The Crystal Chronicle

The Crystal Chronicle
By
Luminous Blane
Edited by Anonymous R

Notes: First off, I’ve always had sort of an impression from FF:CC that the cultures were based on Gaelic and Celtic cultures. As a result, I looked up some baby names, and that’s where the names come from in this fic. The main character DOES have some of the best stuff in the game. I just wanted to make sure it was clear. Now, the caravaners in this are going to be two Clavats, a Selkie, a Yuke, and a Lilty. Here’s a bit of a visual guide based on the style/race/gender combinations in the game.

Keith, male Clavat: headband.
Riley, female Clavat: long hair.
Caryn, female Selkie: wolfie.
Cailean, male Lilty: bare head.
Cassidy, male Yuke: long beak.

Chapter One

Setting Out

The town of Tipa erupted in cheers as the crystal surged with brilliant light, the myrrh granting it power for another year. Roland stepped forward, raising a hand, urging the crowd to calm down.

“Friends, it has been twenty years since this caravan first left us. They have always made their return with myrrh and stories of adventure and victory,” Roland began, “And though a few brave souls were lost, they died in the hopes that their sacrifice would protect us from the miasma. Now, the time has come for a new caravan to set out. One week from this evening, they will go forth into the world. To the retiring caravan, thank you for all you have done for us. To those now stepping forward, God bless you and all the courage you take with you.”
People danced long into the night, eating, singing, and forgetting all of their sorrows. Roland stepped into the crowd, seeking out a young Clavat boy, and taking him aside.

“Is something wrong, Roland?” the boy inquired.

“Keith…You have committed to the caravan. Yet…your father died on the quest for myrrh, and your mother died after you were born.” Roland replied, “You‘re an orphan, Keith, and it’s all because of the caravan. No one would blame you if you decided to back down.”

Keith hung his head a bit, and then raised it, a sort of fire in his eyes.

“All I ever knew of my father is that he was a great man, and that he lived his life searching for myrrh to keep the village safe. I never knew him, but…this way, I can at least know the life he lived.”

“Come with me, Keith. I have something to give you.” Roland walked off to his home, a warm smile on his face, a bewildered Keith close behind. Roland bent low over a chest, fiddling with the latch; moments later, he produced a sword and shield.

“These were your father’s, Keith. A shield of legend, and the greatest sword our village has ever seen. I now give these to you.” Roland explained.

“B- But, Roland… These are amazing… Shouldn’t you give these to someone who can put them to better use? Lord knows I’m not the best swordsman in the world.” Replied Keith.

“Be that as it may, Keith, this sword and this shield are your birth right. Take them. Hold them with pride," Roland continued, pushing the equipment into Keith's arms. “You wear them well, Keith. Now go. This will be your last week here before you leave…Spend it with your foster family.”

Keith nodded, putting the blade in a scabbard on his belt, and walking out to the myrrh festival, going to sit with his adoptive sister, Riley.

“Hey, Keith. What did Rola-- …My god… That shield is amazing! Where did you get it?” she exclaimed.

“Roland gave it to me. It was my father’s, as was this sword.” Keith replied, unsheathing the blade, Riley's eyes widening to immense size as he did.

“That’s amazing! …So…Keith…do you think we’ll be alright out there?”

Riley fiddled with the end of her hair, her eyes moving slowly from the sword to his face, and then to the ground.

“Don’t worry about it, Riley. If we spend all our time worrying, we’ll never get anything done. We just have to try to get the myrrh.” He put his comforting arm over his foster sister’s shoulder, smiling at her.

“You’re right, Keith. Anyway, I… I have to head on home… I’m getting tired. I’ll see you later.” She waved back at him, running off.

“Keith, I’m proud of you. I know you’re not my son, but I still can’t help but admire the young man you’ve grown to be. But now that the caravaners have been chosen, I think I should warn you…Keep an eye on that Selkie girl. They’re notorious thieves," Riley's father said, now standing beside Keith, a smile on his face, "I wouldn’t bet my last Gil that she doesn’t plan on abandoning the caravan and making off with a chalice full of myrrh to sell to another town. But always listen to that Lilty in battle. I know their family well, and he’s been studying strategy since he was little.”

“Thank you, Arion…I’ll keep that in mind.” Keith replied, yawning, before heading back home and going to bed.

He had one week left to ready his mind. He had all the supplies he needed, but still he was fraught with questions about what would lie on the road ahead of him. He fell into a restless sleep, dreams of adventure running through his head.

A week passed, as each member of the caravan prepared themselves for the world outside of Tipa. They loaded their valuables and belongings onto the wagon; they checked and rechecked their supplies, and their equipment. Sobbing mothers wishing their children the best and younger siblings giving threats to their brothers and sisters of what would happen to them if they didn’t make it back.

“May the heavens watch over you on your journey. We await your return eagerly, caravaners. Stay safe, friends.” Roland waved at them as the papaopamus pulled the wagon out of the village. The caravan was on its way.

The Yuke, Cassidy, took the reins, guiding the wagon, as the others walked near it, wary of monsters.

“According to the journal of the old caravan, we should find a myrrh tree at the River Bell path.” Riley said, smiling at Keith.

“Well, let’s go there, then,” said the young Selkie woman, a hint of annoyance in her voice. “I just wanna hurry up and get done with this… Dammit, we’ve got a wagon, why the hell are we all walking? And why isn’t the Yuke? My feet are killing me…”

“We need to keep our goal in mind. We’ve got to get the myrrh or people could die.” Keith explained,
putting a hand on her shoulder.

“Yeah, well, we could die getting the myrrh. Ever think of that?” the Selkie woman retorted.

“Of course I have.” Keith spat his words with anger. “My father died on the caravan.”

She frowned, her eyes growing soft.

“I…I’m sorry, I didn’t know…”

“…It’s alright…here,” Keith knelt down, “If you’re that tired, climb on. Just…don’t expect this to be a common thing.”

The Selkie rolled her eyes, but swallowed her pride, welcoming the free ride as she climbed onto his back and he carried her. Cailean, the Lilty, and Riley stared at the two of them, each holding in a bit of a laugh. Cassidy, however, kept his eyes fixed on the road ahead. Hours later, he pulled back on the reins, stopping the papaopamus.

“It’s nightfall. We should set up camp,” He told them, grabbing some bannock bread from the wagon, and taking it to feed the papaopamus. Cailean brought out a lamp and the crystal chronicle journal, writing his thoughts in it.

“Hey, Keith?” Riley called, running up to him, her chocolate eyes glowing a bit with the light of Cailean’s lamp.

“Yeah, Riley?” Keith stretched, his back popping a few times, before getting the cooking equipment from the wagon.

“I’m…a little uneasy…could I sleep with you tonight?” She rubbed her arm, blushing.

“Sure, no problem.” Keith smiled, patting her shoulder, setting up the wagon for the night, only bothering to set up four sets of bedding.

After a meager meal, Keith climbed into the wagon, yawning, exhausted from the long walk, as well as having to carry Caryn for so long. Moments later, Riley climbed into the wagon, cuddling up against him, and falling asleep, neither of them aware of the gaze of the Selkie fixed firmly on their sleeping forms.

The morning sun brought energy to the Tipa caravan, and they continued their march towards the River Bell Path. Cassidy tied the papaopamus’ reins to a piece of an old fence, and unloaded the crystal chalice, holding it under his long arm.

“Here’s the plan. Yuke: you’re on the back line; Clavats, you two stay by the Yuke. His kind aren’t that well suited for close combat, but while we fight whatever’s in there, he’ll be spinning his magic; I’ll take point, and the Selkie--”

“--Will scout ahead and gather treasure,” Caryn interrupted the excited Lilty, running off into the miasma, a scarf tied around her mouth and nose to help filter the air. Keith nearly began to charge after her, but collided with the shaft of a spear.

“Let her go, Keith. There’s no reasoning with her kind, and you wouldn’t be able to catch up anyway. She should be fine as long as she circles back into the chalice’s barrier once in a while.” Cailean explained, marching forward, his spear tight in his gauntlet-clad fists.

Keith nodded, readying his sword and shield; Riley did the same, Cassidy holding the chalice in one hand and his mace in the other. Together they marched on, slaying several monsters, before finally making their way to the end of the path, where they found an enormous crab batting Caryn into a tree with its gigantic claw.

Without a word, Cailean rushed forth, his spear finding its way into the shoulder of the crab's left arm, and with a gut-wrenching crack, he dislocated its smaller, scythe-like claw.

The crab leapt into the air, the Lilty falling into the lake as it ascended into the sky. Cassidy summoned a pillar of flame, colliding with the underbelly of the monster. The crab knocked him aside with its massive claw, before turning its sights to Riley, who stood petrified, trembling in fear, her sword shaking in her grasp.

It swung its claw straight down at her to crush her into the ground. As she braced herself for the impact, holding her shield above herself, the very claw was cleaved in half by Keith’s blade. Dashing in, he rammed his sword into the eye of the beast with as much force as he could muster.

As he tore his blade from the beast, it fell to the ground, reeling in pain, and retreating into its cave behind the waterfall. Helping his allies to their feet, they all tried to catch their breath, except Cassidy, who carried the chalice to the myrrh tree.

“Are you alright?” Keith asked, helped the Selkie to her feet.

“It’s nothing that’ll kill me…” She replied, forcing a smile despite her pain.

The Lilty dragged his spear out of the lake with Riley’s help, his armor weighing him down in the water. As they approached the Myrrh tree, Cassidy placed the chalice on the pedestal, a drop of myrrh falling slowly into it, keeping shape even where it would overflow.

As the others stood in awe of the sight, the Yuke lifted the chalice, and began making his way back to the caravan’s wagon, stumbling, and turning around, bewildered, after a small stone collided with his head.

“Where’re you going? We have to split up the loot,” said Caryn, unfolding a blanket full of small treasures, many of them carrying magical energy.

The group gathered around them, and it wasn’t long before civil discussion broke down to childish bickering over who got to keep what.

“Damn it, shut up, everybody!” Riley exclaimed.

They turned their heads, astonished to see the quiet Riley shouting, especially with such words as few had heard cross her lips.

“Look, we all did our part, but some of us did better than others. Keith, you took out the monster, you should get first pick, and then Cailean for taking out so many other monsters on the way. Caryn, you’ll go third because you gathered so much treasure, and Cassidy, you bore the chalice the whole time, and you deserve something out of that. I’ll go last, if anything’s left, because…well…when that crab attacked, all I could do was stand there like an idiot…”

Keith stared at his sister, before looking to the treasures assembled before them, and making his choice. Quietly, as the others made their choices, he approached her. “Are you ok, Riley?”

“I’m fine…Useless, but fine…” She could barely keep back the tears of frustration and shame as he placed his hand on her shoulder.

“You’re not useless…You just-- you choked. I don’t think anybody’s disappointed in you. You’ll just have to try harder next time. Hell, you’re a better swordsman than I am. Every time we spar, it ends with me on my ass covered in bruises. Once you‘re used to real combat, you‘ll be amazing. Until then…I‘ll protect you, ok?” Riley nodded, blushing hard, staring into his eyes. Caryn approached the two of them on silent, graceful feet, a strange feeling growing in her gut as she saw them looking at each other.

“Hey, Riley? It’s your turn.” As the young clavat left her brother, Caryn smiled at him. “You’re quite the hero, y’know? We were all but done for when you jumped into that mess.”

“Well, I did what I had to do. The whole village needs that myrrh, and I can’t just leave my friends to die.”

“Friends? I don’t know about the others, but you only just met me. Besides, I’m a selkie, sure you want me for your friend?”

“We’re all going to travel together for a long time…each one of us, for whatever reason, decided to join the crystal caravan, Caryn. Whatever the reason we joined, we’re all trying to get the myrrh to keep Tipa safe together. I’d trust each one of you to watch my back in a pinch…looks like we’re set to go. Let’s get back to the wagon.” Walking back with the rest of the group, he left Caryn there, staring at him, stunned by both his trust and his kindness.

Just as the caravan slowly began to move, it came to a stop, as a group of heavily armored Lilties came to greet them.

“Hail, caravaners!” Their leader shouted, saluting them. “You are the caravan of Tipa, are you not?”

“Yeah, who wants to know?” Caryn spat, leering at him.

“Pardon my manners, I am Sol Racht.”

“THE SOL RACHT!?” Cailean stared at him with excitement. “You’re a legend! You’re like, the greatest soldier of Alfitaria!”

“Please, young sir, calm yourself. I am Sol Racht of Alfitaria, but on these roads, we are all merely travelers. Is this your first year as a caravan?”

“It is,” Keith stepped forward. “Do you have any tips on where we should head next? We’ve just gathered some myrrh at the River Belle path.”

“You could try the mushroom forest,” Sol Racht replied, “But I’m a bit worried about the Malboro there…”

“Malboro? What’s that?”

“As I’m sure you’ve noticed, there are greater monsters that set up their homes on the paths to myrrh trees. I believe they’re attracted to myrrh… At any rate, in the mushroom forest, near the myrrh tree, lives the Malboro, a creature so poisonous that its very breath can cause a man to fall to his knees with sickness.”

“Can’t be worse than dad’s breath,” Riley whispered to Keith, who could barely suppress a chuckle.

“Well, while I wish to continue our conversation, the day is moving on without us. Good luck, Tipa caravan, and good travels!” Sol Racht departed with his caravan, marching off into the distance.

“Alright, everyone. Onward to the mushroom forest.” and onward the caravan marched. For three full days, they headed north, before confronting what they had been dreading more than anything else…the miasma stream. Each one of them climbed into the wagon before entering, huddling tight around the chalice. This was the most concentrated miasma in the world. If they took even a bit of it into their lungs, the best they could hope for would be to live the rest of their days in an endless sleep. After a full day of travel through the stream, they set up camp to the southwest, near the bank of the Jegon River.

“Bad news, guys. I’ve just taken inventory of our supplies. We’re four days from the next town, and we’ve only got enough food for two.” Cassidy said, holding an abacus in his feathered hand as he told them of their situation.

“Not such bad news…” Caryn replied, going to the wagon and retrieving a bucket, walking towards the river.

“I said food, Caryn…We’ve got plenty of water.” Caryn just glared at him.

“I know I’m a Selkie, but would it kill ya to trust me a little? I’ll be back in a bit.”

Without another word, she leapt into the water, bucket in hand. A few silent moments later, she broke the surface of the water, catching Keith’s eye as she threw her head back, looking like some beautiful angel of the waters, drops falling from her as she shook her head, approaching the shore with the bucket held above her head. She set it down promptly, a fish flopping about inside; Cassidy stared in a bit of disbelief.

“How did you keep the fish from simply swimming out of the bucket?” He asked.

“Well, you don’t grow up a fisherman’s daughter without learning a few tricks. Let’s get a fire going; I’m hungry, and these suckers are looking delicious!” Within minutes, and much to the distaste of the Clavats present, the Tipa caravan gorged on a feast of fish, sitting quietly until the time came to unfold their bedding in the wagon.

“Hey, Keith?” Caryn approached him as the others entered the wagon to sleep, a tired Riley watching the two of them out the back of the wagon. “I’d like to talk to you just for a little bit…if you don’t mind, I mean.”

“Sure, alright,” Keith replied, moving away from the wagon, giving the two of them some quiet and privacy.

“I just felt like I needed to tell you... I mean, you’re always talking about how we all joined the caravan for our own reasons… I don’t know why I feel this way, but it feels like I owe you an explanation for why I joined. I wanted to be trusted.”

“What do you mean?” Keith put a hand on her back as she hung her head.

“You don’t know what it’s like to be a Selkie. Outside of Leuda, most towns and cities won’t even let you live there. If you go into a store, the owner will follow you around until you leave, just to make sure you don’t steal anything. Roland’s kind and understanding, and he knows we’re not all thieves and scoundrels, but…a lot of the townspeople just don’t trust us… And I think about how, every year, everyone looks up to the people in the caravan…”She said, her eyes beginning to well up with tears as she stared at the stars.

“Every year, these people who we rely on to save our lives are celebrated, and sent off, and why? Because we trust them to come back with the myrrh. And they always do…I just…once in my life, I want to be trusted like that. And you talked about how you trusted me earlier….I want you to know how much that means to me, Keith.” He nodded quietly, putting an arm over her shoulder, his mind searching for words of comfort, but finding nothing to say, and sitting with her for a long quiet while, before both retired to the wagon.

The caravan rolled on, following the river to keep near a source of food, for two days, approaching the mushroom forest. On the second day, Riley called them to a halt, and despite the Yuke’s protests of conserving food, a young, badly injured, unconscious Moogle was taken onto the wagon.

“We don’t even know the Moogle, Riley. It could be an angry, vicious sort of beast.”

“I don’t care, Cassidy. This poor thing is hurt,” She paused, wrapping the Moogle in a blanket, “So I’m going to make him feel better.”

“Give up now, Cassidy,” Keith warned, “Mom argued with her about a bird she found with a hurt wing for months. She couldn’t get Riley to leave it in the wild, you’re not gonna be able to convince her to abandon the Moogle.” Cassidy sighed with exasperation under his helmet.

“Very well, but remember, he’s your responsibility.”

The next day, the Tipa caravan found itself outside of the mushroom forest. Hitching the papaopamus in place, and giving it a feed bag, they departed the road with their crystal chalice, the Moogle wrapped warmly in a blanket, laying unconscious on Riley’s bedding.

Keith and the others struggled through the thick growth of gigantic mushrooms, and within moments were hopelessly lost. Fighting off monster after monster, they came upon a small clearing in the dense fungal forest, and sat to rest for a moment.

“God, does this place EVER END?” An exhausted and annoyed Caryn shouted her frustrations to the forest, before realizing she could bring more monsters. Unfortunately, she realized this a second too late, and a massive rumbling began as a large ball of moss rose up, turned, and revealed it’s gaping maw and long, tentacle-like roots, an earth-rumbling roar coming forth.

“…Fuck!” Keith could say only this as they scattered in shock and terror. The Malboro focused on him, green smoke coming from its mouth in a billowing gust. He fell to the forest floor, unable to lift his body, as the others battled against the beast, sword, spear, racket, mace, and magic all colliding with it over and over before finally it sunk it’s body back into the forest floor in retreat. Panic gripped the group as they tried to rouse Keith with no success. Cassidy approached them after having already gathered myrrh, and suggested that they choose their treasures. Hastily, and to get him to stop griping that they must do it for the sake of preparation, they each grabbed a magical artifact. After seeing this, Cassidy summoned all of his strength and lifted them off the ground, carrying them back to the wagon before falling limp next to the papaopamus, who nudged him curiously.

“I’ll be alright, I’m just exhausted- can’t seem to move much of anything. If you would be so kind, please place Keith and myself in the wagon, and take us to Marr’s pass. Keith needs medical attention.” Cailean nodded, taking the driver’s seat. Riley struggled to keep up with the wagon and the selkie, as they all moved as fast as they could to get to Marr’s pass. They rented a room at the inn, fetched the town doctor, and waited nervously outside the room as he examined Keith.

“Oh god…Oh god…” over and over Riley chanted, pacing back and forth. It was nerve racking, but none of the other caravaners had the heart to tell her to stop, each one worrying deeply for their comrade. Finally, an eternity of agonizing uncertainty, the doctor emerged from the room. “OH GOD! Doctor! Will he be alright?!” Riley grabbed him by the coat, shaking him a bit.

“Yes, yes, he’ll be fine, but he needs to rest. You’re a caravan, right? He’ll have to stay here while you gather myrrh. He’s in no shape to go in and collect it with you, and if you leave him in the wagon without the chalice, the miasma will take him.”

“We’re not leaving him behind!” Riley scowled angrily at the doctor.

“Yes, we are.” Cailean sighed, lifting himself to his feet. “Or I am. He’s more dedicated to getting myrrh than any of us. You guys stay here and watch after him. Doc, do you know of any myrrh trees around here besides the mushroom forest?”

“Your best bet would be the mine of Cathurgis, but I really don’t think you should go alone.”

“He won’t.” Said Cassidy, standing up slowly, still a bit weak from his intense magical exertion.

“You’re too weak, Cassidy. You can’t carry the chalice AND weave your spells right now.”

“I CAN CARRY THE CHALICE, KUPO!” A cheerful, light voice squeaked from nowhere. As they looked around in confusion, the moogle, still a bit battered, ran out among them and hopped up and down gleefully. “I saw you bringing the other guy here, so I followed you, kupo. I’m pretty sure you helped me out, so I want to help you guys, too, kupo!” Riley scooped the moogle up in her arms.

“You’re alright!” She buried her face in his soft white fur. The moogle just smiled at her.

“Hi! My name’s Mog! What’s yours?”

“I’m Riley… This is Cassidy, Cailean, Caryn, and my brother in the other room is Keith.”

“It’s nice to meet you all, kupo! Now, can I carry your chalice for you, kupo?” Cailean nodded, holding back a light chuckle.

“But before we go anywhere near Cathurgis, we’d best stop by the blacksmith’s…my spear’s shaft is in splinters. Hell, all our weapons are in sorry shape, barring Keith. I’ll pick up some stuff for you all as well, and then Cassidy, Mog, and I will head out to the mine.” Picking up his broken spear, he nodded to each of them, walking out the door. “Watch over him, girls.”

“Well, I hope those two can handle themselves…Anyway, Keith just needs to relax and keep from exerting himself. When you’ve got all the myrrh you need, I recommend just putting him in the back of your wagon for the trip home. Now, if you’ll excuse me…” Tipping his hat, the doctor walked out of the inn, heading back to his office. Caryn eagerly reached for the door knob only to have her wrist slapped.

“Ow! Riley, what’re you do-”

“I’ll get along with you as long as the others are around, but I’m not gonna put on a smile and let you do whatever you want unless it’ll help the group. You stay the hell away from my brother, you damned selkie bitch!”

“…What?! What are you talking about? I was just going to-”

“You were just going to sit with him, and watch over him, right? And then the moment he got tired, you’d steal everything he owned and skip town with some other caravan.” Caryn stared at Riley in shock, and before she could recover, the door next to them opened.

“Hey, what’s all the noise out here?” Keith rubbed the back of his neck, yawning. Caryn stared at him for a moment, before running out of the inn as fast as she could, tears in her eyes. “…Riley, what’s going on?”

“Cailean and Cassidy are with the Moogle, getting myrrh from the next tree while I take care of you here. Now get back in bed.”

“What about Caryn? She looked like she was gonna cry…” Riley scowled a bit.

“That damned Selkie thought she could get alone with you and take advantage of your condition.” Keith stared at her for a moment.

“Riley, she…you…we’ll talk about this later.” He took off at as much of a run as he could manage in his condition, leaving a stunned Riley standing alone in the hallway. Keith rushed into the street, calling for Caryn, searching frantically, before finding her sitting huddled over at the outskirts of town.

“Thank God…Caryn…” His face was flushed and his breathing was rough. He fell to his knees and vomited all over the path.

“Keith, what the hell are you doing?” Caryn stared at him in amazement.

“Riley…I’m sorry she said…I wanted to make sure you…I…” And again his stomach wrenched, forcing its contents over the dusty road.

“Not another word, Keith. You’re in no shape to be out here. I…I’ll be fine, I’m used to this…she…she just caught me off guard, was all.” she moved under his arm, helping him to his feet and carrying most of his weight as they struggled back to the inn, meeting Riley half way, who hoisted his other arm over her shoulders. They laid Keith back down in their room at the inn, and Riley hugged him a bit.

“You alright now, Keith?” Caryn stared at him with worry in her eyes. He nodded weakly to her, a tired smile on his face. “Good.” The sound echoed on the walls as she slapped him. “That’s for pushing yourself so hard when you’re sick!”

“But, you-” another slap.

“I can take care of myself. You need to rest until you’re better, no matter what, ok?” Keith nodded after staring at her for a moment. “Still…” She bent down and hugged him gently, whispering in his ear. “Thanks for coming to make sure I was ok.”

Keith patted her back, then looked to his sister. “Riley…I know what dad says and what mom says and what everybody keeps on telling us about Selkies, but Caryn… she’s earned our trust by now, don’t you think?”

“…Fine…but just because I’ll trust her doesn’t mean I’ll be nice to her.”

“You’ll be nice, or I’ll tell mom and dad about those books under your-”

“OK, ok, fine! Jeez…” Caryn glared at Keith, annoyed. He smiled tiredly at her.

“Yeah, I know you can take care of yourself. But if we have to spend weeks at a time together every year, well…I’m doing this for the sake of my sanity,” Keith explained. “Now, if you’ll excuse me…I need a nap…”

After days of short arguments and shouting matches, of naps and hugs and rest, Cailean and Cassidy returned, the chalice filled with myrrh.

“We should make haste.” Cailean said, a bit excited. Keith stood up, walking slowly and carefully out the door, the others watching him, worried, and helping him into the caravan, tucking him into his bedding and tying him down a bit to ensure he didn’t get thrown around. After a week’s travel, they found themselves at Tipa, at home.