.

"You lied to her. Why? I can see the key in your damned pocket," muttered Bartz. Startled, Zok jolted and staggered backwards. He sighed and bowed his head, averting his eyes from Bartz's gaze.

"I don't like the way you look at her..." said Zok sharply. He folded his arms and narrowed his eyes at Bartz. "You shouldn't get any ideas in your head, young man, or you'll end up living to regret it," he said softly. Undaunted, Bartz shook his head and smiled.

"Whether I tap dance myself into my grave is my own business. But... I intend to protect that girl with my life. She's so damned innocent that someone needs to keep an eye on her... If I don't keep her safe, someone upstairs will make me regret it. I'm the best shot you have at finding her father and keeping her safe. So..." Bartz paused, the look in his eye turning deadly serious. "Say I promise I won't touch her, and that she'll only die if I get killed first. Can you trust someone you've just met? Or do you think that some castle guard can protect her out there? Make your gamble here and now. Trust me to protect her, and she'll always be protected. Capisce?" he said softly, his hand extended. Although Bartz fully expected Zok to tell him off, the old man reached into his pocket and laid the canal key in his open hand.

"Protect her with your life," Zok said softly, to Bartz's surprise. "I can see integrity when it looks me in the eye. I can feel the power oozing from you, so... Protect her. Always," he said more forcefully. Bartz smiled and nodded.

The next morning, the four heroes hurried to leave Tule, but were stopped by Faris' pirate henchmen. Faris sighed and turned to face her men for the last time. They'd been with her for years, but they would only be a hindrance on their adventures. She spoke to her heartbroken men and told them that they would return to the cove alone. Although they attempted to protest Faris brusquely ordered that they protect their treasure at all costs, to which they reluctantly agreed. As she turned to leave, however, Faris wiped away a single tear from her eye before the party returned to Faris' ship. The quartet immediately set sail for the Torna Canal, but it would take a full day and night to reach it. Everyone retired to their own personal quarters, though Bartz was again unable to sleep and drifted up onto the deck, where he found Lenna silently staring out over the waves. Because the wind had begun to wane, so too had the sea's currents, and as he approached her Lenna silently motioned for him to join her.

"First the wind will cease, then the waters will become polluted. No fires will burn and the earth itself will become desolate and unable to sustain life. And on top of all that..." murmured Lenna. Quickly he understood: she was worried about her father. Lenna suddenly startled when she felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to find a solemn Galuf staring back at her.

"They need protecting, so we'll protect them, simple as that," said Galuf plainly. From behind him Faris stepped up onto the deck as well, and turned her eyes to the sea beneath her. She'd never seen the waters so eerily calm, and it was disconcerting.

"He lives," she said plainly, matter-of factly. Lenna's eyes widened and she turned to Faris, but the pirate captain only stared deeper into the moonlit ocean below. Even if she didn't know why seeing him affected her as it did, Faris could only hope and pray that the king really was alive. Bartz turned to watch the sea as well, and remembered the words he'd exchanged with Zok.

I don't plan on making any moves. The crystals are all that matters right now.

Scene Two

By the next morning they reached the Torna Canal, which Bartz quickly unlocked using Zok's key. Lenna was awestruck and choked out a gasp, asking where he'd gotten the key. Galuf plainly told her that Zok gave it to him, then snarkily suggested that there was a catch. Bartz glared him down, but when Lenna repeated her question Bartz only said that he had a promise he had to keep. Although she attempted to protest further Faris grabbed her by the shoulder and shook her head to signal that she let it go. Against her better judgment, she did.

The waters of the Torna Canal were far rougher than any of them had expected. Galuf noted that this was probably the reason Zok had been so apprehensive, keeping his own suspicions to himself that Zok had forced Bartz to promise to protect Lenna a secret. There was a sudden rumbling that shook the ship, and when Lenna screamed and began to fall from the ship she was suddenly held back by Bartz, who caught her just in time. It was all Faris could do to keep the ship afloat, though when she heard a sharp snap her eyes widened and she charged from the bridge towards the front of the boat.

"Syldra! No, Syldra!" Faris screeched as Bartz and Galuf both held her back from jumping into the water. The ship had been caught up in a whirlpool, and the chain connecting the ship to Syldra had been severed. As the seas quaked and roiled Faris fought with all her might but was unable to overpower her two comrades, and was forced to watch as Syldra sank beneath the waves and into the giant whirlpool. Just as Syldra submerged completely, Faris furiously fought but was unable to win the fight, and was forced to be dragged back onboard kicking, screaming, and crying.

"Leave her be, she'll make it!" protested Lenna as she threw her arms over Faris' chest. The simple feeling of the princess's warmth sharply snapped Faris out of her fury, and quickly calmed her down. She turned to Lenna, who simply shook her head. "If my father survives, so too can Syldra. Have faith!" she begged. Lenna's words, hollow and naive as they were, somehow managed to calm Faris and so she slumped to the deck, exhausted and disspirited.

They had no means of propulsion nor any way to steer. For the next several days the quartet's ship drifted aimlessly through the waters of the Torna Canal, until finally one morning the crew awoke and found that they'd landed smack dab in the middle of a graveyard of ships, the final resting place of sailors damned to never reach port. Galuf solemnly noted that only the undead awaited them, and though it frightened Lenna, she quickly decided to force herself to forge ahead.

As they departed their ruined ship they were set upon by a group of skeletons, dressed and armed as pirates. While her friends fought back and finally managed to throw the skeletons back into the sea, all Lenna could do was ponder her own weakness. She had no idea if she'd been given any kind of fighting ability, and with only a dagger to her name she was by far the weak link in the group's chain. Although it troubled her, she had no choice but to forge on with the other Warriors of Light. After navigating several abandoned rooms in several sunken freighters the group, who had become drenched in sea water, finally reached a dry area that they could use to rest in. Lenna hurried into a side room to dry her clothes, and though Galuf attempted to say something nasty a quick glare from Bartz silenced him. As Bartz and Galuf promptly stripped to their undies, Faris remained in sodden clothing in the corner of the room. She knew it couldn't be put off much longer...

"Hey! Get out of that crap and come sit by the fire! Nothing we haven't seen, right?" chortled Galuf. When Faris continued to resist he grappled her and began to take off her shirt, and when he did so he found that her breasts had been bound tightly with leather straps to hold her chest down flat. "Holy hell! He's a she!" screeched Galuf. As the commotion intensified Lenna hurried from the side room dressed in dry clothing and found that Faris had beaten Bartz and Galuf to within an inch of their lives.

"Faris, stop!" begged Lenna as she gripped ahold of Faris by the shoulders. After a short while Faris managed to calm down and returned to the same room as Lenna had to dry her own clothing. When Faris emerged, she found that Lenna had mended the wounds of her two companions. "What is going on?! Why is everyone getting violent?" asked Lenna forcefully. Bartz stared at Faris' still-bound chest and swooned, so Faris took her boot and slammed it into his face, though he remained lovestruck even after he'd been struck.

"And what are you looking at?!" snarled Faris.

"You just flashed him, is what you did..." muttered Galuf. Now livid, Faris grabbed him by the collar, lifted him up, and slugged him in the face. After Galuf was beaten badly and after Lenna had healed his new injuries, Galuf sat on his seat with a raging headache and massaged his injured scalp.

"Man or woman, I expect you to treat me with respect!" snapped Faris as she grabbed her coat and threw it back around her torso. As the embarrassment gave way to shame, she reluctantly sat on a nearby crate and sighed. "Hard to be the only woman on a ship full of pirates. So, I became a man... and is there any problems with that?" she snarled. Lenna smiled and shook her head.

"Faris will always be Faris! That's all that matters!" chirped Lenna. Faris seemed satisfied by this and so the four stopped to rest for the next hour as everyone dried off. Once they'd finished resting Lenna opened up the door to the next room and was shocked as a monster leapt out from it. It was huge and monstrous, vaguely humanoid but with thick limbs and a strange anatomy that almost brought to mind Frankenstein. Lenna leapt back in terror, though as the Undead Husk raised its bulky limb to strike, it was quickly bisected by Bartz and Lenna fell to the floor in shock. "Bartz!" she breathed. Bartz simply sheathed his sword and smiled.

"I always keep my promises, and I always protect the people I love... You're safe with me," said Bartz smilingly. It took a few moments for him to realize what he'd just said, and he quickly jumped back. "I love all of you, I mean! That's what I mean!" stammered Bartz madly. Although Lenna blushed again, the matter was dropped and they continued on. Galuf looked on in satisfaction, though before he could speak Faris smacked him in the back of the head to silence him.

After traveling through several more chambers they finally reached a shore, desolate as it was. Before Lenna could proceed Bartz roughly shoved her back and drew his sword, having sensed danger. To his astonishment, however, the image of his mother Stella slowly phased into view, like a mirage. As if in a trance he dropped his blade and began to move towards her, drunkenly swaying as he did so. The image of the king of Tycoon similarly appeared and both Lenna and Faris slowly did the same as Bartz.

"What the hell are you three doing?!" snarled Galuf. He himself was unable to see his friends' loved ones, though when a familiar young blonde girl materialized in front of him he stopped cold. "Who the devil are you?" he choked breathlessly. The young girl smiled and stretched out her hand.

"It's me, Grandpa!" the young girl tittered. Through Galuf's doubt he turned his eyes to his friends and saw their unconscious bodies slumped on the ground just ahead. As he stared at the young blonde Galuf's memories began to quake. He didn't remember who she was, but there was only one thing to do. He reared back and slammed his fist into the specter, causing the illusion to break and dissolve.

"Shame on you, hitting a child..." came a voice just ahead. Galuf turned his eyes forward and watched as a new form materialized. She was absolutely breathtaking, a marvel of God's handiwork. The only indications that she wasn't human were the unearthly tint of her skin and the vampyric fangs protruding from her jaws. Galuf defiantly shook his head.

"I hit an illusion. If I'd hit a child I'd kick myself, but that was no child!" growled Galuf as he assumed a fighting position. He turned towards his three unconscious friends and slowly began to storm towards them. "Release 'em. Now!" he snarled. When the Siren barred his path and reached out seductively towards him, Galuf brusquely slapped her in the face and charged past her.

Galuf examined the three carefully. They'd all been bewitched somehow, though he didn't know how. Knowing no other way to revive them Galuf reared back and slapped the sense back into his three friends. Bartz and Faris quickly leapt towards him to strike, but Lenna restrained them at the last moment, gripping their arms with each hand and stopping them from attacking.

"We owe Galuf our lives! Show some respect!" scolded Lenna, which seemed to satiate the other two. Lenna pulled herself to her feet and respectfully bowed to Galuf in thanks. She was shocked and horrified, however, when Galuf fell into his arms with a loud cry. After she held him she found that his back had been badly burned. It didn't take long to find out the cause, as Siren stood behind him with her hand outstretched and fury on her face. Lenna quickly took Galuf to the ground and turned him over, and began to heal him.

"You owe me your soul, you dirty old codger!" screeched Siren. Any beauty that the Siren had previously displayed had vanished, replaced by her true demonic nature. The monster hurled another blast of fire at Galuf and Lenna, but Faris deftly cut it in half down the middle and Bartz decapitated Siren at the same time. Her body dropped backwards, with her head landing a good distance away.

Bartz breathed a sigh of relief and quietly sheathed his sword. As he moved forward to his friends, however, he didn't notice the Siren's body rising up from behind him. The Siren's headless torso immediately grew a vicious, horrific skull that opened its maw to consume Bartz. Before that could happen, however, a thick lance of solid earth jutted from the ground and shattered its new head to bits. A horrified Bartz dropped to his seat and shouted out a nasty word.

"Amnesia has its benefits, after all!" chortled Galuf.

"Who did you see, Galuf?" questioned Lenna. After a brief pause, Galuf shook his head. It didn't matter. He'd heard her call him her grandfather, but he had no memory of her or, for that matter, her parents.

Did I just commit a sin when I struck that girl? No... it was just an illusion. I've got to think like that or I'll start to crack...

Scene Three

Once they'd passed the Ship Graveyard, it took a full three days to move through the surroundings and into the village of Carwen. Upon arriving Bartz suggested finding a ship ASAP, and was careful to note to Galuf that he'd used the phrase right. A disgruntled Galuf stormed off, leaving the other three Warriors of Light in the center of town. While Lenna and Faris would head to the port to find a ship, Bartz visited the local pub, where he ordered a glass of whiskey. He reclined in his seat holding his drink, thinking back to the events of the last several days with a more acute eye.

Yeah, I'm falling for the princess of Tycoon. Does that mean I should lube my neck for the axe, or do I actually have a shot? Well, whatever. The deal with the crystals comes first. Seeing Ma in that abandoned wasteland shook me. Now that I think about it... Dad did talk about the crystals. What the heck is the deal with that?

Several years back, Bartz had still lived with both his mother Stella and his father Dorgann. Those had been the happiest times of his life. One night his father stood huddled over the kitchen table, deep in thought while Bartz had been put to bed. Not for the first time Stella asked him about his constant adventures, but this had been the last. Dorgann reluctantly admitted that it was because he'd made a horrible mistake and that he owed it to the world to protect the crystals. Although he never said outright what the mistake was, all he did say was that he hadn't atoned for those sins yet and probably never would. Dorgann quietly tilted his head towards the entryway to the kitchen and frowned.

"He's listening. I don't want you to bring this up in front of Bartz..." sighed Dorgann. When he heard a large crash in the kitchen he hurriedly leapt to Stella's side and found her laying on the floor, breathing shallowly. He immediately rustled through the drawer and withdrew one of his most precious Elixirs and forced the liquid past her lips. Slowly, Stella began to return to consciousness and smiled at him, something that he wasn't sure he was pleased for. "Can you even withstand another expedition...?" croaked Dorgann. Stella enthusiastically shook her head, but he knew she was lying. "I'm finished traveling. I need to stay with you and Bartz for as long as we can do so," said Dorgann resolutely.

"No, if you need to protect the crystals then I want you to go!" protested Stella. Dorgann shushed her and narrowed his eyes at Bartz, who had been eavesdropping. One look sent the little scamp skittering back to bed, and as Dorgann lifted Stella to a sitting position he sighed and smiled at her.

"I'll tell you everything - what happened, what my mistake was, all of it - so long as Bartz never hears a word of it," whispered Dorgann. He paused and his face turned into a frown. "I'm not of this world, but I owe it my everything... because of the sin we four committed thirty years ago..."

By the time he'd finished reminiscing Bartz was flat out drunk. He'd called out to one of the dancers and drunkenly asked for a good time. The dancer obliged and carried him onto the stage, where she and the other dancers began to do naughty things to him. Slowly, however, he remembered Lenna and sobered up. As he tried to excuse himself the dancer outright smacked him.

"You asked for this yourself!" scolded the dancer. Bartz wasn't seriously wounded, but he did rub his cheek and smile.

"I'd rather be a taken sober man than a drunken fool. Sorry..." muttered Bartz. The dancer tilted her head.

"What the devil are you talking about?" asked the dancer pointedly. Bartz shook his head and turned to leave the stage. Maybe the dance really was better than being hanged. Even so, he had to call an end to it. The end to it was his brutal beatdown by the dancers, who took him and threw him out of the pub bruised and covered in liquor.

While Bartz was making a fool of himself, Galuf wandered around town searching for information that might be useful. One of the townspeople he consulted asked if he'd ever seen a wind drake. Although it caused him a pang of pain as his memory wavered, Galuf said that he was familiar with them. The villager said that he'd seen a wounded wind drake limp off towards North Mountain, and that it seemed to be mortally wounded.

"Does the mountain have Dragon Grass?" wondered Galuf. He suddenly stopped cold; how did he know about Dragon Grass? The villager shrugged and shook his head.

"No one's ever made it to the top past all the monsters, so it's possible I guess. I don't advise someone your age trying to scale the mountain, though. You'd probably break a bone or something..." said the villager offhandedly. Although Galuf wanted to smack the townsperson he held back and stormed off. As he did so, he heard the same voice that he'd heard back at the Ship Graveyard.

"Please, Grandpa! Save that wind drake!"

Galuf stopped and gripped his head in both hands and nearly dropped to his knees, but managed to gather himself and continue looking around town. At the port Lenna and Faris arrived in search of a ship that could carry them to Walse. Faris questioned what Walse was, and Lenna explained that it's the home of the Water Crystal and a paradise of glorious waterways and bridges. However, the crystal was being amplified by a device made from a scientist from Karnak, and she theorized that that's the reason the Wind Crystal shattered. Faris scowled and cursed the king, but Lenna stated firmly that she'd met him before and felt she could convince him to shut down the machine.

"Excuse me, sir... Do you have any ships that can take us to Walse?" Lenna asked one of the sailors. The seaman outright laughed in her face and told her that without the Wind Crystal's powers no ship could possibly set sail.

"There was one... until we lost Syldra... She was more than the means to an end, though; she was like a sister to me... and our last hope..." growled Faris darkly. Confused, the sailor questioned whether she'd been drinking. "Even drunk I'd have more sense than you do sober!" she hissed. The angry sailor took a swing at her, so Faris slammed her fist into his gut and dropped him. Faris felt a sharp sensation on her shoulder and turned to find Lenna's face more serious than she'd ever seen. She was clearly not pleased.

"It's time to go. Now," said Lenna curtly. As Faris scanned the docks she found that the other sailors had gathered, so she angrily apologized and stormed off. One of the other sailors approached Lenna.

"You're awful cute. Wanna have some fun with me?" laughed the seaman. Lenna responded by slapping him hard enough to leave a welt and she stormed off fuming. While she was normally quite passive, her confidence had been steadily growing, and that suggestion more or less called for a nice, hard slap in the face.

Everyone reconvened in the center of town to discuss all that they'd discovered. Bartz said that he found nothing, and also noted that they shouldn't approach the pub again, which only fueled Lenna's bad mood. Galuf muttered that Bartz had to be a mean drunk. Before they could even react, however, Faris smacked them both on the head and ordered that they shut up, which they did.

"Without the Wind Crystal there aren't any ships that can sail... so we can't get to Walse by sea..." lamented Lenna. Galuf paused and sighed.

"What if we had a wind drake?" pondered Galuf. Lenna's excitement immediately spiked, as she remembered her father's wind drake Hiryu, who had gone with him to the Wind Shrine. Then she paused.

"But Hiryu was nowhere to be seen back at the Wind Shrine..." sighed Lenna.

"One of the villagers said they saw a wind drake fly up to the top of the mountain up north, but it was beat up really bad... might not be able to make it much longer..." sighed Galuf. Horrified, Lenna immediately turned her thoughts to her father. What had happened at the Wind Shrine? Whatever did happen, clearly Hiryu hadn't gotten out unscathed. She paused for a moment as a sudden thought occurred.

"Does that mountain have Dragon Grass?" wondered Lenna softly. Galuf shrugged and said that no one knew. After a brief pause, Lenna made up her mind. "We're going to the mountain! If we can save Hiryu, we can get to Walse as well!" she announced. Bartz tilted his head and asked what Dragon Grass was. Lenna explained that it's a very rare herb capable of healing wind drakes, but that it's poisonous to humans. Again she repeated her plea, and the others assented.

To North Mountain!

Scene Four

It took a full day to get through the forest and onto the foot of North Mountain, having stayed in the forest for the night. Although Bartz complained that he hadn't slept well, Faris cockily boasted that his skills wouldn't be needed. The two briefly got into an altercation, but as usual Lenna broke them up and stated flatly that Galuf is the one who always acts like that. Naturally Galuf was offended, but after a short bit of thinking he acknowledged that she was right. After progressing a certain distance they were met by a sheer cliff face, one that they would have to scale directly. This they did, though Lenna nearly toppled before Bartz caught her and dragged her back to solid ground.

Once safely atop the cliff the party encountered a large stone and approached it. It was a headstone, albeit one with a gnarled face on the front of it. As he examined them he noted that there was no writing on them, though when it opened its eyes and released a blinding light that flashed and ruined his vision, Bartz angrily took his left hand and blasted it to bits. Unfortunately the others had been nearly caught up in it as well, so Bartz was forced to apologize. A short way forward they came across a new area, wider open and easier to walk through, but noticed a creature just ahead. The monster looked like a huge, mutant chicken. That was really the best way to describe it: a rooster that had been infected by some strange affliction that turned its skin a deathly gray.

"I say we cook it!" tittered Galuf as he licked his lips.

Lenna was naturally appalled, but Galuf silently approached it anyway. He lifted his hand and stretched it out in a karate chop that he planned to use to knock out the beast. Unfortunately, the Cockatrice lifted its eyes and widened them at Galuf, which immediately turned him into solid stone. Outraged, Bartz drew his sword and decapitated the monster, though that left a very poignant question: How would they fix Galuf? Lenna stepped up and smiled, then laid her hands over Galuf's back.

"Uh... Pardon the stupid question, but what are you doing?" pondered Bartz.

She said nothing, but instead shut her eyes tight. There was a great rustling of the grass around her as her hair began to lift up and she became surrounded in a pillar of white light. Blue light began to pulse from her fingertips and flowed steadily into Galuf's petrified body. Slowly Galuf's stone skin began to lighten and his flesh returned to the way it always should be. Naturally, all three of her friends were gobsmacked, but Lenna only smiled.

"As a White Mage, I can heal both damage and status afflictions like poison, disease, and petrifaction. I don't even know if I have a way to attack, actually... so I'll be playing the role of your supporter," said Lenna smilingly. Faris confidently tilted her head and smiled.

"The three of us can hold our own, especially if we have you as backup. We'll be perfectly fine!" tittered Faris.

After passing through a large cavern, the Warriors of Light exited into the bright summer sunlight to find an object laying prone on the ground: the blue, steel-plated helmet of the king of Tycoon. Lenna loosed a loud cry and dashed forward, but her senses failed her and she was unable to avoid the arrow that struck her in the shoulder. She stumbled for a bit then crumpled to the ground as a sickly green color began to tint her flesh.

"Lenna!" screamed Bartz, terrified and horrified. As he charged forward his senses allowed him to deflect a second arrow that was aimed at him by catching it just as it was about to strike him. The arrival of two new individuals boiled Bartz's blood hot enough that when he snapped the arrow in half he nearly cut his own hand in his rage. "And who the bloody hell are you?!" Bartz hissed.

It appeared to be a diabolic huntress, armed with both a quiver and bow though her face was distinctly... unpleasant, almost inhuman. The husband she called was even more monstrous than she was. The creature was a hulking eight feet tall and heavily muscled, resembling the statue of Atlas as he held up the earth minus the globe itself. Magissa the huntress was a well-known bounty hunter and all-around thug, said to have engaged in human trafficking on more than one occasion. Forza was pure, stupid muscle.

"This one will fetch a fine price!" crooned Magissa. Before she could approach Lenna's prone body, however, she found that she had been thrown back by a massive blast of wind that she only narrowly managed to recover from. She stared back at her attacker with sheer anger, but that anger paled in comparison to Bartz's own.

"Touch one hair on her head and I'll have yours!" snarled Bartz as he drew his sword. Before he could move to help Lenna, however, Forza took his mighty fist and slammed it into the ground, and a huge fissure began to form that separated them from Lenna's friends. As the fissure widened to a point where none of them could leap over it Bartz's fingers tightened and he bit his lip in anger. "You rotten son of a..." he hissed.

Although Magissa sneered at them, Faris was undaunted and lunged forward. She leapt high into the air and when she fell to the ground she thrust her cutlass into the rock hard enough to shatter it. From the point of impact a huge sheet of white ice immediately formed that bridged the fissure, the cold stinging the flesh of everyone present. Galuf and Bartz immediately moved forward, though Bartz slipped and fell to his back. When Forza scooped up Lenna's unconscious body and turned to leave, however, he'd had enough. Knowing that he wouldn't make it in time with a single dash, Bartz leapt towards the cliff and tapped his boots against it, then sprang forward with such speed that he was able to sever Forza's arm before the monster even realized it had separated from his body. Lenna's body dropped with Forza's limb and Magissa quartered an arrow, but as she fired a thick column of earth jutted up in front of Bartz that shattered it on impact. She turned a hideous glare at Galuf, who smiled and presented his middle finger.

"Earth magic. Ain't nature just lovely?" chuckled Galuf.

Before Forza could react Bartz took his sword in both hands and cut him, leaving a deep gash on Forza's chest and killing him instantly. Magissa turned to sorcery as a counterattack, but was pierced through the gut and stopped cold. She staggered and held her injury, which had been caused by an arrow of lightning that Faris had fired, and dropped to her back mortally wounded. With their foes dealt with the three heroes dashed over to Lenna to assist her. Carefully, Galuf removed the arrow from Lenna's shoulder as Faris attempted to slap her awake, but she'd been poisoned and was unable to respond. Faris quickly withdrew an antidote from her pouch and put it to Lenna's lips. After drinking it, Lenna's skin began to return to normal and she opened her eyes to see three smiles staring back at her, and her own soon joined them. But when Lenna heard a weak cry she immediately stumbled to her feet and charged to the top of the mountain, her friends in hot pursuit.

Finding Hiryu alive but only barely conscious, Lenna laid her hands on the wind drake and pulsed her healing magic through the dragon's scales, but her own magic was unsuited to restoring a wind drake to health. Her eyes turned to the right and locked onto a large blade of grass, surrounded by poisonous thorns. Though Bartz realized what she was about to do he was unable to keep Lenna from plunging through the thorns and grabbing the Dragon Grass. Faris frantically charged and used her fire magic to burn away the thorns, and turned Lenna over onto her back to examine her. She was badly injured, and was nearly unconscious.

"You damned fool! I don't have any more antidotes!" Faris snarled angrily. Lenna weakly lifted the Dragon Grass up towards Faris, desperation in her eyes. Galuf quickly snatched it and fed it to Hiryu, who quickly began to shimmer brightly as she was restored to health. Hiryu lumbered over to Lenna and leaned down, and as her tears touched Lenna's cheek her complexion immediately improved and her poison was healed. Lenna stumbled to her feet and reached out to Hiryu, but Faris smacked her hard on the cheek and she stopped cold.

"What was that for?!" choked Lenna.

"Don't you ever do anything that stupid again! Are we clear?!" shouted Faris. Slowly, a frightened Lenna nodded her head and Faris' expression softened. "At least you're alright... I guess that's what actually matters..." she said calmly shortly before she embraced Lenna tightly. Lenna broke away and turned to Hiryu, laid her hand on her head and softly carressed the wind drake's cranium. They had their transportation now. Lenna opened her mouth briefly then shut it. There was still one thing left to do.

"Can you carry us to Tycoon?" asked Lenna softly. Bartz was stunned and his jaw dropped to his knees.

"Aren't we supposed to go to Walse?!" croaked Bartz. Lenna turned to him and shook her head softly.

"I'm sorry, but... I need to let everyone know what's happened. My people deserve to know what's been happening these past several days, so... please?" she begged, enough emotion in her choking voice that Bartz immediately assented. As Galuf and Faris joined Lenna on Hiryu's back, Bartz held back hesitantly. "Is something wrong, Bartz?" Lenna questioned. Bartz, embarrassed, could only hang his head and sigh.

"I-I... don't like heights..." whimpered Bartz weakly.

Before Galuf could open his mouth to laugh Lenna slapped it shut and stretched out her hand to Bartz. The look in her eyes, gentle and wise, quickly convinced Bartz to reach out and take it. He wordlessly allowed himself to be pulled atop Hiryu, and with a loud screech the wind drake lifted off and began its journey to the castle of Tycoon.

Author's Notes

The original draft of the Cockatrice incident was a mistake. I almost used a power that Galuf didn't have yet, because at the time of writing I hadn't actually written the notes of what comes later. Seems the way I do this is write notes by pulling them straight out of where the sun don't shine, then when I actually write the chapters I still improvise the content. I'd expect that to be the norm from here on out. For FFVII I watched the walkthrough and took notes, but this time I'm going off my own experiences with the game and the game's script. So, it's a bit more abstract. Or not. I dunno...