Note: I made a tasteless joke a good number of chapters ago when the party was in Valsena, and I'm so sorry about that. I don't know what I was thinking, and I deserve every bit of scolding for it. So here, I'm going to try and give the Final Fantasy series the respect it deserves. Oh, the joke is removed entirely, so it'll never be seen again.
That said, I hope you enjoy the chapter! It's a transitional one, but we'll get back on track soon!
The Stories of Old
Had they stayed but a moment longer, they likely wouldn't have escaped the volcano's eruption. To their relief, however, Vuscav immediately proved that his title was well earned. With powerful, sweeping strokes of his flippers, the creature carried the party away from the island. Behind them, the island seemed to be shaking itself to pieces; the volcano belched smoke and magma into the air while large boulders, sent hurtling from the caldera and engulfed in fire, plummeting towards the escapees, missing them by the narrowest of margins. Eventually, the Dweller of the Depths had made it far away from the once lush island, everyone safe and out of harm's way. Vuscav had expected that the mortal creatures atop his back would be grateful or relieved; but instead, they appeared sullen and gloomy.
"So…where to now?" Angela asked, finally breaking the silence that had fallen over everyone since their departure.
"Your guess is as good as mine," Duran answered, looking out at the endless expanse of blue around him.
"Perhaps we could go to Palo?" Riesz suggested. "Or perhaps Jadd?" no one said anything. Riesz felt somewhat ashamed. She didn't wish to give off the impression that she had no sympathy for what just happened to the Tomato Men, but the fact of the matter was that their quest was far from done. Not to mention they were desperately lacking in supplies. The clothes on their backs, what was left of them, were all they had after the last several harrowing days. And, unless they found some means to make seawater drinkable, thirst might succeed where Malocchio had failed.
But where were they? Riesz didn't know how close or far Palo was, let alone Jadd. Or really, anywhere!
Kevin wished to suggest a location, but his current bestial state robbed him of speech.
"Hey, what about Valsena?" Angela suggested.
"Well, King Richard knows us," Riesz noted.
"And his kingdom's one of the few areas that's been liberated," Hawkeye added.
"And that we're all out of, well, everything," Angela observed, then looking at Duran. "Surely His Majesty wouldn't mind lending us a hand again, right?"
Duran pondered this. "Yeah, I think Valsena's the best option." Soon, everyone felt Vuscav make a sharp turn and begin swimming in the other direction. "Whoa! What's going on!?"
You said you needed to go to Valsena, so he's taking you there. Faerie told her host. Thanks to our link, I can tell him what you mean, seeing as he's not really the talkative type.
All right, that made sense. Still, Duran thought, maybe a little warning next time would be in order?
Later
No one could sleep. The air was comfortably warm, and the sky was embroidered with a multitude of stars. But neither of these things eased the minds of any of the youths atop the aquatic creature's back. Neither Faerie, nor the Spirits, nor Vuscav needed to ask just what the mortals were thinking about, but the past few hours of seeing them like this had grown to be too much.
Shade was the first to emerge. "It is difficult for you to understand," he began. "But this is merely their way of existence. Their time had come, and they chose to accept it."
"How can you say that?!" Duran rose to his feet, facing the dark, flying Spirit of Darkness. "We just saw an entire people DIE, and all you have to say is that it's just life?!"
"Yes," Shade replied matter-of-factly. "They knew that they could not escape, and thus, accepted their fate with dignity. They knew that their current existence had come to an end."
Duran was silent, yet his anger hadn't diminished. "We could've taken them all," he growled, fists shaking and body trembling. "They…they were tiny. We could've fit them all on this guy's back, no problem!"
"They had accepted what would happen," Shade told the soldier once more. "And further, they chose to accept it." Duran was shocked. "True, while you could've saved a handful, it wouldn't have mattered.
"You forget, they are fruit," Sylphid added. "The mountain's fire shall burn away the land, yes, but their seeds shall be fertilized beneath the ash. And then, a new generation shall rise." the Air Elemental saw that this answer didn't satisfy the young man.
"Unfortunate as it is, hun," Lumina then spoke up. "You'll probably encounter stuff like this in the future as well." it broke his heart the way the boy's features fell, but the young man had to hear and accept this painful but fundamental truth. "Chosen one or not, you're not going to be able to save everyone."
Duran wanted to protest. He tried to tell the Spirit that he was wrong, that every single one of them was wrong. They could've saved the Tomato people! They could've! They could've…
"Even in Palo," Riesz spoke up. "There were those that fell to Belladonna's forces before we could've arrived," she then looked to the ocean. "And my people that fell due to my negligence," she said no more. I should've watched Elliot closer.
When she turned her head, Hawkeye saw an opportunity to get a good look at her neck. Sure, there hadn't been any "signs" or "changes" yet, but he still just wanted to be sure. Thankfully, Malocchio's teeth hadn't pierced her skin. Thank the Goddess.
"I know that!" Duran shouted at the amazon Queen.
"Hey, cool down!" Hawkeye suddenly rose, getting in between Duran and Riesz. "She's just trying to get you to understand!"
"I understand fine!" the soldier answered, directing his attention to Hawkeye. "I understand that everywhere we've gone, there are people dead!" he then grew silent, his voice loud enough to carry for what most of the group assumed to be miles. "Whether it be my people, Angela's, Charlotte's, Kevin's, or hell, even Riesz's or yours, people are dead! So what good do we even do?! We always arrive just a little too late to stop any destruction from happening, and even when we DO succeed, it's either always by luck or because of outside influences!" Duran then looked at his open palm, hand trembling with rage. "These hands are supposed to carry the sword that'll supposedly save the world," he said, his voice becoming choked in mid-sentence and his words trailing away.
"Duran?" Hawkeye asked; the Valsenan lowered his head and turned away from the thief.
"It…it's fine. Sorry, Riesz. It's just…" he then sat down, facing away from everyone.
It was clear that the soldier needed space, and everyone respected that need and kept their distance. But it was then that the other youths heard soft murmuring as if a chant was being said. Or rather, a prayer. Charlotte stood atop Vuscav's shell and clasped her hands together, back to the others and blonde hair swaying in the wind. She faced the direction they had come from, where the island still trembled and smoldered, and after a few moments, finally stopped speaking. She bowed her head in respect before sitting by Kevin once again.
"Gwandpa says that those who accept death as a fwiend have an easier time twansitioning from one wife to the next," she said. So...I think regardless, the Tomato Men are at peace.
"Your grandfather is a wise man," Shade told the half-elf. "Mortals such as he are rare, especially now."
"Weww…" Charlotte continued, her next words only for the Elemental. "I guess I've just got him on my mind." She took a moment to wipe a stray tear from her eye. She was sad about all of it, but she didn't want to cry. As her Grandfather said: those who accept Death with open arms will be the first to go to the next world.
Though, his time was perhaps coming soon too.
The Next Day
Silence had once again fallen over everyone. Since the island's destruction, everyone's minds were being weighed down by what they had just endured and been forced to consent to. True as the words of the Mana Spirits might've been, it would still take some time for the mortals to absorb. Not to mention that everyone was in need of both a meal and a drink. True, there had been a couple of islands where Vuscav had allowed them to briefly disembark to gather fruit and some water, but they were more than anxious to get back to civilization.
Faerie stirred from within her host, his doubts and insecurities buffeting her senses. Yes, it was pitiful, but it wasn't good for him either. This mentality would not do anyone any good, especially himself.
I need to get him talking. Faerie thought to herself. About something. About anything! Just to get his mind on something else, even if just for a short time! It was then that it came to her. It was an odd thought, one that she wouldn't have imagined coming to her at that moment. But still, it was something she could perhaps use to ease up the tension around here.
But how receptive would her host, let alone the others be?
Guess I'm going to find out. Faerie thought, emerging from Duran and sitting on his shoulder. "You know," she began. "I'll admit that I've always been a bit nervous during all of this, but so far, you've managed to accomplish much." Duran didn't speak at first. "Your and Riesz's kingdoms have been saved, and the Mana Stone of Wind is safe!" he still didn't seem convinced. "Isn't being chosen by Her Worship assurance enough?"
"I don't have the sword yet," Duran pointed out. "And even when I do get it…then what?"
"Well…you…save the world, I guess," Faerie answered.
"But what does that mean?" the soldier asked. "Does that mean just stopping the conflicts going on? Does that mean either keeping those Benevodons sealed or destroying them entirely? Or does that mean…" he then paused, sighing. How could he have assurance in being the "chosen one" if he had no idea what that would entail?
It was somewhat ironic, he thought. There is a world on the brink of war, objects of great power, and a chosen hero sent to set everything right. It was a tale he and others heard many, many times.
"And look how those turned out." Faerie then said, reading her host's mind.
"You DO realize that all of those are complete fiction," Duran told the winged woman on his shoulder.
"Not all of them." she retorted. "Some of them, at least the ones you know, have ties to actual historical events." She then searched his mind further. "Especially that one tale involving that strange ship."
"Strange ship?" Kevin questioned, getting the attention of everyone else. "What's going on?"
"Oh, nothing," Faerie said. "Duran and I are just discussing different stories he knows."
"Oh really?" the beastman seemed curious. "What kind?"
Duran was puzzled by the tan-skinned blonde's sudden interest. "Nothing special. Just, you know, stories."
"Like what?" Angela then asked. There was really nothing better to do, so why not join in the conversation?
"Well, like the ones you saw back in the library." Duran told her.
"You don't even know what I read in the library," Angela said, smirking at Duran's embarrassment. "But, trust me, my tastes can vary into some stuff that's…" she then looked at Charlotte. "Well, selective."
"Like the Wild Rose?" Riesz questioned. "I've read that book all the time in Laurent."
Duran was intrigued. "I've heard about that story, but I never really sat down and read it myself."
"Oh, it's fantastic!" the amazon responded. "It's," she then paused, clearing her throat. "It was one of my father's favorites when he was my age," she said, voice calmer than before. "He told me that he and mother were going to name me Maria or Hilda originally." The corners of her mouth quirked upward as she recalled how the violet-haired archer was her idol as a child. While Hilda played the damsel part a few times in the tale, she was still a strong leader and devoted to her people. True, the world was much more complex than it had been presented to her on the pages, but the character of Hilda was something she wanted to emulate.
"Doesn't that story have a sequel?" Angela then asked. "There was a character named Kain in that story, right?"
"Yes, but he's not the Dragoon. That's Ricard." Riesz explained.
"What's a Dwagoon?" Charlotte asked.
"It's a class of warriors in the story. They're said to be one with the sons and daughters of Bahamut." the amazon told the more petite girl.
"And they're said to have the ability to vanish into the skies above," Duran then drew his sword out. "Only to then come out of nowhere and, WHAM!" he dove his blade downward, but only to where it just barely met the back of Vuscav's shell. Good thing, too, otherwise the turtle-like beast would've had a fit. "I thought the story of the Wild Rose had Kain grow up to be trained in the way of the Dragoon because Ricard inspired him."
"I think that they're completely different characters," Riesz answered. "It's just a coincidence. But I do know which story you're talking about," she told Duran. "The one involving the moon people?"
"Yes, the Lunarian Chronicles!" Duran said. "I'll admit, that one's always been my favorite."
"Huh. I'm only heawing about it now." Charlotte stated matter-of-factly. "What's it about?"
"Hm? Oh, it's just a tale about a dark knight seeking redemption."
"Redemption?" Kevin questioned. "What did he do?"
"Well, he's not exactly a bad guy. He just starts-" Duran then noticed everyone beginning to gather around him. "What?"
"Nothing," Angela said. "Go on."
"Go on about what?"
"The story, dummy!"
Duran was puzzled. "Wait, really?"
"Yeah, really!" the Princess responded. "Everybody's clearly interested in it, whatever it is."
True, it seemed that everyone had taken to listening to Duran. Whether it be due to boredom or the need for some sort of distraction from thinking of what just happened, it didn't matter. Either way, strange as it might have felt, Duran would accept this momentary relief.
"Well, okay, then. I'll admit, I'm not exactly…good at this." the soldier admitted. Aunt Stella always had to read Wendy stories because the girl said she hated how her brother told them. But now he had a captive audience he couldn't get away from. So he would just tell it the way his father told it to him.
He told of a time not too distant but nor too close. Of a kingdom named Baron, of the Red Wings, and a dark knight named Cecil Harvey.
"What's wrong?" Rosa asked, puzzled at her love's sudden silence.
Cecil, after a short while, turned to face the blonde woman. "Sorry. I thought for a moment…I heard my brother."
Even now, it still felt strange to refer to that terrifying armored figure as such. Indeed, he was her love's sibling, but all the white mage had come to know him as was a harbinger of destruction and death. Nevertheless, Zemus' control or not, Rosa felt that she might never be able to suppress the chills that went up her spine when discussing Golbez. But if Cecil could hold in him some sort of regard, perhaps she too could eventually come to that.
"Well, what did he say?" she asked him.
Cecil shook his head. "Perhaps I only imagined it."
But he had not. He heard his brother's words quite clearly. "Goodbye..."
Rosa was about to press further when she and the Paladin heard a loud voice call out to them. "Hey! What's keeping ya?! Everyone's waiting!"
And there they stood: King Cecil Harvey and Queen Rosa Harvey. All of those that they had seen along their journey had shown up for the coronation ceremony, as well as a wedding between the Paladin and White Mage. All but one.
Though saddened at his lifelong friend's absence, Cecil did not fault Kain, knowing all too well how the Dragoon was feeling. His old friend was about to begin his own journey of redemption. But, should he need it, the new King would always be willing to lend a hand.
And at the foot of Mt. Ordeals, the Dragoon stood, ready to face whatever came his way.
With that, Duran had wrapped up his tale, leaving everyone, to his surprise, rather satisfied with what they had just heard.
"I'm ashamed I haven't heard of this tale before," Riesz said. "That was fantastic!"
"It's an old one," Duran admitted. "But Dad used to tell it all the time. I guess I kinda know it by heart now."
"But what happened to Kain?" Charlotte questioned. "And Ceciw and the othews? What about his bwothew?"
"All that kinda happens later." the soldier told the half-elf. "It gets a bit...complicated."
"I still wonder if there's a connection between that and the Wild Rose," Riesz contemplated aloud. True, their connection was probably non-existent, but it was still somewhat interesting to ponder.
"Speaking of, I don't think I've ever heard about the Wild Rose," Hawkeye said.
"Oh, you haven't?" the amazon was surprised. "It's a classic in Laurent! One of the most acclaimed stories aside from the Epic of Maria and Draco."
"Well, if it's so good, why don't you tell us?" the thief asked.
"Me?" Riesz was surprised, but then saw everyone's eyes on her. You set me up. She thought, looking at the thief, who had an incriminating smirk on his face. "Well, all right." She then found a comfortable sitting position. Then she began speaking of an ancient kingdom called Palamecia, and how a power-hungry Emperor had opened a portal to hell in an effort to conquer the world.
"Everything's...ended." the hulking, gentle brute that was Guy said, his usually strong voice now betraying just how tired and worn out the ordeal had left him.
Firion released a heavy sigh. "I suppose it is."
Maria was just as exhausted from all the trials and tribulations they had to endure, but she was more chipper than the others. "Hey, at least we can all go back to how things were, right?" she then looked at her brother. But when she didn't get an answer, she turned to the other two men. "Right, Leon?" But her brother, Leon, was silent. "Leon?"
The dark-haired young man shook his head. "No," he answered. "There's too much that's been done. I've done too much." he then looked at his three friends. It was astounding that they would still call him that. A friend. A brother. Perhaps it was because they had been about to face the resurrected Emperor, but he was still astonished when Firion had said he still considered Leon a friend in spite of what had happened. "You all live your lives to the fullest. Me," he then turned away from all of them. "I have to go down my own road." he then looked back at his sister. "Farewell, Maria. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you as a big brother should."
He then departed.
"Leon!" Maria called out, but her sibling didn't heed her words. "Firion!" she called out to the ivory-haired warrior. "You can't just let him go! Do something!"
Firion shook his head. "I'm sorry. I don't like it either, but it's his decision, Maria."
"But..."
He then placed a restraining hand on her shoulder. "Leon!" he called out, the young man stopping for a moment. "We'll meet again!"
Leon then looked back, shocked at what he had just heard. But, nevertheless, he gave a small smile before he went through the entrance of Castle Finn, seemingly vanishing from sight.
The three youths were standing there, also contemplating what to do. "Leon right," Guy said. "Too much happen. Can't be the same ever again."
Maria looked down at the ground. "No, I suppose it can't. As much as we want it to."
"But...that doesn't mean we can't start again," Firion interjected. "Our old lives are out of our reach, but the world will need to be rebuilt. We have the freedom we've been fighting for, and we should make the most of it."
Maria smiled. "Yes, you're right. But..." despite her words, doubt was still clear in her expression. "There's still so much that needs to be done. So many lives lost."
"And they won't be forgotten," Firion assured her. "But the world needs to recover. And I have a feeling things will get better faster the more hands there are working to create the future they gave their lives to preserve."
Guy nodded in agreement. "All season begin. And all season end. But flowers return each year."
The long war ended at last. The emperor and Pandaemonium... and the monsters plaguing every corner of the world... They all vanished. Peace has finally returned. The people will slowly heal from the scars of war. The memory of those dismal days will fade with time. But one memory will remain clear and true: It was the ordinary youths with extraordinary minds who saved the world.
"So why did Leon have to go?" Kevin asked. "Wasn't everything forgiven in the end?"
"Yes, that's true," Riesz explained. "But I suppose Leon just felt that there was no going back for him. Sometimes, I suppose that if someone's actions are too shameful, they can't bear it and must go to find peace with themselves." That too was a familiar tale in Laurent. Duran's story fit that narrative quite well. Shame she hadn't heard of it until now.
"Pretty depressing, isn't it?" Angela asked. "True, it ends with the Emperor dying and all, but all those people died."
"Indeed," Riesz answered. "It's one of the more brutal, and honest, depictions of war than many of its contemporaries, I suppose," she admitted. Granted, it was clear everyone liked it, but given what they had just seen, perhaps telling of how Minwu expended all his energy to help the three youths or how Josef was crushed under a boulder in his courageous effort to save them from a trap set by Count Borghen wasn't the best idea. Given recent events, the story bit far too close to the bone. However, Riesz noticed that whenever she spoke of the antics of the thief, Paul, her mind kept wandering to the violet-haired thief sitting right next to her. Thinking on it now, he and Paul had QUITE a lot in common.
"How about something a little more light-hearted?" Hawkeye suggested.
"You've got one?"
"I'm thinking of it, but I'm trying to figure out some more details." the young man admitted. "Someone else can go first. Hey, Kevin! Do you know any stories?"
"Me?" the beastman gestured to himself, surprised to be put on the spot like this. His culture had plenty of stories, of course! But they were always told, with the audience being other beastmen. Suffice to say, some natural things, such as hunting and celebrating over a kill, plus detailing how the victor wore its claws and fur to gain the beast's power, might be lost in the telling with his human friends. But what stories did he know that they'd perhaps like?
It was then that he just thought of one. He had heard it some time ago, but when he was young, he was told of a traveling youth that tamed a wild Chocobo and came to find himself entangled in saving two dying worlds from an immeasurable, insurmountable force known as "The Void."
"The world's being reborn," Bartz noted. He, Faris, Lenna, and Krile were standing at the foot of a cliff. The wind that had long since disappeared from the world was finally blowing again.
"Yeah," Faris observed, brushing some of her violet hair from her face. "Now what?"
"Well, someone's going to have to take the throne of Bal now that Grandpa's not around anymore." Krile suddenly spoke up.
"What? Really?" Lenna asked. "You're still so young."
"Hey, I'm not THAT young!" the blonde girl argued. "Besides, Grandpa's taught me everything I need to know."
Lenna didn't argue. Young as she was, her people would need her as a bastion of strength and stability now that Galuf had been slain. It still felt so strange not to have the older man by their side. Then again, Krile was not the only one to have lost a loved one in the dark times. Leena, and Faris, had buried their father, the King of Tycoon, as well as Leena's faithful wind drake, Hiryu. This pointedly reminded the Princess that, like Krile, she had great burdens ahead which had fallen upon her shoulders all too soon. "I must return to my kingdom," she said. "I must return as Tycoon's Queen." she then turned to her sister. "What about you, Sarisa? Or do you still want to be called Faris?
The self-proclaimed Pirate Queen shook her head. "Either will do."
Lenna smiled. "All right. Well, will you go back to what you were doing as well?"
"Hey, relax," Bartz said. "We just saved the world. So if we can do that, I'd say that whatever comes next will be no problem!"
The three young women (well, two and one girl) contemplated the traveler's words. "Yes, I guess you're right," Lenna answered. "The future is uncertain, but we've accomplished so much, then what else can stand in our way?"
"Exactly!" Bartz declared.
As of now, they were all free as the newly returned wind. But for him, while he'd surely visit Lenna and Faris (and Krile if he found the means to), Bartz was content to continue wandering the world with his trusty Boku.
"I wish thewe was mowe about Gilgamesh," Charlotte said. "He was my favorite character."
"I think I've heard about a legendary warrior named Gilgamesh," Riesz said. "It's not confirmed, but some records in Laurent spoke of a traveling man that was searching for the greatest of weapons. He was rumored to have four arms, and a sword clasped in each hand. At least, that's how the legend goes."
It seemed a lot of these stories had their own legends and lore tied to them, some of which were either inspired by or were based in fact. The only problem was telling how much of it was real or embellished. Kevin sort of expanded the role of the Chocobo, though it was mainly because the beastman culture held all beasts in some degree of esteem, as they lived off the land just as much as his people did.
"All right, who wants to go next?" Hawkeye asked.
"Wow, already? We just finished a bunch of stories! No one wants a break?" Angela was surprised. Had this just become a group activity everyone was included in, and she had only just become aware of it now? Seeing as there was nothing else to do, the Princess decided to try a swing at it. "I've got one," she said. "It's one of Altena's greatest love stories."
And she told of a school for gifted students, a loner student at this school, a young woman who stole his heart, and an evil sorceress that tried to merge all of the time, essentially placing herself at the very center, and at the very helm, of all creation. And, she had nearly succeeded.
"Don't fall into the wrong portal!"
Those words echoed through his head as he was surrounded by nothing but white nothingness.
"Selphie?" Squall called out, wanting to hear the chipper girl's voice. "Zell?" the energetic young man didn't answer. "Quistis!" and no answer from his young teacher.
He was alone. Alone in this void. Alone, just as he had always been.
Only now, he didn't want that anymore. He didn't want to be alone. Not anymore. Not after all he and his friends had been through together. He needed to find a way back. Back home. Back to the Garden.
Back to her.
Then, seemingly out of the blue, a white flower petal slowly fell towards him, landing in the palm of his gloved hand. Then, it began to transform into a feather.
Feathers...
Suddenly, a single flower emerged from underneath them. And from this, more and more flowers grew until there was an entire field! The white void had vanished to reveal a vast landscape of ivory, blooming buds. She was standing there, the pale moonlight illuminating her features.
He had returned to her. He had returned home.
"But wait a minute!" Kevin said. "What happened to Seifer? Or Laguna and the others?"
Angela shrugged. "Don't know. It ends with them defeating Ultimecia and celebrating afterward." Even if the tale of The Lion and the Sorceress was her favorite, she had to admit that it did sound somewhat unfinished. Still, the relationship between Squall and Rinoa was the inspiration for her private fantasy of a man who could come in and change her life.
As if of their own volition, her green eyes shifted to look briefly at Duran. The sight of his naked upper half still made her grow hot.
"So, was it true?" Charlotte asked the Altenan Princess. "That Uwtimicia was actuawwy Winoa?"
"The writer came out and said that wasn't the intention," Angela explained. "But honestly, I think that kinda makes the story better. Squall's both fighting against and saving the one he loves."
"Human relationships are complicated." Kevin mused.
"I suppose that can be said for everyone," Hawkeye said.
"Hell, our entire lives have become nothing but a string of complications," Duran added.
Not wanting things to turn sour again, the thief stepped up to continue. "I've got one," he said.
"Do tell." Riesz encouraged.
"It's not something that's native to Nevarl," Hawkeye admitted. "But it's an old one. One that Flamekhan even knew when he was around Charlotte's age."
"Hey! I'm fifteen fow youw infowmation!"
"Right, right, sorry." It was sometimes easy to forget that fact about her.
Anyway, Hawkeye began this tale, beginning at a grand event. A classical play was going to be performed in the Kingdom of Alexandria, and an acting troupe called Tantalus, in actuality, was sent to kidnap the Princess.
"Could she have betrayed me? Nay, ne'er would my love speak false. I must have faith! She shall appear if I only believe! As the sun lends me no ear, I pray instead to the twin moons! I beseech thee, wondrous moonlight, grant me my only wish!"
"Marcus" then cast off his cloak, revealing the one that the new queen had thought to be lost. "Bring my beloved Dagger to me!"
As soon as he had shouted his declaration, he saw Garnet rushing towards him, having made her way through the crowd to get to him. She leaped onto him, holding onto him for dear life. Garnet looked up at Zidane with teary eyes, beating his chest for scaring her so badly. She had lived in uncertainty for so long over the thief's fate, so to see him reveal himself like this, she knew he had planned it.
The young queen was caught in a whirlwind of emotions, but this was the happiest moment of her life. Still, she had one question. "How did you survive?"
Zidane smiled. "I had no choice," he told her. "I had to live. I wanted to come home to you. So... I sang your song. Our song."
Riesz was awestruck. "That was...beautiful," she said, looking at Hawkeye.
The thief seemed surprised by the amazon's reaction. "I could be overlooking some details, so it might not be that accurate of a retelling-"
"So?" Angela asked. "What's that matter? If the story's good, then it's good, no matter how it's told."
"An entire race of people bred for war." Kevin mused. "How sad."
Charlotte agreed. Poor Vivi. Still, things turned out right in the end, so at least there was that.
"Hey, the little lady hasn't told a story yet." Hawkeye remembered, gesturing towards Charlotte.
"Me?" the blonde asked.
"Yeah, what kind of stories do they have in Wendel?" Angela was now curious.
Charlotte thought for a moment, trying to figure out what to say. Oh sure, she had heard stories like the ones her companions had just told, but which one would suit the theme that had been going? What tales of heroism and adventure did she have to tell?
"Oh yeah!" the young girl stood up, excited. "I've got one! I've got a weawwy good one!"
"Well, get on with it!" Duran replied. "What is it?"
"It's awesome!" Charlotte proclaimed. "It...weww, it doesn't have any cwystaws or magic stones," she admitted. "But it's got a bunch of othew stuff in it!"
"Then go on! Tell it!" Kevin urged.
"Ok!" Charlotte wasted no time going into her own story. Though, to everyone's surprise, the girl's tale began rather gruesomely. She told of an enslaved girl working for an evil empire, of a resistance fighting against them, and of a mad clown that destroyed the world.
Remarkably, that last part was far more terrifying than it sounded.
How long she fell, she wasn't sure. She could still hear their voices. Locke shouting that he'd catch her, Celes saying that she had done enough, Edgar begging for her not to do this, and Sabin just about ready to grab her and never let go. Setzer was the only one that understood. He hated it just as much as everyone else, but he knew what had to be done.
As she fell, darkness took hold of her, the world around her fading away. This was it. This was her fate. In the end, she found out the reason for living. She had found something worth fighting for. She had found love.
And yet...and yet she found herself not falling into the void but cradled in the arms of a strong pair of arms. She looked up to see Sabin had caught her, and the others gathered around her.
"Terra! You're alive!" Relm cried, leaping onto the young woman and crying into her chest. Mog came on over and, to her surprise, let her ruffle his fur and toy with his pom-pom.
"Are you okay?" Edgar asked, looking over her to see where she was injured.
"Y-Yes. I'm fine." Terra said, unable to hide her astonishment at this revelation as she tried to stand up. Granted, she was a little unsteady on her feet (Edgar wasting no time in catching her), but she eventually grew steady enough to walk.
She walked to the bow of the Falcon, her violet eyes scanning the endless skies all around her. Where once it was the sickly yellow of a world's last dusk, the skies were once again turning blue. The world would never be the same again, but this was not the end. This was not the end for anyone.
If anything, this was a new beginning.
Terra accentuated that conviction by untying her hair, allowing her flowing, green locks to freely dance in the wind.
Giving a small curtsey, Charlotte sat down, everyone clearly having enjoyed her tale.
"So, Terra wasn't a full esper?" Kevin inquired.
"Nope. She was a hawf-bwood." the half-elf explained. "I'ww admit, Gwandpa towd me that stowy so I wouwdn't feew bad about me being a..." she paused, and gave a shrug. "Hawf-bwood." she explained. "But I don't feew that way anymore! Weawwy!" she assured, hoping they'd buy it. "But the twuth is, Gwandpa said that stowy came from the ewves themsewves."
"Well, that kinda explains its...uniqueness," Angela whispered to Duran. She enjoyed the tale, sure, but it was pretty odd compared to the others. "Whoa, is it that time, already?" She then pointed to the setting sun, everyone shocked at just how long they had been talking.
It didn't take long for the moon to show itself, Kevin transforming under its light, but no one was afraid. Although to be fair, the image of a giant, feral beast with a little girl by his side (even if she was fifteen) made him less intimidating. Perhaps Charlotte knew that which was why she was sticking close to him. Whether the others realized it or not, Charlotte was concerned about Kevin. Before, he didn't automatically change when the moonlight fell on him, but now, it seemed that no matter how much it had waxed or wanes, he transitioned into his werewolf form. Why this was, she didn't know. But she suspected that it'd be a problem later.
But for now, she would keep it to herself, if only just for Kevin's sake. "Weww, it seems that evewyone's better."
"Hm. You're right." Riesz replied. In fact, everything seemed to be much calmer than before. True, the island's destruction lingered in their minds, but surprisingly, telling those stories actually...helped in a sense.
After all, once everyone thought of it, they were very much like those characters. While perhaps not as fantastical, their struggles and tribulations were still obstacles that needed to be conquered. After all, what were they? A group of six youths from different nations, all of which are on the brink of war, were seeking out the Elemental Spirits of Mana to not only open the Mana Holyland and retrieve the Sword of Mana but also to put an end to this needless conflict.
The only question was, how would their story end? Would they be victorious, or would they fall at the hands of their enemies? After all, fiction doesn't always imitate life.
Note: Sorry for the short chapter. We're going to get the ball rolling next time, as the group's got places to go.
Thank you so much to everyone who's read this and continues to read it! Thanks to Falchion1984 for pointing out and going over chapters, and I hope to see you all later!
