Chapter Text
Alicia no longer smiled, but she didn't despair. She looked straight onwards. Depression and hopelessness replaced by hatred and vengeance. She would not stand down and cry, She would walk and eliminate all who got in her way.
how fitting that she would now be heading back to her home. to a desolate land of a miserable everlasting winter. The gods must be betting on which of them can make her break the most.
Hauchefant introduced Alicia and Alphinaud to their new home. They all were nice enough. Alphinaud was already beginning to get back his hope. Alicia was just waiting for the opportunity to spill blood.
She decided to spend the next days training in a new art of combat. White magic won't do if she is to take down the realm with her.
"Hey did you hear about that freak with the giant sword?"
"A proper living nightmare for sure. But by Halone's grace the knights were able to kill the bastard. Left his body to rot over at The Brume, so i hear"
"Shouldn't someone remove it? Well it's The Brume. Guess the place is used to being a dumping ground."
A conversation Alicia overheard. Seems The Brume has gotten no better then when she grew up there. She isn't sure why, but she decided to investigate this body.
A knight clad in black. Lifeless. An enormous claymore next to them. This would do nicely. As she went to grab the sword. The knight's hand grabbed hers.
She stepped back, startled.
"I am the father of Meracydia, sister. I shall reside within this decaying body to lend you my wisdom. To wield a weapon such as this... Thou must needs train rigorously and without respite…. Is the scorn within thy soul prepared to becometh a knight of the dark?"
The previously lifeless body spoke.
Alicia nodded.
"Then let us feed that hatred, to crush all those who would bringeth harm unto you. Thou would do well to call me Fray, so as to not draw suspicion."
For the coming days, as Alphinaud and Tataru figured out what to do next. Alicia spent her days with Fray, rapidly learning her new set of skills. Soon she held the massive sword with one hand, and swung it like a twig. Bears twice the size of her went down in seconds by her sword.
Each test getting more gruesome and violent. She would accept quests from spineless Ishgardians who should just arm themselves and take care of their own problems. She would show up covered in blood, they always gave her her reward and left in fear. And yet they kept coming.
Gods do these imbeciles have no brain? To ask the hero of Eorzea for these.. these meaningless tasks, there is nothing to learn from these tasks, she should just cut up anyone who wastes her time. At least that would calm the boredom. The children of man are so boring.
Alicia wasn't sure if these thoughts were her own or Bahamut's anymore.
Here comes another one.
"You! You must be the hero of Eorzea. Please you must help me, a band of Qiqirn have stolen my caravan of goods.. i'm just a humble merchant i can't afford to lose this"
Alicia held back her sword, she held back the urge to tell the man to grab a weapon and take care of it himself. She held back and simply accepted, like she always does. Fray always by her side, She broke the bones of every Qiqrin in her way, enjoying every scream and drop of blood that dropped. But it's never enough, killing rats is nothing to her anymore. She returned the crates to the merchant.
"Thank you so- ..wha what is this!? They're covered in gore and guts!! How can I possibly sell this now!? Oh hero can't you go and fetch me some valuables that i could sell? Its the least you cou-"
"You small pathetic little man. HOW DARE YOU, I RISK LIFE AND LIMB FOR YOU PARASITES, AND THIS IS HOW YOU ALWAYS REWARD ME, WITH MORE NEVER ENDING POINTLESS TASKS. I SAVED THE REALM FOR GODS SAKE, CAN'T I GET A MINISCULE OF RESPECT!? I TIRE OF YOU, I TIRE OF THIS VILLAINY AND THE HORRORS YOU PEOPLE CREATE FOR THE ACTUAL HELPLESS. No longer. I will change this realm.. one drop of blood at a time."
Fray and Alicia spoke in unison. As Alicia raised her sword and decapitated the merchant.
a small dragon appeared next to Alicia.
"Child of man. Art thou truly thinking of thine own actions, Or simply following the will of another? Are thy thoughts thine own? Is this what thou hast always been? Be it a monster in hero's clothing or a mindless puppet serving any will who would command her, So it would seem Haedelyn chose wrong.."
"You…"
Fray reacted.
"I haveth not to say to you child of black. But knoweth this well. Thine actions wilt bringeth not back what thou hath lost."
As soon as he appeared, Midgardsomar left.
Alicia paid no mind to the words of Midgardsormr, and the days went on. With the help of Ysayle they conclude that finding Hreasvelgr and striking a peace would be the best course of action. With Estinien and Alphinaud at their side. They journey to Dravania.
Alicia and Ysayle form a weird kind of kinship. Both with the power of the Echo and both with a deep love of the dragons. The difference being that Ysayle wants peace. Alicia wants to help the Dravanians burn down Ishgard.
But of course nothing is ever simple. The Gnath have summoned their god. Ravana. Alicia has been dying to test her might on a real threat.
The lord of the hive declared his ultimatum. Win in combat and he shall command the Gnath to leave, lose in combat and become servants to Lord Ravana.
She walked towards Ravana's arena. And readied for a fight. And what a fight it was.
With each blow she took, she struck harder. Ravana's words of war and destruction filled her head with the thoughts she wanted to hear. War is a beautiful thing where the bold die young, and the blind fight on. There is no reward, death and blood is its own reward. As the Gnath played their waltz of war, She fought to it like a dance. She smiled. She smiled for the first time in months. This. THIS IS WHAT POWER IS, SHE HAS THE POWER TO BRING FORTH DESTRUCTION TO ALL.
"KEEP FIGHTING RAVANA MY FRIEND. LET US DANCE TO THE BLAZING FIRES OF GLORY"
"GAHAHAHAHA CHILD OF MAN, I HATH NOT ENJOYED MYSELF THIS MUCH IN EONS. TO LIVE IS BUT TO FIGHT. SHOW ME THY RAGE MORTAL. MAKE THIS A NIGHT TO REMEMBER, YE SOUL OF WAR!!"
A glorious dance with death that went on until the sun sleept. They rejoiced in the glory of combat. And after one last swing of her sword, Ravana lay on his knees.
"Victory hath proclaimed the victor…. Alicia Plata was it…? thou hath great potential. Thy name shall echo in songs.. Gaha..haha..ha…"
Ravana’s words were the last push Alicia needed to fully succumb to the love of the fight, to fully succumb to the will of The Dreadwyrm. Combat and death, to live is but to fight, Ravana showed her just how bloody fun it is to spill blood. A sad and pathetic woman walked into Thok ast Thok. A bloodied, smiling monster walked out with Ravana's wings in her hands.
Fray looked on proudly, her transformation was complete.
"Alicia! Thank the twelve you're-"
"The false insect god is dead. Grant us passage to Sohm Al, Vidofnir."
Alicia interrupted Alphinaud. She presented Ravana's wings to Vidofnir. And walked forth, waiting for the next trial.
After many tiresome chores by the moogles, they reached Hreasvelgr, who in turn revealed all. The truth behind the Dragonsong war, how the knights of Thordan killed and ate the eyes of Ratatoskr, innocent blood spilled in a selfish pursuit for power. Bahamut whispered from within.
"This is what thy kind do when left unchecked. There is no such thing as a few dark ones, all of thy kind is dark, sister. All man hold lust for needless destruction in their hearts. So tell me.. What wrongs have we committed by repaying them in kind? We shall keep them all in check, sister."
Alicia clutched up her fist, how awful the world is. The dragons never deserved this. She felt the greatest sympathy for Nidhogg.
"The sorrow in your eyes child of man. The anger in your eyes. Those eyes. Bahamut."
Ysayle, Estinien and Alphinaud all turned in confusion at Hreasvelgrs words.
"I beg your pardon? What is the meaning of your words Hreasvelgr?"
"My brood brother resides within her. He who thy kind call the Dreadwyrm."
"Oh gods.. the Coils.. I.. Alicia.."
Alicia did not say a word. She left silently.
"Hreasvelgr what can we do to help her? Please.. anything?!"
Alphinaud pleaded.
"It is of no concern to me. I desire no interaction with my brood brothers, child of man. She chose to accept the plague. Now leave this place, and let me rest."
The tired, sad and confused Hreasvelgr left. Not only made to reminisce about the tragedy of his sister, but to learn that his brother yet still lives, but only as a disease eating away at a mourning Au'ra.
"She's a heretic Alphinaud. Killing her is a mercy."
"How soulless are you Estinien!? After all you have just learned of your wretched history, after all the time we've spent with her, you still only yearn for blood… you're no better.. leave. The two of you. I myself don't know what to do about… anything anymore.."
A despairing Ysayle cried. Her false god was nothing but a.. false god. Her dreams shattered. Alphinaud had nothing but tears for this bleak situation. Estinien still only had one thing on his mind. Kill Nidhogg.