Meeting of the Minds by Kigaeno Moondancer 9 Sept 2007

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Place: Burmecia
Date: 17 May 1800 (Almost a month after the ending FMV to the game)
Rating: PG
Characters:
Freya Crescent, General
Puck Burmecia, King Burmecia
Kigaeno Moondancer, High Priest
Wylan, Tree Oracle
Garnet Til Alexandros XVII, Queen Alexandria
Beatrix, General
Cid Fabool, King Lindblum

And so they sat around the large table, a meeting meant to be largely formal and just to make official what was already understood. For the moment they all read what they had been given, a treaty written up by the King Lindblum that would supposedly ensure peace between the three major powers of the mist continent.

Yes, it actually said 'three' and not 'four'. This was already making Kigaeno a little bit twitchy. He saw them look at him, how the humans did at least. Not the slightest amount of respect; he was just a lawn ornament given a seat as a special guest among the big guys. He finished and put the document down in front of him, clapping his hand on it and narrowing his eyes. Everyone turned towards him a little surprised but said nothing. Wylan reached a hand up and calmly placed it on his shoulder.

Cid finally spoke up, "Well then... its largely formal really... we can discuss any minor alterations if it is needed, but I was really hoping to get on to the better part, dinner!" He patted his belly and laughed, the others joining in. Even Kigaeno chuckled a bit, for just a moment, before he broke them all off with his next word.

"Idiots!" This once again drew their attention towards him, and Cid spoke, "Is there an issue High Priest?". Freya visibly gritted her teeth, then habitually reached over to take away Puck's copy, as he appeared to be about to fold it into a paper airplane. The young king hmphed a little and then leaned back with a sigh, folding his hands behind his head.

Kigaeno pushed the paper away from him, "A number of 'issues' yes. First of all this document doesn't specify any blame for the recent wars, which should clearly be stated as falling on Alexandria. Despite the fact that they ruined the three other powers in the region... " he stressed three. Three others. Four total. ".. they are not being asked to pay recompense even in the slightest. They should be floating nearly the entire bill for our reconstruction.

"But... " Beatrix started, "Alexandria is also rebuilding.."

Kigaeno cut her off, "Indeed! Alexandria, the only nation here so warmongering that they could actually attack their own capital and destroy it. Which brings me to the second point, Beatrix." his eyes narrowed and he leaned back. "General Beatrix is a war criminal. She should be tried as one, by Cleyrans, as most of her slaughter of innocents..."

Garnet did her best to kindly break him off, "But the General was only following orders given by my.."

Wylan held up a hand and solidly pointed out, "Please do not use that reasoning, he has heard it quite enough." Indeed, Kigaeno was twitching quite badly up along the side of his face, and there was a moment of silent.

Cid just seemed taken aback, stating slowly and carefully, "I am sure something can be worked out, there has been enough death... please High Priest, you know that Lindblum is your allies and..."

"No. They aren't." Kigaeno stated plainly. "They are Burmecia's allies. Still you refuse to see us as our own nation. You see us as unimportant."

Cid shook his head, "That is not the case at all, and if we are not considered your allies yet, it could certainly come to be so. We would value such a friendship."

Wylan put her hand back on Kigaeno's shoulder in a motherly way to silence him for a moment. She said more diplomatically. "The fact is, friends, that Cleyra had war declared on it by Alexandria, and such a declaration has never been rescinded. No clear aid has been given. The only single communication we received from Alexandria is when the stone was delivered back to us, which we are grateful for, but giving us back what was already ours is not sufficient."

"Sufficient for what?" Beatrix spoke as Garnet seemed to be quite speechless. Freya, this entire time, was just sitting with her head leaned forward into both hands. Puck was looking back and forth between the arguments and actually seeming to enjoy it.

Kigaeno replied coldly and seriously to Beatrix, "It is not sufficient as in your terms of surrender."

"Surrender?" Beatrix was taken aback. As was everyone else at the table. Even Freya almost choked after hearing him say that.

Kigaeno took the moment that they were dumbfounded to speak. "The terms are thus. Firstly Beatrix will be tried for war crimes. Secondly Alexandria will provide all supplies needed for reconstruction over the next year. Thirdly there will be a full investigation into the factory at Dali and all involved turned over to us. In addition, you will provide us with half a dozen airships for our future defense."

There was more silence. Kigaeno finally spoke again as he stood. "If those terms are not acceptable. Then you did not surrender. And we are still at war. I will now excuse myself. I entertain no impression that you take us seriously. Yet."

"Now wait... as I said.." Cid began as Kigaeno matter of factually turned towards the door, Wylan rising more politely and following him.

Kigaeno stopped at the exit where several guards were posted, and turned back to Cid. "Am I a prisoner?"

Swallowing slightly, he waved for the guards to step out of the way, allowing the high priest and his comrade to exit the room. After they were being escorted out of the castle, Cid stated simply, "Well, that was unexpected... Freya.."

As he looked over at her, she knew what he would ask. She sat up straight and said, "We will speak to him. Please understand that he has been through... a lot."

Garnet sighed and said, "I can't help but feel somewhat responsible for this..."

Cid shook his head and said, "Now I'll have none of that talk. Its not the fault of anyone at this table. What happened happened and needs to be fixed. Maybe we can work out something that will satisfy the in the long run. Lindblum could certainly provide them with some of our airships... perhaps they simply want to have a chance to defend themselves."

"Where are they located now even?" Beatrix looked over at Freya and Puck, who both looked back at her. Freya shook her head and Puck shrugged. Both of them knew about where his compound was, but they were not going to betray even someone as unbalanced as Kigaeno. Not yet at least.

Cid spoke again, "My suggestion is this. We all sign this treaty as it is, and then together we discuss a package for the Cleyrans. Freya can go and present it to them.."

"Or perhaps Zidane, he did defend them, and it might remind them that the present Alexandria is not their enemy." Beatrix suggested.

Cid nodded and said, "A decent suggestion." Passing around the different copies, each of the leaders signed each copy, then settled back with their own while an uneasy silence filled the room.

Of course none of them took Kigaeno seriously. He was a Cleyran. They had been pacifists for centuries and couldn't have possible developed military might in the brief period of time since their reforming. There couldn't be more than a few dozen of them even left alive.

The uneasy silence persisted for a moment more, before being broken by Puck, "Aren't we done yet?"

Cid found himself chuckling at that, and said, "Yes... I suppose I will call the chef to bring out dinner. You will all be joining me I assume?" He stood up, placing both hands on the table, "Eiko will be happy to see you all as well, I am sure."

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Kigaeno stood outside the castle, Wylan standing next to him and looking at him. She said, "We should remember that Lindblum did attempt to help..."

Kigaeno took a deep breath and said, "Its only a matter of time Wylan. I feel that as long as human exist on this planet, there will be a danger to us.. Mogu has told me how his kind were destroyed by their kind as well, now he may be the last one. I do not intend to find myself in that situation."

Wylan shook her head, "Many of them have shown themselves to be our allies, rushing to our defense..."

Kigaeno chuckled to himself, gripping his staff, "Many of them? Well lets see... Zidane... well he isn't a human at all. He's a genome. Garnet... the only reason she didn't carry on in her mother's place is because she isn't human. And even then she honored her dead mother's grave like some kind of perverse hero. The one black mage that helped was a malfunctioning automaton, and that Quina thing... clearly not human. You see Wylan.. the humans have never helped us. The most they have ever done is refrain from destroying us. That's it."

Wylan shrugged, "Things change Kigaeno, perhaps with time, things will get better. I agree... we should have a very strong defense.. but I am.. uncomfortable.. with the amount of offense we have planned. Perhaps rather than.. well destroying something.. you could give a show of power without actually harming anyone."

Kigaeno shook his head, "They think we are weak, we cannot continue to appear so... its just not as easy as it one was.." He looks at her, sincerely, "I want to return to our passive existence Wylan... I have for so very long. It isn't easy knowing that you could have stopped it from happening... and didn't."

Wylan dismissed that, "They will not think us weak, and you did all you could. You did what you truly believed was right, and I have never thought differently of you Kigaeno. Please take into consideration this thing... for me.."

Kigaeno responded coolly, "I do take into consideration what you say. I did go to the 'peace' meeting after all.." he turned slowly and began to walk back towards their rather crude transportation, the only airship they had been able to get their hands on. Wylan sighed once again, and followed behind him. He smiled slightly to himself, "But we are still alive, so perhaps my paranoia was not entirely founded."