Destruction Preventer: Lunar Salvation

Author's Notes: So this is where the game originally starts - similar fashion. As I've previously stated, I'm staying in the spirit of the game. As it's a novelization, this is completely ridden with spoilers. I feel I should mention this. Either ways, enjoy, and I'm honestly dying for feedback. Please review; constructive criticism welcome! ^_^

Destruction Preventer: Lunar Salvation
Chapter 1 – The Wrong Move

~


“Lord Captain, we're nearing Baron's border!”
Cecil nodded slowly. His eyes were set on the horizon. The late afternoon sun made him realize how long they had been gone. And what had happened.

~

The Red Wings had boarded their ships early in the morning, and had reached the tiny coastal village of Mysidia about three hours later. Plans had been decided, orders had been given. Five men, including Cecil, had disembarked.

Under the stares of the mages based in the village, the squadron had made its way to the elder's house. The man was absent; according to his assistants, he had gone praying in a nearby tower. A consensus had been reached: they would wait for the elder before the Crystal room. The five men were then escorted to a heavily guarded sanctuary.

~

On the airship's bridge, two soldiers spoke with each other, keeping their voices low, as if not to disturb the awkward silence.

“Look at him. He's kept quiet this whole time.”

“It bothers him too... I know orders are orders, but this is going too far.”

~

Their wait was short. An elderly man with salt'n'pepper hair and a long beard, dressed in brown robes - how more cliché could it get, really – greeted them. There was little conversation, as Cecil cut right to the point of their “visit”.

“Baron requests the Crystal in your possession.”

The elder's brown eyes were set right on Cecil's dark horned frame. He seemed to hesitate a moment, and finally spoke up. “I'm afraid I cannot hand it to you, Lord Cecil.”

Under any other circumstance, Cecil would have apologized for disturbing and would have withdrawn the troops. But his King's voice rang in his head.

'If they do as much as stand in your way...'

The knight took a deep breath. “Please. Simply hand over the Crystal.”

The elderly man remained stone cold, and shook his head. “I can't. If this crystal was to fall in the wrong hands, I cannot fathom about what it could bring to our planet-”

“Elder. This is an order from the King. The Crystals are to be retrieved and brought back to Baron... at all costs.”

A few mages left their positions and sided with the elder.

Cecil's sapphire blue eyes fell to the floor. He took a moment to think his plan through.

“Spare no one.”

~

One of the soldiers stepped up, slightly nervous. “M'Lord, we are the Red Wings, Baron's elite forces... why must we act like thieves? The Mysidians offered no resistance, and we still brought them down.”

“Enough!” Cecil's voice rang in the air. His tone made it clear this was no matter for dicussion. “The King deemed this operation necessary for Baron's peace and prosperity. As Red Wings, it is not our place to question His Majesty's orders.”

The soldier took one last step forward. “But, M'Lord...”

“M'Lord! Monsters at the fore!”

Cecil diverged his attention to the said monsters – three large, one-eyed aerial predators dubbed floateyes by the soldiers. The knight unsheathed his sword and raced toward the foes. He focused his energy on the dark blade, aiming it at the flying green trio. Seconds later, a wave of dark energy clipped the wings off the floateyes. The tree carcasses dropped to the ground.

But Cecil was not given a chance to sheath his sword. Another soldier yelled in his direction; another floateye now gnawed its way through the soldiers. It set its huge, lone eye on Cecil, then charged. The knight fished for something the satchel he carried, and brought a red-colored fang out. His target was not missed at the fang exploded in a large fire, effectively reducing the remaining floateyes to burning corpses.

With a sigh, Cecil's attention drew towards his soldiers. Everyone seemed unharmed; unfazed, even.

“All these monsters... they grow more and more aggressive as each day goes by. Disturbing, isn't it?”


Cecil nodded in the man's direction. “Indeed. Best to stay on our guard.” 'Enough men were injured and killed today.' He kept that last part to himself, his attention now focused on the clear skies in front of him.

“M'Lord, we've reached Baron Castle!”

Another nod. “Let us land.”

~

The airship landed smoothly on Baronian soil. The men headed for the recreation room in the castle, while Cecil had another task – deliver the Crystal to the King. Taking a deep breath, the knight entered the castle and made his way to the throne room, mulling everything over and over.

He had not trained to attack, but to defend. And here he was, coming back from an attack on a peaceful town; even his men were left to wonder why they had to do this. Never in his twenty years of life had he seen the King act so harshly.

“Ah, the young lord returns! I assume you brought the Crystal, Cecil.”

Lost in his thoughts, he barely noticed Baigan – head of the Royal Guards – waiting for him before the throne room. “I have. However...-”

Baigan's face lit up at the sight of the sapphire-colored Crystal, matching Cecil's eyes. “How amazing! Certainly the King will be pleased by the good news.” He was not given the chance to continue his praises.

“The Mysidians did not raise weapons against us. Or even for their own defense.”

A seemingly forced smile drew to his superior's lips. “Only fools would attempt to thwart our plans, young man. You did well, and shall be rewarded accordingly. I'll announce you to His Majesty.”

Resigned, Cecil followed Baigan to the next room.

~

Inside the throne room, Baigan knelt to his King – King whom he had been serving for many years. It was his duty to report the good news, as well as the bad ones. “Lord Cecil is back, Your Majesty. With the Crystal as per your request. There is one matter though: I feel his faith in you grows weaker.”

The King quirked a brow at the last remark. It was not something he expected out of Cecil; sure he was the youngest officer in his ranks, but the youth always had been faithful and abiding to his will. He took a short moment to decide what to do.

“The Crystal is my only concern. Bring Cecil before me, Baigan.”

~

“The King bids you enter, Cecil.”

The man took another deep breath and followed Baigan inside the throne room, under the somewhat disgusted stares of the men guarding its flanks.

Cecil's reflex was to drop to his knee, head bent. “I have the Crystal, Your Majesty.” Once back on both feet, he handed the sapphire gem to Baigan, who brought it to the King.

“It is genuine, Your Majesty.”

The King slowly nodded. He sent a short look in Cecil's direction before settling his gaze to the crystal, eyes widening ever so slightly. “Well done, Cecil. You may leave us.”

Cecil bowed again and turned to face the door... but something compelled him to stay.

“... Your Majesty...!”

The King lifted his grey head towards the knight with quirked brows. “Is something the matter, Cecil?”

Baigan ran to the King's defense. “Your King has granted you leave, and yet you wish to trouble him?!”

“Forgive me, Your Majesty, but what do you aim to do with the Crystal? Innocent blood was shed for it, and my men worry about your intentions.”

Wrong move.

The King stood up, his eyes scanning the man in front of him. “As you do?”

Cecil opened his mouth to protest, hands raised in defense. “Of course not, Your Majesty, I would never-”

The King shook his thick grey mane, disappointed. “Cecil. After all I've done for you, and this is how you repay me. Your treasonous whispers do not escape me. If you cannot place your trust in me, neither can I in you.” His calm ways were now gone. “You are hereby relieved of your duties as Lord Captain of the Red Wings, Cecil!”

“Your Majesty...”

“Your next assignment will be to head to the Valley of Mist. A dangerous beast lays the cave nearby, threatening the population – you are required to slay it. Once done, you will deliver this to the Elder of Mist.” Slowly, the King stood up. With a deep frown, he reached for a small blue box and handed it to Baigan. “He will know its meaning. I want you gone by the first light tomorrow morning.”

Cecil wasn't given a chance to protest – the door behind him flung wide open. A blue and purple flash passed him. Any closer and Kain would have shoved Baigan to the back of the room. He couldn't see the man's face, but his movements let everyone know he was majorly pissed off.

“Your Majesty, please reconsider. There is no way Cecil would betray you!”

Still standing, the King grew closer to the pair. “I did not think this matter concerned you as well, Kain. Since you want to protect your friend, you shall accompany him to Mist.”

Cecil stepped forward, shocked. “Your Majesty!”

“Slay the beast and do not come back until it has been done! Begone!”

Resistance was futile; both men were pushed out by the Royal Guards.

~

The recreation room was quiet; only a few soldiers remained, playing a card game on one of the tables scattered around.

“I'm sorry. I didn't mean to drag you into this.”

The dragoon cocked his head to the left. Behind his helmet, he also quirked a brow. “There's no need to apologize. What I've done, I did out of my own will.”

“And still, it's my fault if you did-”

Kain didn't let him finish. “Or did you mean to send me on my own against this dragon?”

Exasperated, Cecil rolled his eyes. “Of course not-”

“Then accept my help. You and I will go kill he beast, come back, and within no time you'll be leading the Red Wings as if nothing happened.” He shrugged mildly. “Why don't you get some rest while you can. Let me take care of everything before out departure. Not that I plan on being away for a long time.”

Cecil's blue eyes crept back to Kain. “Thank you.”

~

For a few minutes, Cecil wandered around the castle. He wasn't as tired as Kain had implied, no. Most of the soldiers under his command were gone back to their families; the lot of them could have been his fathers. Some of them even had sons and daughters enrolled in the military, men and women older than him. But Cecil was a capable man; despite the rumors going through the castle – some founded, as much as he hated to admit it – he was still highly respected.

Before it came all crashing down.

He found himself in the dragoon's headquarters, where Kain and a few of his subordinates were relaxing.

“I told you to go to bed already, Cecil. You need to rest.”

Spoken like the older brother Kain had been to Cecil.

“I'm sorry, Kain.”

“I told you there's nothing to be sorry about.” The dragoon stood up and walked to Cecil, shaking his head.

“I didn't train to be a Dark Knight so I could steal from innocent folks, Kain. I did it because His Majesty asked me that I do so.”

~

Baron Castle Training Grounds, 3 years ago

Spear in hand, Kain lunged at his friend. Cecil evaded the attack and thrust his black sword forward, striking Kain on his left side. Metal met metal in a loud clang. Cecil lowered the blade. Kain took his advantage and lunged for a second time, hitting his target as well. He landed on top of Cecil, withdrawing right away, before helping the younger man up.

“I saw it, Kain. How can you expect to lead the Dragoons with such an act?”

He wanted to lash out at the knight-in-training, but refrained from doing so. Instead, he looked away. Barely seventeen and already considered for officership – sure Cecil was the King's adoptive son and he had been proven worthy of the title... but still...

“Have no fear, Cecil. I'll lead the Dragoons. My father's blood is in me.”

Face hidden by his visor, Cecil grinned slightly. “You're as stubborn as he was; that's a healthy start.”

Kain mimicked his friend's grin. “Then fight me again. And don't hold back!”

~

“I sometimes wish I had done the same as you, Kain. Especially today.”

Kain merely shrugged. “I couldn't let Father down. The Dragoons needed someone to take over; had they disbanded, I'd be in the same boat as you.” He let the words sink in.

An awkward silence settled between the two men.

“Do you think Father would be proud of me?”

Cecil walked a few steps closer to Kain, extending his arm to pat the dragoon's shoulder. “Of course he would. You're doing an excellent job as their commander, you're Baron's army's second youngest officer., at twenty-one years old.. what's there not to be proud of?”

Another shrug. “I'm not even sure myself.” He shook his head as if to snap out of a dream. “Anyways, you need to rest, now. If you don't go by yourself now, I'll make sure you do so myself...”

In defense, Cecil rose his arms in the air. “Fine, fine... Kain?”

“Hm?”

“I-”

“If you're telling me you're sorry once more, I'm going to beat you up tomorrow, after we've left.”

Empty threats.

“Good night, Kain.”

~

Maybe Kain was right. Maybe he needed sleep. But Cecil's mind remained fully awake, replaying today's events. Mysidians falling in their own blood. The Elder standing up by the Crystal. The screams.

“Cecil!”

He barely noticed the woman standing in the doorframe.

“Thank heavens you're alright! The orders concerning Mysidia came so fast... I was worried.”

In all the years he had known Rosa, she never stopped worrying. It got even worse as he was promoted to officer – and only increased as the days went by.

“None of us were harmed. Considering the mages did not fight back...”

And here it was; the worried look on her face. “I'll come visit you in your room later.”

“Of course.” Had he said no, she'd have worried even more, and it was not something he needed.

The moment Cecil stepped outside, he heard another voice, booming a good story above him.

“Hey Cecil, boy! Wait down here!”

Seconds later, a red-bearded man made his way to him, dawdling about – or so his height made it seem. Barely scraping the five-feet-eight mark, Cecil had always felt small, if not downright puny, when around other soldiers. That feeling faded whenever Cid Pollendina – the very Cid who came up with the airships Baron used - showed up. Despite being small, Cid was one of the strongest men Cecil knew; and the engineer had the muscles to prove it.

“Rosa's been worried sick! Make that girl cry and you'll have to answer to me, boy!” Cid warned, glowering behind his thick aviator glasses. “Anyways, enough about yer darling. How are my darlings? You and your men are so harsh to them.”

If Rosa was a worrywart, Cid did not know the word 'quiet'.

“So what's up with you? I heard something about Mysidia and the next thing I know, Rosa's in my workshop saying they sent you and a buncha Red Wings. And judging from that face of yours, something went wrong.”

Cecil gulped hard. “We did fine. We got the Crystal as requested by His Majesty, however, we had to shed innocent blood for this. My men were worried, and I had to bring this up to His Majesty, who didn't take it very well. So I'm being sent to Mist in order to kill-”

“That beast? Damnit, boy, what the hell has gotten into His Majesty? You worked your ass off for that position and he's demoting you 'cause of your conscience? Not like him, boy, not like him at all. On top of that, he's asked me to build more airships, with more firepower... I'm not making these for war! You should hear what the townsfolk are thinking too... yer not the only one worrying 'bout Baron, my boy.”

Cecil opened his mouth to speak, but Cid was faster. “Anyways, I'd better let you get some sleep. And there's my daughter who's gonna wring my neck if I don't come back home! So tomorrow, promise me you'll take care of yourself, else I'll make sure that when I die, I kick your ass in Hell!”

“I'll be careful, Cid.”

“That's my boy! Now off to bed you go, and off to home I go!”

As quickly as Cid had appeared, he had disappeared already. Left alone, Cecil blinked a few times, then made his way to his room.

~

Sleep didn't come easily. Cecil laid in bed, wide awake, blue eyes riveted to the twin moons in the sky. Why couldn't his life be as constant as the moons?

He tossed and turned, unable to close his eyes without seeing the Mysidian massacre. Haunted by the thoughts, he sat up, propping himself on the pillow.

“Your majesty... what's going on? Why taking the Mysidian Crystal by force? Why the bloodshed? This is quite unlike you, the kind and just man who took me in as an orphan and raised me as his only son.”

So much for going to sleepy early; the clock on his wall read twenty past midnight – he was due on the castle bridge by five in the morning. Five thirty if he lucked out on Kain packing extra luggage.

Tired, he laid back on the bed, draping his half-naked body with the white blanket. He barely heard the footsteps climbing his tower, but the female voice didn't escape his ears.

“Cecil?”

He restrained a groan. Rosa.

Well, maybe he could use some company after all. Still, his gazed remained on the moons in the sky.

“Won't you tell me what happened? First, you're sent to retrieve a crystal from Mysidia; next you're set to kill a beast near Mist? Tell me what happened...”

“It's nothing.” He knew she wouldn't believe him.

“Then... why won't you look at me?”

'Girls always notice that kinda stuff, boy.' Cid had told him several years ago – it proved right every single time with Rosa.

But he didn't turn to her. “We... we robbed Mysidia of its crystal. They were innocent folks and still, we had to kill them simply because they stood in our way, to protect what is theirs. They didn't fight back, or cast a single spell. And yet, we had to taken them down. Has these Dark Knight ways gotten to me so badly? I don't even feel any light in me anymore.”

“You're a good man, Cecil...”

“I'm a coward. A coward who cannot even defy orders he knows not to follow.”

Rosa straightened her shoulders and took a determined step forward. “Cecil Harvey of the Red Wings may be one of many things, but he is not a coward! Not the Cecil I know... not the Cecil I love...”

Oh shit.

Cecil quickly got to his feet, alert. Everything else in his mind seemed to fade to naught. She couldn't be. Oh no.

His gaze washed over to her face.

Oh yes. She was serious.

Oh shit.

He closed the distance between the both of them. “Rosa, listen...”

But she refused to say more about the matter. “You're sent to Mist tomorrow, aren't you? If anything happens to you, Cecil...”

He had escaped it. Good. So just as he had done with Kain earlier, he gently tapped her shoulder. “I'll be fine. Kain will be with me. And you also need rest.”

“Simply promise me the both of you will be careful.”

“We will.”

Her turquoise eyes met his. “Good night, Cecil.”

The knight sighed as he walked back to his bed, exhaustion finally settling in his body.

“Thank you Rosa, but I know what I've become...”

~

Five o'clock. Cecil entered the lobby, where Kain waited.

“Shall we, Cecil?”

The Dark Knight nodded. “I'll be counting on you.”

“Then you have nothing to fear, my friend.” Unable to hide a grin, Kain handed him a provision bag.

~ To be continued... ~