Era of Change
Author: Furysetzer
Disclaimer: I don�t own the Final Fantasy characters. It�s all copyrighted by Squaresoft. I�m only trying to create something to read for pleasure. Hope you enjoy=)
Ch. 4��The Return of Magic�
The human and monster beings ran through the darkness. One, a young adult woman carried a small pink moogle who struggled to get away. Another, a large man, supported a twenty one-year-old male in crystal armor who clutched his side. The other moogle rode atop a ferocious looking dog.
They ran for hours, not stopping until their lungs burned. Even then, they could not pause. They could still hear the distant noises of General Harlen�s flying machines.
Derek tripped. He went down. Vernash nearly did as well. He cried out to the others. They wearily came to a halt, turning around.
Relm knelt down to the ground. Mog climbed off Interceptor�s back.
Derek lay on his back in great pain. He could barely move. He breathed heavily, sweat pouring down his face. His side was covered in blood.
Mog ordered, �Take his armor off� let me see what I can do.� He examined him, seeing a deep wound caused by a sword. Just below the ribs, it didn�t look like it cut into any organs. He dug deep in his pouch and pulled out a vile filled with brown goop. Mog rubbed it all over the surface. �This�ll hold the wound closed�� he muttered.
He grabbed Relm�s cloak, tearing off a large chunk of the bottom. �Hey!� she said. �That was my grandpa�s!�
She looked to Vernash. He just shrugged. Mog ordered, �Help me stand him up.�
Barely conscious, Derek was helped to his feet arduously. They propped him against a large rock. Vernash held him while Relm wrapped the torn cloak around his torso.
�Where are you going, Mog?� Relm asked.
He said over his shoulder, �To find a place to rest. We need water, and to hide.� Mog snapped his fingers. Interceptor followed him.
�But what about� Mokga�?�
Mog�s daughter lay huddled against the tree. She had her arms wrapped around her legs protectively. She didn�t talk, only stared blankly ahead.
�Th-thank you�� Derek weakly said.
Relm shook her head. �Don�t talk. We�re lucky we got away��
His eyes narrowed, staring directly at Vernash. �Indeed��
Vernash pretended like he didn�t hear him. He simply cleaned off his sword.
�Tell me, Relm�� he went on. �That general� seems like Vernash knew him.�
Relm�s eyes widened. Obviously, it hadn�t occurred to her. Vernash gazed at them both, his face hard. �I would rather not discuss it.�
�Seems awfully convenient.� Derek went on. �Under my �protection�? What exactly are you protecting us from?�
�I don�t need to discuss it with you.�
�Where did you meet this man, Relm? Is he trustworthy? It seems to me that he�s had dealings with them before. Do you know what his agenda is?�
Vernash moved and stood directly in front of him. �Watch what you say. You are wounded, and don�t know what you are talking about.�
Derek gripped the handle of his sword in its sheath. �I can take you even in my current state. The way you fought back there� it was clumsy and repugnant. Mercenary trash� You didn�t even try to battle him.�
�Hey!� Relm snapped. �Keep your mouth shut, Derek. I trust him, and that�s that.�
Without another word, Vernash turned his back to him.
Derek slumped against the rock, eyes closed. Relm concentrated on the bandaging. Although she couldn�t keep her mind off what Derek said.
____________
�Hey dad!� the little boy shouted. �See me smash that tree with my �chi�?� The boy�s father appeared behind him, smiling. �Of course, son. That was really impressive. Pretty soon you�ll be a martial artist like me.� The boy jumped up happily. He had always loved it when his father praised him. Because when he was younger, he wasn�t in very good health. But now he was getting so strong� It was all because of his new father.
* * *
Rough hands� Pulling at him. Pulling down. Hurried, frantic voices filled the ears of those near death�
�Oh my goddess�what happened to him!?�
�There was a battle��
�Where did you come from? The Gastrans? It can�t be. --King Sabin�s son?!�
�This isn�t good� so much blood lost. Internal bleeding?�
�Only one person can help��
�Celes!!!�
* * *
Tears filled the boy�s face. �Please, dad! Don�t make me go away!� The father�s face was dark� �I have no choice. You�re mother�� Terror covered him. �What happened! Where is she?!� �I told you. I am forced to be king, now� You will be safer where I�m sending you. You can become a knight�� He clutched onto him.
�No! You can�t�� Rough, yet kind hands grabbed hold of him, pulling him away. Looking back, his face was an unrecognizable mask of grief. Absolute despair washed over the child.
* * *
Despair� The darkness was oppressive, the dying unable to draw breath. They couldn�t save him� The journey was too rough, the wounds deceptively mortal� Elusive consciousness was lost yet again to oblivion�
* * *
Rage consumed him. Everyday. Constant training with his mentor. His days were spent learning the secret techniques of the sword. Combined with the channeling of Life-force, untapped potential was slowly unlocked in the willing student. He had nothing but his training. Everything in his former life was as if it never existed. Save for one thing. His mother� He would never accept this. It was his father who kept him from her. Making him go away� he would return to claim back his family.
* * *
There were only a few moments of life left� His sad existence was played out in his dreams, where the final scenes would free his spirit from this body. Wherever it would go� would be less painful than this�
There was a touch� Heat filled him. White light filled his being. An euphoric energy covered every inch�
* * *
He burst through the castle chambers. No longer a boy, the young adult has returned. He seeked only one thing. His mother� He ignored the guards. They tried to stop him, but they were no match for his skill. To her bedchamber he went. Sleeping there, was only his father. Where was she? He was so confused� Slamming his sword into the wall, the King was roused. He sprung up, exclaiming his name. Demands. Answers. His mother was long dead� A broken and sobbing man dropped to the ground�
* * *
Derek sat bolt upright, gasping for breath. Seeing not the darkness of the room, the dreadful dream covered his eyes. A silent moment passed, in which his breathing slowed down to normal. He noticed his lack of clothing, the bandage covering his torso, as well as the sweaty sheets of the bed. He clutched his head. Mumbling to himself, he asked, �What happened�?�
�I stopped you from going away�� the tiny voice said.
With wide eyes, Derek turned his head all about. Out of instinct, he tried to reach for his sword, only to find out it is nowhere to be found. �Who said that?�
When his eyes adjusted, he saw a small boy standing to the side of the bed looking at him. He raised his eyebrows. �Who� are you?�
The small boy didn�t answer. He said instead, �I saw your dream��
Perturbed, Derek got out of the bed. He found his clothes and sword on a chair in the corner. Putting them on as quickly as he could, he left the dark room. With a final backwards glance, he stepped out into the hallway.
____________
Walking into the hallway, Derek shakily looked around. He assumed he was in a spacious house. The corridor stretched a long way, with many doors on each side. He went down the set of stairs.
He halted upon hearing voices around the corner. They were somber, grief filled sounds. Derek could make them out barely.
�He only has a few hours left at best�� said a female voice.
He recognized Relm�s voice. �I can�t accept this! He� tried to save us. I can�t believe I treated him so badly��
�We tried everything we could,� the female voice said. �If only my husband were here� He is immensely better than I am��
�But, Celes� the wounds didn�t look that bad,� the gravely voice of Mog tried to explain.
�I know� that�s what puzzles me� It�s as if the wound caused more damage after the initial strike. Something like continuing to tear him up inside�� She sighed heavily. �What are we going to tell King Sabin? My goddess, his whole family��
�Don�t tell him anything,� Derek suggested, coming down the last set of stairs. �He doesn�t need to know I am well as I�ve ever been��
Relm gasped, as well as everyone else in the room. She ran over to him. She nearly embraced him. �What happened? Are you��
�I am fine,� Derek shrugged. He walked over to Celes. �It�s so good to see you, auntie�� he said, hugging her.
Almost paralyzed, Celes stiffly hugged him back. �How� have you been, Derek?�
He let her go, taking a long look at her. Ever since he had known her, Celes always seemed as if she had never aged a day. Her face was fair skinned, unmarred by any kind of blemish. Soulful brown eyes looked dark, inviting. Her silky blond hair came down to her hips. Her figure was shapely, yet slim at the same time. He suddenly realized she was probably one of the most beautiful women he�s ever seen, and nearly blushed.
Relm stared at his back, with a frown.
Mog saw this, and piped up. �Derek� do you know how your wounds suddenly disappeared? You were on your deathbed.�
He shrugged again. �I don�t know,� he emphasized, a little irritated. �I just woke up, that�s all.� He turned back to Celes. �So are you well? Where�s my uncle?�
She looked off to the side. �Well, he�s� been away the past week, and�� Celes saw something, saying,
�Detrick!�
She held out her arms. A small boy with silver colored hair ran into them. Celes picked him up, and he held onto her tightly.
�Your� son?� Relm asked.
Celes nodded. �He�s extremely shy, I�m afraid� We think he�s mute.�
Relm gasped, �That�s horrible�� She approached her. Smiling sweetly, Relm craned her head close to him.
�Hi there, Detrick�� she said.
He looked at her, scrunching his face in thought. His silver colored eyes looked past, into her being. Detrick turned away from her, burying his face in his mother�s blouse.
After a moment, Celes set him down. Detrick stayed close to his mother, holding onto her pants leg. His expression was somber, eyes focused on the ground.
Mog commented, �Interesting hair and eyes for a human� I don�t think I�ve ever seen one like that before.�
Realizing nobody was listening, he announced, �Well, everybody! We made it to Narshe, but I guess we still need to figure out what to do now about what we�re going to do! Might I say, it�s great to see you all again, but now is the time for action! I�m sure that if we band together again�not unlike what we once did during the tyranny of Kefka, then��
He realized Derek had disappeared a few minutes before with a strange expression on his face. Relm was gone as well, seemingly angry for some reason. As for Celes and her son, they were currently in the kitchen. With nobody around, he threw up his hands. �Nice of everybody to pay attention to me!�
Celes called over the boiling water, �What did you say, Mog?!�
He fell down. �Said I was taking a walk!� he huffed, opening the door.
____________
This was so confusing, Relm thought as she walked throughout the town. Thinking over the past several days was starting to give her a headache. Obviously, the Gastrans were using some kind of Magitek weapons. But how? She thought they all ceased functioning after magic disappeared. As far as Umaro was concerned, she had no idea how he was turned into what he was. She asked Mog, though he said that as far as he knew, the Sasquatch had chosen to return to the mountains of Narshe a long time ago. And why did they want Marull anyway? For the same reason? Just who were the Gastrans, anyway? She had never heard of them until recently, even though Relm has been all over the world.
And now Derek mysteriously is healed� What did it mean? Weren�t they supposed to be tracking down the reason the flying pyramid was here? Relm had an uneasy feeling about missing out on something important that could clarify everything� but she didn�t know what it was.
Her thoughts were interrupted by something hitting her square in the face. The spherical object bounced off her head, making her lose her balance. Relm sprawled backward, smacking her head on the concrete. She lay there for several seconds, stunned.
A woman came running over. She exclaimed, �Oh my! I�m so sorry!� She knelt down.
Dazed, Relm goes, �Hhhaaaaaagghhhhh�..???�
The woman chuckled. �I�m really sorry�� She grabbed her hand, helping her up. �My son threw the ball.
He�s full of energy, but I�m terrible at catching, I�m afraid.�
Her son came running up. �What happened, mom?�
She answered, �Well, Lucius, you managed to bean someone again.�
Relm shook her head to clear it. Lucius said with a grin, �I�m real sorry!�
�Been through worse�� she muttered. Noticing the woman for the first time, Relm saw an attractive brunette in her thirties. She asked, �You seem familiar� What�s your name, ma�am?�
Her eyes picked up. �My apologies! I�m Sarah Termaine.�
Relm thought for a minute. Her face brightened. �Of course! Guess what? It�s me, Relm.�
�Little Relm?� she asked. She held her hand to her cheek. �Oh my! How long has it been? Years.�
Relm grinned. �Yeah. So how�s Arvis? Lonewolf?�
Sarah�s face became somber. �My father is enjoying retirement. He�s doing alright� As for my husband��
�What�s wrong?� Relm asked.
Lucius pulled on his mother�s skirt. �Hey mom, don�t worry. Dad said he would come back as soon as he was ready, remember?�
If possible, her blue eyes became softer. �That�s right. We�ll just have to wait until then.�
Relm was confused. Last she heard, Sarah and the werewolf were living happily. Did something happen?
She saw the confusion on her face. She explained awkwardly, �My husband� went away. He left a letter saying that he had to train. Wouldn�t say why� but I suspect it has to do with his lycanthrope��
Frowning, Relm said, �I�m sorry� Have you been getting along alright?�
�I have my son,� she reassured.
Relm giggled, her arms behind her back. With a smile, she said, �I�m glad.�
�So what have you been doing, Relm?�
She answered Sarah with, �Nothing too drastic. Right now my friends and I are trying to find out about this flying triangle we saw� I�m pretty sure I felt magic from it.�
Her face became shocked. �Oh my�� She thought deeply for a moment. �Have you� seen Celes� son?�
�Huh?� Relm asked. �Well, yes��
�There�s something about him��
Lucius clarified, �He�s weird. He never talks, but sometimes when I�m around him, I feel something. It�s just� hard to say with words.�
Relm raised her eyebrows. �At any rate,� Sarah said, �I hate to speak ill of anyone��
�I� understand.�
�I�m sorry, but we really have to be going,� Sarah uneasily said.
�Umn, alright��
Lucius picked up his ball. �Nice to meet you, Ms. Relm!� he called as they walk away.
Relm half-waved, �You� too.�
____________
The crowd of children was gathered around something in the street. There was silence in the crisp day, except for the sound of someone singing. It was a beautiful, haunting melody. Without words, yet conveying deep emotion.
Relm was attracted there. She found herself wandering closer and closer to the location of the voice. She saw the children there, huddled close. Now at the back of the group, she saw who it is.
The small, furry creature was swaying from side to side, her eyes closed. Her pink fur and bon bon were stirred gently in the breeze. Her small, bat-like red wings stretched slowly back and forth. Mokga looked so serene, so at peace�
After stopping her minstrelsy, the group was spellbound. The children didn�t say anything, but stared with wide eyes.
Mokga sighed audibly. She held her paw to her heart, opening her eyes dreamily.
She looked around. Noticing her audience, she smiled.
They went wild then, exclaiming with excited voices. �That was so awesome! How did you do that? Amazing��
They crowded so close, that Mokga disappeared. She reappeared a moment later through their legs crawling on her paws and knees.
Laughing, Relm picked up the flustered moogle, and ran down the street.
Panting now, she set her down. �Hey, uh� thanks,� Mokga said.
Relm smiled. �No problem. What was that performance all about?�
She looked to the sky, her paws interlocked behind her head. Mokga said, �I�m� not sure, really. It just suddenly came over me.�
�I�m so jealous,� she returned. �You have a wonderful talent.�
Surprised, Mokga asked, �You? Jealous? �Of me?�
Relm laughed. �Don�t think TOO much of it now. You�d probably be jealous if I said I could make portraits that have made people cry.�
�He he.�
Relm smiled again. �I�m so glad you�re feeling better now. I was worried about you. Did something happen?�
She winked back. �Sure did!� Mokga then whispered, �But I promised not to tell.�
�What?� Relm asked.
Now Mokga laughed. �Now�s not the time to be bewildered! We have a job to do!� She clenched her paw in determination.
She asked, �We?�
Mokga nodded. �We gotta go save Locke!�
Relm was at a loss. �What are you talking about?�
�I�ll tell ya on the way there!� she returned, dashing off.
�Huh? What??? Wait!!� Relm ran after Mokga.
____________
Mokga and Relm ran for a long time. They ran into the mines, going through tunnels that Relm didn�t even know existed. They looked old; so old that she couldn�t even guess where they came from or who built them. But one thing was certain. Nobody had been here for dozens of years. Maybe even centuries. Relm repeatedly asked Mokga what was going on.
All she said was the Locke had been captured and needed their help.
After a time, the never-ending tunnels started to really bother Relm. The torch was starting to go out; she needed to rest. They did so, but only long enough for her to catch her wind. Mokga was very forceful about hurrying.
They eventually came to a tunnel that was warmer than the rest. Mokga stomped out the torch then, saying, �We�re very close��
�To what?� Relm whispered back.
The closer they got to the dimly burning light, the more distinct the chanting became. It was creepy, low and ominous noise. Relm got so nervous that she stepped on Mokga�s foot. She nearly cried out, but managed to hold it in thanks to Relm. A hand clamped over her snout.
Peering behind the wall, they saw many green robed men. They were in a large chamber, surrounding some sort of altar. There were candles all over the chamber, as well as something large near the altar under a thick cover.
The altar was on a raised, concrete platform. Unconscious upon it, Locke�s body lay.
Relm almost gasped. She would have, if Mokga hadn�t put her paw over her mouth.
A man�s voice comes from the front of the people. The chanting suddenly ceased. �Master Kefka, you have shown us a sign! For years we have been forgotten by the outside world. But now these strange visions you send us have led us here!�
The man stepped away from them, to the platform. He grabbed the blanket, ripping it down. �We have at last found your statue!!�
Relm and Mokga�s eyes bugged out. Jaws dropped.
It was a perfect likeness. The frazzled hair, the cold, hawk-like face. It was even sculpted with clothing made of stone. The clownish appearance was enhanced by its positioning. It stood on one foot, cape billowed about, arm horizontal over the chin.
�What�s that?� Derek whispered.
�Eeeek!� they both said at the same time, grasping onto each other. The girls fell back together.
There was dead silence. The two girls looked up with wide eyes, slack jawed at Derek and the green robed men.
�Get them!� the man on the platform screamed.
There was panic as the assailants dashed to the entrance of the cavern. Derek took a mighty leap over them, brandishing his sword. They were taken aback, not expecting this knight. They scattered.
Despite his attempt, the cultists managed to surround the three of them. They pulled a chain hanging from the ceiling. A metal gate slammed down just outside the cavern. They grabbed shovels, pickaxes and torches. Whatever they could find.
Derek dodged a shovel from the side, only to encounter flame to the front. Another shovel smashed into his sword hand, nearly causing the weapon to be knocked away.
Relm and Mokga tried to help, but they were not warriors. Mokga jumped on a back, trying to hit their head. Gripping her staff, Relm plunged in. All around, she was surrounded by enemies. They easily bullied her 115 lb. frame, pushing her down and away.
She found herself somehow barreling toward Derek, who was swinging madly. She almost crashed into him. His sword nearly sliced into her. He managed to grab onto her waist, however, and held her close while parrying their weapons.
Being protected in his arms, even under these circumstances, made Relm red in the face. She looked up at him, handsome face set in grim determination� He was fighting them, fighting for her. Relm felt an overwhelming sense of embarrassment.
Mokga was thrown at them. The moogle yelled in surprise as she hit Derek in the head with her body. Derek was damaged, his head swimming. He dropped to a knee.
Dizzied, they were pounced upon by the cultists.
Derek�s sword was wrenched away, as well as Relm�s staff. They were punched and beat into submission.
The green robed men roughly stood the boy and girl up, locking their arms. They held the moogle to the ground by her neck.
The man that was standing on the podium walked up to them. He pulled his hood back and smiled smugly. He was bald with a stone hard face. His eyes were feverish. �You�re a fine wench,� he commented, grabbing her breast roughly.
Relm kicked him in the leg with force. �You bastard!!� she screamed.
The men holding her grabbed her head, pushing her to the ground. �Prostrate yourself in front of master
Kierke!� they shouted.
Derek snarled with rage, attempting to break free. �Damn you!� He nearly succeeded when they punched him in the gut. He doubled over.
�Such impudent children,� Kierke commented. He gestured to the altar and the statue. �You have no idea what is transpiring��
�Why don�t you tell us then!� Mokga said. �What�s with the statue? Why is Locke laying there like he�s dead?!�
Kierke chuckled. �We found the man along with the statue. He had discovered it mere hours before us. I saw within him a great power� I believe he is one of those responsible for our master�s defeat��
He turned back to them. �Apparently, our master did as well. He must have put him in a deep sleep. He fell before our very eyes, magic overcoming him.�
�Impossible�� Derek muttered.
The ones holding Relm�s forehead to the ground pulled her up. She gasped in frustration. Kierke walked up to her again. He grimaced, �I see it now. So are you��
�Father!� cried a small boy�s voice.
Everyone turned toward the tunnel. Detrick was there, pulling on the gate.
�Get him!� Kierke cried.
�No! Run, Detrick!� Relm yelled.
Seemingly before their very eyes, something amazing happened.
Time seemed to� slow down.
They all could feel it. The cultists could feel themselves running slowly, their feet touching the ground several seconds after a step. The air felt thick, barely breathable.
At the gate, the small boy�s silver eyes glowed. Some kind of silver aura enveloped him. The air around him turned murky and wavy. He started to walk forward.
The metal bars of the gate disintegrate as they touched the aura. As he passed, a short hole was left where he walked through.
The trio found themselves unaffected by this occurrence. They managed to break free, jumping out of the mob�s grasp.
There was a sound of rushing wind�
The cultists found themselves going incredibly faster than previously. Time had accelerated back to normal speed. Disoriented, they stumbled.
Derek, Relm and Mokga dashed toward Detrick, intent on grabbing him. Relm reached him, but was knocked back by an invisible force. He stood with a blank expression, staring at the green robed men, who were running toward them.
Derek grabbed his sword from the ground, rushing forward to meet them head on.
Charging with sword raised above his head, he leaped up to slam into the invisible barrier. The cultists also hit the barrier, injuring themselves.
�What the hell?!� Derek cursed.
�It�s magic!!� Mokga hysterically said.
Relm cautiously touched Detrick. His skin was hot to the touch. The aura began to surround her. Her expression was of wonderment, then ecstasy. She turned to the others. �Hurry! Get Locke�we have to escape!�
The cultists were pounding on the barrier. Kierke was yelling at the top of his lungs, but they couldn�t hear any sound from that side.
Derek ran to the altar. In the candlelight, Locke�s prone form glowed eerily. Carefully avoiding the statue of
Kefka, he picked him up. He was surprisingly light as a feather. Reaching them, he said, �What now!?�
Relm gently touched Detrick�s hand. �We have him� We�ve got to go now.�
Like a puppet, he dropped to the ground. His eyes rolled up in the back of his head. He passeed out.
Relm quickly picked him up. �Let�s go��
They ran through the hole in the gate. Looking back, Mokga saw the green robed men still pounding the air, shouting silently.
A few moments later, the invisible barrier shattered like glass. �Hurry!� Kierke shouted. �They haven�t gone too far ahead��
�Halt.�
The cultists stopped in their tracks. The voice was low, yet deep and commanding. �Good and faithful servants� leave them.�
They saw what appeared to be a man, covered in white robes. Although his body was darkness. It� had no color. No tone, nor dimension could be seen. The featureless body was made entirely of energy.
Kierke shuddered to the core of his being.
____________
Author�s Note: Well I still have a lot of work to do with the site. I know I haven't updated in a long while. This is supposed to be a joint project, but I guess I'm going at it alone... Expect some changes soon.
Chapter 3 / Chapter 5