Final Fantasy XVI: Lion King Edition

The Night of Flames

Have you ever thought of owning a vacation hideaway? Well, that was what Phoenix Gate was to the ruling family of Rosaria. But as of now, it was going to be a new home for Clive and Joshua to grow up in. It had been that way since the morning Elwin confronted Anabella over what she had told them to the boys, who had told her.

"I am absolutely livid," said Elwin to Anabella in their chamber. "Thinking you can send my children off to Sanbreque like that. They could have been killed."

"If Clive had perished," said Anabella in a heartless tone. "Perhaps that failure would have finally been worth something by sacrificing his life for the Phoenix."

Elwin felt a strong urge to slap Anabella and he did, followed by a serious reprimand.

"That is no way to talk!" he shouted. "If Joshua died as well, would you be pleased too?!"

"Obviously not," said the unshaken archduchess. "But Joshua is of noble blood compared to Clive. I would follow my youngest into the arms of death if that were to happen."

"Like it or not, Clive is your son too. If it weren't for men like him, your precious noble blood would have gone extinct a long time ago. You are so blinded by the love of your noble blood that you fail to recognize that it matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be!"

He gave a breath before pausing.

"And because of your delusions and obsessions over your expectations of our sons, I am going to contemplate divorce and have Joshua and Clive grow up under my care in Phoenix Gate."

Anabella looked as though she had swallowed a lemon.

"Surely, you cannot be serious," she gasped.

"I am serious. As archduke, I can change certain laws and starting today, all future marriages will be out of love rather than duty. I only wish our marriage could have been as loving as Clive's. I think he might have feelings for our young ward."

"See if I care," was all Anabella said.

And as soon as Elwin left, she was on her way to Sanbreque, leaving under private darkness.

Before Joshua and Clive left, they stopped by the stables to say goodbye to Jill and Torgal. The brothers would have wanted them to come, but Clive thought it best to leave her in the care of other nobles who were kinder than Anabella, seeing as she was a ward of the kingdom. Technically, this meant she could answer to anybody.

"Will you come and visit us?" asked Joshua.

"Of course I will," Jill smiled.

Torgal yipped and howled goodbye as the boys set off on their chocobos, through the long, yet seemingly short trek from the palace to Phoenix Gate. Along the way, Joshua was getting hungry. Clive, sensing this, gave him a cherry flavored sweet. They sang songs about the many heroes of Valisthea that came before and some that poked fun of their mother.

They arrived at Phoenix Gate around noon. The fortress was black and much older than the palace at Rosalith. Clive and Joshua immediately headed up to their new rooms, unpacked their belongings and rested on the bed they were going to share.

"It feels odd," said Joshua. "Us having to share a bed together."

"At least we will have more time together," Clive told him, ruffling his hair. "I know it's going to be very difficult, living in a new bedroom and all, but I think it's going to be fun."

He then proceeded to tickle the life out of Joshua until he could laugh no more and he tickled him back. After that, they read books about knights, a round table, witches and wizards and a great hero who led slaves to freedom. Then they held staring contests, played dice games and even sang songs.