CoN 25th Anniversary: 1997-2022
Shadow: The Lost Light

Posted: 2nd August 2002 23:19
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Behemoth
Posts: 2,835

Joined: 24/6/2001

Awards:
Celebrated the CoN 20th Anniversary at the forums. Contributed to the Final Fantasy VI section of CoN. Member of more than ten years. Member of more than five years. 
First place in the 2008  Has more than fifty fanarts in CoN galleries. Major involvement in the Final Fantasy I section of CoN. Major involvement in the Final Fantasy IV section of CoN. 
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Shadow
The Lost Light


CRASH!
Standing in the corner an upper section of Kefka’s tower, Shadow thought he should evaluate his life.  It seemed—
CLANG!
—appropriate.  It’s what people do just before death, right?  But immediately he realized—
BOOM!
—that the concentration required would be—
BANG!
—difficult to achieve.  The tower was in its death throes, screaming agony—
SCREEE!
—as the steel began to buckle.  Ash that was packed solid enough to walk on, crumbling—
SHHHHHH!
—apart with nothing to cling to.  The tower was decomposing and it was all—
KABOOM!!
—quite distracting.  But he was not undisciplined, and the drive to accomplish this final task was great though he wasn’t sure why.  So he concentrated and closed his eyes.  There was only—
CRUNCH!
—his inner spirit.  There was only his inner—
Crash!
—spirit.  Only his—
boom…
—inner spirit.  Nothing else.

He opened his eyes.

(You caused all of this!)
When a person opens their eyes, whether at the end of a blink or after having them closed for a eight hours, there is a short amount of time the eye needs to refocus.  It occurs while the eyelids go from closed shut to completely open.  What happens is the eyes receive the light from their surroundings instantly, but the brain hasn’t organized it yet.
(He has you to thank!)
Now when you dream or remember something, it’s in the form of images and sounds.  But oddly enough, you can’t see or here them.  That’s because you only see and hear them in two dimensions.  Your brain is too busy analyzing the three dimensions you see and hear now to give your memories that added dimension.  Dreams are more dimensional because your brain no longer has to manage two separate 3-D images, but it’s still very active and so dreams are still not completely three-dimensional.
(You made it sooo much easier!)
Shadow knew all of this because he had learned how to manipulate his vision so that he could see his memories right in front him.  During the time the eyes focused, he could block the information they sent to the brain, and send new information, like what little memories he had.  Like most of his other ‘abilities’, this was self taught, a mix of different beliefs, philosophies, and disciplines mixed with his own, but he never used this one.  He never needed to, it served no practical purpose.  Knowing his past did not get food on the table, nor would it help increase his strength, discipline, etc.  The reason he learned it was because while the ability did not serve a purpose, the discipline required to obtain did.  But there was another reason.  And he would never truly understand what it was.  Shadow had learned it to become human again.

(But what you did was inhuman…)

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Post #516
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Posted: 10th August 2002 02:45
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Behemoth
Posts: 2,835

Joined: 24/6/2001

Awards:
Celebrated the CoN 20th Anniversary at the forums. Contributed to the Final Fantasy VI section of CoN. Member of more than ten years. Member of more than five years. 
First place in the 2008  Has more than fifty fanarts in CoN galleries. Major involvement in the Final Fantasy I section of CoN. Major involvement in the Final Fantasy IV section of CoN. 
See More (Total 9)
His eyes were open and he saw the world as it once was (no longer…).  The sea was a deep blue, the lands a lush and undulating green, the mountains, majestic and smooth.  He was seeing all of (…because of…) this from about five miles above the world.  Looking at it, he (you.) never realized just how…well, big it really was, nor how alive.  He (YOU!) would see the world in fleeting glimpses as part of an unimportant background, and he understood very well why he didn’t appreciate the view.  He was too busy with other matters.  He (YOOOUU!!) was remembering the encounter on the Floating Isle.  He chose this particular memory first because, for some odd reason, there was a memory blackout that lasted about five minutes.  He did not run to the airship as the island self destructed and he wanted to know why.

I’m running.  I’m on the southeastern edge of the island, heading towards the northern end.  There’s a large hill there with stairs leading to its flat top.  I can see flashes in that direction.  What’re they doing over there?  Must be where the statues are.  That’s what everyone’s looking for.  Forget the path, there’s no time, got to go as the crow flies.  Tougher than I imagined, the entire island is organic.  Ground is shifting, squirming and unstable.  Got to time my jumps carefully…getting close…near the stairway…almost th—.  What the hell is that!  A creature, approximately 20 yards long, 10 yards shoulder height, 5 yards wide.  Biomechanical, like the island, more natural than artificial, maybe…70-80% organic.  Where’d it come from?  No time, not important it’s dying anyway.  Have to find out what’s going on up there.  Almost to the top, better leave the stairs and crawl up the side, assess the situation before taking action.  Crawling is difficult, hill’s shaking like Jell-O.  Not going to make it.  Have to find a better vantage point.  Let’s see, there, a flat area right behind me.  But can I make it?  I’ll have to slide down the bottom of this hill and then jump…or plummet down to earth.  Time it carefully…NOW!  Okay, made it, …there they are!  They’re all on the top of the hill. Everyone, those who came to stop the Emperor, and—

(Him!  If only he’d known.  He might have given you anything you desired.  You gave him so much.  YOU GAVE HIM HIS WORLD!)


Shadow blinked in surprise and was looking at the surroundings of the falling tower.  He heard something loud behind him and dove to the only other spot around that looked stable.
CRASH!
He turned around to see pieces of what once was a large porcelain bowl scattered about where he was sitting a moment ago.
As much as it was a good thing he snapped out of his trance (lord knows, there were better ways to die than by a falling toilet), he didn’t like it.  The amount of concentration required to do relive his memories was uncountable.  And the fact that he could be distracted so easily was practically shameful.  But, that wasn’t it.  He felt, or was it heard, something—or someone, and whether a feeling or a voice, he sensed a venomous hatred, so powerful it knocked away his mental barriers in one quick strike.  What could be that powerful?  Where was it?  What was it?  Had he…felt it before?  As he was building up the strength to see his past in real-time, he almost felt…what?  Something that seemed…trapped, far away but…getting closer, louder, escaping, but still too far away to know whether it’s real or not.  Then he couldn’t divert his energy, but now he wondered if it may have been the same—.
SCREEE!
A pillar of ash and steel crumbled to his right.  He didn’t have much time left.  He would deal with this later, if possible.  Now he had to get back.  It was…important somehow (yes!) but he couldn’t tell why.  So he sat and concentrated again.  He was thinking about—.

(Him! He’s—)

—the hidden one.  The person they call Kefka.  In the short amount of time I have seen him, I knew he was more than he seemed.  That clownish attitude of his is just a façade, there’s something far more cold and deadly hidden underneath.  Something he’s so desperate to keep hidden, he fakes insanity to divert peoples attention.  What is it?  Forget that right now, assess the situation.  And you have to concentrate on that group of freedom fighters.  They’re the only ones who can get you off a this floating hunk of flesh.
Looks bad.  The hidden one has everyone encased in…a light?  Except for one woman, climbing the side of the mountain where I just was. It’s the rebel general and she’s not going to make it!   Assessment over, my ticket outta here is toast if I don’t do something.  Get her back on solid ground.  Got her!
“Run!  Get out of here!  I’ll hold him off.  Get to the airship!”
Okay there off, now stop the hidden one. (No!)  But how, he’s far too powerful for me to stop. (Don’t do it!)  I can’t stop him, so I’ll have to detain him. (Stop!)  But how? (Don’t!)  The Statues! (No!)  Yes!

(LISTEN!!)


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Post #890
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Posted: 19th August 2002 17:30
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Behemoth
Posts: 2,835

Joined: 24/6/2001

Awards:
Celebrated the CoN 20th Anniversary at the forums. Contributed to the Final Fantasy VI section of CoN. Member of more than ten years. Member of more than five years. 
First place in the 2008  Has more than fifty fanarts in CoN galleries. Major involvement in the Final Fantasy I section of CoN. Major involvement in the Final Fantasy IV section of CoN. 
See More (Total 9)
His memory image froze and all sound was muted.  He heard this last command, not in his ear but in his head, and it was crystal clear.  He couldn’t continue with the memory, everything was frozen.

What’s going on?
(You should have died on that island!  Why didn’t you?)
Who are you?
(WHAT are you?)
I am Shadow.  Answer me!
(You are the destroyer.  You created the ultimate perversion.  YOU’RE A MONSTER!)


The pure hatred in that cry startled him. He was afraid of it, something he had never felt before.  Maybe because the messages had no discernable voice.  And yet, it somehow felt…familiar?

(Yes, it would seem familiar wouldn’t it?  When one was once human, basic emotions can seem very familiar—even if one can’t experience them firsthand.)
Why do you hate me so much?
(You killed my family, and then you tried to kill me.)
Who are you?
(You killed my family, and then you destroyed their home.)
Wh—
(But you couldn’t stop there.  Just to make sure they couldn’t be happy if they had somehow survived, you destroyed their world.  How could you?)
I nev—
(HOW COULD YOU?!?!)


Despite his fear Shadow was getting annoyed.  He wasn’t getting anywhere with this voice and he didn’t like being interrupted.  Whoever or whatever it was, it was obviously far too emotional to think rationally.  None of what it was saying was true.  Shadow was an assassin-for-hire, and assassins only go after one target alone.  Killing the target’s family (especially before killing the target itself), destroying their home, that wasn’t an assassin’s job.  And Shadow never did such things.  As for trying to kill him, well that was impossible, whoever he was.  If Shadow had tried to kill him, he had.  None of his targets had ever survived him…ever.  That last comment about destroying their world showed that this voice was pushing the edge.  Shadow assumed it had a non-literal meaning, but he couldn’t figure out what it was.

You’re not making any sense.  Prove you accusations.
(Very well.  Watch…and understand.)


The memory continued only now he was watching everything from above, like a spirit.  He could see himself on top of the mountain with Kefka and he could still hear his thoughts.

Yes.  He’s positioned himself perfectly.  If I shove that one into him, all three statues will trap him.  That should give me enough time to get to the ship.  Urrrgh…did it!  He’s stuck.  Now to—
(I have to put them back quickly, before it’s too late!)


At first Shadow thought was the voice again, but there was something different.  He could not sense any anger, only urgency, but that wasn’t it.  Then it hit him.  The voice had a voice…his own!  Although it sounded younger—much younger, preadolescent maybe.  Suddenly he realized it was a part of his memory.  The memory blackout, he was remembering it!

Huh.  Where'd that crazy idea come from?  Why would I want to?
(It’s what I was meant to do.  Then I’ll be free.)
What nonsense is this?  I gotta get outta here.  I have to get on that airship and get home before it’s too late.
(What home?  Where?)
…Doesn’t matter.  The world is my home.
(Hah!  If it’s so important for me to get back, then why aren’t I already halfway there instead of arguing with the voice in my head?)

(Now quick!  I must get the statues back to their original places!)
I’m going insane!  If I do then the hidden one will be free, and he proceed to kill me.
(So what?  I have nothing to live for.)
…Why should I?
(I helped move the statues; I must put them back.  If I don’t, I’ll be solely responsible for the end of the world, as we know it.)
What nonsense is this?
(Didn’t I hear that woman, the general?   Those statues have an equilibrium that keeps the world in balance.  Change it and the world changes with it…physically!)
And what about the hidden one?
(What about him?  I know that worldwide destruction is what he’s really after.  Warping the world would merely aid him.)
There’s no time.  I have to leave now, or I won’t make it.
(Then I must make a choice.  I can fulfill my destiny or survive.)



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