Chapter 18: Epilogue
In a flash of light, Edgar, Locke, and Relm found themselves returned to Figaro castle, as the evil of Zeromus collapsed in on itself, crushing the Prophetess's Temple.
Locke stood over the charred body of his son weeping. With the rage gone, Locke felt empty, left with no power, no family, no soul. In his anger for vengeance, he had become the very monster he sought to destroy. Everyone was dead: Sabin, Cyan, Leo, Terra, and the old man Strago. 'How many of those are my fault?' Locke asked himself. Too many. It was time to redeem himself.
"Edgar, give me the Blade!" shouted Locke, from across the room. Edgar looked up, shocked. "Now, Edgar."
Edgar stared, sadly, at Locke. "I can't, Locke. I cannot trust you any more. You are not who you once were. The crystals burned your soul away Locke. I'll not create another Zeromus."
"Please, Edgar, as your friend, I beg you..." Locke knelt by his son, staring into the mutilated face. "Please?"
But Edgar only looked away, sadly. "Locke, if I give you the Blade, how can I know you will not use it? I remember your speech in Figaro. Why should I make you any stronger?"
"Give it to him," called a voice from outside. Edgar spun around, seeing Relm, exhausted and disheveled. "Give it to him, Edgar. He has wronged you, but do not wrong him. He has been reborn. Please, Edgar, give him the Blade."
Edgar dropped to one knee, and handed the Gray Blade to the stooped Locke. The power to give life, and to take it...
"They're dying!" shouted Setzer, whooping with joy. The rotting monstrosities which had nearly killed him, Gau, Clyde, and Darryl, were burning away under the bright sun. It had been too long since a day like this had graced the world. Too long by far.
"My love!" screamed Darryl. Shadow looked up, smiling, but then frowned, as Darryl turned not to him, but to Setzer. "What has happened, Setzer? Why are we here? I remember a race...and fire...but...what is this place?"
"Darryl!" cried Setzer, rushing to embrace her. He clutched her in a passionate hug, as if trying to keep her from ever leaving him again.
"We are in South Figaro. Your ship crashed and fell in a distant land. But you're home now, and we're together!" They kissed, deeply, as Shadow turned away, donning his black mask.
"Setzer, Darryl, may I interrupt?" hissed Gau. "We still have to get
back to the city. There may be more of these beings coming. And did you not hear that voice, only moments ago? 'As long as there is evil...'?"
Gau trailed off as he realized the two were paying no attention to him.
He grunted, and began to walk back towards the city, alone. Where had Shadow gone?
Shadow walked, alone, towards the city of Figaro. That had been where
Cyan was going. Evil and hatred. Such weak emotions. All emotions were weak. He had been foolish to break his solemn oath, to think he could return to the life of a normal man.
It was too good to be true. A woman he loved. She loved him. What more was there to ask? He'd had it before. That was true. But...things were different. He'd been on the run. It wasn't his fault he had to leave,
to leave her at the mercy of harsh Doman troops. She has gone to a better place. A place I shall never see.
Clyde walked with his back to the sun, following his shadow to Figaro.
"Thank you, Edgar. Now please, step back." Locke pushed Edgar, gently, backwards. "Do you see the words upon this Blade? Of course not. They are here," he said, tapping his head. "The key to life. Now please, cover your eyes." Edgar stepped back, shielding his face with his tattered cape.
"What is broken,
Let it be whole.
What is gone,
Let it return.
What I have done,
Let it be undone.
Return to us,
Leo
Sabin
Cyan." Locke intoned the sacred prayer in a wavering voice. At first
nothing happened, then a shade, a vision of Cyan appeared before him.
"Please, don't make me return." This, Locke could not deny. But slowly, he watched Leo Cole's wounds close, and watched as he took a breath, as if nothing had happened.
As Sabin slowly began to form out of the light, Locke felt his own strength fail. He smiled. This was how he must leave. The world was
saved, and, perhaps, in the hearts of his loved ones, he might be remembered as a hero.
Shadow entered Figaro to see Locke collapse before the glowing, screaming Sabin. "Noooo! I was not meant to return! Don't you see, I
don't belong here. Everywhere I look, I see death. Please, kill me!"
begged Sabin.
"But, brother, we are united once more!" moaned Edgar, rushing forward to embrace his kin. Sabin pushed him away.
"No! Please, I don't belong here!" Sabin leapt to his feet and charged
out of the building. Shadow followed, and overtook Sabin.
"Don't do it, Sabin. I've been where you're going, and now I must return. It is not a nice place. It is beyond any horror you will ever feel or see. You will be more dead than when you went to the world beyond."
"I can't stay, Clyde. This is no longer my world. I must find someplace else, where I can forget the horrors of this place."
"I am Clyde no longer. I can say no more. I leave to follow the winds of death."
"Then let me follow."
"You will not like it."
"I do not want to."
"Wait here, there is one more thing I must do."
Shadow returned to Figaro castle, one deed left unfinished. "Relm!" he
called into the empty halls. His voice echoed, mocking its source.
"I am here, Shadow," replied Relm, from just over his shoulder.
"Relm, my daughter. There is so much I must explain. But I have not the time. Please, try not to remember me. I wish...I wish it could have
been different. I meant to spare you pain, but it seems I am always doomed to fail."
"Fa...father?" cried Relm, rushing to clasp her arms around his neck.
Shadow allowed her to, but merely stared onwards. He could not allow
himself a single tear.
"I must go now. Please, try to forget me. And maybe, some day, you can even forgive me." Shadow turned and rushed out, and together he and Sabin left.
Two men, cut off from love, never again to feel the warm glow of affection, or even sadness. Both casualties of the long chaos of the world's history. Relm watched them leave. Why must it always be thus?
As sunlight began to fail, and the darkness grew in the poorly lit halls,
Edgar sat alone on his throne. A king of a dead city. "Perhaps Locke
was right. Perhaps we are nothing. All my life I fought for peace, the
dream of a world of equality and brotherhood. Now look upon the ruination I have caused. My city, a home only to the dead. My brother,
left, ruined by my inaction. My friends, half dead, now soldiers of this
undending war. When will it stop? How can I ever forgive myself, or
fate, for bringing this horrible pestilence?" Edgar rested his head upon
his hand, and tried to rest. But sleep would not come.
D
Dreams Never Fade
I have found that while it is easy to satisfy people in many ways, happy vs. sad endings remain a mystery to me.
The Temple was collapsing, that much was obvious. Edgar scanned the room, looking for an exit, but found none. Where were Locke and Relm? Or that strange man, Rubicant? He needed their help, and they were nowhere to be found. He looked down at the fallen body of his comrade, Cyan, who had given his life to defeat Zeromus. "Don't let it end like this," he prayed, kneeling to shield Cyan's corpse from falling rocks.
And then it was over. A flash of white light. No pain. Edgar opened his
eyes, finding himself in Figaro Castle. "What magic is this?" he muttered.
Had the Goddesses truly heard his soft call, from so high up. He stared into the air, as he stood, almost happy, for the first time since he had left
Figaro.
"Edgar!" came a desperate cry. Edgar looked up, opening his eyes, and saw Locke. "The sword, Edgar, the Gray Blade. Give it to me, now. Please, I beg you, please! I need it, Edgar." Edgar looked with pity upon look, groveling on the ground, almost as if trying to cover something. Then he saw it, the scorched corpse of Leo Cole, Locke's only son. His look turned to disgust.
"I don't trust you any more, Locke. I heard your speech, your mockery of peace and Light. Why should I make you any stronger than you already are? I'm sorry, Locke, but I can't give this to you." Edgar raised the sword at Locke, menacingly.
"Then you will have to kill me." Locke stood, and Edgar prepared for attack.
None came. Locke merely stepped forward, then knelt at Edgar's feet, baring his neck for the final strike. "Kill me now, Edgar, for I cannot live with the pain I have caused." Locke was weeping, his voice scratchy, and for a moment Edgar hesitated. Then he remembered the fire in Locke's eyes as during their fight at Figaro.
"I will make it quick, Locke," whispered Edgar, raising the sword above his head. His muscles groaned under the strain, but he held it aloft, muttering a prayer to the Goddesses.
"STOP!" Edgar quickly lowered the Blade, and turned to face the voice. It was Relm this time. "Edgar, give him the Blade. Can't you hear it in his voice, Edgar? Locke isn't possessed any more."
Edgar looked at her, ashamed. "I heard it. I'm sorry Locke, that I couldn't trust you." He handed the Blade to Locke. Locke merely shook his head.
"Edgar, it is I who should be ashamed. Please...try not to remember me as I was when the Crystals ruled my soul. Now Edgar, Relm, please step back." He raised the Gray Blade, his face covered in soot, streaked with tears and blood and smiled. His redemption, at last. The power to give life, and to take it.
"They're dying!" whooped Setzer leaping into the air. It was true. The light of the sun was dissolving the strange vessels, and the few surviving beasts that had poured out of them. He laughed for pure joy, the joy of seeing good triumph over evil, and felt energy return to his exhausted muscles.
"Setzer? What is this place? Oh, Setzer!" cried Darryl, rushing to him. He felt her arms wrap around him, pulling him tight. "Setzer, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, nothing at all, my love," he replied, returning the embrace. He stared in silence as he saw Shadow don his mask and leave to the north west.
But he wouldn't let it change the moment.
"I remember a race...and fire...but...what is this place?" she shook her head, trying to clear away the confusion of memories.
"We are in South Figaro. Your ship crashed and fell in a distant land. But you're home now, and we're together, and nothing will ever take you
away again, my dearest. I swear it." And then he bent his head, and put his lips to hers, and kissed her deeply. The fire of love still burned deeply in them both.
"Clyde!" Shadow kept walking, ignoring the annoying voice behind him. He continued towards Figaro. "Clyde!" He spun around this time, towering over Gau, who had been dogging his every step.
"My name isn't Clyde, kid. It's Shadow. Now stop following me." He spun around and kept walking. Ignore the past. Forget the pain. Love, joy, all these hurt far more than any wound. Ignore them, that's the true pleasure in life. Oh, why was it so hard to believe that now, now when he had been so close, so happy. Forget the past.
"Clyde! Stop!" Shadow kept walking. "Clyde, I'll follow you! I'm not going to let you leave, not now, not after you've come back." Gau followed after him, crunching the sand of the desert. Shadow kept walking.
"What is broken,
Let it be whole.
What is gone,
Let it return.
What is done,
Let it be undone.
Return to us,
Lost ones.
Leo Cole, my only son. Hear the voice of a father's love.
Sabin Rene Figaro. Hear the voice of a friend's call.
Cyan Gar..."
"NO!" yelled Edgar. "Not Cyan! He's at peace now, in the heavens. Don't take him away from his family, from his joy." Locke looked at him, with more understanding than Edgar believed possible.
"Lost ones,
Return.
Return to life.
Return to joy."
Relm and Edgar stared in amazement at Leo Cole, as the hideous wounds began to close, not as if healing, but as if time was moving backwards, as if it was all truly being undone. They watched as his life came back to him, as his breath, ragged at first, once again filled his lungs. And they smiled.
And as they watched, they did not see Locke, who, like the morning dew, was melting away before the wonderful light of Leo's rebirth. They did not see him smile, his face filled with such joy that it would have burned their eyes as surely as the sun. They did not see him disappear, laughing, to the heavens he so greatly deserved.
Nor did they see Shadow, as he entered, trailed by Gau. "Relm...Edgar?" he
asked, confused. They both looked up, shocked. And when he saw Relm's face, so young, innocent even beneath the bruises and cuts, he felt his vows waver.
Why did it hurt so much to be with emotions? Oh, to be blind again, to never have felt the fire of love, so that it was so cold to leave it. He could not return to the ice now. Never again.
"Relm...daughter." He tore off his mask, casting it to the ground, and rushed to hug her, lifting her into the air and spinning her about like a
child. "Oh, dearest Relm, there is so much I would love to tell you. So much time lost. But we will make it up! Oh Relm, my beautiful, beautiful daughter." Tears of joy poured down his face as he hugged her, kissing her blood-stained face.
It had taken time to find his students again, but he had all the time in the
world. After he found them, and continued their training, he found that more and more flocked to the school. Sabin Rene Figaro was at last finding joy, seeing the same pleasure that Duncan must have felt from teaching him. He looked with pure adoration upon these students, as if each was his own son.
Not that they didn't misbehave, or fail at times, but this was his joy, his
life.
"Very, very good, Gregory. Now, I believe, you are ready to begin learning the technique of the Bum Rush." He smiled, showing the boy the motions, slow at first, but with greater speed each time. Yes, this was what he was meant for. He couldn't remember what it was like, beyond this world, but it had not been right. Merely a waiting room, waiting to return to this joyous place.
Now, back in this world, he had the role he most enjoyed. No, Edgar was indeed suited for his job, King, much more than Sabin ever would have been.
"Though I don't envy you this event, Edgar. Good luck, big brother," he
chuckled, saluting south west, towards the distant castle of Figaro. And
then he returned to teaching the students.
"Your mother is making miraculous recovery, Mr. Cole," told the doctor, as Leo handed him a purse of gold. "I don't understand it, but it is incredible."
He turned to leave as Celes slowly walked towards Leo. It was truly
amazing.
Leo stared out into the night sky, wondering which of those distant stars
was his father. They all glowed so brightly, filling the black void with
points of hope. He smiled. Somewhere his father was happy.
"You seem distracted, Leo," commented Celes, limping over towards him. Still crippled, Celes managed to retain her beauty and grace. Even with a limp, she moved like a dancer, fluid motions marking her every step.
"I was thinking of father." He looked into the sky again, a tear shining on his dry cheek. "I guess I shouldn't brood on the past."
"Your father wouldn't like you to feel sad for him. I wonder though, if up there he still remembers us. If he feels love towards those he left behind. I don't know if I'll ever be sure." Celes stared into the sky; the
constellations seemed to look like his face.
"I'm sure somewhere up there he still smiles on you, Mom. He's waiting. One day, you'll be together again and your brightness will fill the heavens withjoy. For all eternity, you'll illumine our distant Earth, filling us with hope, no matter what happens." Leo fell silent.
Celes turned away, unable to face her son. "He's grown up so quickly." Celes turned back to him and smiled, embracing him, remembering Locke.
"And so then Dad pulled the old miser's hat down, and grabbed the gold pouch!"
Both guffawed. Relm's stories were always hilarious, and it seemed she had so many to tell, now that Clyde was back. Gau smiled at her. "I can't believe how much he's changed since returning. The Thamasan Guard seems to get better by the day, and it seems your father just gets younger and younger. I saw a girl make eyes at him, the other day."
Relm laughed again. "I'm sure you've had more girls stare at you than any other man in this city." Gau smiled. "But no one has changed more than you, Gau. Wild boy."
Gau grinned, "At least I didn't wear a fake mustache and wield paintbrushes!"
Both laughed, then sighed. Remembering the wars always did that to you. Gau smiled again. "But then again, there's still quite a bit of animal left in me," he said, winking at her.
"You dirty little boy! You'll have to do better than that to catch this prey!" Relm leapt up, giggling.
"There isn't an animal alive that can escape Gau, the Master Hunter!" he
cried, rushing towards her. He grabbed her in his arms, and she looked up, smiling.
"I'm rich! You can't bother me, kupo?" Mog challenged the salesman. He gave Mog a weird look. "I'm the great Mog, hero of the Wars!" The salesman looked astonished. "I'm also the richest man alive!"
"Ungh'!" came the cry from the parlor. That was what finally got the man to leave. Umaro lumbered out, wearing a golden jacket. "More foo'ood!" he shouted to the servants, who rushed off to get more venison.
Mog smiled, staring out at his estates. Ever since finding that ore vein on the mountain, he had been rich. He was living it up, but still he felt
bored, and he seemed to be going bald. His life still felt incomplete as
he looked out his window. He was lonely. But then he smiled, looking back at his old friend Umaro. Together, they would find the other Moogles.
Somehow.
"Today, we remember the defeat of the Tyrants: Gestahl, Kefka, and Zeromus.
We do not remember their fall, for we do not wish harm on anyone, but instead we remember those people, who through their enormous effort changed the face of this world." The crowd roared, and Edgar paused, surveying his people.
The city had grown. Ever since the end of the last war, hundreds had rushed in to fill the streets of Figaro. It seemed almost as good as new, the old horrors fading into nothing. He smiled, then motioned for silence.
"This statue, to be unveiled now, is our physical memory of those who gave their lives for this cause. Hundreds did, but I feel that none more than these four. Strago Magus gave up a quiet life to help defeat the Empire and Kefka. He worked himself to death, using more energy than anyone I have ever seen. He is a model for all who wish to grow old with dignity. He was a friend, and a mentor, and I will never forget him. Terra Branford found her own happiness, but gave it up to return to war with Kefka. At the expense of her joy, she labored until the end, saving us from the madness of the Light of Judgment." Those who still harbored resentment towards Terra remained silent, and the cheers were deafening. Edgar beamed, feeling intense joy, both for the memories of his friends, and for pride of his people. "Cyan Garamonde was a warrior, but he never gave up honor. His skill with the sword was unparalleled. He fought on, even when sadness overwhelmed him.
His power was the death of Zeromus." The crowd went wild. Cyan was the great hero of the war: he appealed to the people as a traditional warrior, and his honor made him a role model.
Edgar paused and waited for the cheers to stop again. "Locke Cole was my best friend. More than anyone else, he sacrificed everything to defeat the Dark One. He gave up his joy, his life, his friends, everything. His power was incredible. It is only thanks to him that we defeated Zeromus, and it is only thanks to him that my brother lives this day. I shall never forget Locke Cole, his dreams, his life. I implore you not to either." The crowd was pensive. Very little was known about Locke, but Edgar's final lines made them feel...something. He unveiled the statue and they all gasped.
No human hand could create the beauty of the statue. Carved with such life-like precision, yet such an angelic quality, it was hard not to sigh every time one saw it. Edgar smiled, and shouted: "NOW LET THE FESTIVITIES BEGIN!"
As the crowd screamed its approval, he ducked back into his chambers.
"I always thought that I had the surest hand in the world, but I could never have created such a magnificent piece. You are truly incredible, my friend."
Edgar smiled, looking at his friend, drawing new plans.
"Well, Edgar, whatever you say, I know I could not have created a living
automaton, the way you did. And the data recovery! I have nearly 93% of all my memories." Gogo smiled up and Edgar, his strange face more human than it ever had been.
"What are you working on?" Edgar asked, trying to decipher the plans.
"A cheaper, smaller form of these trains we have running. I figure that in two decades these trains will all be outmoded. And the chocobos aren't nearly fast enough to make up for them. So I'm working on these mobiles."
Edgar sighed, looking away, into the sunset. Gogo truly was amazing. But he had been wrong when he said Gogo had the surest hand. It was those who had worked to make this world that were truly unbelievable. Their work had created a beauty that neither he nor Gogo could ever hope to match. Trees grew, the land prospered. Everyone had enough to eat. The world was almost perfect. Edgar smiled, brushing down his shirt, and headed for the door.
"Where are you going, King Edgar?" asked Gogo, without looking up.
"Why, I have a date with Lucian Malere, the most beautiful girl in all of
Figaro." Gogo sighed as Edgar spun, his cape billowing, and left the door.
D
I would like to clarify the nature of the Prophecy which appears within
the story. For those who played FFII, you will recognize it as the
Mysidian Prophecy, which also appears on Cecil's sword. Its relevance
to the Novella is unclear, unless you look very carefully at the events
and their importance. Here is a summary of the lines and an explanation
of each.
One to be born of a dragon Edgar receives his memories from the
Drake as to the Crystal War
Hoisting the light and The Gray Blade is neutrality, or the
And the dark light and the dark
Arises high up In last chapter, it mentions that
In the sky Terra's Temple was somehow cast into
To the still land space by Zeromus.
Veiling the moon with As mentioned by Zeromus, this means
The light of eternity the redemption of the moon, or
his death
It brings Edgar mentions that his hope and
Another promise promise of creating a nation of peace
To Mother Earth with has been ruined. Now, with Zeromus's
A bounty and mercy. death, this dream is recreated.