As Long As There Is Darkness...

By The Honor of My Sword

Words: 2358 Summary: Rosa sits in contemplation in front of the dwindling embers of a campfire. The dangers of Mt. Hobs weighing heavy on her mind and causing her to doubt her strength and resolve. She finds, however, that she is not alone in her doubts as the world falls steadily into the flames of war. Also available on: FFN // AO3

The night was well underway, darkness looming over the world in a thick, starless blanket. The only light source provided to the party came from the two moons hanging in the sky and the dwindling flames of a campfire near forgotten.

Mt. Hobs was less than hospitable, thankfully only partially inhabited by the undead. More so than Rosa would have liked, though her own magic and the newly acquired spells of the young summoner that accompanied them were enough to keep the boys alive. The trek upwards was exhausting, creatures of all kinds attacking any chance they got. Supplies were low, magical resources depleted, morale plummeting quickly…

It was a blessing when the four of them managed to find a safe space: a place the creatures seemed to avoid. It was the perfect spot for a campfire and some rest. After a quick meal, Rosa volunteered to take the first watch, staying awake while the others dozed. It was easier for her just to stay awake the extra few hours if it meant she could sleep the rest of the night through. However, there was much that weighed on her mind, heavy emotions, doubts, fears. None of which were settled by Cecil’s earlier words of comfort. He was confident in their goal, convinced of the king’s corruption. He maintained a calm composure and a stride worthy of a commanding knight. Every ounce of him exuded leadership and fortitude. Nothing seemed to weigh on his mind.

Of course, Rosa could see more than what was skin was deep. She could tell he also held doubts, could understand his pain as he quietly mourned the loss of his dearest friend. She saw in him the regrets he held towards the actions elicited by his dark blade. The night-colored armor he wore was slowly eating him alive, though to the others he seemed complete. Put-together. Not as though he were falling to pieces. Rosa shared in his pain: wanted to share the burden with him. The other two, while experiencing and suppressing pain of their own, could never enter the bubble Rosa and Cecil shared—the pain in knowing their home, which had once been so peaceful, was now the source of a planet-wide war. Or what seemed to be the start of one.

You know… I kind of like the idea that Rosa is an archer first and a white mage second.

@lunarianborn gave me a link to an official Final Fantasy IV book translation that has a ton of character information in it. I’m slowly making my way through it but the brief overview of Rosa has me thinking…

They mention her first as one of the most renowned archers of Baron, especially because the skill is difficult to learn so not many do. However, instead of using her archery skills to assist Baron’s army, she enlists in the newly found White Magic Corps which, because of its lack of a long history, is not very influential and holds little prestige. It’s more of a “relief unit” than anything.

By the sounds of it, Rosa had no true passion to carry on the white mage tradition her mother set, instead finding true passion in archery. However, it was upon meeting Cecil that she decided to enlist, not because she wanted to help him (although of course that was part of her motivation), but because her association with him was frowned upon, so joining the White Mage Corps was the only true way to be near him. 

I find it fascinating that Rosa had an inherent desire to strive away from conventional family heritage and instead forge her own path. Of course, her archery was probably frowned upon because is was on a path different from her mother’s; she most likely had to teach herself the skill. She probably, also, never intended to make a name for herself by practicing archery but, since people always talk, someone somewhere along the lines found out and thus her skills became famed throughout Baron. 

My thoughts on Joanna are a little fuzzy at this time, just in figuring out where along the lines she became less carefree and more strict with conventional society, however I believe she would not have been pleased with Rosa’s archery practice at first. However, once her name was being spread throughout the town more (already the talk of many men because of her also renowned beauty), she became even more desirable amongst the nobles, thus putting her mother’s mind at ease because, out of all her esteemed suitors, how could not one of them strike her fancy (especially with one of them being her longest and closest friend)?

/// Please join me in appreciating this Yoshitaka Amano piece that gives me the utmost life <3 ///

One By One

Summary: Rosa recounts the losses the party has endured thus far. How many lives must be taken from them before their quest may succeed? Words: 1,205

Also available on: FanFiction.Net Archive Of Our Own

—Have you heard the story of the rose that blooms in the night?               Without the sun’s presence she grew from her own light.-–

❛  do you want to tell me about your day?  ❜ ❛  here, you look like you're freezing.  ❜ ❛  i love you just the way you are, and i'm here to remind you of that whenever you need to hear it.  ❜ ❛  i promise i'll always be here if you need me.  ❜ ❛  i wish i could take away all your pain.  ❜ ❛  i'll stand by you, no matter what challenges may come our way.  ❜ ❛  i'm gonna make sure nothing bad will ever happen to you.  ❜ ❛  if you need a shoulder to lean on or someone to listen, i'm here.  ❜ ❛  if you need someone to talk to i'm always just one phone call away.  ❜ ❛  it's okay. i've got you. you're safe now.  ❜ ❛  it's okay to feel this way, we've all been there.  ❜ ❛  it's okay to lean on others for support occasionally.  ❜ ❛  just let me take care of you for a bit.  ❜ ❛  no matter what happens, you'll always have a place in my heart.  ❜ ❛  what do you need me to do to make you feel better?  ❜ ❛  you can always ask me for help if you need it.  ❜ ❛  you just relax and let me do the rest. you deserve a break.  ❜ ❛  you look like you could use a hug.  ❜ ❛  you're always taking care of me so no it's my turn to return the favor.  ❜ ❛  you're not alone in this. i'm here for you, no matter what.  ❜

[ blanket ] sender draping a blanket over receiver's shoulders [ breaths ] sender helping receiver to calm down by using breathing techniques [ compliment ] sender complimenting receiver to make them smile [ cry ] sender offering receiver a shoulder to cry on [ gift ] sender giving receiver a small gift [ hand ] sender holding receiver's hand while they're walking [ hug ] sender pulling receiver into a tight embrace [ injured ] sender helping an injured receiver with everyday tasks [ jokes ] sender trying to make receiver laugh [ kindness ] sender surprising receiver with random acts of kindness [ massage ] sender giving receiver a shoulder massage to tend to their sore muscles [ patterns ] sender drawing random patterns on receiver's skin [ pillow ] sender offering receiver to use them as a pillow [ scars ] sender gently tracing receiver's scars [ sick ] sender bringing a sick receiver whatever they need ( food / medicine / etc. ) [ steady ] sender wrapping an arm around receiver's waist to steady them [ support ] sender quietly sitting down next to receiver to let them know they're there [ touch ] sender letting receiver know they're there through simple touch [ warmth ] sender pulling receiver into their arms to share body heat [ wound ] sender cleaning / bandaging receiver's wound(s)