Final Fantasy 4 Redemption Chapter 1: The Dark Warrior - The Winter Fire Festival
Rydia suppressed the urge to cry as she sat
there, watching the festival. Mother...I can't believe it's been 12 years
since I last saw you...
Next to her,
Rosa
sat there, unmoving. Rydia periodically glanced at her, but she never seemed
to
notice. I wonder how she does that; stays perfectly still. I certainly
can't...but maybe that's a trick the Queen has to
learn.
Rydia glanced up at the front
again.
The village elder had stepped up to the podium, and was preparing to give a
speech to the crowd.
"My friends, we are
gathered here today to pay rememberance to those who died in the tragic fire
the
day the Crystal War began. We pray to Shiva, Indra, and all the summoned
monsters that their souls rest in
peace."
"I'd
like to turn the floor over to Queen Rosa of
Baron."
Rydia turned to look at Rosa, but
noticed she was already out of her seat, walking up to the top of the
platform.
She stepped in front of the podium and cleared her
throat.
"Every year, we gather here to
remember
those who died in that senseless tragedy. Despite great hardship and loss,
we
were successfully able to stop a great evil and avenge the loss of those we
hold
dear. I know that this knowledge can't bring those who died back, but at
least
take some comfort in knowing that the cause of this tragedy was finally
defeated, and will never be heard from
again..."
"I wouldn't say that, Queen,"
sneered
a mocking voice that seemed to come from behind the podium. Rydia was on the
podium in seconds, trying to see if she could do something to possibly
protect
Rosa or the elder. The Baronian Guard moved in to do the
same.
The man who had spoken climbed to the
top
of the platform, staring at Rosa. "You say the Crystal War is over, that the
darkness has been pushed back; but you forgot about me! Now I have returned
to
wreak my vengeance upon you, Baron, and those who dared to shame
me!"
"Rocalon! Stop! You have no chance of
succeeding at your dark objective!" Rosa cried in response. "Your evil is no
match for the might of Baron, and you know
it!"
Rocalon just laughed. "So you think my
power isn't enough to completely obliterate Baron? Well, why don't I give
you a
taste of my power, as a reminder of exactly how powerful I REALLY am!" And
with
that, Rocalon turned and gestured at a house in the
background.
The house burst into flame, and
the
flames quickly carried over to the next house. People scrambled to get
water,
trying desperatly to put the flames out; but it was to no avail. The mystic
fire
was unquenchable.
The Baronian Guard
prepared
to charge at Rocalon, but one gesture stopped them in their tracks. They
screamed in anguish, knowing that they were unable to do anything to save
their
Queen. Rydia, too, found herself frozen in place, and, thinking quickly,
pulled
a Heal Potion out of the bag she always carried with
her.
Rocalon turned back to Rosa. "Now you
see?
My power is beyond your pitiful comprehension. But there is one who's power
is
equal to my own...and that is why I am here. You tell Folken that I'll see
him
in Kaipo, or I'll wipe it off the face of the Blue Planet! You be sure to
deliver this message to him, your Majesty!" Rocalon then turned and calmly
strolled out of Mist.
Or at least he tried
to.
Rydia jumped on Rocalon, attacking him
while he wasn't looking. She quickly began to summon, knowing that standard
Black Magic, even as strong as hers, wouldn't be enough to defeat this man.
Rocalon also got up, anger flaming in his eyes. He planned on destroying
this
young upstart, who dared to attack him; but a better idea came to
him.
"Your magic is your life, isn't it?
You've
always strived to try and be as powerful as you can, to prevent something
like
this from happening. Well, what if you were to lose all the power you
gained?"
And Rocalon gestured again.
Rydia screamed
as
she felt the words to her spells fade from her mind. She quickly tried to
remember her spells, but all she could remember was basic Black and Summon
Magic; the same magic she knew when she was
young...
Rocalon just laughed. "Come back
when
you're a match for me. Until then, just deliver the message. I'll see you
around, your Majesty!" Rocalon turned around and walked out of Mist, heading
for
Kaipo.
Gasping in relief, Rosa quickly ran
over
to Rydia. "Are you all right, Rydia?"
"No,
I'm
not all right! That...that...he stole my spells! I can't remember anything
stronger than Fire1!" And now Rydia began to cry, unable to hold her tears
back.
One of the Baronian Guard walked up
to
Rosa. "What should we do, your
Majesty?"
Rosa
thought for a minute. She stared at the burning village, then replied, "You
know
where Folken is, Aria? We need to find him, fast; or the whole world may be
doomed."