Salvation
Chapter six
Deep Within

Shadow paced the lower deck while Setzer and a disturbed Locke discussed what was to be done now. The ninja had lost all hope up till this point. To him, the world would never be the same...to him, all was lost. But after this tragic death of Rally, a person Shadow barley knew, something inside himself stirred.

Almost as if all the loss and regret he had deep within stretched out until he could no longer bare it, so this grief snapped like a rubber ban in his mind. Is it my mind that can no longer take it? Or perhaps it is the heart I have ignored. Was Rally’s destiny to die....so I could wake up? So I could open my eyes....?

The ninja sighed with much despair. That’s the reason for the deaths....so I could wake out of my self-absorbed and narcissistic daze I had been in... Because I no longer care... Or is it I no longer want to.

Shadow blinked away unseen tears. “No,” He whispered into the shadows of the night sky. “I will not cry until it is over.” Maybe that was the reason he never shed tears. To him, it was never over. But with this newfound sense of enlightenment, he was certain he would get the answers he searched for.

As he gazed onto the night sky, it was like every star that burned was a lost soul awaiting salvation; pleading to Shadow to save them and release them from their prison. The ninja breathed in before making his way to the deck. As he reached its moon lit frame, Gogo turned his head in wonderment. “Have you found yourself sir?”

Shadow nodded slightly. “Almost my friend.”

Gogo placed his gloved hand on the ninja’s broad shoulder, sending this feeling of comfort and awe through his body. The man raised his head to the stars above and as Shadow did the same he spoke not like himself, but that of a priest to his believers. “If you allow yourself to see them, they will show themselves to you.”

Shadow squinted at Gogo with questioning eyes. “See who?”

“The dead.” Under his robes, he smiled. “Their spirits dance in starlight. And if you are lucky, you can catch a glimpse of them, watching you from the heavens.” Gogo nodded slightly to Shadow. “You have opened your eyes, now you must open your heart.”

The ninja scoffed with a smirk on the edge of his lips. “You are as strange as they come Gogo.”

The robed man bowed slightly to him. “Only trying to be of some assistance sir.” Gogo vanished in the shadows of the cabin. Shadow could only stare at the direction in which he had ventured. He’s so different from the others... Surprised at how intimate Gogo’s speech had been, Shadow shook his head. It was almost as if he could look within Shadow and see what the ninja refused to understand. Maybe on some higher plane, he could. But Shadow, as skeptical as ever, merely rejected the thought and approached Setzer and Locke.

Locke glanced at Shadow, then looked away. Shaking his head, he sighed. “Shadow, I know you probably won’t accept our help, but we think we can find who did this. But we need assistance. That’s why I believe it is of the utmost importance to go to Figaro Castle--”

The ninja held up a hand and interjected. “I understand Locke.”

The thief, a tad stunned, smiled in relief then jabbed an elbow into Setzer’s side. “That wasn’t as hard as I thought.”

Setzer rolled his eyes at Locke, then motioned for him to leave. After he did, the gambler stared towards Shadow. “I didn’t think you’d come back. You stood at Rally's grave until the sun had set.”

The ninja placed a hand on the cold skin of his forehead as he pondered for a moment. The cool air blew the strands of his hair into his face, forcing Shadow to brush them back. He wasn’t sure how to answer Setzer or if it, in fact, had even been a question only cloaked in truth. “I couldn’t leave.” He said simply.

“Bet a part of you wanted to go with him huh?” The gambler griped his wheel, returning to the sky in front of them.

Shadow seemed amazed by his words. “How did you know?”

Setzer laughed. “Wake up Shadow. You’re not the only one that has lost loved ones.” He sighed as the wind blew through his silver locks. “Why is it that you must cast yourself aside and believe the ridiculous notion that you are the only one who has felt guilt, loss, love... Everyone feels it. Even the most evil of creatures.”

“I only want to know why you can feel it with such passion and I am the only one who feels like I should ignore it.”

“Because you are you my friend. As doubtful as ever. It’s not that you cannot feel a certain way, it is that you try your best not to. Why, I don’t know. Maybe you are afraid.” Setzer shrugged.

For the first time in his life, Shadow spoke exactly what he felt inside at that present moment. “I am.” He whispered.

***

It was early morning when they reached Figaro Castle, only north of the town of Figaro. The sky was black, and seemed darker then before, when it was only a pleasant shade of rich blue. Was it Shadow’s mind that made him see it darker? Maybe death can effect the world more than anyone thought.

Locke came with Gogo to the upper deck. Setzer was landing the ship while Shadow simply sulked over by the railing. He peered over the side of the vessel, watching the ground grew closer as they arrived. “Come on.” Shadow heard Setzer’s distant voice.

“Are you coming?” Locke came up behind Shadow, causing him to jump a bit. The ninja turned slowly around and stared at the thief for a moment, sending chills down his spine. Whether Shadow did this intentionally, Locke did not know. He simply froze whomever he glared at.

Shadow brushed by him. “Might as well. Of course, for all we know, that place is burnt to the ground as well.” He grumbled as he continued on. Locke followed gradually behind.

But as they approached, it was plain that the kingdom was fine. In fact it looked as if they didn’t even known of the port town's destruction. Setzer made a discouraged face. “Great, now we have to inform them.”

“Maybe they know...” Locke suggested.

Setzer snorted. “If they do, they look pretty damn calm.” He briskly passed the gatekeepers with the others following. No one seemed confused or bothered to ask why they were there. It was as if those two town’s populations hadn’t been slaughtered. Did they know, or did they simply cast it aside so as not to get involved.

“Where the hell is Edgar?” Locke questioned with a raised brow.

“The king’s in the throne room Locke.” Setzer shook his head. “I think all that smoke went to your head kid.”

The thief simply shrugged and trotted along behind them. “Do you think they know? They couldn’t possibly--”

“Did it ever occur to you that perhaps they just don’t want to get involved?” Shadow said, rather coldly. Locke only glanced at him, but said nothing. By now he knew better then to answer the ninja commentaries.

Setzer stopped before the throne room doors. “Well, I believe if I remember correctly, this is it.” He breathed in before he pushed the doors open, with the aid of Locke.

The room was filled with the echoes of a handful of people. Edgar was sitting idly on his throne, slumped to one side as his brother and Cyan stood before him, looking as if they were presenting a proposition. As soon as the king noticed Setzer and the other three, he jumped from off his seat, rather relieved, and ran up to them.

“Setzer...Locke....” Edgar made a face of bewilderment. “You...other two.... Welcome back to Figaro! Decided on a little adventure eh?” He jabbed Locke in the gut.

Locke grabbed his side and smiled faintly. “Something like that. Though you could hardly say we decided on it.”

Edgar waved to his brother and Cyan to come where he stood. As they did, he introduced them. “You remember Setzer and Locke.” He glanced over at the ninja and Gogo. “And...these guys.”

“Shadow and his pale Gogo.” Setzer smiled. “They may have met Shadow already.”

“Who could forget him?” Sabin nudged Cyan.

The knight nodded slightly. “Would thou care for a flower?” Cyan held up a basket full of skillfully crafted silk roses; each petal made with extreme care. When the four newcomers made blank faces, Edgar interjected.

He put an arm around his brother. “Sabin and Cyan went into the flower making business up on Mount Zozo.” When Locke laughed, he added, “They make thousands of gil just for a month’s work. They have hundreds of their flower stores throughout the area!”

Sabin gave his cocky grin and plucked a rose from off the top of the basket, showing it to Gogo. “A pretty flower for a pretty lady.”

Shadow rolled his eyes. “He’s not a lady...nor is he a male.”

Sabin made a face, looked back to Cyan, conversed a tad with his business partner, and then turned around with a restored grin. “A pretty flower for the she-man.”

Gogo took the flower despite the comment. “Thank you sirs.” Setzer and Locke muffled their laughs with their hands.

The ninja failed to see the humor. This king obviously did not know of the threat that endangered his kingdom. “You seem content despite what had just happened.”

Edgar gave a puzzled stare. “Huh?”

Shadow sighed at his ignorance. “The king of idiots doesn't seem to know when two towns near by have been crushed by a superior force.” The ninja crossed his arms.

When Edgar raised a brow, Sabin whispered to Cyan, “Someone‘s in a mood.”

The king pushed passed him to Shadow. “What do you mean two towns have been destroyed?”

“Figaro and Nikeah have been destroyed within a span of a day Edgar. Figaro stills stands, for it did not share the same fate that has been so brazenly bestowed upon Nikeah and all the people that had lived there.” Setzer bowed his head in regret. “I’m afraid we are too late for them, but there is a chance we can save others from this same destiny.”

“But,” Locke added, “we need your help.”

“Men in Magitek Armor made their presence known.”

“Magitek Armor?“ After a moment of reflecting, Edgar looked up at them. “What can I do to help?”

“Their camp is south of here from what we have been informed.”

Edgar fell back onto his throne with a deep sigh. “I did not know.... Why is it that no one ever tells me these things?” The king gave a look of despair, a part of him not wanting to risk his life or his kingdom’s. “I can send some of my guards to check out this camp.” He suggested. “When they come back with the layout of the area, we can then make a plan.”