Edward straightened his faded bard cap, pushing the yellow plume to the back. It had been so long since he had left the enclosings of the
Damcyan Desert and crossed the Watery Pass to the Kaipo Desert. And now where was he? All the way over the Baron-Kaipo mountain range
and now approaching what he hoped was Baron. He had started off with fifty guards, but numbers now dwindled to a very uninspiring two, and
their water supply had dipped dangerously low as their map did not show any of the river ways and their route had conveniently veered away
from the large fresh water falls pouring out of the mountains and towards the salty Baron river waters - most unfit for drinking. All he could do
was hope there were survivors where he was headed. There had been none in Kaipo, and he had been too scared to trek into the Misty Valley - it
was so hard to see there! Edward didn't know how a sweet girl like Rydia could stand it, but then again, people didn't see how an easily upsettable
man like himself adored the desert and its harshness.
Out of habit, the young prince went to run his hand through his hair. To his dismay, he found he just hit bare neck. Edward sighed,
remembering the events a year or two ago during that sickening massacre that had led to his "haircut", so to speak. At least the sword had missed
anything important, but he had valued his golden locks, and knowing his hair now barely hit beyond the nape of his neck upset him. It had
been so very hard to grow out in the first place, and was proving even more difficult to re-grow out. Thank the gods nothing had happened to his
harp..! His golden treasure hung off a rawhide strap from his belt, kept in meticulously perfect condition.
Up ahead, a large castle loomed in the early morning fog. Even from that distance, one could see the damage it had suffered. Bricks and
stones were missing from part of the structure, and a veil of dark green ivy covered the towers. The once brilliant shine and strength of the
Baronian strongholds and iron closures had long since lost their sparkle. Edward suppressed a deep sigh. Each second his once glorious hopes
dropped looking at this defeated spectacle.
One of his guards trotted alongside his prince on chocobo back, and coughed lightly to get his attention. Edward turned towards him
calmly.
"Yes?"
"Your Highness... do you wish to continue on into Baron or... do you wish to turn around?"
Edward paused. It truly looked like there were no survivors from this distance, but he remembered the sight of Damcyan as he had left. The
debris of the soon-to-be-rebuilt kingdom had stretched across the sands of the desert, and the once bright and vibrant life of the city was
nonexistent, replaced by the howling of the wind and scattering of dust. However, he and a few of his guards were there, hiding in the crevices,
waiting and praying until it was safe to emerge. Could Baron be doing the same?
"Highness...?"
Edward determinedly snapped the reigns of his chocobo. "We continue."
~ € » « € ~
Addyan'de Donovan stared down upon the Blue Planet with a lip curled in disgust. His far-reaching sight told him the mortals below were
beginning to regroup their emotions after the first wave of attacks. The cold-hearted Lunarian had been hoping to crush their spirits in a single
onslaught, but apparently, it was not so.
He brushed a silver strand of hair from his sapphire eyes, more viewing his reflection in the room's massive window than the empty scenery
beyond, the black of his apparel melting with the darkness around him. These mortals were much more steadfast than he had ever imagined. His
Master had, of course, informed him of their power, but to overcome such odds was impressive. It was downright admirable. However, Donovan
did not admire his opponents. His arrogance was far beyond the point of respect. In all truth, he did not even respect his Master; he feared him.
Therefore, he obeyed him.
Donovan stood motionless for many moments assessing his situation, until a slight click behind him of heeled shoes stole his attention. He
narrowed his eyes, already knowing full-well the only person he knew who wore high heels in the Lunar Mansion, much less anywhere else upon
his home world. He spun on one heel to face the nuisance which had plagued him and his Master for some time now.
On any other world, there was probably none such as her. Her hair a rich dark color that swept down past her hips in cascades, two long,
pointed ears protruding out of the waves. Her manner of dress was meant to attract attention, the sleek material shining in the dim candlelight. A
high-collar cloak hung loosely off her shoulders, the ends of the cape beaded with intricately placed diamond and ebony specks. Her leather-like
pants were of a plain black shine, but the bodice of her top looked more suited to the inside of an abalone shell than an outfit, shining
iridescently in pinks, greens and purples. The pants clung to her curves, the waistline decorated by a myriad of oddly designed belts, one
strapped around her left thigh and holding a uniquely crafted dagger - her prize possession - made of a black steel with a dragon sculpted of
obsidian for the hilt. Perhaps her most striking feature, however, was her eyes. The lashes were dark, far too dark for a complexion as pale as hers,
and stood out like ink on parchment. Purple, lavender and a hint of pink all swirled within her eyes, inviting and pulling in any who wished to look
deeper.
"Lady Ladθna..." Donovan began dryly, openly with more than a hint of sarcasm addressing the ever-flamboyant denizen of the
other-planes. "By any other name known as the Maiden of Destiny. To what do I owe this honor?" He all but spat the end of the sentence,
putting a bitter accentuation upon it.
Ladθna smirked slightly, an uncharacteristic glint in her eyes. "My dearest Addy, you seem a bit perturbed. It wouldn't concern me, would
it?"
"Never." It was a growl, and barely a word.
"Of course not!" Ladθna laughed spitefully, openly. "No... you must be upset for sake of the mortals overcoming your reign of terror."
To this, Donovan gave her an irritated "tsk", and turned back to the monstrously wide window, overlooking the blank landscape laid out
before him.
Ladθna swept one hand through her hair, tucking it behind a pointed ear, revealing a row of silver, shiny earrings numbering at least six.
"You know why they no longer fear you, Addy. Don't you?"
Donovan was silent, not caring for the babbles of the cocky and glitzy sorceress. He knew she would continue to taunt him for quite some
time, however.
"You were so sure that you would break their spirit down by taking away their own men and imbuing your master's powers into them. You
thought one more scare so soon after wartime would destroy their hopes for a peaceful future. Obviously, you've not dealt enough with this
species to know their true value lies not in arms, but in heart." Ladθna paused in her reverie to let her gaze wander to Donovan, who was still
facing away from her. "I know why they no longer fear you, Dark Prince."
Donovan decided to attempt to be a tad more polite with his guest. While she was an annoyance, she more often than not proved a valuable
asset to his battle plans. "Please... enlighten me, m'lady."
Ladθna waved one hand with a flourish, more than happy to oblige. "People do not fear idle threats! First of all, you have waited too long to
make a second strike. In your arrogance, you hoped their agony would eventually drain them of their life. Like so many other things, you took it
for granted."
Donovan did not miss the hidden reference to herself in that comment. He knew she did not appreciate having her presence and her
assistance expected rather than appreciated.
"They think of your armies as dead," she continued, not caring if Donovan did or did not receive her subtle hint. "The dead often fear those
that are living, but you've let them believe they can get the upper hand by your idleness. To them, your armies are no longer frightening or
foreboding. They are dead to them." She paused to smirk triumphantly as Donovan turned around to arch an eyebrow at her, the anger plain on
his handsome features. "A mortal army is vibrant, alive and full of soul. However, your armies are the opposite. They are black, they are dead, and
they are without spirit."
There was a long moment of silence after Ladθna fell silent, and Donovan pondered her words very hard. The smirk eventually fell from her
face, as while she gained a small sense of personal satisfaction from upsetting Donovan, his lack of retort unnerved her. She was still on his side
of the war (at least from what everyone could see) and didn't enjoy bringing tidings without solution.
At long last, Donovan looked up, his deep blue stare cold and once again, confident.
"Consider a shadow," he began, sweeping one hand to his own shadow splayed across the marble floors. "One may describe it upon first
glance as black, dead, certainly without spirit. It is only a blockage of the light. However... in truth it is not black, but merely darker shades of what
it falls upon, rich, and vibrant, and ever-changing. In truth, it is not dead, for it 'moves' with the same grace of whatever it is cast from, slipping
across curves and cracks with an unshakable fluency. In truth, it is not without spirit, for nothing inspires more fear to man's own spirit then the
darkness which follows him."
He let a smirk crawl across his face. "Let them think what they will. It makes no difference to me if their defeat shall come in fear or
ignorance."
~ € » « € ~
Palom kept his steps a little bit behind the irate Kain, enough room that the dragoon's hands just barely missed snatching him up and
pounding him into oblivion. Occasionally the tiny mage would stick out his tongue, wiggle his fingers with his thumbs in his ears, and skip along
merrily, jeering and laughing.
Rydia rolled her eyes, and looked to Edge, the supposed other "mature" adult. He snickered every time that Kain made a grab for Palom,
occasionally encouraging the onslaught, even joining in other times. The young woman shook her head slightly, and eventually had to turn
away from the scene, and look back to the road (more for the sake of hiding the smile that was creeping onto her face than anything else). She
knew it wasn't too far to Baron at this point, as the mountains had long since been crossed and left behind. Thick rock and curving pathway had
given away to vast, green open plain and the occasional tree or stream. It was peaceful for the caller who had spent so long trapped in a place she
had once called 'home'.
At first, she had been secretly scared to set out here... to go so far from home. But she slowly began to understand that Mist no longer was
her home. In fact, her entire definition of the word home had to be reconstructed, for she was starting to believe that 'home' wasn't necessarily a
place. As she tried to hide the smile on her face as she heard Palom and Edge laugh and Porom beg them to stop, images came to her head of Cecil
and his noble visage, and of Rosa and her sweet, genuine smile. She could see Yang, standing tall and proud, Cid with his big, goofy grin, Edward
and his unending gentility and hidden braveries. Indeed, home was no longer a stationary place for the young woman. It was the people right
there with her, in her every step, every thought, and most importantly, in her heart.
~ € » « € ~
A figure, distant from the party stayed crouched in the grass, the rest of his patrol stationed similarly. He knew that soon they would have to
make a move, and at risk of life and limb, he and his men must stop this group from reaching Baron, at least until they were properly informed. Any
that entered those gates would surely be vanquished long before making it to the safety within.
This man had come a very long way to get here - all the way from the Toroian forests, and his appearance proved it, at least to a certain
extent. His features were soft and handsome, with chestnut-colored hair, and eyes as green as the lands he hailed from. The lithe and defined
frame he sported spoke of many long, intense hunting expeditions, of extensive shows of athleticism in a beautiful and deadly terrain, and more
than his share of romance and intrigue. The only thing setting him apart from the normal Toroian huntsman was the slight point atop his ears,
barely hidden beneath the wisps of his hair.
His name was Zacnaine Viento, known to his patrol and closest friends as "Zac", a hunter wise beyond his years, courageous and loyal
beyond belief, and a hero in all reguards. When Toroia had been attacked, Zacnaine, an outsider to the city and more suited to the life of the many
hunters wandering the forests, had brought in his men and fought off the invaders with the spirit and heart as if it was their own town they were
defending. Thanks to their selflessness, the casualties were limited, and while the city was near destroyed and abandoned during the attack, the
majority of the people were able to escape and find a new place in the surrounding mountains to dwell. All that was left was to wait for the proper
day to emerge and rebuild their once gorgeous and stately kingdom - a day the hopeful Toroians were sure would come.
For his efforts, the hunter was offered the first position as a male Captain of the Guard, but he refused. His reasons for coming to aid
Toroia were not purely for Toroia - but for the world. A dream had come to the young man, in which he was needed to help right the wrongs of his
people... of his own family.
Zacnaine was a descendent of a very curious race of people - more specifically, two curious races of people. His great great great
grandmother had been an elf of the Toroian forests, more akin to the fair and careless wood sprites than of their cousins, the twisted dark elves.
His great great great grandfather had been a great warrior of his people, and the very first of his kind to ever come to this planet.
His father had been a Lunarian.
~ € » « € ~
Kain, in the meantime, was spitting insults and curses at the young boy who was making this miserable time even worse. The only thought
currently in his head was vengeance upon these curs for overtaking him. His Master would be extremely angry if he knew what course the plan
had taken. Without the ever-watchful sentry of the mountains guarding Baron, who knows who might make it over. In the back of his mind, there
was a nagging that the secure pass had already been breached far before he had ever been apprehended.
But how?
He had been so careful... so calculating! Kain had been the best of all the dragoons during his service to Baron - he was the perfect guard. It
enraged him to think that someone had snuck past the Misty Mountains and past his ever watchful eye.
Well, he supposed it didn't really matter, now. Afterall, these fools who had captured him were taking him to the heart of the valley, straight
into Baron itself! If he was lucky, maybe he could make up his errors to his Master. What a prize it would be to overtake the great King Cecil, to
bring his ugly head to the Master on the tip of his spear. Maybe then, Kain could have what he had always wanted... but what he never could
have...
For the first time since his journey's beginning, a smirk crossed the dust-covered face of the dragoon.
~ € » « € ~
It was still a few days until either Edward or Edge, Rydia, Palom, and Porom (and, of course, Kain) reached Baron, but by an odd twist of fate, they all reached it at the same time. The only problem was that Edward reached it through the forest to the back of the castle, and the others decided to go through the city to check for any living persons.
~ € » « € ~
Edward took in a deep gulp of air. The castle, which had seemed to dance and waver in the far-away fog, now suddenly loomed up over them, solid and menacing. All the windows seemed to be hundreds of wide eyes, watching Edward and his men searching for a way inside. The doors, with their odd inwardly-curving designs, seemed to be evilly smiling mouths, hoping they would indeed find a way in, so that they could eat them alive. The young Damcyanite prince had to keep blinking and rubbing his eyes, for he swore he could see dark shapes hopping about the premises. He tried shakily to pass it off as ridiculous, about as ridiculous as the castle having eyes or mouths, but it didn't stop his heart from doing flip-flops and his stomach from housing an entire flock of butterflies.
"Majesty!"
Edward let out a little cry from the sudden shout, and turned about hastily to face his officer. "WHAT?! Ah... yes..? Yes, what is it?"
The knight scratched the back of his head and gave a little cough. "Well... there seems to be a shallow part of the--"
"I wasn't scared!" Edward interjected, straightening his feather-plume cap. "Just for the record."
"Of course not, Your Highness."
There was an uncomfortable silence. One guard shuffled his feet, and another looked nervously down at the ground. Edward waved one hand, dismissively. "Please, go on."
The soldier nodded his head. "We have found a shallow part of the moat. Using the chocobos, we might be able to cross it."
Edward nodded his agreement, but he wasn't really looking at the soldier. He was looking down into the darkness of the murky (and occasionally rippling) water of the moat, which clearly hadn't been drained in some time. Edward almost expected to see sea-monster dorsal fins skim along the top of the water any second... or worse.
"Majesty?"
"....yes?"
"Are we... should we cross now?"
Edward snapped his head up, away from the unpleasant sight of the moat. "Er... why, yes, of course! That is the plan, right?"
One of the other guards coughed, again.
With that, Edward waved his hands, and his four soldiers mounted atop their chocobos. With a stately straightening of his cap, Edward jumped up gracefully onto his chocobo... until his foot slipped on the stirrup. He let out a little "GAK!" but quickly regained his regality, straightening his shoulders and sitting up straight in his mount. He unsheathed the small, decorative blade he had taken with him (and never really intended to use), and pointed it firmly towards the castle with a swipe that took one of the feathers right off his poor chocobo's head.
"All right, men, onward!"
With that, the chocobos trotted into the murk, finding themselves up to the stirrups about midway through. Edward made a face, and looking at the blackish-green algae clinging to his poor bird, he felt he just might vomit. Looking sideways over at his soldiers, they seemed to be doing just fine. He sighed and rolled his eyes slightly.
Suddenly, something leaped from the water, causing a large splash and soaring right in front of Edward's chocobo. He shrieked, and pulled back on the reigns, causing his bird to rear up on one foot and give off a startled "Wark!" The thing landed on a nearby floating piece of gunk, and let out a horrible guffaw...
"Grrribbt."
All of the men looked at their prince, wide-eyed, as he clung, shaking, to the neck of his chocobo.
"Majesty..."
"Grrriibbbbttt."
"AAAHHH!! Don't you hear it?!" Edward waved a finger in the direction of the noise. "Kill it! Kill it! Kill it dead!"
"...it's a frog, Highness."
Edward blinked a few times, and then looked down at the large, brown bullfrog, "griibbtt"ing boredly. He could already feel the blush rising to his cheeks.
~ € » « € ~
The city was about as uplifting as the broken down castle. Buildings were cracked and falling apart, most boasting more than a few scorch marks from God knows what. There were no corpses present, but tattered articles of clothing and blankets were snagged across some doorways, barely a one of them not covered in blood. Edge, undaunted, continued to lead their chocobo by the reigns, a tired Rydia half-awake upon its back. Porom was seated behind her, fast asleep, her cherubic features calm and at peace, for once. Palom had refused to give into sleep, and in a zombie-like state, trudged alongside Edge. The ninja king couldn't help but grin a little, and he reached down to ruffle the young mage's brown curls. Palom looked up with half-lidded eyes.
"We're almost there," Edge laughed, nodding his head in the direction of the castle. "Then you can get to sleep."
That caused Palom to narrow his eyes a bit. "I'm not sleepy."
"Not even a bit?" Edge patted the chocobo's side, and they began to walk again.
Palom shook his head drowsily. "Nuh uh... I could go..." The youngster paused to rack his mind for a good solid number. "...I could go six days without sleep!"
Edge chuckled a bit at that. "I'd like to see that. The most I've ever gone is three... and that's about as much as anyone can go."
"Well..." Palom yawned. "I'm not... just anyone..." Against his will, the black mage's eyes shut into a sleep of exhaustion. Edge paused the chocobo, and with a resigned shrug, he picked up Palom and propped him onto his back, intending to carry him the rest of the way to the castle. Rydia, deathly tired, looked at Edge with one eyebrow raised.
"You know, Edge..."
Edge turned his head to face her, his expression quizzical.
Rydia managed a weak smile, which caused him to smile in return. "For such a big jerk, sometimes you can be really sweet."
He chuckled a little, looking back at the dusty road. "Thanks. I try."
With that, Rydia folded her arms across the chocobo's feathery neck, and rested her head down to find some much-needed sleep. Edge smiled a little bit to himself, kicking up a bit of the dust, and shaking his hair out of his eyes. "Sleep sweet, Rydia."
Kain nearly gagged as the cloud of dust passed over him. He really wanted to hurt that pompous son-of-an-imp.
~ € » « € ~
Within the castle walls, a few young men bordering the top walls looked at the small one-chocobo group headed through the street. Another patrol had alerted them of a few chocobo-back riders to the back of the castle, who were now trying to find a way into the courtyard. The oldest of the men, clad in unremarkable browns and blacks, ran a hand through his blue-white hair.
"Sir...?" one of the younger men questioned. "What should we do...?"
The older man considered the question. It would be wise to take down the intruders now, before they could reach the castle. They certainly had the skill and the arrows to do it - but something held him back. There was something achingly familiar about this odd little caravan, something he could not raise the word of attack against.
"Let them come in." This raised a gasp from his men. "We shall deal with them on our own turf."
One of the other men, seemingly a bit more feisty than the rest, scoffed a bit. "This whole city is our turf, sir. Why not deal with them now?"
This earned him a stern glare, one that made him shrink back into his cloak. "Outside of these castle walls..." The man paused, and looked back out to the group ever-approaching his castle gates. "...it is no one's turf."
