Disclaimer: Mostly everything in here belongs to square soft except for Rally and whatever new char I make in further chapters. So don’t take my character without asking (I don’t see why you would take any, they aren't that great ~.^). Like most of my books, I don’t know how long I will continue this. It all relies on how many people want me to finish it. It is based on the Final Fantasy 3 version from Japan so some names might be different. Also, this takes place one year after the ending of FF3.

Salvation
Chapter one
Awakening

Darkness.....the world is dark now.

The world is no longer whole.

The world is in need of a hero.

The world is in need of salvation.

Shadow’s eyes flung open and darted around a dark room. Where am I? The scent of blood was in the air and the stench of death surrounded him. He started to hack and cough at the smell. He attempted the lifted his hand to cover his mouth but soon realized that the movement of his arms and legs had been restricted. Raising his head as far as he could manage, he could see ropes binding his wrists and ankles.

Whoever tied me down obviously doesn’t know who I am.....or doesn't care if I escape. He could feel the hard metal of the table underneath him.

Shadow attempted to wiggle free, but sharp pains from his body refrained him from doing so. He let out cries at the intense aching; something he rarely did. The feeling was as if someone had physically ripped the skin off his body and placed it back on open wounds, though that was clearly impossible seeing that his clothes were still on.

The ninja, with the little strength he could muster, lifted his head forward to examine his body. No bruises...no cuts...so why do I feel pain? As he laid his head back down a piece of his black hair fell into his eyes. My hair? Shadow blew the strand out of his face. My mask...it’s gone...

“I suppose you want to know where you are?” A voice came.

Shadow’s head once again strained upward. “Who’s there?”

Silence.

“Tell me!” The ninja commanded. He squinted into the dark, trying desperately to see his restrainer. The only source of light was that of a lamp hanging over the metal desk. It’s rays only lit his body and the little area around the table. “Who are you?!”

“I’m called Rally,” the man answered. He stepped into the light, showing his face to the ninja.

Shadow saw him better now, despite the fact his eyes throbbed and his sight was a tad blurry. Rally was an older man, in his early sixties. His snow-white hair came to a little below his shoulder blades and draped over his russet colored robe. A beard covered the bottom of his face as warm blue eyes reflected Shadow’s image. “Why did you capture me?”

The old man let out a deep laugh.

Shadow gritted his teeth in rage. “What’s so damn funny?!”

Rally stopped his snickering and smiled. “I did not capture you. I saved you.” The elderly man came closer, the light reflecting off his seemly friendly face.

“What?”

“No need to thank me child.” Rally began to untie the ropes that bound Shadow’s ankles.

The ninja laughed scornfully. “I never asked for your help, nor do I need it.”

Rally finished with his feet and proceeded to free his hands. “The condition you were in....you were lucky I could even save you.”

Shadow stared at him blankly. “Condition?”

The old man laughed again. “Don’t you remember what happened?” Rally finished with his wrists and threw the rope to the side.

Shadow still laid upon the table despite the fact that he was now unchained. “Why don’t you tell me? You seem to know.” He turned a weak head towards the old man.

“Remember a floating continent?”

Shadow closed his eyes with a sigh. “The Esper’s land....” He wasn’t sure of the name...or perhaps he had forgotten over time. Either way, it hurt to think. His mind swirled with dreams...or maybe memories. It was as if his mind did not want to remember. “I stood behind while the others....left....” The ninja opened his eyes to an intrigued Rally. “They waited for me...I tried to get to them....but the land crumbled. It all went black...went dark...”

The old man nodded. “I found you amongst the rubble of the crashed continent. You were impaled by a piece of rock. But you still were alive.”

Shadow looked up at him. “Were there any others?”

“Others?”

“Yes! Were there others with me?” Shadow asked, growing impatient.

Rally shook his white head. “No, I’m sorry.”

Maybe they made it too...if I did... The ninja grabbed his head with sore hands. “Why am I here? Why does everything...hurt so much?”

“Well.... This is the port town of Nikeah. I didn’t mean to find you, you see, I came upon you while searching for food. There isn’t much food anymore you see. I found you outside the wreckage of that floating continent. You were obviously wounded and in need of healing by the looks of it so I dragged you back to my house.”

“Why tie me down?”

Rally turned back to the shadows and disappeared into its dark embrace. After some time Shadow came to believe he wasn’t going to come back. He tried to sit up, with much ache. Rally soon appeared once more with a lit candle and the answer to his question. “It was the weirdest thing. You were fighting and screaming to be free after I brought you to my house. I had to tie you down. But from closer inspection, it looked as if someone had experimented on you.”

“What do you mean?”

Rally reached for Shadow’s hand and pulled off the glove. “You have these strange markings.”

Shadow jerked his hand away and looked at it himself. Turning his gaze back to the old man he asked a question that had been wrenching at him since he had awoken, “How long have I been here?”

“More then a year my friend. You were in a coma.”

“Interceptor...” He whispered.

“Who?”

“My dog.... Never mind.” Feeling stronger, the ninja slowly rose off the cold metal beneath him. The smell of death was no longer lingering in the air. Was it all a dream? He didn’t know what was the reality or what was the fantasy. Shadow, with unstable legs, began to walk using the table as support. “I have to leave...”

“Where to? There’s nothing there anymore. The world is only beginning to rebuild itself. You won’t live more then a day out there so you’re better off in here.” Rally reached over to assist him, but Shadow pulled away.

“I’ll find something. I have to find something.”

Rally sighed, disapproval clearly on his face. “Well, if you are really bent on getting yourself killed, then take these.” The old man turned to a near by chair. “Here.” Rally handed Shadow the weapon and items he had with him. “I found these near you so I’m supposing they’re yours?”

Shadow picked up a sword, a couple of shurikens and two fire skills. “Well, I guess they are, but then again I wouldn’t remember.” The ninja proceed out of the basement with Rally close behind.

“Where’s the closest town?”

“To the east there is Doma Castle. To the west, there’s the town of South Figaro. Either way, you’re gonna have to take a boat or airship. There’s a dock south of town. You’ll find a ship there.”

Shadow nodded, then said with much discomfort, “Thank you.”

Rally smiled. “Wish there was more I could do.”

“You’ve done enough.” Shadow reassured him. He didn’t bother to ask for his mask. If the old man had it, he probably would have given it to him.

As the ninja left the house Rally called back to him. “Here! Take this!”

Shadow caught a little bag. He didn’t have to look into its contents to know what it was. “Gil.” The ninja waved slightly and called back. “Thanks.”

“No problem. If ya ever need help, you know where to find me!”

Shadow left the safely of the little house for the docks, not knowing what he was looking for or where to even begin. But something inside him knew he would go on no matter what the odds.