Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ The Fox and the Hound ❯ Dusk ( Chapter 4 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
The second part, if you will, to Nightfall, with a lighter-tone. Originally, I had the draft of this saved to my old computer. Upon it's untimely death *weeps* I had to restart this poem in its entirety. I suppose it was a way of saying that there were things I had to change and re-create.

This poem is from Angeal's perspective, and it focuses in on the themes of regret, untimely death, destruction, as well as this deep inner-longing he has to reconnect with Genesis, from beyond the Lifestream. Open to interpretation as always.

Quick justification: I made Angeal intentionally more eloquent, for he's speaking in a stream-of-conscious thought through the Lifestream, a place with the collective and endless knowledge. Also, I use the word brother in here as a loose-term, for these two really are brothers, family, lovers...everything to one another I've always thought.

Dedicated to any Angeal fan. I own nothing, nor will I ever acquire any gil from this.
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"Open your eyes.

I'm here waiting for you,

There is a future different from now.

I'm here waiting for you,

And I continue screaming."~
Olivia Lufkin, A Little Pain

Purposes were given.

Reasons were fulfilled.

Duties wereaccomplished.


We joined with the intention,

The obligation to ourselves,

To our country and nation,

To protect the world.


There was such passion in your eyes then,

A longing to become a hero.

To have your name be known

Through fame and popularity.


Still, there was a clear understanding

That this was for the greater good.


For the greater good, we both bled.

For the greater purposes, we both suffered.

For reasons known only

To the Goddess

We became broken boys

But stronger men.


We came from the country

A place without

Constant trickery and undermining.

I was afraid that you would be affected by it.


But no.


You donned an air of superiority

Strength, a camouflage as your shield

You became a part of what you hated.


The simple life was never really for you, was it?

You cast aside all of your pains

And chose a life of fighting

A life of rhapsody and recitals.


That poem became your life, didn't it?


All of those words never made any sense to me.

You quoted them in your rich voice,

Your ever-resounding words.

And yet all I ever heard was you.


It makes no sense Gen, how this could've gotten so out of hand.


We were friends, we are friends.

We were each others strength; we are each others strength.


You became so skilled with your rapier

That sword that you earned.

You became so good at hiding your pain

Even to my wondering eyes.


Never though, should you have taken him on.

You wanted to prove yourself.

There was a fever in your eyes

A fierce desperation.

It was almost as if...if you didn't do this

This impulsive action

You were admitting defeat.

You always were so stubborn and recalcitrant.


Even when the end was near, you still tried.

You became so incensed, enraged

For you knew he was just playing with you

In the name of battle

Of sport

Of fun.


I forgive you, dear friend

For shrugging me off.

I forgive you, dear brother

For pushing me away.

I forgive you, my love

For fanning the flames.


I ran away for you.

I ran towards you.

I ran for you.

I gave you my blood

I gave you my word

I gave you my honor.

The fourth thing...well, you know what I gave.


You wanted to get better,

Normal again.

Stronger than before.

So, you ran off.

Leaving me wondering just what you were thinking.


I remember quite clearly a time

When I was talking to you

Except, you weren't there.

Can you believe it?

I was carrying on a conversation

Expecting you to be right beside me

Like always, like the way it had been before.

There was no reply.


I would've given anything for you to heal.

I would've given you anything to get better.

All you wanted you said, was me.

So, I abandoned everything

All I knew, just for you.


The sacrifice wasn't in vain.

However...it wasn't you anymore.

You were feverish, desperate...violent.

The deaths you caused made me sick.

So sick...that I left you.


I turned on my heel

Turning my back towards you

And left you.

That was the hardest thing I've ever had to do.


Looking back, I needed to stay with you.

You were so obviously in pain

In need of companionship

Guidance

A shoulder to lean on...

And I left you.


We both gained wings

But lost our freedom.

We both gained flight

But lost our direction.

We both gained the title

Of monster.


My image, your image

On monsters, on creatures we swore to kill.

My face, your face

On vicious, snapping abominations.


Pup, you called me an angel.

"What should an angel fight for?"

Angels dream of humanity,

Of normality,

Of not falling.


Falling...that's the operative word.


My image was everywhere

And I hated it.

I was terrified, scared of changing

Into something I couldn't take back.


So, willingly, all of my copies came to me.

My student, my friend struck me down.

I needed death, an honorable ending.

I craved an end, a righteousness.

You delivered, puppy.

And all the while, I thought of you.


The gift of the goddess, you say?

It's something unattainable

An unreachable mystery.

It's also your pride as a warrior

As a friend

As a companion and lover.

That's what it is.


I can see you now

The same way my student can.

You're never alone; you are not alone.


You scream, and my mouth aches.

You cry, and my face feels wet.

You speak, and I can taste your words.


Look to the skies, my dearest friend.

See the twilight in its beauty?

Look to the mountains, my beloved Gen.

See the dusk in its glory?

You are alive for a reason.

You were spared for a purpose.

You need to live.


Though you can't feel me

Hear my voice

Or speak with me

I am here.

This is not your nightfall, your ultimate darkness.

This is your a swansong

The time to show what you're made of.


You can't feel my heat on your back or arms

Nor can I hold you like I used to.

I can't tell you you're forgiven.

For that, you don't need my words

For it's truth.


Dry your tears now.

Look to the skies,

For there are stars

Hidden behind those clustering clouds.


Remember what I said before?

We'll never be apart, never.


It's not yet your dusk.

Make the most of this dawn.


You'll see me again, I promise.
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