Fanfiction: "We Are Cinders From a Fire Burning Long Ago" (Final Fantasy VI)

[deemoyza]

Title: "We Are Cinders From a Fire Burning Long Ago" (14,255 words)
Chapters: 5/5
Fandom: Final Fantasy VI
Rating/Warnings: Mature / Sexual Content
Characters: Celes Chere, Terra Branford, Edgar Roni Figaro, Seltzer Gabbiani
Relationships: Celes Chere/Terra Branford
Summary:

In the four years since Kefka's defeat, Celes' body has adjusted to the lack of magic in the world, but she still feels the emptiness in her bones where it used to be. Having taken up a job as mercenary, she tries to find her place in a world that no longer seems to have a use for her.

Meanwhile, Terra watches Mobliz rebuild and repopulate, and many of the children in her care are adopted out to new families. She knows that this is the ideal outcome for the children, but she can't help but worry: if her love for the children is what kept her in this world, what would happen should the children forget about her?

Reunited during one of Celes' missions, Celes and Terra head back to South Figaro, where they both accept mercenary assignments for a living. When Setzer visits them with an offer to act as guides and guards for a group of adventurers scavenging the ruins of Kefka's Tower, Celes and Terra find a remnant of a bygone time that will force them to admit their fears and test their will to push forward.

Notes: Written for the Press Start exchange.

"I shouldn't go far," Celes said, looking back at the door to the inn. "I was hired to guard him."

"Don't worry." Terra closed her fingers around Celes' wrist and pulled her forward, through some bushes and down a short slope to the edge of the water. Celes didn't resist. "Mobliz is a quiet town, a good town. Mr. Scardino is perfectly safe."

"If you had told me that a year ago, I would've believed you. But the people we encountered today seemed to be on-edge. The man at the armor shop was downright hostile toward Scardino, saying he wanted no business with Figaro."

Terra picked her way across the rocks and until she found one large and flat enough for her and Celes to sit on, then scrambled up and hugged her knees to her chest. "I heard something similar from the first shopkeeper he spoke to. It doesn't mean any of them would actually hurt him, though. They wouldn't want the trouble."

"I suppose you're right." Celes hoisted herself onto the rock with a grunt. "Was there always this hostility toward Figaro? Or has something happened that I'm not aware of?"

"No, I think it's just a case of new people bringing their own ideas to the town. Some have no opinion on Figaro, while others think Edgar was loyal to Kefka, and the problem is, that second group is louder. I've told people otherwise, I told the children and the new townsfolk everything that we did—you, me, Edgar, everyone in our little group—but…they forget." She drew a shaky breath, tears stinging her eyes. "How can they forget, Celes? How does all of that just disappear?"

"I don't think it's on purpose. I think it's simply human nature. It was a bad time for everyone. We all lived through our own personal hell…" She fell silent and looked out at the sea. Terra followed her gaze and watched the moon's reflection dance along the waves.

"We remember what's important to us," Celes continued, softly, "and that story's always going to be different for everyone."

"What do you remember?"

"I remember being blinded by power. I remember being branded a traitor. I remember finding you in the last place I ever thought you'd be." She squeezed Terra's shoulder. "I remember…loneliness. Absolute, empty, unending loneliness. Despair. Hopelessness. And then I found you, again, in the last place I ever thought you'd be."

Terra leaned into the touch and kept going, until her head rested against Celes' shoulder. She slid closer and Celes' arm drifted down hers, off her elbow, to nestle against her waist. Terra hooked her arm around Celes' back, drinking in the warmth of her body and the security of being held by someone, then looked up at the stars, picking out the constellations she'd learned about from others, and those she'd imagined for herself.

"I thought it was the last place I'd ever have to be," she said at last. "It felt like home. Katarin and Duane and Lili, and all of the children, they were my family. Mobliz was my town. But it's changed. Many of the children have been adopted—and I am so happy for them, believe me—and my life has just gotten quieter, emptier. All the while, the town keeps growing, and the people have such different ideas and memories than we have."

"There's nothing wrong with that."

"I know. I can't help worrying, though. About forgetting. About other people forgetting things. About what we went through, about…love."

"What about it?"

"Love is what brought me back when magic disappeared from the world. It's what made me human. If it goes away, if the children forget—"

"Terra, don't be—"

"What'll happen to me?"

Celes turned toward her and brushed a lock of hair away from her face. "Nothing. Nothing will happen to you. The children won't forget you—"

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because you're Mama Terra."

"They have new mamas now."

"That doesn't mean those women will replace you. I don't think love works like that. I don't think it's something you just forget."

"You don't 'think' it does. You're not certain."

Comments

[runicmagitek]

*STILL SCREAMING ABOUT THIS FIC*

I cannot thank you enough for writing this. I just... DAMN. This was SO GOOD! You really did knock this out of the park and hit every single beat remarkably well. This was definitely one of those fics that lingered with me for the rest of the day (and even into the weekend!). And I know I'm biased because it's my gift featuring my faves, but you should be proud of this story! 100%! Standing ovation! Bravo! 💕💕💕💕💕

[deemoyza]

Aww, thank you so much, again! 💕 I'm so happy you enjoyed it!