So this is really niche writing, but for all who have played the infamous second installment of the Final Fantasy franchise, hopefully you'll be able to enjoy this. I actually really enjoyed Final Fantasy 2, despite it's problems, and consider the designer of it, Akitoshi Kawazu, a crazed genius in the world of video games.

A gust of fresh, spring air swept past Firion and the party as the giant wooden gates of Altair slowly opened.

"You guys ready?" said Firion.

"As ready as we'll ever be..." Maria said hesitantly.

"Alright," Firion brushed back the hair covering his eyes. "Let's g- hang on. Where's Guy?"

"He's right behind me, is-" Maria turned around. "Oh... he was here a minute ago, I swear!"

Firion bit his lip. "You were supposed to be looking out for him Maria! I give you the one job and you let him wander off and get lost!"

"I'm- I'm sorry Firion."

"Well sorry just doesn't cut it this time Maria. I told you we shouldn't have brought him along with us. He's only going to slow us down."

"You're so cruel sometimes Firion... He's lost the very same things we did you know? We can't just abandon him."

"Well go and find him than!" Firion shouted as he stormed across the drawbridge; his fingers thumbing over the hilt of his sword.

Maria sighed. Firion was getting more and more agitated as the days passed by. She couldn't blame him, everyone copes with loss differently she told herself, but seeing him take it all out on Guy like that, that was unfair. He knew just as much as her that Guy couldn't help the way he was. It wasn't right to pick on someone who can't fight back.

With all these thoughts running through her mind, Maria ran to catch up with Firion. Guy would find them again eventually, he always did.

Firion wrapped his cape around him tightly, the windy gales of the Great Plains chilling him to the bone.

"I wander whose brilliant idea it was to build a freaking Empire next to the sea," he grumbled as he trudged slowly along.

It was dangerous to travel alone on these plains, not only because of the numerous amounts of monsters that lived in these lands, but also because of the Emperor's increased prescence in the area. Firion knew this as well as anybody, but the thought of being around that bitch Maria for a second longer was more than he could bear. He turned back to the see the castle of Atlair delicately framed against the horizon. The only home he had left.

"Firion!" the oh too familiar whine of his apparent best friend called out. Firion squinted and saw Maria running towards him across the green field. He smirked as he noticed she was putting on some weight, finally figuring out exactly where all those potions of his were going. Well, everyone copes with loss differently.

"Firion! Watch out! Behind you!"

He reacted instinctively. Drawing his sword and spinning around on the spot in one smooth motion, Firion turned to face the creatures lurking behind him.

"Goblins," Maria panted as she came up beside Firion, her sword and shield drawn. "Easy enough to deal with, right?"

There were three of the things, wide-eyed grins on their faces and short blades drawn. Goblins were more of an annoyance than a threat, but they had a tendancy to sneak up on their victims, which was when the real trouble started. One of the beasts was shaking uncontrollably, almost as if it were laughing. Firion lowered his blade cautiously.

"Guy?"

The goblin leapt up suddenly, bounding towards the party like a baboon and slipping up alongside them, swaying left and right slowly.

"Guy here," he muttered to himself, gently rubbing his head up against Maria's legs.

"Guy, what the fuck?" said Firion.

"Firion! That's no way to talk to Guy! You know he can speak to animals" said Maria. "How are you Guy? You okay?"

"Oh come on Maria! There's a difference between talking to animals and leading a bunch of them towards us. He's a fucking idiot!"

"Guy no like Firion."

"Yeah, well I don't like you eith- Ow! He fucking bit me!" Firion pulled his hand up suddenly, kicking Guy away from him. "You see what that little bastard did to me Maria?"

"All I see is a man who got what he deserved."

"You bitch," spat Firion. "I'll show you what he deserves." Firion drew his blade up and swung down against Guy, a large cut slicing across his chest. Blood spilt onto the grass as Guy howled in pain and leapt onto Firion's back, scratching and clawing at his friend's face like a wild animal.

"Stop it, stop it!" Maria cried, casting aside her sword and shield.

"Get the filthy rat off me!"

"Guy hates Firion! Hates!"

"Both of you stop it!"

"Get off me, you bitch!" Firion screamed as his hand shot out and slapped Maria across the face.

"That's it Firion! No one ever treats me like that, you bastard!"

"Grow up, you fat bitch!"

"Maria not a fat bitch!"

And as the party fought, the goblins intermittingly attacking them and Maria casting the ocassional Heal spell to keep them alive, the oh too familiar battle music played on, an ever present reminder of what the player had to resort to in order to level up his d00ds.