Chapter 15: To the Moon!

Following Rosa and Cecil through a short corridor, Kain found himself in the room where he and the others had been teleported before he fainted. Now he had strength enough to wonder about the crystal in the middle of the room, but only did so briefly.

"Charming," Rydia's voice said, with a poisonous scent, "I bet you tell every girl you meet stuff like that, if they don't run screaming in the first place."

Edge's voice gave a short, dry laugh. It seemed like the two of them were behind the pillar.

"I conclude you consider yourself very brave, then?" he teased.

"I do, but the only reason I didn't back off the first time I saw you was that you were a miserable, defeated lump!"

"Now, now, lady, let's not bring up old mistakes."

"Better not," Rydia replied, "If you would make a list of yours, I'd die either of boredom or laughter."

"A heart of stone that perfect chest carries within..." Edge sighed.

"I wouldn't let my mind wander in that direction if I were you, my friend."

"They make such a sweet couple, don't they?" Cecil said with a tired smile. He raised his voice. "Get over here, you two!"

Edge and Rydia emerged from the pillar's other side. The ninja still watched Kain with disbelief, but the young woman smiled warmly at him. He was glad to know that his friends cared about him, it made his heavy thoughts a little lighter.

"Let's go to the moon and smash this Zemus, damn it!" Edge said, as if it was already set, "You know we can't stay here doing nothing!"

Zemus...?

"You're an idiot," Rydia snorted, "You mean we're just going there without planning or anything such complicated?"

"I don't know exactly what's going on," Kain growled, "but I agree with Edge!"

Everyone stared at him, this sudden anger that filled his voice had startled them all.

"Do you know something about Zemus?" Cecil carefully asked.

"I know that he controlled everyone, including Golbez and the fiends. That is enough for me; he is the one we must fight!"

"Let me explain everything to you," Rosa said to calm him, "When we went through the giant we got a lot of help from an old man named FuSoYa..."

Kain just listened, even though he already knew about the old man's name and that Cecil and Golbez were brothers. What he wanted most of all was to save time and enter the battle as soon as possible, and interrupting Rosa would only cost more, precious minutes.

"He and Zemus are both lunarians, which is a humanoid race. They have been sleeping inside of the moon for a long time, as the rest of their people. However, Zemus had sinister plans for the Earth, so FuSoYa sealed him away and forced him to sleep. But his mind wandered, and he found that a man of the lunarians, KluYa, had two half-human sons on Earth. Those are Golbez and Cecil. Zemus could easily control one of them since they were of his own race, picking Golbez."

She fell silent for a moment, and Kain realized that the chosen one just as well could have been Cecil instead. That realization almost made him shiver; the thought of his friend in the dark armor and black cloak, talking with the fiends...

Nobody said anything for a moment. Then Rosa continued:

"Now that Golbez's mind is free, he decided to come with FuSoYa and help him defeat Zemus."

"I say we go and help them!" Kain said, grimly.

He knew that he would fight with anger and the pure wish of avenging Valvalis. But he couldn't help the hate he carried within. Valvalis had suffered and died, just as many, many others, only because of Zemus. It could by no means be tolerated any longer.

The room was silent for a moment. Then Cecil slowly nodded.

"Alright. We'll go to the moon again," he said, "but..." He turned to Rosa. "You and Rydia won't come with us."

She stared at him, mouth open. Rydia did the same.

"What?!" Rosa finally stuttered.

"It's different this time," Cecil gravely said, "Nothing can assure our return. Therefore I don't want you to come."

"I won't leave you behind!"

"Neither will I!" Rydia snapped.

"Come on now," Edge smirked, "Be a good girl and stay home."

Rydia gave him an extraordinarily cold gaze, and this time she was really mad. Edge blinked, realizing that he might have gone too far this time. But the caller didn't say anything.

"I won't go!" Rosa said, almost desperately.

"Yes you will!" Cecil harshly cried. "I don't want you to die, now leave the ship. Please, Rosa!"

She stared at him for a moment longer, then she turned around and went down a staircase in the room's bottom corner without a single word. Still silent, Rydia followed her. Cecil clenched his teeth and stared at the floor for a moment. Kain knew that his friend had suffered greatly giving Rosa such an order. It hurt the dragoon as well. The prince of Eblan only sighed a bit as Rydia disappeared.

"Let's go." Cecil said.

He went up the stairs to the crystal and said something in a low, demanding voice. Everything shook a bit, and Kain felt the familiar sensation of being inside of something that was flying. He had grown accustomed to it as he had grown up in Baron, with its airships.

"To the moon again," Edge said, in a strangely lazy voice, "Well, better get equipped." He went down into the corridor leading to the room with the beds, probably only because he needed to get the belt with his katanas. He seemed to have everything else. Except Rydia. Kain easily saw, with a bitter smile, that the prince of Eblan and the caller of Mist undoubtedly liked each other very much, though they'd rather die than admit it. The dragoon lazily looked at the grey floor.

'Valvalis, I will avenge you!' he thought, frowning.

He was well aware he was a fool for even start feeling something for her in the first place, she had been a fiend... but he couldn't help it. The way she had made him nervous as they had met in Baron, in the cell... all the time she had seemed so confused. Kain had only known her for a short while, during which she had intended to kill him a few times, but... it was hopeless trying to deny anything, or even point out how silly and foolish it was. Valvalis was dead, and she had brought a major part of Kain with her.

He heard Cecil walk the same path as Edge, also intending to get equipped. The dragoon concluded that he might as well do the same.

"We've landed." Cecil concluded.

"Then let's go." Edge grimly said.

Kain followed his two comrades towards the exit. Cecil was about to walk down the stair when he suddenly drew back with a surprised gasp, forcing the dragoon and Edge to step backwards.

"Rosa?!" the paladin whispered.

She stepped into the room, her arms resolutely crossed and with a harsh look in her eyes. "I'm not leaving you behind, Cecil!" she said.

"It's too dangerous, you..."

"I'm not moving an inch if you don't agree to let me come with you," Rosa said, coldly, "If you die, I will be with you!"

Cecil hesitated.

"Damn it, Cecil!" Edge exclaimed, "You have a woman begging to come with you, and you shove her away? Rydia obviously called the wrong person a moron!"

The paladin sighed.

"Alright, then," he said.

He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Rosa. She suddenly smiled warmly and buried her hands in his thick hair.

"It worked!" somebody cheered.

Rydia entered from below, grinning broadly.

"Oh, I see I have yet some hard times ahead!" Edge smiled.

"Right you are, oh prince-of-the-world's-lousiest-pick-up-lines." the caller laughed. She gave the three men a smirking look. "I'm not a 'good girl' who stays home, you know. Besides, I'm the only caller you've got."

Cecil smiled a bit, then he turned his whole mind to Rosa again. He held her tightly, and they kissed.

"Whatever happens," the paladin softly mumbled, "I will protect you."

'If only I could have promised you the same, Valvalis...' Kain sadly thought, 'I'm sorry, my friend, but I will just have to do what I can and defeat the devil who tormented you.'

Chapter 16: The Birth of Zeromus

"Zemus sure has some sour pets!" Edge grumbled, grimly watching the giant, yellowish bat with the enormous eye dissolve on the floor.

"Holy power of healing, please heal us all!" Rosa exclaimed.

Cecil rubbed the blood from his lips and lifted the glowing spear from its carved stone-pillow as the light ceased. "And we have another sacred weapon." he grinned.

Holding the spear forth, he turned to Kain.

"It belongs to you, I believe."

"Indeed." Kain said.

He took the spear, and it buzzed softly as he held it. The weapon amazed him, just as all the other holy weapons they had found on their way down through the moon; the Masamune and Murasame that Edge now wielded, Cecil's new sword... and now this.

The spear was made of a material unfamiliar to the dragoon; it was heavy as iron but was similar to pearl. He couldn't find a better description. It glowed softly, almost like a promise of power and victory. He smiled at it, as a new friend, and it buzzed in his grip.

"Come, I think that we are closing in." Cecil said and once more took the lead.

Kain didn't think much for the moment. He was silently preparing himself for the approaching battle.

"Oh, my..." Rosa said as they went down a staircase after a short walk and entered something completely new.

She wasn't the only surprised one. Leaving the dusky, cold caves of the moon, the small troop had now stepped out into a world made of crystals. The floor and stairs ahead were clear as glass, held up by pillars of the same material. The distant cave-walls were reddish and somehow flaming; light came from a gigantic orb below. Somehow, Kain knew that the glowing orb was their destination. He noticed that the others also looked down, frowning. They all knew, and hurried on.

There were few monsters here, and by now Kain and his comrades had become strong enough to beat even two Behemoths with little trouble. They were determined not to let anything stand in their way. And so, they used yet another teleporting-plate to move on. They had used so many by now that Kain couldn't count them all. But this time, it wasn't silent where they materialized. There was the sound of a battle, above several stairs.

"Hurry!" Kain growled, and he rushed upwards after Cecil.

Then he saw Zemus.

The lunarian was even taller than Rubicant, dressed in a dark cape. His skin was purple, his claw-like hands moved like snakes as he chanted. Below the bold forehead his dark, cold eyes flashed by his chanting.

"Meteo!" two voices yelled in unison before Zemus had finished his spell.

It was Golbez and FuSoYa. They stood on each side of the wicked one, their faces strained in determination and the torment of controlling the powerful magic.

"Good, show your power!" Zemus snarled.

Then the burning rocks started crashing upon him, and he fell.

FuSoYa and Golbez stood there, gulping for air, watching the seemingly defeated enemy, waiting for the slightest movement. But Zemus didn't even seem to breath. Slowly, the two standing warriors lowered their hands.

"Pity," FuSoYa sighed, "He wasted his whole life on hate..."

"Hey!" Edge yelled, cheering.

Golbez and the lunarian turned around in surprise as they heard the call and the footsteps. "Oh, you came!" FuSoYa smiled.

With a slight sigh, Kain looked at the one he had come to defeat. Zemus was dead, that was for sure. Was it enough to see him die? The dragoon nodded inside of his mind. It had to be enough. He had to keep his rage down, or he'd turn into the wrong kind of warrior sooner or later; one blind to anything except his own hatred. Valvalis was avenged, and that was what Kain had wished most of all. He was a bit disappointed he hadn't been able to help out more, but Zemus was dead and that was the only important thing. Kain hoped that his love's spirit would be able to find rest now.

"Cecil...?" Golbez carefully said.

But the paladin turned away. Everybody looked at him, sadly. Just as Cecil had done, his brother had chosen to change paths. Yet that wasn't enough for the paladin to forgive. Not yet, anyhow.

"Cecil..." Rosa said, softly. She put her hand on his cheek, comforting, trying to encourage a feeling of forgiveness. But her loving powers had no chance to begin working, because there was suddenly a screech. Everyone spun around.

"I'm not gone yet...!" Zemus snarled.

His body was consumed in eerie flames, and out of it stepped a horrible monster, covered with long, grey tentacles. Its fierce jaws were blood red, its eyes burned.

"I am Zeromus," it screeched, "product of Zemus' hatred! Now you will know the meaning of true suffering!"

A massive wave of dark energy brought everyone to their knees. Kain gritted his teeth in pain; his skin burned while his flesh felt colder than ice. He fell to the ground, unable to move. He saw, through the dancing, purple stars before his eyes, that his friends also dropped.

"Death only increased his hatred...!" FuSoYa growled through his clamped teeth and slowly managed to stand up.

Snarling in pain, Golbez forced himself to arise from the ground. The two men approached Zeromus, determined to fight or die.

'Golbez, be careful...!' Kain thought, though his brain felt as if daggers penetrated it as it accomplished the mere task of thinking.

'Hang on, Kain!' the man in black grimly answered.

"Meteo!" two voices once more demanded in unison.

For a second time, burning rocks fell through the air. But as they hit Zeromus, they seemed to be absorbed by his tentacles, and he gave a screeching laughter.

"Use the crystal!" FuSoYa yelled, with despair in his voice.

Shaking from the dark waves, Golbez reached for his belt and brought forth a glistening stone, as big as a man's fist, from a small bag. He held it above his head, and it sent a wave of white, shivering bubbles at Zeromus. But the foe only laughed again, as the pure power faded before touching him at all.

"One who follows a dark path cannot use the crystal to summon light!" he sneered.

"Damn!" Golbez snarled.

"Meteo!"

By Zeromus' call, Golbez and FuSoYa were hit by several flaming stones, all bigger than any of the two men. They fell to the ground, lifeless.

'No...!' Kain thought, desperately, 'It can't end this way...'

"Suffer and die!" Zeromus screeched. "My hatred will destroy everything!" (There goes the Void-thing again. Viva la Final Fantasy... author's stupid note.)

It was the end. It was just as when they had all been paralyzed by Golbez in the land of the dwarves, yet this time there wasn't going to be any friends coming to save the day. Everyone of their friends were stuck on Earth, and they wouldn't have been able to help anyway. Cid, the eccentric mechanic, Yang, who Kain never had a chance to know better... and Valvalis was dead, even if she had been able to help in any way. It was really the end this time, for Kain, for Cecil, for Rosa, Rydia, Edge, FuSoYa and Golbez. And judging from Zeromus' character, they were only the first ones. He was surely going to proceed to his own, sleeping people, and then go to the Earth to fulfill his work. Nothing and nobody could stop him now...

'Kain.'

He startled at the careful, soft voice inside his head.

'Val... valis...?'

Chapter 17: For the Love of a Fiend

Even Kain's mind was about to break down from the pain. But suddenly, it didn't seem to matter.

'Kain, don't give up. Your and Cecil's friends are sending you their powers,' Valvalis' voice whispered inside of his burning brain. 'Look!'

He moved his head. Cecil had gotten to his feet, shaking and unsteady. But he stood, and he walked towards Zeromus. As the paladin reached his fallen brother, Golbez reached up a hand, the one holding the crystal.

"Golbez..." Cecil whispered with a hoarse voice.

"My brother..." the man in black stuttered, "Take the crystal and entrust it with your power!"

"Yes."

Cecil took the crystal, and Golbez's hand fell. The paladin turned to Zeromus and spoke:

"I am not defeated yet... Zeromus, this is the end!"

'Stand up, Kain!' Valvalis said.

He shivered, the dark magic had drawn most of his strength. But he rose up on his arms, moved his weight from the knees to the feet and stood up.

'I know you will win!' Valvalis smiled, encouraging.

'I won't let this devil be victorious, my love, I swear!' the dragoon silently growled. Around him, Rosa, Rydia and Edge also got to their feet, gasping in pain but determined not to give up.

Suddenly, there were several half invisible figures standing between the warriors and Zeromus, facing Cecil. There were Yang, Cid, a young, blond man who Kain recalled from the now distant fight in Fabul, a small boy and a girl, apparently twins, dressed in Mysidian clothing, and that old man who had died as he had used Meteo in a failed attempt to kill Golbez in the tower of Zot. They all smiled, yelling their own cheers:

"Don't give up! Concentrate and fight, we will lend you our power!"

Kain felt his strength return, and he reached for his glowing spear.

'I will give you all the power I can,' Valvalis softly whispered, 'and I wish you luck, Kain.'

'I wish that we could have had a chance to know each other better, Valvalis...' the dragoon sadly thought.

Cecil raised the crystal, holding it in both his hands as the many illusions of the friends dissolved.

'I wish that as well,' Valvalis whispered, with a slight bitterness in her voice, 'and I hope that you can forgive me for what I did to you. I now give you my remaining strength, with the love for you that almost sent me to where you now are.'

'For my love for you... nothing you did in fear matters to me.'

The crystal in Cecil's hands exploded with pure bubbles of light, which swarmed towards Zeromus. He roared in rage as the sacred power hit him, and his body with all the tentacles cracked up. From out of it, as a hatching demon, an embodiment of every man's nightmare arose. It was so hideous it couldn't be described, but Kain grabbed his spear in both hands, determined not to let the fear bring him down.

"We fight for every living thing!" Cecil shouted and drew his glowing sword.

"Go! You must be brave!" FuSoYa yelled, somewhere behind Kain.

Edge smiled ironically and looked sideways at the grim Rydia. "You have to admit that this being is uglier than me, sweetness." the prince of Eblan said.

The caller's determination split up in a short moment's smile. "I give," she said. "You are handsome as a god in comparison."

Edge smiled broadly. "Ah, those words fulfill my life, now it doesn't matter what happens here!" he said.

Then both of them turned back into grim warriors, resolutely facing their foe, ready for battle.

Rosa's and Cecil's lips touched briefly. Kain knew what his friends were doing; if they shouldn't survive, at least they would have said farewell to the ones they loved.

'I love you, Valvalis,' he thought, 'I might be a total idiot, but I do.'

'Both of us are idiots in this love,' she replied. 'Will you please fight for the memory of Rubicant as well, since he wanted to help me?'

'For anyone you called a friend and meant it, my love.'

'I thank you. Good luck, love!'

Zeromus roared and charged, but a massive wave of fire from the dragon king Bahamut's mouth forced him to draw back a little. Kain jumped as Edge sent one of his old katanas flying through the air, burying it to the hilt in Zeromus' chest.

"All good powers, lend me your strength and send me thy blessings!" Rosa yelled, conjuring a tornado of shining orbs, all aiming for the demon.

Cecil rushed forward, protected by the confusion the holy magic provided. The paladin's sword cut deeply into what probably was Zeromus' stomach, while Kain's spear was buried into what theoretically was a back. The evil creature roared in pain and sent out wave after wave of dark power at its enemies, but Kain ignored it. He fought back the wish to succumb to the pain that the darkness sent through his body, and ripped out the spear. Green blood stained Zeromus' back and the holy weapon that Kain wielded. The dragoon jumped again, weary of Rydia's second call. Another proof of Bahamut's powers hit Zeromus, and before he had recovered, he had recieved several new, deep cuts from the three men's weapons. He screeched, trying to fight back his foes with both magic and his powerful arms, all in vain.

"All good powers...!"

"Meteo!"

"Now, Cecil!" Kain shouted as he rushed downwards.

The paladin leaped, stabbing. There was a half-strangled thump! to be heard from the inside of Zeromus. The sword and the spear had hit each other in the middle of the demon's body. But it still wasn't enough. The two warriors were sent flying in each direction, clenching their weapons in tight grips. Edge rushed forwards, but a heavy arm hit him. He flew backwards and would have fallen past the platform's edge, down into the depths of the planet, if Rydia hadn't got a grip of his hands and changed his flight. They both fell down, only a few feet from the plateau's end. Without hesitating, both of them got to their feet, ready to continue the fight.

Cecil had been temporary knocked out as Zeromus had hit him, and now he was shaking his head, trying to stand up. The demon noticed this and turned to him, opening the enormous mouth and unveiling one foot long, sharp teeth. But before Zeromus could bite, Rosa had rushed over to Cecil and shot an arrow that hit the monster's throat.

Not even that killed Zeromus, yet he screeched in pain and charged forward. Cecil had managed to get up by then, though, and he ran out of the way, holding Rosa's hand in his.

"Everyone, now!" the paladin shouted.

Rosa and Rydia closed their eyes, mumbling. Cecil grabbed the hilt of his sword in both hands; he held it for another, powerful stab. Edge held a katana in each hand, ready to cut through anything. And Kain jumped.

"Bahamut, I conjure you!"

"... Send me thy blessings!"

As the blinding wave of fire and the holiest of all magic hit the foe, Kain put all his weight into the spear, and Cecil leaped forward followed by Edge.

The four weapons penetrated Zeromus' throat.

Every movement froze for one second.

Zeromus gave a loud, gurgling sound.

He began to fall into pieces, all of the loose parts dissolving as they left the falling, main body.

Kain hit the ground.

Zeromus was gone.

It was over.

'I have avenged you, Valvalis...' Kain thought.

But she didn't answer. Sadly, he guessed that she had given him all that was left of her to help him in the battle.

'Rest in peace, my love.' he thought, bitterly.

His first love hadn't loved him, and his second had died. Two times, even. He almost hoped that he would never find a third, since it seemed like he couldn't carry any warm feelings towards anyone without somebody getting hurt.

"You did it!" FuSoYa cheered, jumping wildly up and down despite his age.

"Yes, indeed." Golbez smiled.

"Now I can return to my people and continue to sleep for a while," the old lunarian said. "It's better that way. I want to thank you all for coming to our aid."

He bowed, and then started walking towards the long staircase rising from the platform.

"Wait," Golbez said, "I want to come with you."

FuSoYa turned around with a kind smile.

"But..." he began.

Golbez shook his head.

"I cannot return to Earth. Besides, I'd like to meet my own people."

"Very well," FuSoYa replied after a short hesitation, "but it will be a long sleep."

Golbez nodded, and then turned around to look at the paladin and leader of the heroes.

"Cecil..." he slowly said, making one last attempt to ask for forgiveness and peace. But Cecil looked at the floor, his eyes filled with confusion and questions. Golbez sighed and began to follow FuSoYa up the stair.

Then suddenly Cecil straightened up, looking after the man in black and the bearded one. "Brother...!" the paladin exclaimed, "farewell!"

Golbez turned around, with a small, careful smile.

"Thank you, brother." he said.

Then he continued up the stairs.

Click here for the conclusion...