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Artorium
02-23-2008, 08:08 PM
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n64/luke_4321/FFGC.jpg
Edit: I Made this cover for my novel thanks to an idea by Faithy

So I am writing a short book of chapters about Final Fantasy IX with a twist. Each chapter is in the style of the game where it explains the story of each character yet leaving much mystery.
Well my 'fanfic' is based on all the facts presented in the game of each persons origins. It's chapters and titled are:


FINAL FANTASY IX: GAIAN CHRONICLES:
Dragon Knights
The Rose Of May
The Angel Of Death
Evanescent Immortal
Way Of The Gourmand


More chapters shall be added at a later date.

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FINAL FANTASY IX: GAIAN CHRONICLES:
DRAGON KNIGHTS

Prologue I. a

The ancient world of Gaia is a land of many legends, many stories and many events. Most lost to the ravages of war and time, yet many are passed down through the people of Gaia that shape its history like the sea shapes the cliffs.

In a time long before the powers of summoning where lost to the world, a great war ensued among the nations of the Mist Continent. Many lives where lost and lands ruined, yet in the final moment of battle the Kingdom of Alexandria used its ultimate weapon. A great General with countless power summoned the Holy eidolon Alexander for the first time. Its Holy Judgment lay waste the all the rival Kingdoms and such power had never been seen within Gaia before.
All of lindblum’s Head Hunters, Burmecia’s Dragon Knights and Madain Sari’s Summoner Tribe decimated to small numbers. After seeing that Alexander was too powerful, the Nations agreed on peace and that the Alexander Jewel be split into four crystals. One piece was given to the three kingdoms of Burmecia, Lindblum and Alexandria.
The last piece was taken by the summoners and kept a secret in Madain Sari on their own Continent. Soon afterwards, a civil war broke out in Burmecia over who should be in control of the Crystal. The piece is in question was taken by a group of fundamentalists, who separated themselves from the city of eternal rain and set up their own nation in the Vube Desert; and so Cleyra was founded.

Prologue I. b

The Dragon Knight is an age old custom of valor and bravery of the Burmecian people. To become such an honorable position takes years of honing various skills and proving your strength by slaying the strongest of beasts to reach Dragon class Lancer of the Burmecian Guards. Many of these knights died through Burmecian history to honorable and glorious deaths and make their mark on time and many of the Knights were lost to the Great Wars of the Mist Continent. The Dragon Knights of Burmecia became a rare and respected breed of citizens over time and named some of the worlds most brave yet feared warriors.
However, peace reigned throughout the Mist Continent and need for the Knights of Burmecia dwindled. Many of the remaining knights set out for adventures to prove their worth and strength and others became mercenaries working for the high rollers of Treno.

Prologue I. c

The most notable Dragon Knight of old would be Kain who slew many of the ancient Dragon lords like the feared Mist Dragon, the great Dragon of Shadows and most famous of all was the time Kain fought The Dragon King in which he stole some of his holy hair using his ultimate technique, the Lunar Trail. Kain’s weapon, Abel’s lance in which he used to vanquish the creatures on his travels became a prized and valuable relic that began to become shrouded in Burmecian mythology. Using the hair of the Dragon king, Kain synthesized Abel’s lance into a new weapon of tremendous power. It became to be known as ‘’Heavens divider’’ but was named ‘’Dragon Hair’’ by Kain himself.
Kain also carried a smaller Lance that was unnamed that he used as a secondary weapon is his ‘’Dragon Hair’’ should be forced from him.
Kain’s father, Richard is said to have formed the Dragon Knights and died at the claws of The Dragon King, or so the Burmecian stories say. Kain’s adventures would span a whole other book, but the most mysterious and much questioned account of events is what happened to Kain at the end of his life. Some say he died trying to re-fight the Dragon King to avenge his father’s death and others say he fell in love and was never seen again. It is interesting that a thousand or so years later that the Crescent family’s Dragon Knight Freya sound his weapon in Memoria.


The Crescent Household

Our Chapter begins amongst the household of a long line of Dragon Knights called the Crescents. This particular family had been known far and wide for their ferocity in battle, and played a major role in the Mist Continent wars.
The family prided themselves on a strong line of male knights that had won many glorious battles against famous Dragon of Gaia, and the most Famous of all was the Tale of Kain and his Lance.
Many battles ensued over time and many years passed away until one day a Female was born the Crescent family.
Disappointed by the birth of a girl, the family saw it unfit to bring her up under Dragon Knight Lore, yet she yearned for its knowledge. Freya would secretly learn from her friend Vermont who was learning under his father to become a Lancer and so even though Freya was brought up as a spoilt, Lord’s child she came to become quite the fighter.

One especially gloomy day in the realm of eternal rain, the great Dragon Daine became very agitated in his cave because of the noise created by the festival of the Dragon Hunt, celebrating the initiation of the new Dragon Knights.
Daine, stirring in his sleep awoke furious and came down onto Burmecia breathing hot Sulfur and fire upon its people. The city guards launched a number of attacks and interrupted in their ceremonies the Dragon Knights also tried to intervene yet all to avail. Young and naive Freya ran to her home to grab her ancestors Lance, she hurried towards the spot where Daine had landed in the city and staring deep into his eyes showing no fear she pointed the lance towards him, even finding it hard to hold up. The dragon snapped at her ferociously as she swooped above its head to escape its clasping jaws. All where in marvel at her bold but stupid act as the dragon rose to knock her down from her jump. Freya dropped the heavy lance to the ground as she laid on the wet bricks semi-unconscious.
A young man with a large hat and yellow Dragon Knight Garb came to her rescue as he pierced the Dragons chest. Daine fell loud to the ground with a crash and it later took 100 guards to drag the dragon out of the city and bury it under a burial mound. See people of Burmecia, even though they hunt Dragon revere them as sacred beasts and thus why Dragon Knights slay them for status.
The young Dragon Knight in yellow lifted little Freya from the ground.
‘’who are you?’’ Freya asked incoherently.
‘’My name is Fratly’’ he answered back softly.
She stared into his eyes with admiration and with fascination of his mystery.
‘’why have I not herd or seen you around my city before’’ she proclaimed with a little more energy than before.
Fratly chuckled a little. ‘’your city?’’ he exclaimed. ‘’I thought it belonged to the king’’
Freya did not answer for as far as she was concerned her family was in charge of Burmecia due to the fact that the king was so very young and her father so very old. To her this notion of him serving under a child seemed stupid.
Fratly gave up the information to her surprisingly willingly.
‘’Oh, I travel the world far and wide. Not much need for my kind around the city anymore for peace reigns nowadays. Not like times of old’’
‘’I wish for times of old’’ Freya snapped back proudly. ‘’for those where the days Warriors proved their might in battle.’’
Fratly faintly smiled to himself. ‘’Life means much more than battle you know. Battle is only a way to open the doors to this. That is when it is honorable. Battle brings death and death is suffering for all effected. Be most grateful Freya that you live in this time of peace that your ancestors fought for’’.
Freya seemed to agree with Fratly and was quite taken back by his words, although she would have not liked to admit this to him.
‘’why are you back here then, if you love to travel so?’’ Freya asked trying to change subject.
‘’well as a Dragon Knight I serve the king, and he has had me return for reasons of his own’’. Fratly didn’t really want to talk anymore about the kings reasons for calling him back so he bid farewell to young Freya and set off towards the palace. Freya was left standing in the beating rain staring towards Fratly has he disappeared into the mist.
‘’What an odd fellow’’ she thought to her self and made her way back to the festival.
As you could imagine though, her family where terribly displeased with her actions and her father so very mad sent her back to the house.

Freya awoke the next morning aching and bruised from Daines ferocious blow she had taken the night before. She tended to her morning in the usually way yet this morning there was an unexpected visitor downstairs. Freya could hear a familiar voice below conversing with her father.
‘’but I do not agree!’’ Freya’s father exclaimed. ‘’ It is not tradition! In all my years as Chief Dragoon! No way! Never!’’
Freya was very curious at this point and made her way down the stairs and into the entertaining hall. Freya’s father was there looking up at her as if waiting for her and along side him at the large table sat Fratly.
‘’what is it!?’’ Freya exclaimed. ‘’why are you both looking at me so?’’
‘’Freya…’’ Her father addressed her. ‘’by order of the king you are to become Dragon Knight’’
Freya was shocked. ‘’What could prompt such a thing a thing as this? Was it my actions from the night before?’’ she thought to her haughtily.
‘’I am here to accompany you to your training Lady Crescent’’ Fratly announced.
‘’But why!?’’ Freya shouted out surprised ‘’how did this happen?’’ If she was honest to herself she knew that this was so very strange and happening so very fast. All her life Freya dreamed of becoming a Dragon Knight just like her best friend Vermont but knew that she would never be accepted. Yet here she was with an order from the king to go through Dragon Knight training!
‘’that is what I would like to know!’’ Freya’s father loudly pronounced.
‘’All will be explained Lady Crescent’’ Fratly answered her in her confusion.
Freya’s father looked around very displeased with the whole situation. To him it was an outrage that she even be considered to have the title of a Dragon Knight.
‘’Well you will not be needing any possessions except for your lance’’ Fratly lifted the Crescent’s family lance from where it was hinged to the wall and presented it to Freya. Freya’s father was not happy at all and the look on his face Fratly found rather comical for there was nothing he could do.
It should be known that Freya at this point in her life was a very spoilt child being the daughter of a Lord of Burmecia and one of the head Dragon Knights of times gone by. She was naïve and cocky in her ways, yet Fratly could sense a certain air of destiny around Lady Freya Crescent. In fact it was he who chose to assign her the position of learning to become a knight. The king was young yet well educated and knew of times old. He realized that through years of peace the number of Dragon Knights had dwindled to a small number. It was becoming a tradition of old and seen to be a tradition that had no use any longer, yet the king did not agree. The rest of the Mist Continent had been advancing towards technology and machinery yet the king saw advantages to holding onto these ways of old yet embracing the new at the same time. Through this he belived in a strong and advanced Burmecia and it was this reason he had called Fratly back from his travels.
‘’Fratly, you were friend of my late father and he saw you as a son. My father belived that we should never forget our past and that we should hold onto it true. That by knowing where we came from and how we got to where we are it will lead us along the path we need to take. For this reason Fratly I ask you to gather all the Dragon Knights of Burmecia for a journey. It shall be a test of Valor, strength and will.
Alexandria has their generals of great power, Lindblum have their Fleets of airships and so by the winds of Cleyra we shall show our strength as a nation through our ancient and powerful ways. This shall be most honorable to my father’s memory.’’ This is what the king explained to Fratly.
‘’Sir Fratly, go and gather our army of Knights, you shall lead them!’’ the king announced proudly.
Sir Fratly lowered his head sadly. ‘’My Lord, this day we are few in number and since I have been back it seems less of the children of Burmecia chose to live the lore of Dragons. In fact only one by my count at this year’s celebration……’’
The king looked saddened towards Fratly’s facts. ‘’that is sad. It is far more a serious matter than I had reasoned. Then Fratly, I leave it to you to find those you see fit to train in your ways and on this journey you shall take them’’.
‘’Yes my Lord’’ Fratly answered obediently and so this is how the King and Sir Fratly conversed.

Lore of Dragons

Freya and Fratly set out from the Crescent family house and through the city and never did she ask for a minute why she was leaving. It was this willingness to learn that Fratly probably saw in Freya that made her the only candidate to learn from scratch the Lore of Dragons.
‘’Where are we headed to good Sir?’’ Freya asked excitedly.
‘’We shall wait at the gates for the third.’’ Fratly answered.
Freya wondered for a minute on what he meant. She could of easily of asked but her headstrongness would not let her, she was the type to always seem in control of a situation. Freya and Fratly stood in silence as they waited for ‘the third’ and soon enough he arrived. Vermont was a good looking Burmecian by Burmecian standards with long black hair and a strong build. He always carried his fathers Trident as a weapon that would glow a wonderful Mythril color. Clothed in Dragon Knight Garb Vermont smiled warmly towards Freya.
‘’Sir Vermont!’’ the surprised Freya cried out as she flung her arms around the tall Burmecian.
‘’Sir Vermont shall be accompanying us on the journey as a fellow Dragon Knight. It is custom for him as a newly initiated Knight to take a year proving his bravery by facing the fiercest of beasts yet the most magnificent; the Grand Dragons. From this he shall learn the Lore of Dragons’’ explained Fratly.
Somehow Freya had not noticed this before, but as she stared at Fratly as he spoke his words she noticed something rather odd about his tail.
‘’Sir Fratly, may I ask you a question?’’
‘’About the Lore of Dragons?’’ Fratly asked.
‘’oh no, not at all really’’ Fratly looked disappointed for he always loved to share his vast knowledge of the Lore.
Freya continued. ‘’I wanted to ask you a question about your tail, I notice something odd about it’’
As Sir Fratly lowered his head his as his eyes glinted with a certain disheartened look for a second and then he raised his head back up to answer. ‘’many years ago I ran away from my home at the palace for I later lived there as my parents were killed during the last war. I was angry at the late king who took the role of my surrogate father for he would not let me leave with the other mercenaries for the Alexandrian border. I was already a Dragon Knight by that point-‘’ Freya interrupted him.
‘’you were a dragon knight before coming of age!!’’ she was very surprised for that would make him the youngest of all Dragon Knights recorded even before the days of the great Kain.
Fratly chuckled a little ‘’yes that is the truth, very young I was when I slew my first Dragon, much like in the fashion that you tried to the other night’’ This time Vermont laughed alongside Fratly at this mention of the events but Freya looked cross and did not like this at all.
‘’Sorry Lady Freya’’ Fratly expressed before carrying on with his story.
‘’well I was lost in the far plains and even to this day I do not know where I had ended up for Gaia is a large place and I have only seen a fraction of it even in all of my journeys. As I was traveling through a small clearing in a wooded area I came across a girl the same age as I. She was collecting water for her mother from a well and offered me a drink. I gladly excepted for I had traveled far without quenching my first and eagerly I drank. Not long where my eyes off of my surroundings did a great winged beast lay ruin to the trees and burnt the poor girl. Next the Dragon came for me and I ran as fast as I could before it swooped down to clasp its teeth onto my tail. Up I went into the sky as the Dragon carried me off towards its roost. Lucky I was though that the king had sent out a search party of Dragon Knights, your father being one of them Freya.’’ Freya was too captivated by Fratly’s story to answer in any way and instead urged him to go on. Fratly smiled at her response for he enjoyed and avid listener to his stories. Not many have traveled Gaia’s lands as much as Fratly had except a few explorers like Ipsen and his troupe, but that is another story for another chapter. Fratly went on at eager request.
‘’So through the air I traveled and the end of my life I had foresaw. So young I was yet I was ready to face my death at this sacred creatures jaws. The band of Knights spotted me in the grasp of the animal and launched a spear attack onto the beast. Down it swooped again to counter their advances and as it did one of the knights threw me his lance. I caught it just and thrust it into the Dragons heart. Down it fell back first and onto a couple of Knights crushing them beneath its weight. When I next checked up to half of my tail had been lost and it was in the mouth of the dead beast.’’ Vermont and Freya gave out a gasp at all this action.
‘’ Sadly we lost Knights that day and I learnt never to be so foolhardy. The sly eagle waits to attack with its claws and so I shall never be again so careless. I kept that brave knights lance.’’ He showed them the lance he was holding with its unimaginable sharp blade protruding from its edge at the top.
‘’What you see before you today is an iron tail the king had made for me by the blacksmith. It reminds me forever of that day and it is sharp just as I need to be with all I do.’’
From that day on Sir Fratly was always referred to as ‘’Iron-Tail Fratly’’ by Freya and Vermont and so that name stuck to this day.
The trio of Dragon Knights made there way outward toward the unknown, in search of knowledge and experience to prove their honor just like their ancestors.

Many adventures they had together through the years that followed and many people they met but that in its self is a whole different story.

Tragedy for the Trio

It was a cold winter night and the three Dragon Knights were very weathered by the winds that wore them in their path. Many nights they would question why they where out on this journey, and for a second or two they would feel it was all pointless when they didn’t even know what they were looking for.
The light of the sun was dimming and they had only limited time to find shelter before they would be stranded in the worsening weather. The wind howled past them at extraordinary speeds and it surprising that they kept grounded upon the side of the high mountain they were climbing.
‘’we need to find a cave or something fast Fratly!’’ shouted Vermont through the wind.
‘’Agreed my friend, but finding one is easier said than done in this twilight’’
‘’Careful!!!’’ Vermont shouted loudly as he caught Freya from falling to a sudden death.
‘’That was a close one’’ she laughed
‘’easy to loose your footing on here my love’’ answered Vermont as he kissed her cheek lightly.
Freya smiled a little but her face was quite numb due to the prevailing winds that fell like pure ice being held against her skin. She shook the snow off of her bright red garb. ‘’Its getting colder, how can it get ay colder than this!’’ Freya exclaimed.
‘’It is not even night time yet m’lady’’ shouted Fratly to Freya. He always addressed Freya in that way, ever since leaving Burmecia and even through all this time.
‘’Then we must make fast for the base’’ cried Vermont trying hard to make the others hear through the loud icy winds.
‘’No, we are too high up now! It would be madness to try to climb back down now!’’ Fratly exclaimed with authority.
The three paused in their tracks feeling lost and helpless for a second.
‘’I ask you now Sir Vermont, be strong. We will find a way to shelter from the storm’’ Fratly urged.
‘’again Fratly, this is madness! I am going back down and taking Freya with me’’
Freya looked bewildered for a second, never did Vermont question Fratly’s judgment on these things before and to include her in his argument made her feel a little uneasy even if he was her boyfriend.
Vermont took hold of Freya’s hand. ‘’come my dear, let us take leave of this utter madness for Iron-Tail’s judgment is clouded and through his poorly taken decisions he endangers our lives.’’ Exclaimed Vermont to Freya.
Fratly look at Vermont with a little dismay and a little frustration ‘’don’t be foolish Vermont, the extremity of the cold is what clouds your judgments’’
Angrily Vermont quickly made is way backwards the way they came up with Freya tripping along behind him as he dragged her down with him. Fratly was now angry and usually he would not be over such things yet the scenario was pushing his patients. ‘’Vermont, stop I say. You endanger not only yourself but the life of Freya!’’ Vermont carried on with his fast pace down the mountainside.
‘’Vermont, if you truly love Freya you will not do this to her!’’ Freya tripped and fell over the snow and rock yet Vermont would not listen for he was at the end of his tether in this matter and for years they had been living this way it seems he had finally snapped. The matter was that over these years Vermont had fallen in love very much with Freya, but Freya did not return such feelings to the magnitude that Vermont was yearning for. Instead Freya loved him as a childhood friend and rather felt feelings towards Fratly. Vermont knew this and it ate at the core of his soul. Jealousy he felt everyday he was with Fratly but until now it did not surface.
‘’Vermont!’’ cried Fratly for the last time, but it was too late; Vermont was too far down the mountainside to hear.
‘’Stubborn child he still is’’ Fratly thought to himself.
Then, through the mist of the blizzard he could hear a loud scream.

Quickly Iron-Tail Fratly made his way down the mountainside towards where Vermont had headed and eventually he could see the breath of not one but two Dragons melting the snow all around. Two great big Grand Dragons with wide wing spans and acid breath that could melt the hide off of its own back.
Freya’s leg had been hit by the venom breath and she lay paralyzed on the ground, yet she could still hear and see everything that unfolded before her.
Sir Fratly leapt into the air and unleashed a powerful aerial strike onto the first Dragon’s back. It shrieked a deafening roar as Fratly pulled his blade back out of the Dragon’s hide and the monster rolled in the air trying to shake off the protruding Fratly. Instead this flung him onto the Dragons belly where he had a better chance of extinguishing the animal for good. While this was all going down, Vermont was battling the second Dragon that had landed at his feet and was snapping at his legs. This Dragon was much younger and so could not breathe its deadly breath yet.
The first Dragon had managed to fling Fratly to the ground and so the tables had turned on the battle. The Dragon was flying arching away then back towards the Dragon Knight for a second aerial attack of breath.
The Dragon spat its acidic fire at Fratly and before it could hit Freya, he picked her up over his shoulder and dragged her under a large rock. She looked into his eyes with appreciation and loving look as he jumped away to war with the Dragons once more.
Sir Fratly wasn’t having any more of it; powering up he unleashed a death wave of magic onto the first Dragon that fried its wings. It fell with a large crash but quickly rose to its feet to snap at the two fighting Dragon Knights.
The younger Dragon dived at Vermont with its mouth wide open and as it did Vermont Threw his Trident down its throat and into its head killing it almost instantly. The Dragon flopped onto the snowy mountainside with a sharp yelp. The mother on the other had quickly noticed what had happened and was enraged with anger and sorrow at her child’s death. She lashed out for Vermont chasing him upwards along the mountain path with Fratly trying to tail them.
It all happened so fast, but Vermont tripped over some tree roots onto the floor and the Dragon quickly swallowed him up. Vermont had no time to regain his trident from the dead Dragons moth before the Mother began chasing him so was left defenseless. Fueled with rage Fratly flew to the air with all his might and forced his lance deep into the dragons shoulder so that it pierced its heart.

Fratly returned to Freya who had passed out behind the rock. He lifted her onto his back and made his way over the mountain still so very tiered. Slowly his eyes were shutting and he collapsed along side Freya in the snow. The last thing Fratly remembered was seeing Freya’s red coat beside him and a fire in the distance.


Picked Up By Bandits

Fratly’s eyes opened slowly but he couldn’t move. He could only stare at the roof that was made of rafters.
He could hear though, the sound of a large engine rattle through the space he was in.
Appearing above him was an ugly looking fellow with a reddish nose and a big smile encircled with a beard.
‘’Your awake at last, thought you would never wake up’’ the man said.
‘’how long have I been here?’’ asked Fratly.
‘’Well we found you on the side of the mountain under a pile of snow 4 days ago and you have been asleep since’’ explained the man. ‘’your very lucky you are still alive’’
Fratly was shocked but didn’t have to time feel anything before asking ‘’where is Freya?’’
‘’The other one, the girl?’’ asked the man
‘’yes, Lady Freya’’ exclaimed Fratly
‘’She is fine; in fact she woke up a day before you and told us all about what happened. She seemed very concerned about some guy named Vernon?’’
‘’Vermont’’ Fratly corrected. ‘’He was slain by the Dragon’’ Fratly suddenly remembered the tragedy.
‘’I must go see Freya right away!’’ Fratly announced importantly.
‘’She is on the top deck of the airship; oh and by the way my name is Cinna’’ explained Cinna.
‘’Please take me to her’’ Fratly followed Cinna down a hall way of the airship and up a staircase into a lavish room with wide glass windows where a huge man with furry pointy ears stood wearing a pair of goggles.
‘’Hi, I am Baku, boss of these boys here that found you’’
‘’many thanks my friend, you shall be rewarded in full by my king’’ Fratly expressed.
‘’Well we are docked in Lindblum right now, and most of my crew are downtown so we wont be leaving for many days now’’ Baku explained.
‘’oh, well then we shall request passage through the Dragon’s gate to Burmecia then’’ Fratly answered.
‘’I wish there was some way I could repay you but I have nothing of worth on me right now’’ Fratly apologized.
‘’Gwahawhaw’’ Baku chuckled. ‘’No problem, you can replay me in deeds in the future if ever need be’’
‘’that is reasonable’’ Fratly concluded. ‘’Well good sir, would you mind telling me where I can find the Lady Freya?’’
‘’She was down town with my boy Zidane last thing I knew, Cinna!’’ Baku shouted ‘’Go find Zidane and bring back the rat chick’’
‘’ok boss’’ Cinna answered quickly while running out of the room and through the airship.
Fratly didn’t have to wait long before Freya came in through the airship docking bay with a smile on her face. It was evident that she was glad to see Fratly well.
‘’Oh Fratly, don’t ever leave me again’’ she proclaimed as she fell into his arms for a warm embrace.


Return to Burmecia I. a

The Dragon Knights had gained permission from the Regent of Lindblum to pass through the Dragon’s gate, and so make their way to Burmecia after all these years.
Home would seem so very wonderful after so long, but the tragedy of Vermont haunted Freya and Fratly still and all the way back was spent in almost silence. They passed through the plains and marshlands eventually making their way to the border. Two guards met them at the gate and recognized them immediately.
‘’Returned, the Hero’s have returned’’ they sang but Fratly and Freya did not know what they had meant.
Throughout there journey through Gizmaluke’s grotto they were recognized and acknowledged as the Hero’s of Burmecia. Finally they came to Burmecian lands and for them it never felt better to be home. They still couldn’t shake of the last of their sorrow for knowing that they had to reveal the tragic news to the Vermont family made them uneasy.
The two stopped in front of the city gates. ‘’Are you ready m’lady?’’ asked Fratly.
‘’As long as I have you with me I will always be ready for whatever life throws at me’’ Freya smiled.
Fratly went a little red in the face and help Freya’s hand planting a kiss upon it.
‘’let us go’’ he exclaimed. The two entered the city to be received with much joy. Proclamations of being Hero’s echoed through the city walls and the two created a loud stir as they made their way to the palace.

-To be Continued-
Written by Artorium from concepts and stories by Squaresoft

Lady Rinoa
02-25-2008, 01:27 AM
Oh wow Luke, that’s some serious FFIX fan fic xD

Any FFIX fan would most definitely appreciate this ^_^, especially if they liked Freya. I know you love it and it shows. Very descriptive, and I like that whole story about Freya and it seems based on the info I know about her history on FFIX that is how I would picture it as well. Like all the previous events on how she became a Dragon Knight & her history with Sir Fratley.

Very well done, that whole Dragon Knight background and story about how Sir Fratley & Freya met was sooo cool. Lol, I never pictured her being like arrogant at 1st though but I guess it was only before she became a Dragon Knight, but then again she was always confident and determined.

I enjoyed reading it and I hope others will appreciate this as well. I know you loved writing it, good job hun ;)

I can't wait for the rest of the story; like how the romance between them transpires and how they split up (from what I remember on FFXI) that's gonna be quite interesting. hehe. xD

(oh & btw one minor thing, I know that probably “word” did it, but I don’t know if you noticed about Fratley’s name, is actually spelled wrong…is missing an “e”, so you might wanna change it)

Scather
02-25-2008, 12:33 PM
I really like what you did here. I really only read quickly as I have class soon, but I will be coming back to read it in more depth soon. Freya was one one of my favorite characters in FFIX, and I think that she really should have gotten more development. Good work man.

Artorium
02-25-2008, 05:30 PM
I really like what you did here. I really only read quickly as I have class soon, but I will be coming back to read it in more depth soon. Freya was one one of my favorite characters in FFIX, and I think that she really should have gotten more development. Good work man.

Deffinatly :D the whole Dragon Knight ethos was very appealing mainly becasue it was shrouded in mystery. Half of the stories in FFIX can be futher developed alot like the FFVII series becasue of this, although we know thats not going to happen so i tried explaing the background by putting all the facts and hidden facts in the game together and adding some of what i thought it would be like also.

Thankyou for the appreciation.
P.S ive added a Prologue I. c that futhers the character Kain thats mentioned a couple of times in the game.

Oh wow Luke, that’s some serious FFIX fan fic xD

Any FFIX fan would most definitely appreciate this ^_^, especially if they liked Freya. I know you love it and it shows. Very descriptive, and I like that whole story about Freya and it seems based on the info I know about her history on FFIX that is how I would picture it as well. Like all the previous events on how she became a Dragon Knight & her history with Sir Fratley.

Very well done, that whole Dragon Knight background and story about how Sir Fratley & Freya met was sooo cool. Lol, I never pictured her being like arrogant at 1st though but I guess it was only before she became a Dragon Knight, but then again she was always confident and determined.

I enjoyed reading it and I hope others will appreciate this as well. I know you loved writing it, good job hun ;)

I can't wait for the rest of the story; like how the romance between them transpires and how they split up (from what I remember on FFXI) that's gonna be quite interesting. hehe. xD

(oh & btw one minor thing, I know that probably “word” did it, but I don’t know if you noticed about Fratley’s name, is actually spelled wrong…is missing an “e”, so you might wanna change it)

I am very glad you enjoyed it ^_^ i cant wait to develop this story into the scenes where Ferya and Fratley become lovers and then he is lost.
thats going to be the pinicle of the chapter.
also i know i spelt Fratley wrong in the text but thats thanks to Word's spell check, so im going to fix it.

After writing ''Dragon Knights'' im going to move onto another chapter. Maybe ''Tantalus'' i dont know :P

thankyou Janny^_^

Artorium
02-28-2008, 02:32 AM
-Continuation-

Return to Burmecia I. b

To the couple’s surprise, the King had grown into quite the fine young man and had a baby on the way.
‘’Sir Fratley and dear Lady Crescent how wonderful to have you all back!’’ the King exclaimed in joy.
’’You must be craving rest and the fine things of Burmecia that-‘’ the King stopped for her knew by the looks in the eyes of the remaining Knights. ‘’Where’s Sir Vermont Fratley, where is he…is he here, in Burmecia?’’
The worried king looked to the ground. ‘’How unfortunate, this is grave news. We must console his family and Freya, how sad for you for it was just last year your father made arrangements with Sir Vermont’s family for you hand to be given in marriage to him.’’
Freya stopped in her tracks, surprised and rather shocked at the news for this did not help in the loss of Vermont at all.
‘’….........’’ Freya opened her mouth but no words came out, instead she stared into space with a glazed look in her eyes that began to tear up slightly.
‘’Come Freya, we shall return to your home and see your family’’ Freya was numb and lifeless on the spot she stood.
Fratley put his arms around her and slowly picked her up to carry her. ‘’ We shall take leave now my King’’ Fratley announced to him.
‘’Yes, of coarse, go ahead Sir’’ the king really didn’t know what to do or say as Freya was quite an unfortunate sight and all he could do was leave her for Fratley to attend to.
The rain bounced off of Fratley’s coat as it began to pick up and become stronger. Slowly making his way down the giant staircase leading to the palace, he headed for the Crescent’s house with Freya tightly in his arms as if carrying a most precious package.
The family was obviously very surprised to see their daughter in the arms of Iron-Tail at the door. Freya’s father quickly took Freya from Fratley and took her to her bed.
‘’Thank you’’ Fratley quietly expressed as Freya’s father left the room.
Fratley was about to follow when Freya suddenly mumbled out to him ‘’don’t leave me, stay with me Fratley…please.’’
Fratley was quite surprised, ‘’of coarse my love…’’
Bells rang for the birth of the King’s son, Prince Puck and the Sky was filled with sun creating a giant rainbow through the rain of Burmecia. Freya lay up against Fratley’s chest as she listened close to his heart beat peacefully in his sleep.
She smiled, for her this was bliss and something she had always wanted with Fratley, yet sorrow ate her soul and despair was always at the back of her mind for Vermont’s memory would not die.
The years spent with Fratley flew by in a daze for Freya and it all seemed as if she was floating by.
Although the two Knights mutually felt love, they could never be as happy as they wished. Pressure from service and unrest was in the air of Burmecia at the time. It seemed to Freya that she could never get the peace she wished to share with Fratley but loved each other they did dearly. Fratley always seemed in a distant daze, but proclaimed his love and his confused Freya. Reason being was really, in he back of Fratley’s mind he felt reluctant to fully embrace what he shared with Freya for fear of loosing it and not only that but he felt bad about the tragic death of Vermont still. All who knew the Vermont and Crescent families herd of the marriage but now Fratley was with Lady Freya. As you could imagine they were not to happy about such a thing, even if he was Captain of the Royal Knights he never really fitted into their society as such, he was a roamer and to them it was as if he had stole Freya away.

Rumors of other nations drifted to Burmecian ears and unrest was felt throughout. Alexandria was becoming powerful and great but not only that but instability was felt from them. Lindblum was slowly widening its borders and enforcing border patrols. This all got back to Sir Fratley of course; His mind surged with questions like what if Burmecia fell under the illusion that it was strong enough to withstand attacks from the others leading to one of them turning their eyes upon the weaker kingdom. Burmecia was an ancient kingdom with ancient ways and the rest of the Mist Continent was advancing rapidly into a new age. The only thing he saw right to do was to Travel the world to strengthen his prowess. This, he saw could not only be of benefit to himself but also to Burmecia. Even if Fratley did not improve his skills and power, the knowledge he would gain of the other nations would be invaluable and something the Burmecian’s could not dismiss for they liked to believe that everything was at peace and became rather oblivious to the outside.
It was an unusually quiet day within the city of Burmecia and birds could be herd singing, a most rare sound in that part of the country. It maybe was due to the lightness of the falling rain and it was a pretty day for sure.
Behind the beauty though, Freya could sense something was not right. ‘’Dear Fratley, you have been so very quiet all this time, is there anything the matter?’’
Fratley did not answer but Freya didn’t need one to know that things were not right.
’’Your eyes are so pensive this day my love, what is it you are thinking of?’’ she asked.
Fratley answered mechanically ‘’I must take a journey dear Freya’’
’’Then was must be packed and ready at once if it is imperative we leave!’’ she declared excitedly.
Fratley did not respond and so Freya figured ‘’Alone, but why?’’

The Last Memory

Fratley turned to Freya suddenly and whispered a name softly into the air. ‘’Beatrix’’
‘’Beatrix?’’ Freya answered in bewilderment
‘’ Yes... Beatrix’’ Fratley went on.
‘’I hear there are many fierce warriors out in the world-some more powerful than even I...
...Beatrix of Alexandria, in particular. They say her swordsmanship is the best in the land.’’
Freya’s eyes began tearing up slightly ‘’Sir Fratley, do you still insist on going on your journey?’’
‘’Yes... Please understand, Freya.
Right now, Burmecia is at peace, while other nations are slowly but surely gaining power.
I don't know if my spear alone is enough to protect Burmecia...
...which is precisely why I must go out into the world.’’
‘’Sir Fratley...I don't think I can live on my own-not without you.’’ Freya softly exclaimed.
‘’Freya, you're going to be fine.
Trust your strength... and have faith in your destiny.
Once I complete my journey around the world, I will return to Burmecia.’’ Fratley assured.
‘’Then promise me, one more time, that you will return.’’
‘’I promise.’’ Fratley comforted again.
Fratley suddenly turned away and left. His journey had begun and somehow Freya knew it might be her last memory of him. Freya fell to her knees in silent tears as she whispered one soft word from her lips ‘’Fratley... ‘’

Whispers of Fratley’s deeds were herd far and wide over the next handful of years, but few people saw the Dragon Knight in person. Finally news reached Burmecia that rumored Fratley’s death on his quest yet Freya never believed it. In fact to the contrary for she had become stronger and due to this new found strength and maturity she decided to set out on her own quest, a quest to find her long lost love.
Years past by as they do yet Freya sound only small signs of Fratley and it seemed that she was always only a few days worth of journey behind him a at one point. Freya found her way all across the Mist continent on many adventures and events but none that led her to her love.
One day Freya got as close as she ever did to Fratley in all those years. Beside where she had come to find remains of encampment were etched words into a rock.
"The road remains wide open while your dreams are alive. Only fear can block the way. Let fear propel you forward. Do not left failure stifle you." It was signed ‘’Iron Tail Fratley.’’

Written by Artorium from concepts and stories by Squaresoft

Lady Rinoa
02-28-2008, 10:31 PM
Such a tragic end :(…even though we knew the outcome since that’s how story began on FFIX its still sad. Her despair, and to be forgotten later…wait, there is still something missing in the end, are you going to write about it? (I meant at the end of FFIX a piece of Freya’s story reveals) then again, this is your fan fic, so it is up to you of course.

Freya lay up against Fratley’s chest as she listened close to his heart beat peacefully in his sleep.
She smiled, for her this was bliss and something she had always wanted with Fratley

I wonder what inspired you to describe it like that and where you got that from :P

So I see you had a lot of fun writing this, it made sense and it flowed well to storyline on how FFIX showed about them. I hope you do more since they seem very interesting, just gotta edit a few grammar mistakes ;)

Awesome job babe, can’t wait to see the next installment ^_^

Artorium
02-29-2008, 03:13 AM
Such a tragic end :(…even though we knew the outcome since that’s how story began on FFIX its still sad. Her despair, and to be forgotten later…wait, there is still something missing in the end, are you going to write about it? (I meant at the end of FFIX a piece of Freya’s story reveals) then again, this is your fan fic, so it is up to you of course.
Thankyou for your kind words Janny^_^<3
I wanted to leave the story where it left of in FFIX, thats what alot is missing. I leave it at Freya's journey whereas Freyas part in FFIX starts at the end of it. I only wanted to show the Tragic Origins of Freya's tale and thats why i left out their journeys also. That would take a whole other book to go into.lol
Awesome job babe, can’t wait to see the next installment ^_^

My next Chapter will be entitled ''The Rose Of May'' and shall mainly be about Beatrix and the Origins of Alexanria and its armies, including Steiner also.

Artorium
03-03-2008, 01:39 AM
FINAL FANTASY IX: GAIAN CHRONICLES:
THE ROSE OF MAY

Prologue I. a

The ancient world of Gaia is a land of many legends, many stories and many events. Most lost to the ravages of war and time, yet many are passed down through the people of Gaia that shape its history like the sea shapes the cliffs.
In a time when the powers of summoning were known to all, a great war ensued among the nations of the Mist Continent. Alexandria excelled in its use of this power and they came to discover the greatest of them all to which they owe their name. Alexander was the Holy Eidolon from before time that came to be to bring justice to the world and render its holy judgment unto the land. But Alexandria lost sight of what she was. The nation became corrupted by the new Queen’s wants. Many of the other nations were massacred by the one people that called them selves holy Knights. In the final moment of the Great War, Alexandria used its ultimate weapon. A great General with countless power summoned the Holy eidolon Alexander for the first time. Its Holy Judgment lay waste the all the rival Kingdoms and such power had never been seen within Gaia before. It was power that the Summoner tribe themselves had never seen before. With the Queens death a new ruler took the throne and with much promise. After seeing that Alexander was too powerful, the Queen signed a treaty with the other Nations agreeing on peace and that the Alexander Jewel be split into four crystals. One piece was given to the three kingdoms of Burmecia, Lindblum and Alexandria. The last piece was taken by the summoners and kept a secret in Madain Sari on their own Continent.
Alexandria’s peace with the other nations could not last much longer and soon the newest Queen had upset the balance once more. War would break out with its rival Nation Lindblum again and again.

Prologue I. b

In the beginning all that dwelt on Gaia did so in small villages. The men would hunt while the woman would tend the farms during the day and this was the way it was. All was peaceful and balanced among the people and the other tribes. The Lindell people dwelt to the south east of the continent while the Burmell tribe to the north east. Other, smaller tribes also existed at the time and made their lives among unoccupied lands also. For many years this was the way.
Time passed and ebbed away at the land, changing not only its face but its core and so its people changed also. The Lindell tribe had become mighty and built for themselves a large town filled with the lands greatest minds. The Burmell people had also become mighty in their own way and in their lands where the greatest architecture and warriors to protect it. Men ran the world and woman were there to support them, or so the mentality was. The headstrong woman of the Lindell tribes despised this very much so. After a long while simmering in their anger they rose up against Leader Cid and declared that if equality was not enforced they would abandon the town to found their own. All the men of Lindell’s town laughed in the faces of the woman who in return slew many. The woman came to the eastern lands of the continent and found that it was fertile. There they set up their own village called Dali with their own farms and eventually their own army full of woman. One woman though was seemingly stronger than the rest; she was Brahne Raza, who pronounced herself Queen over the woman of Dali.
Over many years more the Kingdom of the Lindell woman became strong and considerably larger. Many of the world’s greatest warrior and knights were born of this land. Time moved on yet again and the City of Raza which the woman built for themselves had become the capital. A great city with a large castle guarded by the finest Knights of its time, it was only rivaled by the warriors of Burmecia. Now the city did have its men but due to the history of Raza they were secondary to the woman and they served the Queens of Raza hand and foot just like they did in the days of old for the men. There was one section of the Raza’s army that was made up of men and these brave few became known as the Knights of Pluto; named after the man who founded them.
The Lindell whose city was now known as Lindblum always felt that the woman of Raza had become too big for their boots. They controlled the large area of land towards the east and growing. T’was under the rule of Brahne Raza III that finally, after much friction had gathered among them that Lindblum and Raza City went into war against each other. The 1st Lindblum war lasted many months and resources were dwindling down by the tone. In a desperate attempt to find an ultimate power that would crush Lindblum, Brahne discovered a tribe of people so very far away that possessed a hidden power that had unimaginable strength. Brahne ordered her mightiest general to seize the power and bring it back to Raza city. In the Generals hand lay a large white stone, gleaming with holy light which Brahne quickly clasped hold of. It was on the following day that the hidden power of Alexander had been used, and since then the Raza had taken on the name of the Alexandrians. Brahne III died and her daughter took her place. She devised a treaty of peace amongst the nations and so the white jewel of Alexander was split to rid the land of such uncontrollable power.
A long lasting peace seemed in reach but the great Queen Brahne IV died an early death which some say was assassination. Wars ensued again and again and ever since the split between the men and women of Lindell it has always been so.

Prologue II.

To become a legend you must do a great deed that will forever be written in history as a defining act. Gaia is full of legends but only a handful come to mind when the word legend is used; General Magdalene is one of these.
From an early age she was the feistiest of the Alexandrian girls. Born to a peasant family who owned a Medicine shop in the city center, Magdalene earned her noble status through such legendary deeds.
She used to play guard and stand beside the Alexandrian soldiers outside their posts everyday after school. It didn’t take long for her to come by her first sword which she practiced with very much and became a fine swordswoman.
Magdalene was 12 years of age when she joined the army after being expelled from school, 16 being the minimum age to sign up but her talent was obvious from the start. The young warrior won many Alexandrian war tournaments which many most of the guards so very jealous of her being so many years older. Loosing to a teenager looked very bad on their part, certainly after years of training. Magdalene even won the Festival of the hunt in Lindblum a few times and passed the Master Hunter on to many warriors at the feast. 17 years of age was she when her first war was won and it was at this time that she became Sergeant of the Alexandrian Guards which made many woman of the army jealous. One story of Magdalene is when she slew the corrupt General of the Knights of Pluto for trying to poison the Queen, but if this is true no one knows. For fact though Magdalene went on a quest for the precious metal called Orichalcum. With it she ordered the finest Burmecian smith to forge her mighty Sword ‘Save the Queen’.
It is said that she would never wipe the blood of her enemies from its blade and so stained it stayed throughout time.
Magdalene married an Architect from Treno at the age of 21 and also had two children with him, a son and daughter.
On Magdalene’s 24th birthday the 9th Lindblum war broke out, the fiercest of them all. A whole two years this war raged on until almost all of the Alexandrian army was whipped out by air raids. At a last desperate attempt to finalize the war in Alexandria’s 1389 General Magdalene and 9 soldiers take on the entire Lindblum army and win. Unfortunately due to her wounds she Magdalene died at the tender age of 25 leaving her children and widower.

-To be continued-

Artorium
03-12-2008, 03:07 AM
-Continuation: Rose Of May-

Mighty Hrist

Running recklessly through the swamp, the messenger hurried to his destination. In his hand was the most precious of letters addressed directly to Brahne Raza Alexandros XV; Queen of the mightily Alexandria. The year was 1773, it was the 16th Lindblum war with Alexandria and Lindblum had been crushing Alexandria’s small numbers with their enormous air raids. The messenger was carrying a plea for reinforcements on the border as Alexandria had been loosing ground and numbers fast; the battle was nearly over.
The red dressed messenger all tacky and clothes torn fell at the feet of the Queen who was drinking tea in her garden with her daughter. She was not one to partake in war but she could start one on a whim.
‘’What is it!’’ Brahne cried aloud. ‘’Dare you come and interrupt our tea time and what is that smell!?’’ she exclaimed angrily as she raised her fingers to pinch her large round nose.
In pain the messenger handed the Queens servant who unnecessarily whipped the piece of parchment with a cloth by request from the Queen. He then handed it to Brahne who in turn read the message to herself. She gasped and jumped out of her seat as soon as she was done and it took a lot to move the Queen.
‘’Guards!’’ she cried at the top of her voice. ‘’Assemble our Navy and ready the Nautilus personally for me’’
’’Yes your Highness!’’ they all declared in unison as they scuttled away to perform her commands.
It didn’t take long for the city’s remaining forces to assemble and to be honest it was a sorry sight. A few ships here and their following the Queen’s luxury battle liner, the Airship Nautilus. Against Lindblum’s Viltgance fleet and huge mist powered Dreadnought’s they looked puny. It is why Lindblum usually came out of the reoccurring Lindblum Alexandrian wars victorious however primitive Airship technology seemed back then compared to the days of now.

Brahne XV’s forces had landed at the war zone to see devastation before their eyes. Alexandrian soldiers laid out all around injured and others dead. Smoke was rising far into the air transporting the burning smell of death far and wide. Back in the days of old Trees covered the Mist continent from top to bottom but this war had laid waste to a large number of the south coasts forests, other tress where later cut down in mass numbers for industry. Brahne could do nothing but stare silently into the scene that she beheld with anger and rage at what the Regent of Lindblum had done to her Armies. Lindblum’s forces where no where to be seen and no doubly had left the battle field long ago on their airships. Brahne’s airship landed in a clearing a little way off from the fields of smoke as she jumped off from the ships exit a foot from the ground even before the Nautilus could touch the grass. Two of her guards followed her around as she walked amongst the bodies.
Brahne finally was able to give out orders and in a state of rage she blasted out a list of commands without taking in a breath of air. ‘’Guards, round up the wounded and load them up onto the reaming ships, burn the dead and leave no trace of battle, destroy the unoccupied ships and use the wood to fuel the fire and somebody tell me where my General Hrist is!’’
The Queen’s guards got onto their orders right away but no one could tell her where her General was.
Furious, Brahne grabbed the nearest servant to her by the neck and threw him onto the ground.
‘’I told you insignificant runts to go find Hrist, now go!’’. The Servant yelped as he crawled away in fright.
The Queen was tapping her feet impatiently after an hour of waiting for any news. Finally one of her servants came back after asking around for the General. He featured a solemn face and was dragging a large sword up onto the hill where Brahne was standing.
‘’Finally!’’ she exclaimed impatiently. ‘’So, where is General Hrist, where is she?’’. Brahne knew what had happed for she saw Hrist’s Sword in his hands. The servant fell to his knees and bowed his head in fright.
‘’After much searching m-m-my Highness I found Hrist’s body amongst those of the dead. She is with those who are being c-c-cremated my Highness’’ he blurted out. ‘’Al that is left you Majesty is her s-s-sword ‘Save the Queen’.’’
‘’Pass it to me wretch’’ Brahne shouted at him. The servant lifted the sword to her as she snatched it from him.
She then called for her secretary of affairs. ‘’Send this to Hrist’s family along with consolation from the Queen’’.
‘’Yes your Majesty’’ the secretary answered as he took away the sword. Most precious ‘Save the Queen’ was for it was forged by the great Magdalene and passed down to her ancestors over the years until it came to the late General Hrist.

Brahne Raza Alexandros XV did not rule much longer after the 16th Lindblum war for she was weak of heart and strong emotions would bring on pangs of great magnitude. She died and her Princess took rule of Alexandria straight after, even in her young age. For a couple of Generations the Queens of Alexandria had been callous to the people’s affairs or corrupted by the power. This was not so with Brahne Raza Alexandros XVI and she showed much promise, but this was said by the people whenever a new ruler took the thrown for only time could tell.

Save the Queen

A loud knock at the door echoed through the Magdalene residence awaking its household.
‘’I’ll get it!’’ a young girl shouted through the interior.
As she opened the large oak door that creaked with age she caught view of a tall man in red messengers outfit.
Like a royal trumpet he announced his message loud and clear through the door whilst holding out the girl’s mother’s sword in his hands.
‘’As announced by Defender of the Holy Light, High Commander of the Alexandrian Rose, Emperor of the East Shores and Mighty Queen of Alexandria Brahne Raza Alexandros XV here by sends all her condolences in your households loss of the great General Hrist who served her Queen and country until death. Mighty Queen Brahne Raza returns to you the Magdalene Family Heirloom for the harm that has been caused by casualty of war. What is your name girl that I may report back to her Highness?’’ He concluded coldly.
‘’B-b-beatrix daughter of Lady Hrist’’ Tears fell down young Beatrix’s face as she clung onto Save the Queen.

Unfortunate events were not alien to young Beatrix’s life. It didn’t take long for her father to pass away also after years of sickness had befallen him and caught him up on his weary run towards health. Left all along and an only child to this noble’s house she had no choice but to live in the boarding schools of Alexandria’s north side estates.
Everyday was the same for poor Beatrix who was distraught over her family’s death yet showed no ounce of it. She would get up with the other girls, wash, eat breakfast and then recite the national pledge in an almost creepy unison with the other children.
‘’All glory to the Holy Light, that it may lead the way to righteousness, honor and virtue. May we strife to serve the Defender of the Holy Light, that it may shine in our lives. Save the Queen that she may make her way to Valhalla.’’
Then, after long classes full of lectures the girls would learn all things essential to becoming a mini army. Swordplay and all kinds of skills needed for the battlefield. Then, after along day of school they would all return to the dormitories to get some sleep for the next day made up of exactly the same routine.
Many months past and the events of what befell her mother often haunted Beatrix’s dreams. She was seen as a mysterious and unsociable quiet type to the other girls of the school who often made fun of her. One girl in particular bothered Beatrix all of the time trying to trip her over as she would walk by her desk in class.
One day came though when all suddenly saw what Beatrix was about.

‘’Girls…Girls……GIRLS!’’ the teacher shouted at the top of her lungs as all the girls in class where talking to each other so loudly. ‘’It is time for your swordsmanship class and today is your final test girls so be prepared. I shall be paring you off into to twos in which you shall spar until one is taken to the ground or hit on a vital spot. Remember this is a test only so spar safely.’’
Beatrix at this point had become quite the swordswoman but was not recognized for this and so the other girls thought that they could take advantage of her on this fact. Well as Beatrix was leaving for the courtyard for the exam three of the other girls held her against the wooden paneled walls as another poked her in the chin with her sword. Beatrix’s eyes blazed with anger and even the four bullies were suddenly frightened by her glare releasing her. Beatrix didn’t move to avenge her shaken self no, she waited. See Beatrix was always a smart one.
‘’Girls, let us pair off into-‘’ before the teacher could stop Beatrix, to the surprise of her class uttered her first words aloud in all the time she had been in that school.
‘’Let me and June be a sparing couple’’ she smiled craftily then she curtsied very politely towards the bully girl June.
‘’Very well’’ the teacher answered in confusion and surprise.
Beatrix and June walked in a very determined fashion out to the center of the courtyard to begin their test. In Beatrix’s mind though, this was a whole lot more than just an exam.
June drew her sword from its sheath and started running towards Beatrix who just stood there with one leg crossed and her hand on the hilt of her sword Save the Queen with her fingers tapping it a little.
Before anyone could blink Save the Queen had left Beatrix’s side and slashed a wide gash into June’s arm. She yelped in pain as she dropped her sword. The Teacher ran towards Beatrix with her sword out but Beatrix crossed blades with hers.
‘’Step down girl’’ the instructor exclaimed furiously. Beatrix did nothing but put more pressure against the teacher’s blade. ‘’Step down I say!’’ she cried one more time but this time her eyes where saying ‘’Step down or I will have to disarm you’’ kind of look. Again Beatrix did nothing but increase the pressure.
The teacher flung Beatrix to the floor but Beatrix rolled across the dry ground to parry the blow. In a few quick clashes of the blades the teacher was on her knees with Save the Queen atop her head. Beatrix said nothing; she returned the sword to its sheath and walked away to bed.

The Knight of Pluto

Years passed fast through Beatrix’s routine as an apprentice for the Alexandrian army and it wasn’t long until she began full time service. It was a hard life and to some seemed like brainwashing propaganda to hype the soldiers up so that they be ready for war at any minute. Beatrix saw through however she had a strong sense of patriotism still. Her swordsmanship was becoming quite well known throughout the city for she had won many a tournament for it.
It was through this that Beatrix got to know the royal family.
‘’Lady Beatrix, you have been summoned to the castle by the Queen herself at request. She was impressed by your last display at the tournament yesterday’’ Beatrix’s General told her.
Beatrix slowly made her way through the city towards the ferry that would take her to the castle beyond the lake. She was kind of reluctant to do so really for in her eyes her skills were not so show or glory from others but to glorify her family name. Beatrix was one to be very proud of her heritage and her family history. In her mind she had a reputation to keep up seeing as she was a descendant of the Great General Magdalene and daughter of the Mighty General Hrist, both most respected and admired warriors by the people of not only Alexandria but most of known Gaia.
Then, as Beatrix was walking along the steps of the castles entrance she caught a glance of a certain boy. He wasn’t that impressive and to be honest Beatrix didn’t even know what caught her eye in him but it was something and you could even call it a sense of destiny. As the two walked past each other they smiled but turned away awkwardly fast.
Beatrix didn’t really think anything else of it for she had bigger things to deal with, for example why she was summoned by the Queen. Well, eventually she made her way to the Queens entertaining room where she was let in by two doormen.
‘’Ah, Lady Beatrix daughter of Hrist you have finally come’’ the Queen announced aloud.
‘’Yes my Highness’’ Beatrix answered nervously as she kneeled before Brahne.
‘’We were very impressed by your skills dear, at the last Tournament. I love those things don’t you? So dramatic. What I love most are the Lindblum plays we have here at the castle every year. They come especially from the Theatre District and perform my Favorite’s of Lord Avon’s plays.’’
Beatrix just nodded in agreement, the Queen really wasn’t like she expected at all. She was very welcoming and polite. A very cheerful woman it seemed that was friendly to most and even her servants Beatrix noticed. This was such a difference from what she had been told by many of the towns people abut previous Queens.
‘’So Lady Beatrix I hear you are of a great bloodline, a noble and notorious one. You’re the ancestor of General Magdalene and of course your wonderful mother who served my mother so very loyally. I remember her very well as a child. ‘’ the Queen asked cheerfully.
‘’Yes your Majesty, Hrist was my mother and my household is that of Lady Magdalene.’’ Beatrix sounded softly.
‘’Then it is fitting that you are here to come serve at the Castle my dear as did the majority of your family had’’ Brahne chuckled. Beatrix smiled along with her but still a little nervous and didn’t quite know what to make of the Queens ways. She was also very surprised at the fact that she would from now on be living in quarters at the castle to serve as the Queens guard. Beatrix left the castle very dazed from all the news, she passed down the staircase she came up and out of the great gates towards the ferry when suddenly the boy from before bumped into her.
‘’Oh…s-s-sorry M’Lady’’ the boy stuttered. Beatrix giggled and was a little red.
‘’That is quite alright boy. What is your name?’’ Beatrix answered.
‘’It is Albert Steiner of the Knights of Pluto!’’ he announced proudly and again Beatrix giggled. Steiner was not amused and asked confusingly ‘’what is there to laugh about?’’ as he scratched his head.
‘’oh, nothing dear Albert’’ Beatrix said merrily trying to hold back her giggles.
‘’Besides, what business do you have here at the castle?’’ Albert asked with authority.
‘’Me, oh I have been summoned by the Queen to serve as her guard’’ Beatrix told him still smiling rather widely.
‘’So what do you do here good sir?’’ she continued.
‘’I also serve the Queen but under the command of the Queens husband Lord Alexandros’’ Steiner replied.
‘’Then we shall be seeing more of each other then good sir’’ Beatrix said smiling as she walked away.

Steiner and Beatrix became quite the friends through all the time of their service to the Queen. They fought in many battles together and won victories in many fights but one day came the day when Beatrix and Steiner had to face off against one another. It was the Alexandrian Knights Festival and the final for the Swordsmanship round was between the two young friends. The Queen and her husband sat themselves on their balcony ready for the show that was silently anticipated in awe at the battle that was about to take place in front of them. Two of the most valued Knights of their time in Alexandria. Soon the great sword fight was underway and gasps from the Queen and audience could be herd all around as the intense battle became a very serious matter. Since times of old in Alexandria there has been devastating rivalry between the men and woman and this fight was at the heart of that matter. If either lost their reputation would be on the line in front of the public and so the battle was forcibly fierce.
Eventually the fight came to a sudden close as Steiner overwhelmed Beatrix with a blast of energetic attacks and in many eyes it was a very unexpected and lucky victory of against Beatrix. Many would say that it was because Beatrix was only 18 years old and Steiner at time being 24 years of age.
However, since Beatrix’s defeat she viewed Steiner, a warrior in her senior, as a rival. Since her humiliating loss, Beatrix swore to devoted herself in art of war and knighthood, and so began her climb to legendary status.
It should also be noted that the friendship between the two was severed due to these pressures and humiliation.
Beatrix from that day on held a bitter grudge against her defeat and some say it was also due to Steiner’s hot headed approach to overpowering her and showing no respect for her loss.

A new day dawned upon Alexandria and it was lovely, bright and cheerful yet in the Pluto General’s household sorrow filled its hall. The General had fallen ill and died that night and having no heir to take his place the General’s wish was for his greatest apprentice to take his role as General. Later that day Steiner was dubbed General of the Knights of Pluto. Beatrix however was kind of lost on what path she wished to take in life. Ever since the events of her childhood and signing to the Army she had felt like a huge part of her life was missing. She did though, have one woman wise in her years and so very old that she would turn to in times of need and when seeking advice. She kind of replaced her mother in a way but seeing as she was probably double the age that her mother would have been by now she called her Grandma.
‘’Grandma? ‘’ Beatrix turned to her one day.
‘’Yes my dear’’ Grandma replied in her old hoarse voice.
‘’I have achieved so much in this city yet I feel it is all in vain, like and empty vessel still.’’ Beatrix said sorrowfully.
Grandma smiled ‘’you are so young my dear and have so many years to do so much with’’.
‘’But I haven’t Grandma, I swear fealty to the Queen and from now on she says what I spend my years on’’ Beatrix continued, ‘’how can I prove my strength to my ancestors in Valhalla if I just play guard at the Queens side?’’
Grandma smiled as she replied to her plea for advice, ‘’You build your own path in life dear Beatrix and it is that that your Mother and her mother and so on fought for. You don’t have to feel that you need to live up to your mother’s legend or that of your great ancestor Magdalene for where you are in life right now they also were.’’
Beatrix faintly smiled at Grandma’s wise words.
‘’Your words lift my heavy heart, thank you’’ Beatrix expressed, ‘’I now know what I must do.’’
‘’…And what is that?’’ Grandma asked curiously.
‘’I shall persevere to become stronger and that Steiner shall respect me along with the wrest of the Mist Continent who shall know my name as it is whispered on the tongues of the Lindell and Burmecian peoples’’ Beatrix confidently exclaimed.
Grandma chuckled a little to Beatrix’s confusion for it was a serious statement. ‘’Montague’’ she said.
‘’Montague’’ Beatrix asked curious at her random remark.
‘’Yes Montague for Montague refused to be forgotten like the masses of people who have lived through the ages of Gaia. He wrote a book called ‘Legends of Gaia’’ that mention some of the greatest of warriors and their deeds performed that go down through history as greats. He was so fascinated by the stories of old, especially that of the Knights like Kain.’’
‘’Kain’’ Beatrix asked again in curiosity.
Grandma explained willingly telling a tale to her segregate daughter. ‘’Kain was the most noble, fierce and strongest of the Dragon Knight. Using his great magic called the Lunar Trail he slew many of the Dragons that terrorized towns and villages around Gaia. He crafted may fine weapons that have become legend among the Treasure Hunters guild like Abel’s lance and The Dragon Hair. He had become the hero of the Burmecian hearts and revered almost as much as the gods themselves. Kain was said to have died at the jaws of the Evil entity Kaiser, a dragon so deformed by darkness that it shouldn’t have been called a Dragon.’’ Grandma walked slowly to her book case and with her Cain knocked and old and dusty book from the top shelf which she caught quite well.
‘’Ah, here it is’’ she said pleased as she turned through the thick pages. ‘’Kain’s disappearance has never been explained and his body never found. What happened to this great warrior has always been highly debated but because Kaiser was never seen again a short while after Kain’s departure it was concluded by most that they died at each others hands. Kaiser’s voice was said to have been herd for miles around whenever he awoke from his long slumbers and bothered to say something. When his foul darkness fueled by all the souls he devoured seeped from his cavern death would fill the land and sorrow became the theme of the time. I have traveled to Kaiser’s supposed cavern and found nothing but the eeriest atmosphere a man could feel. A tribe of dwarves live near by and so I decided to obtain their account on the matter seeing as they have been residents of the land since the time that Kaiser was just a recognizable dragon. I found one book in their vast library that had an account of words herd from Kaiser’s cavern during the time which read exactly this:
"Humans and your insatiable greed... Your lust for power leads always to a lust for blood... This place is a sanctuary for wayward souls... What business have you filthy creatures here?
You slaughter my brethren, and befoul their rest with the profanity of your continued existence... You should not have come here. In the name of all dragon kind, I shall grant you the death you desire. I am the dealer of destruction... I am the font from which fear springs... I am Kaiser... And your time is at end."
There, that’s enough for today dear Beatrix’’ Grandma finished as she snapped the book shut. Beatrix noticed the title on the undercover which read ‘Legends of Gaia’. She was listening intently with just as much fascination as Montague had when he first herd of Kain as a boy.
‘’I have herd little of the Dragon Knights for a feared people they are to the woman of the army and only once have I seen them in battle. Deadly it was Grandma, how did they obtain such power’’ Beatrix asked.
Any powerful character hailed for their strength in battle would capture Beatrix’s attention instantly. Well Grandma, very pleased with such an avid listener carried on with her account.
‘’ Dragon Knights go on a long journey to defeat the worm they worship as a symbol of supreme power. They absorb the dragon’s sprits to gain their deadly skills. The older and more powerful the dragon the more powerful the soul and thus the more powerful the Knight’s skills will become.’’
Beatrix’s mouth was almost open in amazement at such a display of power and honor in battle.
‘’I told the exact same story of Kain to Hrist when she was only a few years younger than you my dear’’ Grandma laughed ‘’and she showed the exact same expression’’.
‘’truly the Dragon Knights are the most powerful warriors in history’’ Beatrix asked.
‘’Some of them but many of the strongest came from Alexandria and other nations that are just as powerful if not stronger. All have individual methods of acquiring their powers as did your mother and her ancestors’’ Grandma explained.
‘’Yes, I suppose your right. I know now with all my heart what I should do. I shall request leave from the kingdom seeing as it is in a extended time of peace to hone my skills just like my ancestors and the Dragon Knights of Burmecia’’ Beatrix announced proudly.
‘’Just as Magdalene’’ Grandma smiled.
‘’My ancestor Lady Magdalene did also?’’ Beatrix asked surprised.
‘’For five long years Magdalene traveled the world searching for an opponent worthy of her steel. Young she was and set out for the wrong reasons she did but the journey forced her to see otherwise and for it she became so very wise. She also learned a great ancient art that had been kept secret for thousands of years.’’
Now this subject Beatrix was obsessed by ever after. Gaining approval from the Queen to take leave she traveled the world in search of the ancient art that Lady Magdalene had found so long ago. It enabled her to overcome the entire Lindblum army with just nine soldiers so it must have been unimaginable power she thought.
‘’Seiken the art of Holy Sword it was named and hidden in a distant land it is said to still be’’ Grandma told Beatrix before she left for her long journey. ‘’A great Holy Knight died on a pilgrimage of the Oglan gods and in this place forever his soul was imprisoned. It is said in ancient stories long forgotten that with all the might of his spirit the power of Seiken was forged.’’

Written by Artorium from concepts and stories by Squaresoft

Artorium
03-21-2008, 12:30 AM
FINAL FANTASY IX: GAIAN CHRONICLES:
THE ANGEL OF DEATH

Prologue

The world of Terra had always assimilated other planets to survive. A rotting corpse trying to be preserved in all desperation, the time had come again for Terra to replenish its self once more.
Government astronomers of old would watch the skies for lifeless planets that fitted the profile, ready to devour as their own. Terra was mighty and glorious for it had been around since time began, its people had millennia to shape its civilization yet a cursed world it always was and will be. Myriads of years past and the time arrived for the great assimilation but the astronomers were troubled to the soul for all the planets that Terra could devour had been eaten away. Like maggots at a decaying body, Terra’s people scrambled around in fear of their end to find solutions. The greatest scientists of Terra formed a summit to conclude how they would save life as they knew it. A great Professor of Physics came forth with an answer and all agreed, but it turned out to be a catalyst to the effects of the dying planet. Dreams of desperation haunted all the night that Terra was announced doomed, yet in the final moments of certain death for all a Great War Lord by the name of Garland presented to the summit, years of his scientist’s underground research. He had created a mighty seed by the name of Genome that could be used to preserve Terra in its current state. They also had found a way to fuse dimensions with another, and so their planet could be saved. All turned to Garland for salvation and the power corrupted his soul. For the process to work, all that lived had to have their souls put into stasis. Flora and Fauna under went cryogenic stasis also.
Garland in the height of his power over the Terran people sold spaces in the cryogenic pods to the people and due to the process of fusion, all that were not in slumber would die.
Terra was lifeless and bare, as the glorious civilization had become a silent planet. Its people and life in a great sleep, Garland began the process of assimilation without any thought of the consequences of force.
An unexpected catastrophe struck for the planet that that Garland had set his eyes on already had life. This would surely be the end of Terra for good and just as the world came to meet its end Garland froze the process. The world of Terra from then on was forever frozen in time. Laws of nature became absent in a way and the flow of water and life stopped.
To keep the Terrans from dying, Garland used the seed that kept life in stasis to produce soulless vessels that would encompass the souls of the people in the time of their regeneration.
Yet wait they had to so Garland sought for a solution. How would he resume the assimilation without endangering Terra or speeding its decay?
Garland’s answer lay in the seed that saved Terra so many times before. He planned to plant a great seed on the world of Gaia to gain control of the cycle of souls.
See every planet has a cycle of souls as souls are born from the planet, and then return to it.
If Garland could control this cycle then he could resume the process of resurrecting Terra and his mission of watching over Terra to restore the people would be complete. He would be able to prove him self again after his first failure. When the cycle is broke this prevents the judgment of souls on Gaia from inside the planet and so the great seed planted its firm roots deep into the earth, its heart glowing crimson haling Terra’s restoration for the seed became a mighty tree controlled by a hideous entity known as the Soul Cage. So the Soul Cage with held all souls sent to the mighty world tree from the judgment and instead disposed of them through its roots. This is the origin of the eternal mist that forever covers the Mist Continent and so in return fuels the fighting instinct in the people of the land. Because of battle and war, more souls return to Gaia yet are locked and so the world slowly dies, yet this was still not as fast as Garland desired it to be.

A Final Catalyst

‘’To disrupt Gaia's cycle and drain its souls filling the void with the souls of Terra and to speed the cycle of souls is to speed the work as a whole, but where lies my answer for a final catalyst?’’ Garland wracked his brain for answers as he looked up from his grand observatory. Once there stood the Great Mind’s of Terra before him there, also scrambling through the years of knowledge in their brains trying to find salvation, observing the skies for a desperate way to survive their curse. In the eyes of the naturalists of Terra though, the worlds decay was judgment from its crimson heart for all the years that the Terran War Lords greedily squeezed the world of all it was worth.
Garland had spent years on waiting for the Great Iifa seed to grow strong enough yet he was growing ever more impatient. Day in and Day out Garland would pace the length of his abode pondering through all his research until one day an answer came to him from no where. Garland was taking a walk among the Vessels he had created when one came to him and asked him a question. Garland was very surprised for a Vessel should not show emotions at all, especially curiosity.
‘’Garland…what do you call our people…what are our names?’’ the Vessel asked mechanical.
Garland turned around in surprise at the Vessel’s remark whilst stuttering slightly.
‘’N-n-name, you mean how do we refer to your people?’’
‘’Yes’’ the Vessel answered.
‘’Well you were born from a project called the Genome Seed. It would be most fitting if your race should be known as the Genomes’’
The Genome turned away satisfied, walking back to the laboratory with a tiny smile. This topped the surprise that Garland was feeling and he returned to his observatory even more mindful than before.
Why was this Genome showing emotion when they have no soul? Of coarse they are alive but in a state of emptiness. This act of emotion would go against all other theories and practices that Garland had spent years discovering. Worry set in Garland’s mind for what if there was life in the Genomes? Would it be the same if the Terrans finally assimilated the Vessels with life all ready being there as Terra assimilating Gaia and failing?
‘’No, it can’t be…’’ he though aloud. ‘’I must use this to my advantage. This could be the answer to the problems of Terra’’ Garland planned out.
If Garland could give this Genome a soul of its own, that would do the will of Garland yet have a will of its own, it could be a final catalyst that he needed.
‘’Maybe I should send this exceptional Vessel to Gaia. He could speed the process up and Terra will be revived once more. Gaia is a planet that could keep Terra from the brink of destruction for many millennia’’ he thought to himself.
Garland called the Genome to his laboratory.
‘’Vessel-‘’
‘’Genome…you said we are called the Genome’’ the vessel interrupted to Garlands surprise.
‘’Genome then; I have a special mission for you. Do you wish to be free?’’ Garland asked the Genome and he nodded right away. ‘’Then I shall give you a soul from the cycle, and you shall be free to do as you choose, but one thing. You must obey all that I command of you’’ Garland added.
The Genome did not hesitate in agreeing to his terms.
‘’You are to enslave the world of Gaia Genome, and disturb its long years of peace by warring the nations among themselves again. You shall be the catalyst to speed the cycle of souls and Gaia shall rot fast.’’ Garland commanded.
‘’I shall do as you command Garland and these people of Gaia you speak of shall fear me’’ the Genome added to what Garland had said. Now the Genome was given a soul by Garland, but to him at first was seen as a failed project.
The Genome’s incredible ambition was highly unusual for a Genome, and Garland began to see it as a fault.
Garland would have prepared to kill him, but stopped when he realized he could make him into his "Angel of Death".
‘’What shall be my name Garland? For you gave us Genomes a name and now that I am no longer one of them, it should be fitting that I be named wouldn’t it? The Genome asked. The Genomes ambition did scare Garland a little, even though he would never admit such a weakness. So Garland put a limit on the Genome’s lifespan, assuming that he will only need to live until he could find another Angel of death...a more "perfect" Genome for the job.
‘’Name…a name? This is unusual but understandable seeing as you now have a soul. Let me think’’ Garland scratched his head for a second. ‘’You shall be known in Gaia as ‘Kuja’. Kuja is a powerful name fitting of your personality’’ Garland concluded.
But Garland knew that Kuja’s personality could also be his downfall. ‘’I must ensure my safety’’ he thought to himself.
So Garland created a Genome that he named Zidane, a Genome that we extra special and unlike any other Genome before him. He we given the body of a young child which allowed him to grow naturally and to become stronger over time. Seeing this Kuja became so very jealous of his little brother and began to plot against Garland and his new child.
As far as Kuja was concerned, when Zidane received the gift of life in Bran Bal, he could not bear it at all; He could not bear to see a Genome with more power than his own and felt very much threatened.
Zidane grew up in the town of blue lights, Bran Bal along side his big brother Kuja. As days passed Kuja’s hatred grew stronger for Zidane as he saw him grow and gain power through time. Kuja’s broiled in his anger that Garland doubts his power and ambition by making another Angel of Death so the time came when he felt he had to act.
‘’ What use would Zidane be’’, Kuja thought, ‘’if he had to interact with humans? So I shall hide Zidane in Gaia, away from Garland and his purposes and that way I can rule all’’ Kuja concluded.
One thing hindered Garland’s plans though. He feared the power that the people of Gaia had acquired. Since ancient days of greed and bloodshed Terra had become a cursed world whilst Gaia a blessed one. They had the favor of the Eidolons which could be turned on Garland when the people finaly learnt of Terra’s intentions. In fact, Gaia had almost destroyed itself using the power of these Eidolons. Luckily for Garland though, due to that event the peoples had lost the knowledge of summoning, all save one tribe that lived far from the other civilizations due to its secrets of divine Eidolonic power. All Garland had to do now was destroy this Tribe and release Kuja unto the world and his plans would finally be complete.

-To be Continued-
Written by Artorium from concepts and stories by Squaresoft

Artorium
03-26-2008, 03:33 AM
FINAL FANTASY IX: GAIAN CHRONICLES:
EVANESCENT IMMORTAL

Prologue I. a

Montague is one of Gaia’s most notable Novelists and adventurers alongside names like Ipsen and Lord Afon. Montague traveled the world at the start of the age of ‘Lost Memories’ and after discovering many of Gaia’s secrets he wrote a book called called ‘Legends of Gaia’’ that mention some of the greatest of warriors and their deeds performed that go down through history as greats. He was so fascinated by the stories of old, especially that of the Knights like Kain and Magdalene. Some chapters of his book are very controversial but even so he was well respected for his work. The age he lived in was named so after Montague naming it that in the prologue and writers notes to his book. The Montague University in Lindblum is also another thing named after him as well as the Monty Timeline.

(0Circa)Gaia’s Birth====Age of Unity====Age of War (Circa 1200) === (Circa 1300) ==Age of Lost Memories=== (Circa1756) Mist Age===Steam Age (Circa 1800) ===Present

Prologue I. b

There has lived many great Dragon Knights of Burmecia but all weren’t pure of heart like most and in some ages past there existed a dynasty ruled by an evil King who under him served many Knights of the same heart condition and an array of power hungry Lords that formed his council. Though most do not know it, this council shaped much of Burmecia’s culture and ways of thinking.

The Fleeting Bliss

Sorrow is an emotion that shapes the soul even more so than any other emotions. Some say it’s because of its trauma and others because it brings a wealth of knowledge to you. Sorrow has played a large part of all the greatest warriors in Gaia, yet none felt its effect to the fullest as much as Ragnar Lodlock did.
In the present time, Ragnar’s name is forbidden to be spoken and his story is never told, except secretly in whispers among dangerously curious listeners who, in turn hear the story told by shady mercenaries in the back of old dingy pubs.
Why was this so? Well that is the story of Ragnar Lodlock who became know to all the Burmecians as ‘The Great Betrayer’. Many say he wore the bones of Dragons he fierily slew inhumanely for his own pleasure and not in honor of the Dragon Knights glory. His Helm made of Dragon Skull and his armor that of an Ancient Dragon’s spine. Others say that he killed his own lover to gain what all evil men covet; Immortality. This is the story of Ragnar how it was told by the Oracle when the great scholar Montague visited her.
‘’Locked away, deep inside the chamber of Burmecian High Kings are the ancient libraries said to be an even bigger collection than Daguerreo’s but none who want to live have ever seen its secrets for it holds the scrolls of the information in the world. Maps of hidden dungeons and castle chambers from Alexandria, lists of age old potions, secrets of the long lost old ways and finally the tales of the Great Betrayer.’’
’’Why take the trouble of hiding such an article, a story of someone’s life?’’ the Oracle asked Montague as she spoke her story.
’’Well a conspiracy there has been since ancient times. Hidden by one of the Evil kings of Burmecia, this story written by Ragnar himself tells of a land where there is a great waterfall. If you bathe yourself in this Waterfalls pool then you gain Eternal Life. Ragnar tells us that he learnt about this from the High King of the west, Odin.’’
Around this time Montague’s eyes opened wide in surprise at this knowledge he was hearing from the Oracle.
‘’Odin himself had traveled Gaia for hundreds of years and learnt many of its secrets, but nothing much is known about him at all except that he was an all powerful king of the Western lands who built for himself a great castle full of his shadow magic. He was said to be able to ‘talk to death himself’ after finding the gates to Heaven and Hell.
Well Ragnar started his life as everyone else. A small child brought up in Burmecia long before the split between the tribes. His father was a Knight of the King at the time, and his mother worked at the temple of Gizmaluke. All was normal and good for young Ragnar but at the height of his father’s career the glorious king who provided a prosperous era died. He had no heir to the thrown and no family to take his place instead. All saw fit that Ragnar’s father take his place as General commander of Burmecia until a king could be found but younger, dark Dragon Knights coveted the throne for themselves. Many wars ensued through many years of bloodshed and towards the end of the war Ragnar’s father was slain. Soon after the strongest of the Dark Knights presumed him self King over Burmecia and slaughtered all who stayed loyal to the previous ways, including Ragnar’s mother. Crying and disheveled from the attack, young Ragnar was able to escape Burmecia alive. He ran for miles towards the Temple of Gizmaluke where he found refuge within its walls from the priests. There, young Ragnar spent many years in hiding from the Evil King’s rule. It was at the temple that Ragnar met Embla, a priestess of his age who was known far and wide for her pure beauty. Many had asked for her hand in marriage, but all did not prove worthy or love Embla for the right reasons. For Ragnar it was different for as seasons passed he grew deeper and deeper in love with Embla and she too felt the same way for Ragnar.
Their love had grown so very strong and it was at this time they so desired to marry, but their love was forbidden. Embla was a priestess who was promised only to royal blood and Ragnar was nothing. Through much heartache Ragnar decided it was best for him to go away and travel the world for answers.’’
The oracle went on whilst Montague listened avidly in awe.
’’It was the lovers last night together, and in secret they met up in one of the hidden chambers of the temple, but morning was their enemy and came faster than usual. Through much tears the two parted ways knowing not when they would see each other again.
Many adventures found their way into Ragnar’s life as he traveled Gaia whilst Embla waited upon him to return. During Ragnar’s travels he stumbled across a castle in a far land to the west. Never before had he seen something so amazing for it was like a labyrinth of walls and doorways all inside a castle that was build upside down yet not. It confused Ragnar just looking at but anyway, he climbed its great steps and entered the large doorway. The castle seemed deserted and Ragnar’s voice echoed loud as he called out for its inhabitants. No answer so Ragnar explored further into the depths of the great halls. What was this place for and where was everyone Ragnar thought to himself. Ragnar then reached the castles center and- a voice. Where he thought? It boomed loudly through the halls and off of the castle walls.
‘’Who comes to me in this late hour’’ the voiced asked loudly. Ragnar stood tall and answered fearlessly. ‘’It is I, Ragnar Lodlock of Burmecia who has come to your fine halls. I apologize if I have disturbed you.’’
’’Burmecia is a land I have not seen for many years now. I was once friend to a man who came from their by the name of Richard. You know him?’’ the great voice added.
’’I know of Sir Richard your Majesty, he was a great man and know for many deeds in our land’’ Ragnar answered slightly phased by the hollow voice.
’’Come into my chamber Lodlock, and we shall talk some more’’ the voice asked to Ragnar’s surprise. So Ragnar entered the voice’s chamber where he saw a huge man with a large crown sat upon a golden thrown. The man looked terrifyingly powerful in stature and appearance. In his hand was a mighty sword whose name could not be pronounced in our tongue.
‘’I am Lord Odin, once I was a mighty King of this castle and all who lived here.’’ the voice introduced. ‘’It is an honor my Lord’’ Ragnar spoke aloud as he bowed low.
‘’How did you come to loose such Mightiness my Lord, if you don’t mind me asking’’ Ragnar went on. ‘’It is a sad tale of Love and Sorrow and I shall tell you so that you may never do the same’’ Odin announced to Ragnar and so Lord Odin told his tale.’’

Deal With Death

Odin sat up slightly as he began to unfold his tale.
‘’A King I was by blood and Righteous I strived to be. A pure heart is a mighty heart yet one can not exist without the other and so there was also Darkness. A great miasma cursed the land and plagued us with evils untold. My great horse Slidpner and I met the evil in battle and slew many foes, yet my love Gwendolyn fell to its shadows. I searched the torched earth for answers to my plight which ached in my heart and rot it out so that it was only fit for maggots to love. I found nothing for many years and I grew old. It was at the end of my human life that I found something worthy of all those years of trouble. The gates to Heaven and Hell themselves and so I entered but it was not my time to. There, I met the King of the underworld, Hades. A mighty blacksmith who crafted darkness out of light and I called to him out loud. I said ‘’Hades, Lord of the Underworld where be my love Gwendolyn?’’ Hades chuckled at my call and so we fought until he struck me down with his mighty sword made from souls of the mightiest evils. ‘’It is not your time mortal, leave me now and return when your life has come to an end.’’ He coldly whispered into my ear.
‘’I have nothing…I can not sleep nor eat nor can I laugh or cry’’ I told him sorrowfully.
Though Hades never felt pity, for some reason that I don’t even know of today he gave me an answer…or so it seemed at the time. Hollow to the core I felt and I had nothing to loose. Hades saw this and so said ‘’I shall make a deal with you Mortal. Go bathe in the waterfalls over there and you shall forever walk this world where you can find a way to enter Valhalla. There you will find your loved one. Immortal you shall be but your side of the deal you must keep. I want you to collect souls for me eternally. When summoned you shall deal death to the inhabitants of this wretched world.’’ I agreed to Hades terms and so bathed my self in the cursed waterfalls I did. Never have I found a way to Valhalla except through death and now I can never die. I shall never be able to see my beloved Gwendolyn again. I serve man only for Hades purposes and slaughter myriads of humans and beasts I have. A Prison I live in because of this deal with death. A King I once was by blood that does not run through my veins anymore and righteous I shall never be, thus I can never enter Valhalla.’’
‘’Next, Odin told Ragnar of the whereabouts of this waterfall and that is why Ragnar’s writings are kept deep beneath the palaces grounds’’ the Oracle told Montague as his listened deeply to her words. ‘’So did Ragnar go to the waterfalls?’’ Montague asked intently.
‘’Your getting ahead of yourself there’’ the Oracle chuckled.
‘’No Ragnar did not. Instead he returned to Burmecia which had changed a lot since he had last been inside the cities walls. The Dark Knight of before was still on the thrown and Burmecia was a terribly oppressive land. Depression spread through the hearts of its people like the Black Death for all and even those who followed the Dark Knight in the beginning yearned for a time of peace and prosperity. Eventually Ragnar found Embla who had grown into a fine woman in the city temple serving at its Alter.
‘’Embla my love, I have returned to you after so long a journey. Wiser and stronger I am and ready to take back the King’s lawful thrown.’’
’’Do not utter these treasonous words around here!’’ Embla silenced Ragnar. ‘’Go back to where you cam from Ragnar, for I am promised to the King now.’’
Ragnar fell to his knees in despair at this news. He had traveled all these years missing Embla with all his heart, waiting to return to her and loving her more and more as each day passed.
‘’Come away with me Embla, for I have come to marry thee. Come away with me where we can be free to love and be as we used to be, away from this darkness and evil land.’’ Ragnar cried out.
Embla grabbed Ragnar and hurried into a quiet room.
‘’Dear Ragnar, you have been away for so long and things have changed so much around here. I loved you once, but that was a childish love that we caught quite briskly like one catches a cold then it fleetingly goes away.’’ Embla explained coldly. ‘’You are not of Dragon Kin or of nobility but a lowly traveler, how will you take back the thrown?’’ Embla asked.
‘’I still have friends loyal to my Father, I know it. I will find a way, for you my love and for our memories of long ago.’’
So Ragnar left the temple depressed from how Embla had changed but what he did not know was that she was only trying to protect him from the evil King. Ragnar soon found that he did have friends in Burmecia and that all lived under the Dark Knights fearing rule.

A year passed by and the Dark Knight soon herd of rumors that the General he had vanquished son had returned to the city and was mustering up a small army. Fearing that he would win the hearts of the Burmecian people he set out to kill Ragnar.
Embla ran from the palace as soon as she caught wind of the Knights plot to find Ragnar and tell him the news.
‘’Ragnar, my dear you must flee the city for good. The King is coming to kill you with his council who are dark men just like him. Turn tail you must and never return to these parts.’’
‘’I can not my love’’ Ragnar answered. ‘’Run away I shall never do again for I lost thee to him. One shall fall tonight and it shall not be me.’’
The Dark Knight in all his grand armor burst through Ragnar’s house where battle ensued.
The King was enraged to see his betrothed Embla at Ragnar’s side and threw his long spear into he heart. Tears ripped down Ragnar’s eyes as he launched his sword Ragnarock at the Dark Knight’s spear.
It was a mighty battle that poets and bards later sung about and through the city it took place.
Three long days the fight went on for and in exhaustion the Dark Knight fell to the ground. In one swift move Ragnar beheaded the Evil King as the rain washed away the blood. You would think Ragnar won and all ended there but this was not so. Whilst the two had been busy fighting, the Dark Knight’s council had slain all of Ragnar’s followers. They had been burnt on a stake in the city center and Ragnar had only just noticed this. He walked solemnly towards the burnt corpses as he fell to his knees again. ‘’Father, I have failed you and Burmecia. I never earned the name of Dragon Knight nor did I save those who were loyal to you.’’ Ragnar cried out.
The council was now those in charge of the city and like Embla had said, a darker bunch than the Dark Knight they were. Chased Ragnar out from the city they did and he escaped with his life barely, and that Montague is why Burmecians are forbidden to mention Ragnar. He is a forgotten tale of old that all see as a cursed man because of the council’s works. The announced him the ‘Great Betrayer’ making up some story that he had betrayed the King and so the Royal Blood line was forever cut. Before chasing Ragnar from the city in his exhaustion though they stole all his possessions and among them was his diary of travel. In the diary was Odin’s account and the evil council have since been searching far and wide for the Gates to Heaven and Hell. Luckily for all of Gaia the words were in code and found the pools of immortality they have not. No one will ever know the truth.’’ The Oracle told Montague.
‘’I shall tell the world’’ proclaimed Montague.
The Oracle chuckled ‘’I usually don’t talk so much at all, especially some mortal I don’t even know, but it has been a long while since anyone has visited me with such an avid desire to learn from me. Usually I am announced a witch and an evil doer and that is why I take refuge here, in Daguerreo.’’ The Oracle explained. ‘’Here my wealth is truly appreciated.’’
’’But this can not be the end of the story there can it?’’ Montague pleaded for more. ‘’He could use what Odin told him to resurrect Embla!?’’ he exclaimed.
‘’Silly Mortal’’ the Oracle said saddened. ‘’That is exactly what any man would do. Did you not pay any attention to Odin’s words?’’
‘’I did Oracle, but Odin made a deal with Hades for his Immortality. If Ragnar took Embla’s body to the Waterfall Pool then she would live gain.’’
The Oracle sighed but carried on. ‘’Ragnar did just as you said. In his sorrow he forgot Odin’s wise words and kept Embla’s body on a cart as he made the long journey to the gate of Heaven and Hell. There he bathed Embla and himself that they live together forever, but this desire was out of greed and sorrow. Hades caught the scent of the living beings in his pools.
‘’Dare you defile my baths Mortal!’’ Hades exclaimed angrily.
In a rage of greed Ragnar raised his sword upon Hades who instantly disarmed him.
‘’Ha, a mortal trying to kill me’’ Hades laughed. ‘’You have no right to be here but I shall grant your wish so.’’ Ragnar’s eyes pierced Hades in anger and dark sorrow but just then Embla coughed aloud.
‘’Embla, my love you have returned to me’’ Ragnar exclaimed in an eerie joy.
‘’She will live’’ Hades explained ‘’but for eternity she will be my maid that shall attend the dead lords of my halls.’’
‘’No’’ Ragnar shouted. ‘’This is not how it is supposed to be-‘’ Hades cut him off.
‘’And you too shall also live eternally but as a lost soul on earth. Forever trying to out run Death who is close on your heels.’’ Hades laughed.
Right at that second eight souls entered Hades halls as he welcomed them. These were the souls of the Dark Knight and some of his Council.
‘’Maid’’ Hades ordered. ‘’Attend to these Lords and see that they get fed and rested’’
Ragnar’s soul was torn apart in an instant and his form was no longer recognizable. A demon he looked like and as he ran from Hades Halls he saw Death following him slowly behind.
‘’As long as you can out run Death, you shall live eternal in the knowledge that Embla serves me’’ Ragnar herd in his head.’’
Montague gasped at the story as the Oracle eyes changed to a sadden look.
‘’True sorrow this is Montague, now learn this lesson’’ she told him.
‘’I hear your words Mighty Oracle, but if Ragnar bathed in the pools also, wouldn’t he be on Gaia today?’’ Montague asked.
‘’No one knows’’ the Oracle said. ‘’Those who know of his story like to think that he found a way to free Embla from Hades and they live happily as lost souls but others say this. That Ragnar gave soon so deformed by his sorrow forgot all that was. Eventually he stopped in his flight from Death and one day before Ragnar was an old man with a cart of old worn out shoes topped into a mound. When Ragnar asked the old man what the shoes were for he answered this: ‘’These Ragnar, are all the shoes I have worn out over the years running after you.’’
Written by Artorium from concepts and stories by Squaresoft